Soccer Nostalgia: May 2024

In this Blog Presentation with an interview, I look back at the 1986 Intercontinental/Toyota Cup between River Plate and Steaua Bucharest.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

The Interviewee is:

Argentinean Journalist, Mr. Nacho Dimari.

Mr. Dimari has appeared multiple times on the podcast discussing the matches of the Argentina National Team.

Mr. Dimari’s contact info:

Twitter: @ElOleg

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jl9nsKn8ScBgBuhYV8n3K?si=lN7MRtLkS0ywrZaygwtOZw&nd=1&dlsi=78fcfafa26aa42a6

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soccernostalgia-talk-podcast/id1601074369?i=1000657222351

Intercontinental /Toyota Cup-Part 7 (1986, River Plate vs. Steaua Bucharest)

The 1986 Edition of the Intercontinental Cup was the seventh in Tokyo.

The participating teams were Romania’s Steaua Bucharest and Argentina’s River Plate.

Steaua had won the Champions Cup by defeating Barcelona after a penalty kick shoot-out following a scoreless tie, on May 7^th, 1986, in Seville. They became the first ever team from Eastern Europe to win the trophy.

River Plate had won the Copa Libertadores just couple of months before in October by defeating Colombia’s Amercia Cali. They won the first leg (2-1) on October 22^nd away from home and won the second leg at home (1-0) on October 29^th.

Héctor Veira’s River Plate had a prestigious history behind them but still had not won the greatest prize in South American Football until then (losing Finals in 1966 and 1976).

Just months before the main star of the team Uruguayan Enzo Francescoli had transferred to Europe (to Racing Club Paris).

The side contained three players who just months prior along with Diego Maradona won the World Cup in Mexico (goalkeeper Nery Pumpido, Oscar Ruggeri, and Héctor Enrique).

The team also included two 1978 World Cup champions, Captain Americo Gallego and Norberto Alonso.

The team included Uruguay Internationals Nelson Gutiérrez and Antonio Alzamendi.

The up-and-coming players included future Internationals Néstor Gorosito and Juan Gilberto Funes (who sadly passed away just a few years later, aged just 29).

Steaua Bucharest formed the backbone of the Romanian National team. Their Champions Cup winning Manager Emerich Jenei departed following the victory in May to take charge of the National Team.

Former player (and future 1994 World Cup Romania Manager) Anghel Iordănescu had been appointed as Manager.

Steaua were missing two of their key players from this match.

The penalty stopping hero of the Champions Cup Final, Helmuth Ducadam was out due to an arm injury.

Star midfielder Ladislau Bölöni was also out due to a thigh injury.

The side still included the likes of Iovan, Belodedici, Bumbescu, Stoica, Balint, Pițurcă and Lăcătuș.

Photo From: Toyota Cup 1986 Programme

(Match Programme, December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

The match took place on December 8^th at Tokyo’s National Stadium.

Steaua scored a goal in the 15^th minute through Beloidedici that was ruled out offiside.

In general, throughout the match, Steaua was in more control. It was against the run of play that River Plate took the lead.

In the 28^th minute, River were awarded a free kick in the middle. Norberto Alonso quickly passed to Alzamendi on the right.

His first shot was blocked by Steaua goalkeeper Stângaciu, but Alzamendi headed in the rebound past him to give River the lead.

After taking this lead, River were content to defend and counter-attack.

Steaua dominated and had most of the chances but lacked the finishing touch upfront.

In addition, River’s central defensive pairing of Guttierez and Ruggeri were equal to the task.

Stoica was guilty of missing two chances early in the second half.

River held on and won this trophy. It had been a poor spectacle, especially when compared to the previous year’s exciting encounter between Juventus and Argentinos Juniors.

Alzamendi was awarded the man of the match award and earned a Toyota car.

Steaua clearly missed Bölöni to dictate the attacks. Iordănescu felt things would have been different had he been present.

He also felt his team had lost their concentration for a moment and were penalized for it.

His counterpart, Hugo Vieira admitted River did not play well and felt the first team to score was always going to win in such a match.

Soviet Union and Dynamo Kiev Manager Valeri Labanowski was in the audience. He was on a mission to scout Steaua as his side were to take on Steaua for the UEFA Super Cup.

He was full of praise for the Romanian side and underlined their fitness and collective play.

River Plate capped off a great year for Argentina and Pumpido, Ruggeri and Enrique won the World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in the same year.

In the previous year, Juventus had broken the South American at Tokyo for the first time in six tries, now, it was back to South America.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2124, December 23, 1986

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, Issue 82, January 1987

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: El Grafico, Edicion Especial

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: El Grafico, Edicion Especial

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: El Grafico, Edicion Especial

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: El Grafico, Edicion Especial

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: El Grafico, Edicion Especial

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Date: December 8, 1986

Competition: Intercontinental Cup (Toyota Cup)

Result: Club Atlético River Plate- Buenos Aires (Argentina) 1- Clubul Sportiv al Armatei Steaua- Bucuresti (Romania) 0

Venue: Tokyo, National Stadium

Attendance: 62,000

Referee: José Luis Martínez Bazán (Uruguay)

Linesmen: Do-Ha Lee (South Korea), Shizuo Takada (Japan)

Fourth Official: Kilchiro Tachi (Japan)

Goalscorers:

(River Plate): Antonio Alzamendi 28

(Steaua): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (28^th minute, River Plate): Alonso’s quick free kick from the middle to the right side, Alzamendi’s first shot was parried by Stingaciu, Alzamendi headed in the rebound.

Lineups:

River Plate:

1-Nery Pumpido, 4-Jorge Gordillo, 2-Nelson Gutiérrez (Uruguay), 6- Oscar Ruggeri, 3- Alejandro Montenegro, 8- Héctor Enrique, 5- Américo Gallego, 10- Norberto Alonso, 11- Roque Alfaro (14- Daniel Sperandío 68), 7- Antonio Alzamendi (Uruguay), 9- Juan Gilberto Funes

Coach: Héctor Veira

Booked: Alejandro Montenegro, Héctor Enrique

Other Substitutes:

12- Sergio Goycochea, 13-Rubén Dario Gómez, 15-Néstor Gorosito, 16-Claudio Morresi

Team Captain: Américo Gallego

Shirt Sponsor: None (Fate O) were the shirt sponsors, but no shirt advertisements were allowed for this match)

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: White (Diagonally Red Stripe across shirts, Black Shorts, White Socks

Steaua Bucharest:

1- Dumitru Stângaciu, 2- Ștefan Iovan, 6- Miodrag Belodedici, 4- Adrian Bumbescu, 11- Anton Weissenbacher, 3- Ilie Bărbulescu (14- Mihail Majearu 60), 5- Tudorel Stoica, 8- Lucian Bălan, 10- Gavril Balint, 7- Marius Lăcătuș, 9- Victor Pițurcă

Coach: Anghel Iordănescu

Booked: Adrian Bumbescu

Other Substitutes:

12- Constantin Blid, 13- Niță Cireașă, 15- Iosif Rotariu, 16- László Bölöni

Team Captain: Ștefan Iovan

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Shirt Sponsor: None

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Red Shorts, Blue Socks

Man of Match: Antonio Alzamendi (River Plate)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 133, January 1987

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 133, January 1987

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 133, January 1987

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 51 (622), December 17-23, 1986

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: World Soccer, January 1987

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 31, No. 27, Issue 791, December 25, 1986

(December 14, 1986, Intercontinental Cup, River Plate-Steaua Bucharest 0)

River Plate squad:

Goalkeepers:

Nery Pumpido (July 30, 1957, Monje, Santa Fe) (aged 29 years old at the time)

Sergio Goycochea (October 17, 1963, Zárate, Buenos Aires) (aged 23 years old at the time)

Defenders:

Jorge Gordillo (January 27, 1962, Buenos Aires) (aged 24 years old at the time)

Nelson Gutiérrez (Uruguay) (April 13, 1962, Montevideo, Uruguay) (aged 24 years old at the time)

Oscar Ruggeri (January 26, 1962, Rosario) (aged 24 years old at the time)

Alejandro Montenegro (September 2, 1963, Buenos Aires) (aged 23 years old at the time)

Rubén Dario Gómez (March 7, 1961, Buenos Aires-June 2, 2018) (aged 26 years old at the time)

Midfielders:

Héctor Enrique (April 2, 1962, Lanus) (aged 24 years old at the time)

Américo Gallego (April 25, 1955, Morteros) (aged 31 years old at the time)

Norberto Alonso (January 4, 1953, Vicente Lopez) (aged 33 years old at the time)

Daniel Sperandío (December 11, 1959, Coronel Bogado) (aged 27 years old at the time)

Néstor Gorosito (May 14, 1964, San Fernando) (aged 22 years old at the time)

Claudio Morresi (April 30, 1962, Buenos Aires) (aged 24 years old at the time)

Forwards:

Roque Alfaro (August 15, 1956, Nogoyá) (aged 30 years old at the time)

Antonio Alzamendi (Uruguay) (June 7, 1956, Durazno, Uruguay) (aged 30 years old at the time)

Juan Gilberto Funes (March 8, 1963, San Luis-January 11, 1992, Buenos Aires) (aged 23 years old at the time)

Coach: Héctor Veira (May 29, 1946, Buenos Aires) (aged 40 years old at the time)

Team Captain: Américo Gallego

Shirt Sponsor: None (Fate O) were the shirt sponsors, but no shirt advertisements were allowed for this match)

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Note:

Some information for unused substitutes may not be available, therefore these are the players on and off the field that are verified to have been present).

Photo From: Toyota Cup 1986 Programme

(River Plate squad)

Photo From: Toyota Cup 1986 Programme

(Héctor Veira)

Steaua Bucharest squad:

Goalkeepers:

Dumitru Stângaciu (August 9, 1964, Brașov) (aged 22 years old at the time)

Constantin Blid (October 18, 1967, Bucharest) (aged 19 years old at the time)

Defenders:

Ștefan Iovan (August 23, 1960, Moțăței) (aged 26 years old at the time)

Miodrag Belodedici (May 20, 1964, Socol) (aged 22 years old at the time)

Adrian Bumbescu (February 23, 1960, Craiova) (aged 26 years old at the time)

Anton Weissenbacher (January 20, 1965, Baia Mare) (aged 21 years old at the time)

Midfielders:

Ilie Bărbulescu (June 24, 1957, Pitești, February 1, 2020, Pitești) (aged 29 years old at the time)

Tudorel Stoica (September 7, 1954, Brăila) (aged 32 years old at the time)

Lucian Bălan (June 25, 1959, Bucharest-November 12, 2015, Baia Mare) (aged 27 years old at the time)

Mihail Majearu (July 15, 1960, Galați) (aged 26 years old at the time)

Niță Cireașă (January 21, 1965, Brăila) (aged 21 years old at the time)

Iosif Rotariu (September 27, 1962, Prigor) (aged 24 years old at the time)

László Bölöni (March 11, 1953, Târgu Mureș) (aged 33 years old at the time)

Forwards:

Gavril Balint (January 3, 1963, Sângeorz-Băi) (aged 23 years old at the time)

Marius Lăcătuș (April 5, 1964, Brașov) (aged 22 years old at the time)

Victor Pițurcă (May 8, 1956, Orodel) (aged 30 years old at the time)

Coach: Anghel Iordănescu (May 4, 1950, Bucharest) (aged 36 years old at the time)

Team Captain: Ștefan Iovan

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Shirt Sponsor: None

Note:

Some information for unused substitutes may not be available, therefore these are the players on and off the field that are verified to have been present).