40 years ago, Austria Wien moved into the European Cup final

More than 70,000 spectators cheered for Austria Wien on April 12^th, 1978, when the “Violets” made up for the 1-2 defeat in Moscow in the European Cup semi-final in the Prater Stadium. "There was an insane fan rush on this return match - they had to block Johannesgasse because there were too many people at the office in Schillinggasse. Even we players sold tickets," says Robert Sara, with 727 competitive games and 15 titles a record “Violet” and honorary captain.

The 'European Cup madness' had to be decided by penalty shoot-out after violet goals by Pirkner and Morales, as well as a hectic extra time. Goalkeeper Baumgartner ended up being the match-winner. After the final whistle the party started, "People did not go home, they celebrated forever with us. It was a great experience, a tremendous success for the club." And financially very lucrative for the players, "Tommy Parits negotiated great premiums for us as the player's spokesman - nobody expected such a success.

What made FK Austria Wien so strong at the time? "We did have outstanding single players, but most of all, we were welded together - one ran for the other. In every practice match we gave our all because the loser had to pay," said Robert Sara, a trained striker and one of the first modern attacking full-backers in football.

The big European Cup games such as that semi-final second leg against Dynamo Moscow were the highlights of his career. In the domestic league Robert Sara became series champion with Austria Wien. "At our best, the opposing clubs came to us and knew that they would go home having received three or four goals. Of course, the European Cup games against the big European clubs were very special experiences that I still like to remember 40 years later," says Sara.

FK Austria Wien line-up in the second leg:

Baumgartner; Robert Sara, Obermayer, Josef Sara, Baumeister; Prohaska, Morales, Gasselich (83^rd Martinez); Drazan (85^th Pospischil), Parits, Pirkner.

Goals: 1-0 by Pirkner (49') with a penalty kick, 2-0 by Morales after assist by Prohaska (56').

First leg in Moscow: Dynamo Moscow - Austria Wien 2-1

Second leg in Vienna: Austria Wien - Dynamo Moscow 2-1, after penalty shoot-out: 5-4

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