Since
its inception in 1960, the annual Intercontinental Cup between the winners of
the Europe’s Champions Cup and South America’s Copa Libertadores had been
marred with violence.
The
home and away series had become synonymous with fights and multiple sending
offs. Most particularly Argentina’s Estudiantes (featuring Carlos Bilardo) in
the late 60s had turned these series into all out wars.
The
prestige of the Tournament had declined to such a point that in certain years
European winners refused to take part, as they could not see the glory nor the
hassle in winning a title that would most certainly involve fights and injuries
to their players.
It
was at this point that Japanese Motor Corporation Toyota decided to take
control and sponsor the competition. The single match event would take place
annually in Tokyo (neutral territory). The teams and Confederations would be
contractually obligated to participate or risk a lawsuit. In Addition to the
Intercontinental Cup, the teams would also receive ‘The Toyota Cup.’
It
was hoped this would re-invigorate the fading competition.
Furthermore,
the ‘Man of the Match’ as elected by Japanese Journalists would receive a
Toyota Car.
The
very first Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo was to take place on February 11th,
1981.
The
participating teams were England’s Nottingham Forest and Uruguay’s Nacional
Montevideo. Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest had won their second straight
Champions Cup on May 28, 1980 by defeating SV Hamburg (1-0).
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Victorino and Lloyd, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0) |
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Frank Gray and Bica, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0) |
The
team was led in goal by Peter Shilton and contained many British internationals
such as Englishmen Viv Anderson and Trevor Francis,
Northern Irish International Martin O’Neill and Scotsmen Kenny Burns and John
Roberston.
Uruguay’s Nacional Montevideo had defeated Brazil’s Internacional
in the Finals of the Copa Libertadores (July 30th, 0-0 and August 6th,
1-0).
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0) |
Their Manager ,Juan Martin Mujica, had been heavily influenced
from his playing days in the French League and had imposed a European, more
physical style of tactics for his team. The team played with a Sweeper, Stopper
and permanent pressing game. They had a tactical discipline rare for a South
American side.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Milar, February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0) |
The team was led by three veterans in their thirties, who had
returned after stints in Europe: Victor Esparrago, Juan Carlos Blanco and Julio Cesar
Morales.
Their
main goalscoring threat was from Waldemar Victorino. Their counterattacking
game relied on Victorino holding the ball with his back to the goal.
Just
a month prior, Uruguay had triumphed in the Mundialito with Victorino scoring
three goals including the winner in the Final vs. Brazil.
Nacional
were handicapped by the transfer of key defender Hugo De Leon, who had joined
Brazil’s Gremio after their victory in the Libertadores Cup.
In
addition, key midfielder Eduardo Maria De La Peña
was to miss this match through injury.
As far as preparations for the match, the
Uruguayans appeared to have taken it more seriosuly. They traveled to Tokyo one
week ahead of the match to acclimatize to the conditions.
In
contrast Nottingham Forest had played a League match on the previous Saturday
and had flown on Sunday. Their journey had been long and tiring.
To
minimize the effects of time change, the players had been given sleeping pills
on the plane, and on the Monday were even restricted to go to bed before 4 AM
Tokyo time.
They
had also arrived with a small squad, only 14 players. Even reserve goalkeeper
Lee Smelt did not travel with the team.
The
match was played on midday Wednesday. It was a National Holliday in Japan
(Foundation Day) and there was a large crowd in the Stadium.
The
only High level UEFA dignitary in attendance was the Swiss Secretay Genral Hans Bargerter.
Upon arriving the teams were surprised to see
that the field did not have grass.
Nottinghan Forest lost their Captain John
McGovern who failed a late fitness test. Kenny Burns assumed the Captaincy in
his absence.
Prior to kickoff, the Forest players paid
homage to their hosts by running around the field carrying a Japanese flag.
Nacional
took the lead in the tenth minute. José Moreira crossed from the right side for
Victorino who smashed home the winner.
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, April 1981
(Victorino scoring the winner, February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0) |
For
the rest of the match, Nottingham Forest were in control and according to many
(even themselves) should really have won the match.
Nacional
had two goals ruled out for Offside. Luzardo scored a goal in first half that
was disallowed (Victorino in offside position).
Bica
scored a goal in the second half that was also ruled out for Offside (Victorino had taken advantage of a Frank
Gray backpass, Shilton saved at his feet, and Bica scored on the rebound while
in an offside position).
But
in General, it was Nottingham Forest who created more chances and Stuart Gray
went the closest by heading the post in the 78th minute. Afterwards
Kenny Burns felt they should have ‘murdered these Uruguayans’.
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, March 1981
(February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup,
Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0) |
The
Uruguayans were also more physical, with Trevor Francis being the favorite
target of Nacional Captain Esparrago.
At
the end of the match Esparrago apologized for his dangerous tackle on him and
reassured him that it was not deliberate, however, Francis gently reminded him
that it was MANY fouls.
Nacional
Manager Mujica’s chief complaint was about the state of the pitch, which
created many awkward bounces of the ball.
Brian
Clough also complained about the grassless pitch, especially given the advanced
state of Japanese technology.
Nottingham
Manager Brian Clough felt they were not unlucky to lose as they had many
chances and failed to capitalize. He felt his players were unlucky not to win
the car. He would have preferred either
Trevor Francis or Kenny Burns to be elected as Man of the Match. That honor
went to the goalscorer Waldemar Victorino, who won
the Toyota Celica after a vote by the Japanese journalists.
The experience had been a positive one and the competition had
found a new home and a new lease on life.
Note:
1-Four Middle Eastern Nations refused to broadcast the match
because Match Referee Abraham Klein was from Israel.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 64, April 1981
(Nacional
players celebrating, February 11, 1981, Intercontinental Cup, Nacional
Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, April 1981
(Esparrago
lifting the trophy, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0)
|
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, April 1981
(Victorino (wearing an exchanged jersey) with
the car, February 11, 1981,
Intercontinental Cup, Nacional Montevideo 1-Nottingham Forest 0) |
February 11, 1981
Club
Nacional de Football Montevideo (Uruguay) 1-Nottingham Forest Football Club (England) 0
Intercontinental
Cup (Toyota Cup)
Venue: Tokyo,
National Stadium
Attendance: 62,000
Referee: Abraham
Klein (Israel)
Goalscorers: (Nacional): Waldemar
Victorino 10th
(Nottingham Forest): None
Lineups:
Nacional
Montevideo:
1-Rodolfo Rodríguez , 4-Juan Carlos Blanco, 2-Jose Hermes Moreira,
3-Daniel Enríquez,5-Washington González, 16-Denis Milar, 6-Victor Espárrago,
10-Arsenio Luzardo, 7-Alberto Bica, 9-Waldemar Victorino, 11-Julio Cesar
Morales
Coach: Juan Martin Mujica
Booked:
Victor Espárrago (after repeated fouls on Trevor
Francis)
Other
Subs:
12-Miguel
Angel Pereira, 13-Hector Molina, 14-Wilmar Cabrera, 18-Jose Rosauro Cabrera,
19-Dardo Perez
Team
Captain: Victor Espárrago
Shirt
Sponsor: None
Uniform
Colors: White Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
Nottingham
Forest:
1-Peter Shilton , 2-Viv Anderson, 5-Larry Lloyd, 6-Kenny Burns
(Scotland), 3-Frank Gray (Scotland), 7-Martin O'Neill (Northern Ireland),
8-Raimondo Ponte (Switzerland) (12-Peter Ward 68th), 15-Stuart Gray, 11-John Robertson
(Scotland), 9-Trevor Francis, 10-Ian Wallace (Scotland)
Other Subs:
13-David Needham
Note: John McGovern (Scotland) (ruled out injured)
Coach: Brian Clough
Booked: Larry Lloyd (for putting his foot in Rodriguez’s face)
Team
Captain: Kenny
Burns
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Shirt
Sponsor: None
Uniform
Colors: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks
Man
of Match: Waldemar Victorino (Nacional Montevideo)
References:
Onze,
Issue 64, April 1981(‘Nacional Montevideo: Champion du Monde’ By Carlos
Magnone)
World
Soccer, March 1981 (‘Japan may retain the club final’ by Keir Radnedge)
World
Soccer, April 1981 (‘Victorino had his eyes on the car’ by Keir Radnedge)
France Football, Issue 1819, Februaty 17, 1981
(‘Victorino aime toutes les coupes’)
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