1998: Poyet strikes late for Chelsea
Tuesday 1 September 1998
e-mail
Print
Digg
Save
Real Madrid CF 0-1 Chelsea FC
Gianluca Vialli completed a memorable first summer in charge of Chelsea FC by lifting the UEFA Super Cup after a 1-0 victory against Real Madrid CF in Monaco. Vialli's side had followed up their English League Cup win with victory against VfB Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, and they claimed their second European trophy in three months thanks to substitute Gus Poyet's 81st-minute strike.
Zola vision
The UEFA Super Cup was being played at its new home, the Stade Louis II, for the first time and the one-off match, a change to the traditional two-legged format, now acted as the curtain-raiser for the new season. Gianfranco Zola had ended the old one on a high by scoring the goal that defeated Stuttgart in Stockholm and he started the new one by providing the pass that put Poyet in position to fire the ball beyond Bodo Illgner with nine minutes to play. These two sides had also met in the final of the 1971 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Chelsea had won then 3-2 on aggregate, but did not look likely to repeat that feat here after a strong opening spell from the European champions.
Late winner
Madrid, who had claimed their seventh European Champions Clubs' Cup crown with victory against Juventus in Amsterdam, twice came close through Raúl González before Fernando Hierro struck the post with a free-kick 12 minutes before half-time. Pierluigi Casiraghi and Zola had looked isolated up front for Chelsea during the first half, but the London side came more into the game after the break. Illgner saved from Celestine Babayaro then Frank Leboeuf hit the post with a curling shot before Poyet struck the winner late on.
©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.
