Match summary
As winners of that year's Copa Libertadores, River Plate made their first trip to the Japanese capital on 14 December 1986, where they took on the reigning European Cup holders Steaua Bucharest. In what was a combative and at times bad-tempered game, the Argentine side did just enough to edge out the Romanians and claim a historic triumph. The only goal of the game came from man of the match Antonio Alzamendi, who got his head to a quickly taken free kick from Norberto Alonso after 28 minutes.

Having been crowned world champions earlier that year at Mexico 1986, River's three Argentine internationals - Nery Pumpido, Oscar Ruggeri and Héctor Enrique - made it a rare double with their club's victory in Japan. The Millonarios' achievement sparked huge celebrations back in Buenos Aires, with thousands of delirious supporters pouring onto the streets to pay homage to their heroes.

Key player
The captain, leader and outstanding figure of that side is one of the club's all-time greats, Norberto Osvaldo Alonso. Still revered by fans to this day, the left footer known as "Beto" came up through the ranks of River Plate and went on to score 149 times in 374 appearances for the club, winning nine titles along the way. He was also a member of the Argentine national side that lifted the FIFA World Cup on home soil in 1978. River's victory over Steaua Bucharest in Tokyo turned out to be his final game for the club. The player later recalled his decision to quit, saying: "As we celebrated our victory with a lap of honour, I realised that this was the time and the place to bow out." In 1989 "Beto" returned to the club for a spell as coach.

Coach
Though not a life-long River man, Héctor Rodolfo Veira left an enduring legacy at the club. A natural-born motivator, "El Bambino" put together a compact outfit with one unmistakeable trait: ruthless counterattacking. Reminiscing later about this side, the coach, who would later go on to take charge of Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo de Almagro, said: "River Plate is the White House. It's a spectacular club. In 1986, we had a very solid side and one that, above all, consisted of men. We knew exactly what we wanted, which is why we got it in the end."

Tokyo National Stadium, 14 December
River Plate 1-0 Steaua Bucharest
Attendance: 62,000.
Referee: José Martínez Bazán (Uru)
Goal: Antonio Alzamendi (28)
River Plate: Pumpido - Gordillo, Gutiérrez, Ruggeri, Montenegro - Enrique, Gallego, Alfaro (Sperandio), Alonso - Alzamendi, Funes.
Steaua Bucharest: Stingaciu - Iovan, Belodedici, Weisenbacher, Bumbescu - Barbulescu (Majearu), Stoica, Balan, Balint - Lacatus, Piturca.