Stasi ruled the championship, but not the Cup. Perhaps they did not want the Cup; perhaps iron rule, however strong, cannot penetrate a cup format, where not a whole season, but a single match is most important. Anyhow, the finalist this year were Lokomotive (Leipzig) and Vorwarts (Frankfurt/Oder) – technically, the clubs with no so strong championship season. One strong and stable for year, the other – up and coming, eager to restore its leading position. Experience prevailed and easily at that: Lokomotive won 4-1. It was almost a copy of the 1975-76 cup final: same goal-difference, almost the same players. This time Vorwarts managed to score a goal, that was all.
Lokomotive got the Cup – their 3rd Cup and also their 3rd overall trophy.
Well, Vorwarts were serious about coming back, but clearly were not ready yet. They had good players – Geyer, Probst, Otto – but not as many as the other leading clubs. They needed fine tuning, more experience, some new players. All for the future – not bad for the moment, but still only that.
Lokomotive were rightful winners, for they had superior team, but the real importance of their success was elsewhere and not just because they compensated for a relatively weak season. To a point, Lokomotive was the underdog among the cluster of leading East German clubs: the never had many stars, compared to the others – they were rather solid team, made of second-tier players. Thus, the title was always out of their reach, but a cup format was just right: a bit of luck, a bit of this and that, and they could eliminate otherwise a stronger and starrier opponent. So, no matter what, a victory of Lokomotive was lovely for it was a victory of the underdog.