Match summary
Flamengo's finest hour remains their victory in the second edition of the Toyota Cup, in December 1981, when a certain Zico destroyed a Liverpool side who started the game as favourites. Named man of the match, Zico was directly involved in all three goals; lobbing Phil Thompson to set up Nunes for the first (12), delivering a masterful free kick for Adilio to convert number two in the 34 th minute and, just before the break, sending another pinpoint ball into the crowded penalty box for Nunes to net his second (41).

The entire arc and span of Zico's talent was on display that day and Liverpool could do nothing to contain the great man. The Reds chose a more direct approach, which repeatedly foundered against the solid Mozer-Marinho central defensive bulwark.

Key player
The "white Pele" played in three FIFA World Cups (1978, 82 and 86) and set the incredible record of 508 goals for Flamengo. If Zico's philosophy reflects that of Brazilian football as a whole, it is more than mere coincidence: "In football, you need to use your brain as much as your body. You have to be clever, to defeat your opponent. You can't win duels merely by relying on your physical strengh. Without a touch of genius, football would be quite dull."

Coach
His coach at the time, Paulo César Carpeggiani, would surely be the last person to contradict him. Widely travelled as a player and manager and a devotee of the beautiful game, Carpeggiani was more than happy to make the transition to coach. "Being able to meet people in different countries of the world is a great thing. Knowledge of other cultures gives us broader vision and can always help us when we're looking for new and modern ideas, different to those we might find in our own country," said the man who went from Flamengo to Al Nasser in Saudi Arabia, before returned to Brazil, then Paraguay before coaching in Kuwait.

Flamengo 3-0 Liverpool
Venue: Tokyo
Stadium: National Stadium
Attendance: 62,000
13 December 1981
Referee: M. Mario Rubio Vazquez (Mex)
Goals: Nunes (12 and 41), Adilio (34)
Flamengo: Raul, Leandro, Mozer, Marinho, Júnior, Andrade, Adílio, Zico Tita, Nunes, Lico
Liverpool: Grobbelaar Neal, Thompson, Hansen, Lawrenson, Kennedy, Lee, McDermott (Johnson), Souness - Johnston, Dalglish