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Champions
in Europe ... A Tribute to the 1981 UEFA Cup Winners
SEMI-FINAL: FC COLOGNE
The 1980/81
FC Cologne Squad
WARK'S
GOAL MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR IPSWICH
Ipswich Town 1 Cologne 0
Ipswich still have much hard work to do when they resume their UEFA Cup semi-final in Cologne next Wednesday week, after being restricted by their ultra-defensive opponents to a goal by John Wark in the first leg at Portman Road last night.
This was an entirely different task from the one Ipswich had accomplished so handsomely against St. Etienne in the previous round. The Frenchmen were basically an attacking team, always offering their opponents the prospect of an opening and a goal, whereas Cologne played in typical Bundesliga fashion, marking tightly, always seeking to close down midfield and breaking quickly.
True, Cologne were temporarily thrown out of stride when Strack , who had been doubtful because of a neck injury, limped off for good with a damaged leg within five minutes of the kickoff.
So the Germans where now without three of their most experienced players, since Bonhof and Zimmermann had been unfit and left behind.
Bull all this did not prevent Cologne setting out to make things as difficult as possible for Ipswich, Muhren and Thijssen were exceptionally closely watched by Roth, who had substituted for Strack, and the tenacious Engels.
Even so the Dutch pair managed to slip their markers from time to time to keep Ipswich moving forward. Indeed, the East Anglian's, obviously encouraged by the presence of Thijssen and Mariner, both of whom passed late fitness tests, worked patiently and purposefully in a determined effort to shake themselves free from Cologne's grip.
Wark had rather the better of his midfield tussle with Botteron, the Swiss international, and Gates and Mariner frequently caused problems for Konopka and Cullmann, who had dropped back from midfield to take over Strack's defensive role.
There were moments when Ipswich seriously threatened to break the deadlock, only to be frustrated by the calm, efficient goalkeeping of Schumacher, the tall West German international, who made a series of excellent saves from Brazil, Gates, Wark and Mariner.
After 33 minutes Ipswich received their reward for persistence and common sense. A quick move upfield ended with Mills's beautifully judged left-foot cross from the right being headed firmly down over the line by Wark, for his 12th goal in the competition this season and his 33rd for Ipswich since August.
Wark might of had another just before half-time, but his shot through a crowded penalty area flew to safety off a defender's heal.
Ipswich piled on tremendous pressure after the interval, sometimes pushing eight or nine men forward.
But there were times when they really had too many men in and around their opponents' penalty area, crowding out any chance for a shot that might have beaten Schumacher, who dealt so efficiently with high crosses, low shots and close-range headers.
In their anxiety to break down the Cologne defence, Ipswich sometimes forgot that the German's could also attack. Indeed, they almost paid the penalty for carelessness in the 55th minute, when Boteron raced onto a long range clearance while Mills was vainly appealing for offside. Fortunately for Ipswich, Butcher galloped back to head away Boteron's curling centre.
On another occasion Woodcock, who generally had seen little of the ball, raced through the centre but arrived just to late to prevent Cooper thumping a clearance into touch from outside his area.
Not that we saw all that much of Cologne's front line. Rinus Michels, their manager, was clearly dissatisfied with the somewhat idle Muller and replaced him with Willmer after 70 minutes. But Ipswich continued to move forward.
With 15 minutes remaining, Bobby Robson, the Ipswich manager, sent on Beattie and O'Callaghan for McCall and Brazil, but the switch failed to bring the second goal which is usually regarded as essential to ensure overall in the second leg.
Ipswich Town - Cooper; Mills, McCall, Thijssen, Osman, Butcher, Wark, Muhren, Mariner, Brazil, Gates.
Cologne - Schumacher; Prestin, Konopka, Strack, Gerber, Cullmann, Littbarski, Botteron, D.Muller, Engels, Woodcock.
Donald Saunders (Daily Telegraph)
BUTCHER
STRIKES TO END THE IPSWICH AGONY
Cologne 0 Ipswich Town 1
(Ipswich win 2-0 on aggregate)
Ipswich received well-deserved compensation for their recent FA Cup and Championship disappointments in Cologne last night when a 64th minute goal by Terry Butcher carried them into the UEFA Cup final for the first time. They meet Alkmaar.
With a one goal lead to protect, Ipswich concentrated on containing their opponents and they went about this task calmly and sensibly.
Much of the battle was fought in midfield, where Ipswich were considerably stiffened by the return of Thijssen and the presence of Mills, who switched from defence to lend his vast experience and tactical knowledge to this important role.
Indeed, Mills and Thijssen brought the best out of Wark and Muhren and the four of them allowed Cologne little time or space to build up moves.
Despite the return of Bonhof to midfield and Zimmermann in defence, the Germans took a long time to find their touch and gradually the confidence of Ipswich increased.
In general, Bobby Robson's men were able to keep Cologne out of target range. When they did get through the young Ipswich defence, which had Steggles making only his second European appearance at right- back and the highly promising McCall reverting to left-back after playing in midfield at Norwich last Monday, they failed to finish.
From time to time Ipswich took the opportunity to counter-attack and on several occasions caught their opponents by surprise with quick moves instigated, usually, by Muhren and Mills.
Brazil was offered two sharp chances, volleying one yards over the bar and driving the other fiercely just wide of the far post.
Mariner, who had been doubtful because of an Achilles injury, also worked his way into the box to meet a good cross from Muhren, but he half-volleyed the ball over the top from inside the penalty box.
Towards the end of the first half, however, Cologne applied heavier pressure and twice might have snatched an aggregate equaliser. Cooper, as alert and agile as ever, frustrated the first attempt by fisting the ball away from Muller's head.
Then Engel's headed a beautifully-judged cross from Littbarski over from just a few yards out.
Ipswich had to weather a heavy storm in the opening stages of the second half. They temporarily lost control in midfield and Cologne repeatedly swarmed around the East Anglian's penalty box.
Cooper was kept busy dealing with crosses, shots and headers and Butcher and Osman worked overtime to keep the Germans out.
But if Cologne had been a little more accurate with their finishing they would surely have closed the narrow gap during this period.
Konopka drove a shot inches wide, Muller shot yards off target, Rotteron drove one over and poor Engels, who had come so close to scoring in the first half, saw another good effort bounce to safety off a post.
But eventually Ipswich began to move back upfield, regained their grip in midfield and put themselves in clear sight of the final by snatching an all important away goal.
It all began when Rotteron brought down Thijssen from behind some 25 yards out. Mills curled the free kick into the penalty box and Butcher rose above the defence to head the ball down past the surprised Schumacher.
One could almost see the spring return to Ipswich's tired limbs as they returned to the centre spot, realising that, with the away goals rule, Cologne would need to score three times to prevent their reaching the final.
The German's responded to this challenge by pulling off Zimmermann and sending on Krept.
Although Cologne refused to give up their now hopeless quest, Ipswich were in no mood to give them the slightest encouragement.
Despite determined efforts from Woodcock, Muller and Botteron to break through in the closing stages, Bobby Robson's men held firm, with Cooper making a series of agile saves whenever the back four were lured into making mistakes.
Cologne - Schumacher; Prestin, Konopka, Zimmermann, Bonhof, Cullmann, Littbarski, Botteron, Muller D., Engels, Woodcock.
Ipswich - Cooper; Steggles, McCall, Thijssen, Osman, Butcher, Wark, Muhren, Mariner, Brazil, Mills.
Donald Saunders (Daily Telegraph)
"Clever
Tommy's" indeed !