The Supercup

The Supercup never endeared neither the football fans,nor the clubs. It was played almost half an year after the participants won their trophies – it was already the middle of the next season and everything was different: squads, form, priorities. The continental clubs were just coming to the winter break and looking for some rest. In England, December is traditionally the busiest and possibly the most important month of the season. In the winter fans were not eager to go to the stadiums. But the Supercup was played anyway. Nottingham Forest vs Valencia.

On November 25th, the first leg was played at City Ground. The hosts won 2-1 after little known Argentine, Dario Felman, opened for Valenica in the 47th minute. Ian Bowyer equalized 10 minutes later and scored the winning goal just before the final whistle – in the 89th minute. 2-1 Nottingham. Not much of an advantage, but the minimalistic approach of Brian Clough did not require big margin.

Peter Ward runs away from Spanish defenders. Alas, he was replaced. Also replaced was Dario Felman.

November 25th, City Ground.

0-1 Dario Felman 47th

1-1 Ian Bowyer 57th

2-1 Ian Bowyer 89th

Nottingham Forest: Shilton, Anderson, Gray, McGovern, Lloyd, Burns, Bowyer, Ward (Ponte), Mills, Wallace, Robertson.

Valencia: Pereira, Arias, Castellanos, Solsona, Subirats, Morena, Carrete, Botubot, Cervero, Saura, Felman (Jimenez).

 

The second leg had Valencia more active and eventually the great Uruguayan scorer Fernando Morena hit the net in the 51st minute. Nothing else happened to the end.

December 17th, Estadio Luis Casanova

1-0 Fernando Morena 51st

Valencia: Sempere, Arias, Tendillo, Castellanos, Solsona, Subirats, Kempes, Morena, Botubot, Cervero, Saura.

Nottingham Forest: Shilton, Anderson, Gunn, McGovern, Lloyd, Burns, O’Neill, Ponte, Francis, Wallace, Walsh.

That was that: Valencia won, thanks to away goals rule – the only time in the history of the tournament it was won that way. There was little else to tell: for one or another reason, the greatest stars of both teams did not play both matches: Kempes, Tendillo, Francis. Nottingham was half made of Scots – 6 of them participated: Gray, McGovern, Burns, Wallace, Robertson, and Walsh). There was also the odd sensation – the English were reluctant to buy foreigners and were biased against them, but as if to make a point, Brian Clough got a Swiss in the summer – Raimondo Ponte. Since Swiss players were not hot property at that time, the transfer was and remains strange. Valencia, not to be outdone, fielded 4 foreigners – two Argentines (Kempes and Felman), one Uruguayan (Morena), and one Paraguayan (Jimenez). Who was ‘true’ import and who was ‘oriundo’ was the usual Spanish mystery. That is about everything about the final.

Losers this time – clearly Nottingham Forest were not building a dynasty.

Happy winners. Like Nottingham, Valencia did not appear to improve and build on their success: it was a team with some unaddressed deficiencies. Troubles with Mario Kempes were starting. Fernando Morena made his mark by scoring the so important winning goal, but as whole his European career was unmemorable.