Thursday, June 27, 2024

Liverpool FC European Cup Final 1978

Liverpool retained the European cup after they won the trophy for the second time down at Wembley over FC Bruges.

The Final - May 10th 1978

Liverpool 1 FC Bruges 0

Team : Clemence, Neal, Thompson, Hansen, Kennedy, Hughes, Dalglish, Case (Heighway), Fairclough, McDermott, Souness

Goals : Dalglish (65)

Att : 92,000 (Wembley)

Unused Subs : Ogrizovic, Jones, Callaghan, Irwin

This was a repeat of the 1976 UEFA Cup Final and once again the Reds came out winners. Fifteen of the players from that fnal played in this one too. The Reds had to make the short journey south to Wembley for this one and it was thanks to a wonderful goal from Dalglish off an exquisite Souness ball that sealed the tie. A dull game saw the Belgian side rely on the breakaway goal for this one. The sides were al square at half time but the Reds didn't panic and continued to play patient football. Twenty minutes in to the half Souness played a ball in to release Dalglish and his flick over the keeper sent the ball in to the back of the net. His thirtieth goal of the season sent him racing away to the crowd, hurdling the advertising boards and ready to claim a winners medal. Bruges went close late on as the goal forced them out and Thompson cleared one effort off the line but it would have been unjust had they scored.


The Route to the Final

Semi Final 1st Leg - March 29th 1978

Borussia Moenchengladbach 2 Liverpool 1

Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Dalglish, Case, Heighway (Souness), McDermott (Johnson), Callaghan

Goals : Johnson (88)

Att : 66,000

The Reds were drawn against the side they had beaten the previous season in the final and knew this one would be hard. Times seemed so different to the year before. The Germans had got stronger whilst the Reds had stuttered their way through the season. Hannes gave the German side the lead just before the half hour and it looked like it was going to be enough on the night to win. Although the Reds were to go on and lose the tie they hit a crucial away goal two minutes from time. At the time Johnson's goal was an equaliser but the Reds conceded straight after. The away goal though did everything to the morale of the Reds. A 1-0 win at Anfield would see them through.


Semi Final 2nd Leg - April 22nd 1978

Liverpool 3 Borussia Moenchengladbach 0

Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Dalglish, Case, Heighway, McDermott, Souness

Goals : Kennedy (6), Dalglish (34), Case (54)

Att : 51,500

Graeme Souness made his firs European start after impressing as a sub in the first leg of this tie. He was an inspired choice for the Reds as they swept past the German side. The Reds were a goal up and effectively in a winning position after just six minutes of the game as Ray Kennedy converted a Dalglish cross. The two reversed fortunes on thirty four minutes and the tie was all over really. A goal for the German side would have drawn it all square but it never looked on the cards in this one. Nine minutes into the second half Jimmy Case thundered a shot past Kieff to seal the tie and send the Reds on a trip down to Wembley and FC Bruges.


Quarter Final 1st Leg - March 1st 1978

Benfica 1 Liverpool 2

Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson (Hansen), Kennedy, Hughes, Dalglish, Case, Heighway, McDermott, Callaghan

Unused :

Goals : Case (36), Hughes (71)

Att : 70,000

Graeme Souness hadn't been registered in time for this tie but the Reds still managed to win. A night of pouring rain saw the Reds go behind after fourteen minutes but the Reds didn't panic and scored twice in either half. Jimmy Case scored the first as his free kick wasn't held in the wet conditions by the Benfica Keeper. Hughes scored the second with a perfect lob over the stranded Bento.


Quarter Final 2nd Leg - March 15th 1978

Liverpool 4 Benfica 1

Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Dalglish, Case, Heighway, McDermott, Callaghan

Unused :

Goals : Callaghan (6), Dalglish (17), McDermott (78), Neal (88)

Att : 48,364

The Reds had two away goals behind them for this return leg and Benfica turned up expecting it to be confirmed with an easy win for the Reds. That was the resulting the end but neither side really broke sweat. As snow fell on the pitch Anfield turned white and Benfica turned pale too. Two early goals and two late ones ensured the Reds were comfortable on the night.


Round 2 1st Leg - October 19th 1977

Liverpool 5 Dynamo Dresden 1

Team : Clemence, Neal, Jones, Hansen, Kennedy, Hughes, Dalglish, case, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan

Unused :

Goals : Hansen (14), Case (21,58), Neal (pen 44), Kennedy (66)

Att : 39,835

A bye to the second round of the competition thanks to their win the previous season the Reds came up against Dynamo Dresden. Twice before they had beaten the East German side en route to winning the UEFA Cup. This game saw Dalglish and Hansen make their European debuts. Dalglish had a man marking job against him but the rest of the side ensured a comfortable victory. Hansen scored with a header to open the scoring and four goals later Dresden did manage a consolation goal but the tie was all but over.


Round 2 2nd Leg - November 2nd 1977

Dynamo Dresden 2 Liverpool 1

Team : Clemence, Neal, Jones, Hansen, Hughes, Dalglish, Case, Heighway, McDermott (Fairclough), Callaghan

Unused :

Goals : Heighway (67)

Att : 33,000

The tie had been finished as a contest at Anfield but Dresden tried hard to give the Reds second thoughts. They shot into a two goal second half lead and were well in the ascendancy. There was genuine worry as the East German side played well and were carving through the Reds defence. Midway through the second half though Steve Heighway scored to settle the nerves and confirm the route to the quarter finals.

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