The Cup final opposed 1. FC Kaiserslautern to Eintracht (Frankfurt). Kaiserslautern just confirmed they had a strong season and aiming at last to win the Cup – it was their 4th final since 1960. Meantime Eintracht were true cup masters – they won the West German Cup twice in the 1970s – in 1974 and 1975 – and added the UEFA Cup in 1980. Unlike Kaiserslautern, Eintracht had so-so season going, but a cup final was another matter. In front of 71 000-strong crowd the finalists started their most important game of the season in Stuttgart on May 2, 1981. Both teams fielded their best squads. Eintracht proved quickly to be stronger – at the end of the first half they were leading 2-0, thanks to the goals scored by Neuberger in the 38th minute and Borchers two minutes later. These goals were too match for Kaiserslautern – in the 64th minute Cha made it 3-0 and their was no any doubt about the winner. Only in the last minute Kaiserslautern managed to score a goal – Geye was the scorer – but it was too little too late.
Eintracht (Frankfurt) before the game started, from left: Bernd Hölzenbein, Jürgen Pahl, Bruno Pezzey, Karl Heinz Körbel, Ronald Borchers, Michael Sziedat, Bum Kun Cha, Werner Lorant, Bernd Nickel, Norbert Nachtweih, Willi Neuberger. Neither team made changes during the final.
Same boys posing with the Cup after the final whistle – their 3rd. Eintracht’s reserve kit – white and black – was their lucky charm: they won every cup they played with this colours.
Surely a strong season for Kaiserslautern, but they came short of winning anything. Ronnie Hellstrom, Hans-Gunther Neues, Wolfgang Wolf, Michael Dusek, Hans-Peter Briegel, Werner Melzer, Friedhelm Funkel, Hannes Bongartz, Reiner Geye, and Erhard Hofeditz lost. Tradition was not broken: Kaiserslautern lost the Cup final in 1961, 1972, 1976, and now in 1981. Tradition of losing, unfortunately.
Unlike Kaiserslautern, Eintracht really excelled in cup formats and their 3rd victory gave the impression that the team was going up again. But the moment was probably lost sometime around 1975 – the club was mostly trying to keep competitive, but not so promising, squad. Of course, the Austrian great defender Bruno Pezzey gave hope. Of course the East German defectors Jurgen Pahl and Norbert Nachtweih were expected to flourish. Of course Eintracht had solid players like Bernd Nickel, Werner Lorant, Willi Neuberger, and Ronald Borchers. But something was already missing – something little, but important, making the difference between a good team and a great one. Perhaps one name tells the difference: Karl-Heinz Korbel. Sturdy, dependable, solid, ever-present, but not a star – yet, he and not the aging captain Bernd Holzenbein, was the face of the club by now. But there was one particularly bright part of the winning team: the South Korean striker Bum-Kun Cha won the Cup, scoring a goal in the final. The second Asian player winning a trophy in West Germany. For the moment, his presence looked like a novelty, but just for the moment. Eintracht (Frankfurt) proved again they were masters of cup-formats.