In Strasbourg, AFC Ajax became the fifth team to fail to win two consecutive finals. Their executioners were KV Mechelen, from the Flemish part of Belgium, who enjoyed a brief spell in domestic and European spotlights. Ironically, Ajax were defeated by a side with Dutch connections. The coach was former Ajax boss Aad de Mos; Erwin Koeman was a key figure in midfield; and bustling striker Piet den Boer, partnered by Israel’s Eli Ohana, was instrumental in taking the trophy to Flanders.

Transition in Amsterdam
AFC Ajax had undergone significant changes in 12 months. Marco van Basten had been sold to Milan AC and Johan Cruyff had left, leaving the bench to Barry Hulshoff. But he still had eight of the 1987 champions and the Dutch team eliminated Dundalk FC, BSC Young Boys and Olympique de Marseille en route to the final, recording an impressive 3-0 win in Marseille thanks to two goals by Rob Witschge and one from Dennis Bergkamp, seconds after he had come on as substitute. KV Mechelen had knocked out CS Dinamo Bucuresti, St. Mirren FC and Atalanta BC without losing a game and looking particularly impressive away from home.

Blind sending off turns tie
The clash between Dutch and Belgians, played to a crowd of 40,000, did not go as Ajax expected. Danny Blind was sent off after 16 minutes and the Dutch seemingly underestimated the opposition. The only goal was scored by den Boer in the 53rd minute and ten-man Ajax were unable to beat the Mechelen goalkeeper, Michel Preud’homme. Once again, the underdogs had come out on top.