1998: Favourite Frings delivers for Bremen
Saturday 1 August 1998
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Torsten Frings & Jens Todt (Werder Bremen) (©Getty Images)
The 1998 edition of the UEFA Intertoto Cup saw France's dominance of the competition curtailed as Valencia CF, Werder Bremen and Bologna FC all triumphed. But it was the performance of three unfashionable teams that caught the attention as FK Vojvodina, SV Austria Salzburg and KS Ruch Chorzów all reached the final stage after impressive runs.
Ruch pickings
Inexperienced Polish side GKS Ruch Radzionków provided an early shock when they ended FK Austria Wien's aspirations in the First Round and, after negotiating their way past Debreceni VSC in the semi-final, they booked a place in the final. There they faced the might of Bologna but the Italian side, who had previously seen off FC National 2000 Bucuresti and Serie A rivals UC Sampdoria, proved too strong as they eased to a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Unchecked progress
Valencia also had to overcome domestic rivals as they became the first Spanish side to savour success in the competition. After starting their campaign with a comfortable win against Russian side FC Shinnik Yaroslavl, Valencia were drawn against RCD Espanyol in the last four. A first-half goal from Claudio López gave Claudio Ranieri's side a narrow lead in the first leg in Barcelona, and he scored two more at home as Valencia booked a final date with Salzburg. That tie proved a breeze as a sixth-minute strike from Miguel Ángel Angulo set them on course for a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Frings form
Torsten Frings scored in every round as Bremen sauntered into the final with a record of six games, six wins, 16 scored and three conceded. There they met Serbo-Montenegrin side Vojvodina and, with the tie finely poised at 1-1 an hour into the second leg, Germany midfielder Frings continued his scoring form with the decisive goal to ensure Bremen booked a place in the UEFA Cup.
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