fight to the end.......... 勒沃庫森雖敗猶榮.......



Bayer battle to the end but Zizou grabs glory

By Brian Scott

A moment of sheer brilliance from Zinedine Zidane at Hampden evoked wondrous memories of his illustrious Real Madrid forefathers in the most famous of all European Cup Finals.

Lucio celebrates his equaliser with his Leverkusen teammates
(GaryPrior/Allsport)
Zidane struck with a venomous volley immediately before the interval to signal the defeat of a brave Bayer Leverkusen and take his club career to its absolute zenith.

Glasgow fans who like to boast, 'Yes, I was there in 1960' will treasure the thought of having seen the Frenchman settle this Champions League Final in such stunning style at the same venue where Real tasted European glory 42 years ago.

But much sympathy is due the Germans who, with Lucio having quickly cancelled out an early goal by Raul, fought defiantly into stoppage time - all seven minutes of it - in an attempt to preserve their honour.

With the Swiss referee preparing to end a fascinating contest, goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt piled forward and almost scored with a header.

Hampden's captivated crowd - which included Spain's King Juan Carlos among its number - may have been less than half the size of that which celebrated Real's win 42 years ago - but Zidane's goal, coupled to gripping opening exchanges and a thrilling finale made for every bit as good a spectacle.

The Spaniards took the lead in circumstances that confounded the Germans and left them cursing their defensive awareness.

Having already troubled the Leverkusen defence with a throw-in, Roberto Carlos then directed another mammoth effort from near the halfway line to Raul, who had already set off on a sprint behind the Leverkusen defence

With any hint of a challenge well behind him, he simply rolled the ball past the bewildered and, it has to be said, leaden-footed, goal-keeper Butt.

Talk about being caught unawares? Leverkusen were made to look positively silly with only nine minutes on the clock and few would have been surprised if they had crumpled there and then.

Yet there was a commendable resilience about the German side, a fact they demonstrated just five minutes later when Roberto Carlos's fellow- Brazilian, Lucio, equalised from a free-kick near the touchline.

Bernd Schneider flighted the ball deep into the heart of Real's penalty box for the impressive Lucio, one of Berti Vogts' signings, to rise above all challengers and head the ball beyond Cesar.

It was time for Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmoller to light up another cigarette and, more than likely, he puffed his way through a few more as the first half continued to unfold.

Butt did especially well at one point to race from his goal and, with an outstretched boot, nick the ball away from the feet of Morientes as the Real player threatened.