1981: Liverpool floored by virtuoso Zico
Sunday 13 December 1981
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Zico was the star of the game for Flamengo (©Getty Images)
CR Flamengo 3-0 Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC finally made their European/South America Cup debut in 1981 only to run into a dazzling Zico-inspired CR Flamengo side.
Belated debut
Liverpool had turned down their place in the competition after winning the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1977 and 1978, but accepted the invitation to play in the new Toyota Cup. Alan Kennedy's solitary 82nd-minute goal had defeated Real Madrid CF in the European Cup final at the Parc des Princes in May, but the European champions had no answer to Zico in Tokyo seven months later.
Opener
The Brazilian had a hand in all three of his side's goals as the Rio de Janeiro team raced to a 3-0 first-half lead. Zico set up Nunes for the first with an exquisite lob from near the halfway line. His looping pass eluded Liverpool centre-back Phil Thompson on the edge of his own area and allowed the striker to dart in and finish with his left foot to give Flamengo the lead after only 12 minutes.
Zico mastery
Zico almost scored the second himself ten minutes before the break. His fierce free-kick was kept out by a sprawling Bruce Grobbelaar but the Liverpool goalkeeper was unable to hold the ball and Adílio pounced on the rebound to double his side's advantage. There was no way back for the European champions when, four minutes before half-time, Zico set Nunes free on the right and the striker fired low beyond Grobbelaar into the far corner for his second of the game.
Impenetrable defence
Liverpool responded after the break by pressing higher up the field but Flamengo held their ground. The English side had plenty of possession but were unable to find a way past a defence superbly marshalled by centre-backs Mozer and Marinho. Flamengo ran out 3-0 winners and the European/South America Cup returned to Brazil for the first time since Pelé's Santos FC won the competition in 1963.
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