1967 Cup winners final

[pete 2,499]

Bayern Munich 1 - 0 Rangers (aet) - So near and yet so far for the team with no strikers

 

 

 

A goal in the 19th minute of extra time decided an exciting final in the stadium here, and gave to Bayern Munich the European Cup for Cup Winners.

 

Rangers had fought magnificently to take the match to extra time in their attempt to bring a second European cup to Scotland, but spirit was not enough to overcome their deficiencies in attack.

 

They had seemed to be forcing a replay when, in that 109th minute of the tie, the ball was lobbed into Rangers' goalmouth and Roth beat McKinnon for it and hooked it into the roof of Rangers' net.

 

The stadium then was wild and mad and hectic. Bavarian supporters, waving their little red and white flags, rushed onto the field. Columns of police, some with dogs, swept them off. Bayern players, in the confusion stormed the trainer's bench for water. They knew they still had 11 minutes to survive, and that they would be hectic.

 

And what minutes they were as Rangers fought to save the tie. As they struggled, police set up the ropes for the presentation enclosure. The band, 60 strong, took their stations. On the table on the track side the cup was placed tantalisingly close. All the preparations screamed that time was running out for Rangers, and that the great record of two European cups in Scotland was not to be.

 

Then, they had to stand, sad-faced and tired, and try to hide their heartbreaks as the cup was presented, and Bayern were acclaimed with wild enthusiasm. It was hard to bear that they had come so close.

 

All this crazy excitement tended to make us forget much of what had gone before, and of how Rangers without any striking forwards at all to back their glorious defence must have won.

 

That defence had stood up to the fierce spurting of the Bayern attack, had tamed it, and had swung the game in Rangers' favour. In the middle of that defence, Greig had been safe and powerful, but above all inspiring in how he could take the game and shape the action in Rangers' favour. Beside him, McKinnon was quieter but no less effective.

 

They, in the early stages, stood up to tremendous pressure while Johansen and Provan controlled the Bayern wings

 

But when the tide was turned there was no Rangers forward to take up the play. Henderson met his match in a great left back, Kupferschmidt and never could get out of the toils against him. Johnston on the other wing, was countered too, but it was in the centre of the attack that Rangers were most deficient.

 

Earlier this week, the chairman had said that Rangers were playing with three half backs as inside forwards. In this game they played like half backs. Hynd was big and willing, and bustled up the Bayern defence so elegantly linked by Beckenbauer.

 

The two Smiths, however, lumbered in midfield, and any shots they had at goal were from too long a range and were not hit viciously enough to cause a good goalkeeper, Maier, much trouble. We thought at the end that the chairman had described Rangers troubles precisely, and it was just these troubles that cost them the match.

 

The pressure that was built up out of defence was tremendous, but spirit alone was not enough to turn it into goals. As the game progressed, we felt that only Greig seemed capable of scoring for Rangers, but at the same time we were thinking that this German team would never score against this great Rangers defence. It seemed stalemate until that dramatic goal, in extra time.

 

Bayern, we would not rate a great team. They were nippy, and made use of spurts in attack, and it was strange that they should have such a great player as Beckenbauer sunk so deeply in defence. If they had an advantage over Rangers, it was the speed with which they could race in mid-field. This and the penetration of Muller and his wingers would have brought goals against a less accomplished defence.

 

Two days of rain had put the pitch in perfect condition. It had been very hard after a long spell of good weather. Rangers' players were pleased with the difference from Monday night when they trained on it. Fortunately the rain ceased just before kick-off time.

 

The start was nervous and jerky, and the first indication of a trend was when Beckenbaur came through to link with Muller of the upholstered forearm and bring a roar of expectancy from the terracing. Then Muller was quickly on to a chance, and Martin had to dive desperately to push the ball for a corner. We knew then why Bayern were risking him.

 

Alex Smith was first to tame the pace, and he held the ball and tried to get Henderson going, but Kupferschmidt was sticking close to the little man and giving positive signs that he could control him. Henderson was later to move his beat to get away from him.

 

Bayern settled to speedy spurts of attack. Muller was in the middle of them linking, prodding, threatening, and Roth and Olk backed with power. There was great and devastating speed in their attacks, and Rangers were defending desperately.

 

Roth raced through and shot high. Martin saved courageously at the feet of Olk, and with 20 minutes gone things looked ominous for Rangers. There was an eerie touch from the terracing. Someone with a siren brought Bayern's attacking to a shrieking crescendo.

 

But soon Rangers' defenders were taking control. The positioning of Greig and McKinnon was leaving little space in front of Martin, and the full-backs were controlling the German wingers.

 

Then Rangers were seen in attack. Hynd was fighting with all his great strength in front of the German goal and causing some disorder. There were shots from the two Smiths but from too far out, and not hit with enough determination.

 

Bayern spurted again at the start of the second half and the crown bayed until the noise was deafening and it seemed that something must give, but Rangers' defence again held and Greig came raging out of the pressure building Rangers into a counter attack and again the match was even.

 

When they went into the final 20 minutes it was noticeable that the game was being played at Rangers' pace. The Germans on the terracing were becoming less noisy and for the first time the Rangers' supporters were heard.

 

Eventually Beckenbauer showed signs that he would like to go forward, and he did seem Bayern's only hope of breeching this fine Rangers' defence.

 

The pace in the extra time was ridiculous, and David Smith and young Jardine with stockings down round their ankles began to show wear. Hynd had the ball in the net, but he had handled, and it was no goal.

 

And then, with but 11 minutes to go Oklhauser lobbed the ball up the middle, and Roth beat McKinnon for it and it broke handy for him and he quickly hooked it into the roof of the net. It was all over.

 

Bayern Munich: S Maier, Newak, Kupferschmidt, Roth and Beckenbauer, Olk and Nafxiger, Ohlhauser, Muller, Kophmann and Bremninger

 

Rangers: Martin, Johansen and Provan, Jardine, McKinnon and Greig, Henderson, A Smith, Hynd, D Smith and Johnston.

 

Referee. Cancetto Lo Bello (Italy)

 

Attendance: 69,480.

 

I have been lucky this is the 4th final of my lifetime. This is the first i still have memories of. I can remember how surprised everyone was that Roger Hynd was put up front. I was too young to remember the 1960-61 final against Fiorintina. and who could forget the 1972 final who was old enough.

 

Hopefully the fact it was a Russian team we beat in the final the last time is a good omen.