Libuda's lob for all eternity

While over 40 million spectators crowded around their TV screens to watch one of the biggest sensations ever witnessed in European football up until that point, only 42,000 fans attended the match despite the stadium's 135,000 capacity – Borussia's treasurers had hoped for considerably more ticket revenue yet only a handful of neutrals from the Scottish capital ventured to the ground. Borussia Dortmund, the German Cup winners in 1965, had already made a name for themselves thanks to victories over Floriana La Valetta (Malta) and CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria) before ending Atletico Madrid's 17-match winning streak at home in European competition (1-1 in Spain, 1-0 in Dortmund) and then knocking out title-holders West Ham United at the semi-final stage, recording the first-ever victory by a German club on English soil in the process (the Black and Yellows won 2-1).  

However, their opponents in the final were on another level.

Bill Shankly had built an excellent team at Liverpool and was convinced that he was in charge of Europe's best club side – but, at the very least, the best XI in England. He never shied away from comparisons with the national team, who went on to become world champions later that year. "There are only two good teams in England," he often said. "Our first team and our reserves." As for the opponents, he was rather dismissive: "Borussia Dortmund – who the hell are they?" he said.

As the two teams got out of their respective buses, Shankly used the index and middle on his right hand to make a "V" sign for "victory", while BVB boss Willy Multhaup had a few choice words for his charges: "Gentlemen, we need to make things as difficult as possible for them."

In addition, the Reds had the home advantage. Among the 42,000 spectators there were only three thousand Dortmund fans – but well over 20,000 Liverpool supporters. As they ran onto the pitch, BVB's players quickly realised what was awaiting them: a friendly welcome for Dortmund; wild enthusiasm for Liverpool. The Reds attacked from the off and initially caused the Black and Yellows one problem after another. Following a corner Redder, had to clear the ball off the line with goalkeeper Tilkowski already beaten.

Though after a quarter of an hour BVB made it more of a contest – and had chances through Emmerich, Kurrat's volley, Schmidt's ingenious curler and Held – shot-stopper Tilkowski was repeatedly forced into making saves to deny the rampant Reds. Wolfgang Paul was ubiquitous; he was the talisman. At the end of the first half the score was still level at 0-0! Liverpool had been the dominant force but had failed to score. It was a small success for the Dortmund players.

The second half also began with a foray forward from Liverpool. In the 52nd minute, Byrne passed to Milne, who hit a thunderous strike from 20 metres out with Tilkowski at full stretch. Four minutes later, the Reds were on the attack again. Thompson put in a cross from the right flank, but Sturm headed away for a corner. BVB were visibly waning.

In the 61st minute, though, Borussia Dortmund scored out of nothing to make it 1-0. Held to Emmerich, Emmerich to Held. It was their first successful passing move of the match, and Held hit the return pass on the volley as it dropped, leaving Lawrence no chance. An unstoppable effort!

Yet only seven minutes later BVB were brought crashing back down to earth. Thompson had dribbled past three Dortmund players on the right flank, taking the ball just beyond the byline, and the linesman also felt it had gone out of play. But Thompson continued on regardless, crossing into the centre, where Hunt controlled the ball and fired precisely into the top corner from 11 metres out. Eleven Dortmund players looked at each other aghast. The stadium went mad. Hundreds of Liverpool fans ran onto the pitch, hugging their players and clearly believing they were on the path to victory. Minutes passed before the pitch was cleared. Tilkowski ran towards the referee and remonstrated with him, but the goal was given. Willi Multhaup felt that was it for his side and thought: "Now we're done for."

Though Held and Emmerich were not as effective as usual in this final, Aki Schmidt produced one of his greatest performances for BVB, spearheading the Black and Yellow attack. When the ball landed at his feet, you just knew that he would do the right thing. Held had a tough job against Yeats, while Emmerich appeared incredibly mindless at times. He looked nowhere near as intelligent or as cunning as in his great Bundesliga performances. The centre-left Sturm had predominantly defensive duties to fulfil. But how he fulfilled them! He was one of Borussia's strongest performers. The Dortmund players excelled themselves, refusing to be beaten. They would not let an illegitimate goal or the fact that some of their players were nowhere near top form get in their way.

In the 100th minute, ten minutes after extra-time had kicked off, Assauer collapsed to the ground. Was it the same old injury? It was a major concern for the travelling supporters. Then, two minutes later, came the winner: Schmidt found Held, who dribbled the ball past an opponent and, with only the goalkeeper to beat, unleashed a shot. The ball was parried by out by Lawrence. Libuda ran onto it and did the only thing possible: with the goalkeeper well out of his penalty area, he hit a looping effort over him and into the net.

"Stan" had endured a torrid evening until that point. Almost everything went wrong. His marauding runs were often stopped by the first or – at best – the second defender. His passes failed to find the target, while his crosses were intercepted by Liverpool's Ron Yeats. "Stan" was showing none of the ability had earned him his nickname (after Stanley Matthews). But at the decisive moment, when it counted, Libuda delivered!

When the finally whistle blew, tears of joy could be seen in the players' eyes. Nobody held back. Even the substitutes were crying. Reinhold Wosab admitted: "I am so happy for the others and so sad that I was not involved."

In Dortmund, back then Europe's no. 1 city for beer, the juice was flowing freely. Cars honked their horns at the Borsigplatz. The Sportlerklause, owned by August Lenz, threatened to collapse when "Stan" Libuda scored the second goal.

They were welcomed like world champions. Traffic came to a standstill on the motorway between Köln-Wahn and Dortmund. The victors of Glasgow drove home in open-top cars. They were hailed by all of Germany. And Dortmund went wild.

BVB total! video: The Matchday Magazine on the game in Glasgow