The Final of 1989: Nobby would have done it again

The 24^th June is nearly like a magical date in the club’s history. In 1956 BVB won their first Championship (also in Berlin). In 1989 – 23 years after the last title – Borussia Dortmund was back in a Final again. The opponent in the Cup Final was the Champion of the year before Werder Bremen.

There was a seven point gap in the league between seventh placed Dortmund and third in the table Bremen, who were thus favourites before the game. But the Black Yellow fans outnumbered the Bremen fans. 40 000 Dortmund fans “versus”

15 000 Bremen fans, who had all partied on the Ku’damm before the game and became “brothers in arms”. So Berlin could look forward to a football feast. The Olympic stadium was sold out with 76 171 fans.

But on the pitch both teams really got stuck in. As expected Bremen had more of the game. In the 14^th minute Thomas Schaaf played the ball into the middle to Kalle Riedle, and he slotted the ball home into the left corner with his right foot.

Bratseth misjudged the ball - Dickel equalises

And Dortmund? They did not let anything show. Michael Rummenigge twisted and turned in midfield, Frank Mill sprinted along the left side and played the ball in the direction of the penalty spot. Rune Bratseth, the boss in Bremen’s defence, misjudged the ball completely. Norbert Dickel was there where a goal-getter has to be and scored to make it 1-1. Dortmund had equalised just seven minutes after Bremen had taken the lead.

„Bratseth somehow got stuck and couldn’t get to the ball anymore. Normally that would not have been a problem for him. And suddenly I’m alone in front of Oliver Reck and put the ball away – 1-1.”

So of all people it was Norbert Dickel. There was no doubt about his sporting prowess. He was Borussia’s most successful goal scorer with twelve goals in the league in season 1988/89. He had also scored the important second goal in the round of last 16 at Schalke 04 (3-2 for BVB). But at the start of May, exactly seven weeks before the Final, he had to undergo a meniscus operation. The Final was the 46^th day after his operation. He had not played up until then and he could only finish the final training session with great pain before he pulled himself together to get to the city, which was still divided at that time.

Niebaum and Möller convinced Head Coach Köppel

“You don’t get to a Final that often as a player. I felt quite good even though shooting with the inside of my foot really hurt. Of course I did not let on about this at all. Because I wanted to go to Berlin. Of course I could not expect to play right from the start, even though I did inwardly hope I would. In the semi-final against Stuttgart I tore the meniscus in my knee and I could only train again the day before the Final.”

Dickel was allowed to fly with the team, but he was not supposed to play from the start. Head Coach Horst Köppel wanted to play with a defensive tactic. The club president back then, Dr. Gerd Niebaum and also midfield player Andreas Möller went on and on at the Head Coach. Köppel finally gave way and put Dickel in the team.

After further huge chances for Dickel on the one side and Bratseth on the other side, the teams parted at 1-1 for half time. That is where the Black Yellows made a pact amongst themselves. “The blockade is gone”, Dickel remembered, “Bremen was not the almighty opponent. They were human too.” Borussia believed in themselves and in their chance: “at that moment we noticed: you can get to them after all. From then on the game was open. We got better minute by minute. At half time we told ourselves: we still have 45 minutes. Let’s play for attack, let’s bring the Cup back to the Ruhrpott.”

But at the start of the second half striker Frank Mill had to clear the ball from the line after a mistake by Thomas Helmer. The corner to follow caused all kinds of problems in the Dortmund penalty area. Riedle also had opportunities on three occasions to put Bremen back into the lead.

Michael Zorc sets up two goals

It was a really tight game in heated temperatures. Whoever would take the lead now would definitely have the advantage. Bremen Head Coach Otto Rehhagel brought on another striker in Ordenewitz for Otten in order to increase the pressure. Mill, who was having a great game, made sure Dortmund got some breathing space on the other side. And he got his just rewards: (as you would say today) he received a “no-look-pass” from Michael Zorc and headed the ball into the goal in the 58^th minute to make it 2-1.

Werder replied with vicious attacks. Zorc cleared the ball with an acrobatic bicycle kick – and in so doing started the move to make it 3-1. Möller diverted the ball to Mill, who had two Bremen players in front of him. He nutmegged the first and shot at goal from twelve metres from a half right position. Reck saved the ball with his foot, but Mill was right there again. This time he veered to the left. Then Dickel appeared. 14 metres. Volley. Goal! The 46^th Final for the DFB Cup was nearly as good as over in the 71^st minute.

This was the hour of the hero of Berlin.

“I don’t think that this game had such a great influence on my career ending so early on. I did everything right on this day in Berlin. If I would not have been part of the team, I would not be working for Borussia Dortmund today. The knee has had it, but my life took the right turn. Yes, I would have done it again.”

Dickel’s path was predestined, but the game was not over yet. Michael Lusch, who had been in the game only two minutes having come on for Günther Breitzke, was off and away after Helmers 50 metre pass, he nudged the ball into his path with his head and then speared the ball into the bottom left hand corner. 4-1!

23 years and 22 days after the European Cup win against FC Liverpool in Glasgow, Borussia Dortmund could celebrate another title. Hundreds of thousands of fans cheered the team on their return. The captain back then Michale Zorc said: “winning this title was like a reawakening of our fortunes. It gave the club back that confidence that led to the German Championships in the 90’s, even if there was a small delay in time in doing so.” Boris Rupert