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European Cup - First Round
Aug 31 & Sep 09 1965
After having captured the League Championship for the first time in the 1964/65 season, Derry were paired with the Norwegian champions, FK Lyn of Oslo, who had just won their national title for the third successive year, in the European Cup.
Derry City travelled to Oslo for the first leg of the match, which was being held in the famous Bislet Stadium.
No Irish League team had ever won a European Cup tie over two legs. So, when the home team took the lead after five minutes with a goal by Harald Berg, it looked like this trend would continue.
Five minutes later however, Derry were level. Eunan Blake passed a neat ball to McGeough. Jimmy found Matt Doherty wide on the right, who fired in a great cross to Ron Wood. The big Scot then slammed a great 20 yard shot into the roof of the net.
Olsen then restored FK Lyn’s lead, with a penalty a few minutes later - only for Derry to equalise three minutes later with a diving header from Bobby Gilbert, following a corner by Jackie Webb.
Derry were matching the home side in pace and skill, but in the 32nd minute, Ola Olsen scored his second goal of the game when he volleyed home a fine goal. There was to be a final twist hwever before half-time. In 35 minutes, Jimmy McGeough, lobbed a free-kick into the penalty area, where Gilbert rose to head in Derry’s equaliser.
So, the half-time score in a fascinating game was 3-3, and Derry were confident they could get a result.
In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Derry dominated and looked like they would go on and win the game. In the 56th minute however, the East German referee awarded the Norwegians a controversial free-kick outside Derry’s penalty area. Harald Berg flicked the ball to Olsen, whose low shot beat Connor in the Derry goal.
Ole Stavrum scrambled in a fifth goal for FK Lyn in the 68th minute, but Derry hung on for the final 20 minutes for a final score of 5-3.
Derry City: Frank Connor, Eunan Blake, Billy Cathcart, Jimmy McGeough, Jim Crossan, Doug Wood, Ron Wood, Matt Doherty, Bobby Gilbert, Joe Wilson, Jackie Webb.
FK Lyn: Alf Brathen, Jan Rodvang, Axel Berg, Kiell Saga, Svenung Aarnseth, Arid Gulden, Sven Ostlien, Jan Berg, Ole Stavrum, Harald Berg, Ola Olsen.
Referee: Mr Rudi Gloeckner (East Germany)
Nearly 11,000 people crowded into the Brandywell for the second leg on the 9th September.
The Oslo team made a number of changes to their team, with Martinsen replacing Brathen in goal, Morrisbank coming in for Berg at full back, and Seeman for Olsen on the left wing. Derry brought in the not fully-fit Fay Coyle for the injured Gilbert.
After only 5 minutes, Joe Wilson flicked a header from Eunan Blake past the tall Norwegian keeper - giving Derry that essential early goal.
Derry took hold of the game, and on 17 minutes, the Brandywell erupted, when Joe Wilson scored his second goal of the game. This took the tie level 5-5 on aggregate.
On the stroke of half-time, Lyn snatched a simple goal. Derry goalkeeper Frank Connor, pushed a cross against the bar, and Stavrum hit the ball into the net with his chest.
The crowd were expectant going into the second half - and after only three minutes they witnessed a spectacular goal which is still talked about in Derry today.
Jim Crossan intercepted a pass in the middle of the field, and powered forward. With everyone calling on him to pass it, he unleashed an unstoppable shot from 40 yards which curled into the roof of the net.
Derry were growing in strength but the visitors were holding on desperately. The Derry pressure finally yielded a goal in the 66th minute. Doug Wood sent Webb away an the winger cut inside and shot. The ball was blocked but Ron Wood slotted the rebound home with his right foot.
The visitors were deflated, and suddenly a game that had been without many fouls became littered with them.
The last laugh was to be Derry’s however, when 10 minutes from the end, Jimmy McGeough hammered in the final goal.
The Brandywell celebrated in style at the final whistle - Derry winning 5-1 on the night, and 8-6 on aggregate.
It had been a great team performance, with Derry becoming the first Irish League team to win a European Cup tie. Eunan Blake stood out above the rest, Doug Wood and Jimmy McGeough dominated midfield and Joe Wilson scored two magnificent early goals.
Derry: Connor, Blake, Cathcart, McGeough, Crossan, D Wood, R Wood, Doherty, Coyle, Wilson, Webb.
