Red Devil
May 15 2002, 07:50 PM
A moment of magic from Zinedine Zidane saw Real Madrid crowned champions of Europe. The World Footballer of the Year crashed home a sublime left-footed volley a minute from the interval to break the hearts of Bayer Leverkusen. The German underdogs had snapped at their supposed superiors all night and despite falling behind to Raul's early finish, soon levelled through Lucio and worried the assembled superstars from Spain's royal club all night. But they had no answer to the undisputed king of football as Zidane produced a flash of pure brilliance 42 years after Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas had lit up Hampden Park and an entire generation with their own brand of genius. But Zidane was not alone in his Hampden heroics, with substitite keeper Iker Casillas producing three late saves to deny a Bayer side who almost snatched an equaliser through their own keeper Hans-Jorg Butt in a frantic finale.
It was exactly what European football has come to expect of Klaus Toppmoller's effervescent side, who again showed they have the togetherness, tenacity and talent to undermine the so-called superpowers of the continental stage. Yet the night still belonged to the man who now has a clean sweep. Zidane, who had lost his previous two finals with Juventus, now has the coveted medal to go with those World and European triumphs tasted with the France national side. His wonder winner also cemented a record ninth success for the Bernabeu dynasty.
There was little to choose between the two sides as half-time beckoned and Santiago Solari sent Roberto Carlos scurrying down the left wing. The Brazilian did well to beat Zoltan Sebescen to the dropping ball and as he hooked it hopefully towards the corner of the box, Hampden held its breath as Zidane shaped to connect with the dropping ball. It was not on his strongest right side, but the twisting technique was so perfect that Butt was left helpless as the ball arrowed into the top corner of his net. The strike was the talk of the half-time break everywhere around Hampden, save the Bayer Leverkusen dressing room, where the chain-smoking Toppmoller rallied his side for a second-half fightback. Although Fernando Morientes scooped over after a neat turn and Solari, somehow discarded by Argentina ahead of the World Cup, jinked into the box but saw his drive beaten out by Cesar, Bayer could have taken the trophy on chances alone. Spurred on by a tireless farewell flourish from Munich-bound Michael Ballack, they battered the Real rearguard in an amazing seven minutes of added time.
By then Cesar had limped off to be replaced by Casillas and his first action was watch opposite number Butt come up to meet a Deigo Placente free-kick, only for his header to bounce down and inches up over the join of post and bar. Casillas then excelled in keeping out Yildiraiy Basturk's rising drive and from the resulting corner, somehow scrambled from front post to far to stop Dimitar Berbatov bundling home after Butt had again caused confusion. But his work was not done and as Butt stayed up for a third successive corner, Berbatov climbed highest to meet the kick yet Casillas kept the header out with his legs and cleared the loose ball from the lurking Carsten Ramelow. In terms of spectacle, the closing drama could not have been further from the start, even though there was the treat of two goals in the first 15 minutes. First, Real made the most of any Bayer nerves with the simplest of openers. Having already nearly suffered at two earlier Roberto Carlos throw-ins, Lucio was caught napping a third time and Raul, the competition's record scorer, stole in to slot past a static Butt.
But Bayer have overcome bigger deficits in their dream journey to the final and within six minutes were threatening another surprise as the excellent Claude Makelele - who's dogged defensive work allows Zidane to do the damage at the other end - was penalised for a foul. Bernd Schneider swang the free-kick in from the left and Lucio, a reported Real target this summer, got the telling touch to glance it into the far corner of Cesar's net. He was then denied by Solari's brave block and the Real keeper was able to smother a hesitant Thomas Brdaric as Fernando Hierro's sluggishness on the turn was exposed by the Germans' intricate approach. But for all their delicacy, they could not deliver and after dropping deep to influence the game, Zidane dominated the next passage of play, culminating with the goal that although cliched, was good enough to grace any cup final.
Bayer Leverkusen: Butt, Zivkovic, Lucio (Babic 90), Placente, Basturk, Ballack, Schneider, Sebescen, Ramelow, Neuville, Brdaric (Berbatov 38).
Subs Not Used: Juric, Kirsten, Vranjes, Dzaka, Kleine.
Real Madrid: Cesar (Casillas 68), Salgado, Carlos, Hierro, Zidane, Helguera, Solari, Makelele (Flavio 73), Raul, Morientes, Figo (McManaman 61).
Subs Not Used: Guti, Karanka, Munitis, Pavsn.
Booked: Salgado, Carlos.
Att: 52,000
Ref: Urs Meier (Switzerland)
Sky News
It was exactly what European football has come to expect of Klaus Toppmoller's effervescent side, who again showed they have the togetherness, tenacity and talent to undermine the so-called superpowers of the continental stage. Yet the night still belonged to the man who now has a clean sweep. Zidane, who had lost his previous two finals with Juventus, now has the coveted medal to go with those World and European triumphs tasted with the France national side. His wonder winner also cemented a record ninth success for the Bernabeu dynasty.
There was little to choose between the two sides as half-time beckoned and Santiago Solari sent Roberto Carlos scurrying down the left wing. The Brazilian did well to beat Zoltan Sebescen to the dropping ball and as he hooked it hopefully towards the corner of the box, Hampden held its breath as Zidane shaped to connect with the dropping ball. It was not on his strongest right side, but the twisting technique was so perfect that Butt was left helpless as the ball arrowed into the top corner of his net. The strike was the talk of the half-time break everywhere around Hampden, save the Bayer Leverkusen dressing room, where the chain-smoking Toppmoller rallied his side for a second-half fightback. Although Fernando Morientes scooped over after a neat turn and Solari, somehow discarded by Argentina ahead of the World Cup, jinked into the box but saw his drive beaten out by Cesar, Bayer could have taken the trophy on chances alone. Spurred on by a tireless farewell flourish from Munich-bound Michael Ballack, they battered the Real rearguard in an amazing seven minutes of added time.
By then Cesar had limped off to be replaced by Casillas and his first action was watch opposite number Butt come up to meet a Deigo Placente free-kick, only for his header to bounce down and inches up over the join of post and bar. Casillas then excelled in keeping out Yildiraiy Basturk's rising drive and from the resulting corner, somehow scrambled from front post to far to stop Dimitar Berbatov bundling home after Butt had again caused confusion. But his work was not done and as Butt stayed up for a third successive corner, Berbatov climbed highest to meet the kick yet Casillas kept the header out with his legs and cleared the loose ball from the lurking Carsten Ramelow. In terms of spectacle, the closing drama could not have been further from the start, even though there was the treat of two goals in the first 15 minutes. First, Real made the most of any Bayer nerves with the simplest of openers. Having already nearly suffered at two earlier Roberto Carlos throw-ins, Lucio was caught napping a third time and Raul, the competition's record scorer, stole in to slot past a static Butt.
But Bayer have overcome bigger deficits in their dream journey to the final and within six minutes were threatening another surprise as the excellent Claude Makelele - who's dogged defensive work allows Zidane to do the damage at the other end - was penalised for a foul. Bernd Schneider swang the free-kick in from the left and Lucio, a reported Real target this summer, got the telling touch to glance it into the far corner of Cesar's net. He was then denied by Solari's brave block and the Real keeper was able to smother a hesitant Thomas Brdaric as Fernando Hierro's sluggishness on the turn was exposed by the Germans' intricate approach. But for all their delicacy, they could not deliver and after dropping deep to influence the game, Zidane dominated the next passage of play, culminating with the goal that although cliched, was good enough to grace any cup final.
Bayer Leverkusen: Butt, Zivkovic, Lucio (Babic 90), Placente, Basturk, Ballack, Schneider, Sebescen, Ramelow, Neuville, Brdaric (Berbatov 38).
Subs Not Used: Juric, Kirsten, Vranjes, Dzaka, Kleine.
Real Madrid: Cesar (Casillas 68), Salgado, Carlos, Hierro, Zidane, Helguera, Solari, Makelele (Flavio 73), Raul, Morientes, Figo (McManaman 61).
Subs Not Used: Guti, Karanka, Munitis, Pavsn.
Booked: Salgado, Carlos.
Att: 52,000
Ref: Urs Meier (Switzerland)
Sky News