Classic Encounters - Liverpool 1-1 Roma European Cup Final 1984

By: Rob | March 25th, 2008

Penalty Shoot Out 1984

As Roma look forward to face an alltogether different English club prospect, Let us look back on the day when, inside their own stadium, the came within a penalty shootout of being crowned kings of Europe against a Liverpool side, who had been dominent.

The stage was set for one of the great European Cup matches - The final was to be held in the Olympic Stadium - Not only the site of a previous Liverpool glory but Roma’s own ground, and Roma had, inspired by World Cup winner Bruno Conti, fought thier way to the final. This was familiar territory for the dominating Liverpool side of the 1980s, and having won the Milk (now Carling) Cup, and the Division One (Now Premier League) title, they were the biggest team in England. It looked to be a fasinating encounter.

To get to the final, Roma had beaten Goteborg convincingly, Eased past CSKA Sofia, and battled past Dynamo Berlin and Dundee United.
Liverpool meanwhile, had hammered Odense, stuttered past Bilbao, stuffed Benfica, and stuttered past Dynamo Bucarest.

Roma started off brightly, but a mistake in goal, and a piece of defending gone wrong led to a scrappy opener for Liverpool, Phil Neal tapping in from six yards. Both goalkeepers would be earning thier keep in the match, casual defending by the Roma defense would force Tancredi to make up for his earlier error, and the clown prince himself, Bruce Grobbleaar had the game of his life in the Liverpool goal.

However, a magic cross from Bruno Conti (on the second attempt) met with a looping Pruzzo header got Roma level. Both sides had chances as the game progressed, but it went on to the lottery of a penalty shootout.

Liverpool, won the toss and took first, young Nicol putting it over the crossbar. Advantage Roma. Di Bartolomei duely capatilised. Phil Neal repeated his penalty at the other end of the stadium years earlier and banged one in for Liverpool. Bruno Conti, who had been outstanding during the match, to the shock of the watching world, missed his penalty, and it was all level again. The next two pens were scored, before Rush put Liverpool ahead.

Graziani stepped up for Roma. Grobbelaar, who looked incredibly relaxed all the way through the shootout, shook his legs on the goaline (repeated by Dudek, years later) reminding Graziani how tired he was. Graziani duely hit the crossbar with his penalty, and Liverpool only had to score thier last penalty to win it. They did.

Its a shame, because on balance, Roma may well have been the better side on the night. In a shootout though, anything can happen, and it took a moment of goalkeeping madness to seperate the sides.

Next season, the Champions League final will be back in Rome. Maybe, who knows, Roma can go one better then?