After defeating Sachsensring Zwickau in the quarterfinal, then city rivals Vorwärts Berlin in the semi-final, 1. FC Union Berlin met the reigning East German champion Carl Zeiss Jena in Halle, with the FDGB Cup – East Germany’s major cup competition – up for grabs. Union had never beaten Jena in their history.

The season of 1967/68 was unremarkable for Union Berlin in the league with head coach Werner Schwenzfeier only managing to guide his team to eighth. In the end, it actually turned out to be a positive climax as the Köpenick side avoided relegation. However, the domestic cup brought an opportunity to alleviate the pressures of a relegation battle, and Union fought all the way to the final on Sunday June 9, 1968.

Union carried the underdog label as Jena held the status as one of the pre-eminent clubs of that era. Jena had several players who had been called up for international duty with the East German national side. The club from Thüringen were league champions in 1963, 1968 and 1970, whilst finishing runner-up in 1965, 1966 and 1969.

The odds were so stacked against Union Berlin that 42 of 44 sports editors from East German newspapers backed Carl Zeiss Jena in the final.

Jena’s quality shone through in the opening exchanges with Werner Krauß putting FCC ahead after about 30 seconds of play. Kraus’ shot from distance beat Union keeper Rainer Ignaczak who was blind-sided by other players ahead of him.

However, that set the wheels in motion for a remarkable comeback. Union fought and battled through and earned their rewards on 29 minutes when Meinhard Uentz scored from the penalty spot. Ralf Quest scored the winner on 63 minutes to send the 2,000 travelling Union supporters into scenes of unrivalled joy. This was the first sensation for Union Berlin. This is our greatest success.

The full Union XI from the final: Rainer Ignaczak, Wolfgang Hillmann (Harry Zedler 67), Wolfgang Wruck, Reinhard “Mecky” Lauck, Hartmut Felsch, Ulrich Prüfke, Hajo Betke, Günter “Jimmy” Hoge, Ralf Quest, Meinhard Uentz, Jürgen Stoppok.