1981 Intercontinental Cup vs Liverpool

Lore & Background

Liverpool qualified by beating Real Madrid 1–0 in the 1981 European Cup final; they had declined to play the Intercontinental Cup in 1977 and 1978. Flamengo qualified by winning the 1981 Copa Libertadores, beating Cobreloa 2–0 in a playoff after the two legs left the sides level on points. Their last match before the trip was the deciding game of the 1981 Campeonato Carioca, a 2–1 win over Vasco da Gama with goals from Adílio and Nunes.

Reader's Guide

Zico did not score but was named man of the match and received a car as the prize. Flamengo manager Carpegiani said his side had been magnificent in the first half, while Liverpool manager Bob Paisley said he had never seen his team so dull. The win was the fourth in a row for a South American club in the competition, and in 2017 the FIFA Council recognised Intercontinental Cup winners as world champions.

Flamengo went ahead in the 12th minute: Zico's pass went over Phil Thompson's head and João Batista Nunes beat Bruce Grobbelaar with his first touch. In the 34th minute Grobbelaar saved a Zico free-kick but Adílio scored the rebound. Seven minutes later another Zico pass sent Nunes clear and he made it 3–0. In the second half Flamengo kept possession and protected the lead, and Liverpool, despite two shots on target from debutant Craig Johnston, could not score.

Did You Know?

• All three goals came in the first half: Nunes in the 12th and 41st minutes, Adílio in the 34th.
• Before kick-off Liverpool kept the news of the death of Bruce Grobbelaar's father from the goalkeeper so he could focus on the match.