Juary sends Bayern down

By Onofre Costa

It remains the greatest night in FC Porto's history. On 27 May 1987, the underdogs from the Antas stadium beat FC Bayern München to become Portugal's first European champions in 25 years.

A famous treble
The victory was as unexpected then as it is celebrated now. Not since SL Benfica's 1960s heyday had the European Champion Clubs' Cup travelled so far south. But Artur Jorge's team did not just lift first prize; they also went on to claim the European/South American Cup and the UEFA Super Cup the following season.

Bayern experience
All of which was unthinkable in the build-up to the match at Vienna's Prater stadium. German champions for a third year running, Bayern included experienced internationals Jean-Marie Pfaff, Andreas Brehme and Lothar Matthäus in their lineup. Against them, a Porto side strong on team spirit and looking to youngster Paulo Futre and Algerian forward Rabah Madjer for inspiration.

Coach confident
Coach Jorge was undeterred though, believing his men could surprise the three-times European champions yet all the while insisting on the Bundesliga team's status as favourites. Udo Lattek's Bayern, after all, had dispatched Real Madrid CF 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

Dynamo defeated
Porto, by contrast, had taken the quieter roads to Vienna. After comfortable wins against Maltese side Rabat Ajax FC and FC Vitkovice of Czechoslovakia, the Dragons had defeated Denmark's Brøndby IF by the odd goal in three, then Soviet champions FC Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 home and away in the semi-finals.

Five-star show
Meanwhile, Bayern had claimed the scalps of PSV Eindhoven, FK Austria Wien, RSC Anderlecht and Madrid. As well as thrashing Madrid 4-1 at the Olympiastadion, they had also registered five times at home against Anderlecht in a one-sided quarter-final.

Difficult start
So when a header from Ludwig Kögl, the smallest player on the pitch, opened the scoring for Bayern in front of 62,000 spectators in Vienna, Porto seemed set for more European disappointment. They had lost to Juventus FC on their previous appearance in a UEFA final in the 1984 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Change of plan
Even so, the apparently ineluctable conclusion would have to wait. With no further scoring in the first half, Jorge was able to shuffle his pack at the interval and try again. Midfield player Quim was replaced by the Brazilian forward Juary, a regular substitute.

Great leveller
It was arguably the best decision of his Jorge's career. Porto hit back with style and panache and got their reward on 77 minutes. Juary's pace allowed him to break into the Bayern area and cross for Madjer to score a magnificent backheeled goal.

Porto join pantheon
The German side were still recovering from that setback when, four minutes later, Madjer returned the favour. The Algerian's delivery from the left wing was bettered only by the right-foot volley that met it as Juary struck the goal that broke Bayern hearts. The comeback was complete and Porto had written their name in the European football pantheon.