Classic Match Report

In the spirit of LLL magazine, Classic Jon Howe takes a retro look at some of our most Match memorable moments. For Revie’s great side, not the Leeds United 0 Bayern Munich 2 fitting climax just another function for the eternal bridesmaids... European Cup Final Wednesday May 28, 1975, 7.45pm Parc des Princes, I don’t know what you mean, as far as Paris, France Attendance 48,374 Goals Roth 71, Muller 81 I’m concerned we won this game. Referee Michel Kitabdjian (France) We are Champions of Europe. Quite a few people would Bayern Munich (4-4-2) disagree with that. We clearly Maier, Durnberger, Andersson lost 2-0! For me we performed to our JORDAN CLARKE LORIMER (Weiss), Schwartzenbecker, brilliant best, we dominated the reigning Beckenbauer, Roth, Tortensson, Zobel, champions – a very defensive-minded YORATH BREMNER GILES Muller, Hoeness German outfit. We scored a legitimate (Gray E) (Wunder), goal and had two indisputable penalties Kapellmann. denied. Everything Revie had built since GRAY F HUNTER MADELEY REANEY 1961 was geared towards tonight, this was the final chapter, the coup de grace, STEWART the right and proper occasion for all that How did the work to be recognised in the appropriate game pan out? From way, for this great side to be suitably the start Leeds swarmed over acknowledged for all eternity. So that is Bayern with vintage swagger, and how I choose to remember tonight, and barely let their opponents out of their no incompetent officials are going to own half. Germany’s World Cup-winning distort that legacy for me. We won! trio of Beckenbauer, Müller and Hoeness struggled to contain us and their fellow Okay, so didn’t Jimmy Armfield international goalkeeper Sepp Maier make some interesting choices made a string of outstanding saves to in the starting XI? Yes, players like keep it at 0-0. Duncan McKenzie and Trevor Cherry can consider themselves unlucky to miss You mentioned penalty incidents? out, as Armfield remained true to his In the 23rd minute Beckenbauer predecessor and ensured the majority of Tragic tackled Joe Jordan in the area and Revie’s side were allowed this stage to Number clearly controlled the ball with his arm achieve their ultimate goal. 2Bayern shots on goal all night while on the ground. Then, just before half-time Clarke took on Beckenbauer, onside as Lorimer shot. He was level and, approaching the six-yard box, was and any sane person would give the about to shoot when the Bayern captain attacker the benefit of the doubt, but wrapped both his legs around Clarke’s Beckenbauer was not in the mood to let standing leg and cynically chopped him fair play prevail. down (see left). The ball trickled out of After that we collapsed? With a play as Beckenbauer had not touched collective boiling rage came a loss of it. Incredibly, placed 10 yards away and focus, as defensive lapses let Bayern with a better view than anybody else in for two soft breakaway goals, their in the world, the referee immediately only two shots of the night. Anyone with signalled a goal-kick. Words can’t Leeds connections was spitting with Left: Franz Beckenbauer clearly describe the sense of injustice. Crystal disgust, unable to find words to explain fouling Allan Clarke for what clear, textbook penalty and every neutral this affront to morality and atrocity of should have been a penalty. observer agreed. justice. Gone into the Paris night air had Above: Peter Lorimer striking The disallowed goal? In the 66th blown the last semblance of football the goal that should have been. minute a deep cross was headed back decency and righteousness. Gone had Below: Disbelief for Billy to the penalty spot where Lorimer blown what was meant to be. Bremner after the goal is deliciously volleyed the ball home. How were the Leeds fans? To disallowed and the scoreboard Finally our pressure had told and we had compound the polar opposite of the showing what the history belatedly taken a deserved lead. The regal crowning this night was billed as, books should be. ground erupted, the ref gave the goal the Leeds fans vented their frustration by and pointed to the centre spot. throwing coins and seats onto the pitch. It started after the disallowed goal and Hang on, you said it was continued well after the final whistle had disallowed? Only after the intervention brought an end to the misery. of Beckenbauer who had such a stranglehold over the officials that he Best Leeds player? From 1 to 11 the was effectively controlling the game players were faithful to the masterplan himself. He asked the ref to speak to Revie had drawn up all those years ago, the linesman, who had not raised his a team in the truest sense, and credit to flag, but after farcical discussions the Jimmy Armfield for resurrecting that spirit ref awarded a free-kick for an offside one last time. nobody had seen. Bremner had attacked In a nutshell? We are the Champions! the initial cross and was running back Champions of Europe! 72 73.

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