As the 25th anniversary of Norwich City's famous win at Bayern Munich arrives, we revisit the original report of the EDP's Trevor Burton of that great Uefa Cup second round first leg success at the Olympic Stadium.
Norwich City made history in stunning style last night as they became the first English team ever to beat German legends Bayern Munich on their own ground in European competition.
It was a fabulous performance by the Canaries in the Olympic Stadium, and although this UEFA Cup second round tie still has a long way to go, City will go into the second leg at Carrow Road in a fortnight with a lead they could scarcely have dared dream about.
Jeremy Goss added to his collection of magic moments this season as he fired City into a sensational lead after 12 minutes following a poor clearance by Lothar Matthaus.
It was Goss's fourth goal of the season, and was a worthy successor to his goal-of-the-season contender at Leeds, his winner against Ipswich, and his strike against Vitesse Arnhem in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
Incredibly, City stunned Bayern by making it 2-0 after 29 minutes when Mark Bowen headed home an Ian Crook free-kick. It was Bowen's second goal of the season, his 19th in total for the Canaries – and City's victory ensured that they have still never lost when the Welshman has scored.
Christian Nerlinger pulled a goal back for Bayern, but the night belonged to City and at the end the players were joined by manager Mike Walker as they celebrated with their delirious supporters, and the choruses of On The Ball City were supplemented by a timely rendition of Always Look On The Bright Side of Life on the stadium's public address system.
Yet City's victory was achieved against a background of adversity. Efan Ekoku and John Polston were both ruled out by the injuries that forced them out of Saturday's 2-1 win at Chelsea, and shortly after Goss's goal the Canaries lost Mark Robins with a knee injury.
But City remained undaunted, and as Bayern came to life in the second half they defended in heroic fashion to continually frustrate a German side that appeared to have seriously underestimated their opponents.
City keeper Bryan Gunn made two superb second half saves to deny Edolfo Valencia and Matthaus, but the whole City side emerged heroes.
Time after time the Germans threatened to break through, but an unbelievable succession of crunching tackles by every member of the City rearguard ensured a victory which will reverberate around Europe today.
City could scarcely have believed that the daunting visit to the Olympic Stadium would open in such dramatic fashion.
The Canaries almost fell behind after two minutes when Marcel Witeczek fired a good chance just wide from a Christian Ziege cross, but they bounced back in style to snatch the lead in sensational fashion after 12 minutes.
Rob Newman sent a long ball forward and the stretching Matthaus could only head it into the path of Goss who crashed a ferocious right foot volley into the roof of the net from 20 yards.
It was a stupendous strike, and almost matched the quality of his goal at Leeds earlier in the season.
The Canaries were not tempted to sit on their lead, and after both substitute Daryl Sutch and Ian Butterworth had come close they extended their lead after 31 minutes.
City were awarded a free-kick on the right, and when Ian Crook floated the ball into the area it cleared both Chris Sutton and Oliver Kreuzer before bouncing up for Bowen to head home his second goal of the season.
It was almost unbelievable – but no more than City deserved, for Bayern had looked distinctly lacklustre in the opening period.
At times it did seem that the Canary rearguard were allowing their opponents to run at them a little too freely, but a succession of outstanding last ditch tackles frustrated a succession of home attacks.
Bayern found themselves in the unaccustomed position of being booed by their own supporters, but just as it seemed City would reach half-time with their two-goal lead intact, the Germans hit back just five minutes before the interval.
Matthaus sprayed the ball wide to Jorginho on the right and when his cross came in Nerlinger, unmarked at the far post, sent an unstoppable header past the helpless Gunn.
The second half begun hectically as Bayern fought to quickly level the tie, and after 51 minutes Valencia came close when he turned sharply in the City area before firing a powerful shot into the waiting arms of Gunn.
Goss was then penalised for a foul on Scholl in a dangerous position just outside the City penalty area. Matthaus stepped up to take the kick but smashed his shot high over Gunn's goal.
City then won two corners which came to nothing, and then skipper Butterworth picked up the first yellow card of the evening for a foul on Scholl.
As the game reached the hour mark Bayern made their first substitution, bringing on Michael Sternkopf for Ziege. Four minutes late coach Erich Ribbeck made his second change, bringing on Bruno Labbadia for Scholl.
As the half progressed Bayern at last began to mount a series of sustained attacks on the City goal, but City's defenders continued to resist in heroic manner with a succession of superb tackles – much to the disgust of the passionate home crowd who bayed for free-kicks and penalties at every opportunity.
It was a brave rearguard action by the Canaries, and Witezcek finally threatened to slam home the equaliser he was denied by another fine block from Butterworth.
As City hit back with an attack of their own Ruel Fox broke free down the right, and his pull back seemed likely to set up a goal-scoring chance for Sutch until Matthaus snaked out a leg to hook the ball clear.
City were living dangerously now and after 75 minutes only a breathtaking save from Gunn kept their lead intact. A right-wing cross from Jorginho was met by a thunderous header by Valencia from only six yards out, but Gunn moved instinctively to his left to block the shot, and then Kreuzer missed another glorious chance as he fired the rebound over the bar.
Valencia then tried his luck with a spectacular overhead kick after 78 minutes, but the effort went well wide.
A minute later Matthaus came forward to test Gunn with a curling left-foot shot, but the City keeper again moved sharply to his right to hold on well to the shot.
With the game a minute into injury time Gunn ensured a famous victory for City as he dived bravely at the feet of Labbadia as Bayern threatened a last gasp equaliser they scarcely deserved after City's sterling rearguard action.
Bayern: Aumann, Jorginho, Ziege (Sternkopf 60), Kreuzer, Helmer, Nerlinger, Wouters, Witeczek, Valencia, Matthaus, Scholl (Labbadia 64). Unused subs: Thon, Zickler, Gospodarek
Goal: Nerlinger (41)
Booked: None
Norwich: Gunn, Culverhouse, Bowen, Butterworth, Prior, Newman, Robins (Sutch 26), Crook, Sutton, Fox, Goss. Unused subs: Megson, Eadie, Johnson, Howie
Goals: Goss (12), Bowen (29)
Booked: Butterworth
Referee: Leif Sundell (Sweden)
Attendance: 28,500
STATS – BAYERN V NORWICH
Shots: 14 – 4
Corners: 12 – 5
Fouls conceded: 14 –13
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jeremy Goss: His memorable goal and tireless work in midfield summed up a superb display by the Canaries.
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