Pepsi Changemakers: Sliding doors moments from previous Champions League finals
Monday, May 23, 2022
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Didier Drogba, Oliver Kahn, Jerzy Dudek and a pair of Manchester United super-subs feature in our collection of Changemakers from past UEFA Champions League finals.
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UEFA Champions League Changemakers, brought to you by Pepsi, picks out the pivotal instances that proved decisive in shifting the momentum in past finals.
Changemakers: Historic finals
1997 Ricken stops comeback in tracks (Dortmund 3-1 Juventus)
1999 Man. United super-subs stun Bayern (United 2-1 Bayern)
2001 Kahn saves the day in shoot-out (Bayern 1-1 Valencia, 5-4p)
2005 Dudek double-save in Miracle of Istanbul (Milan 3-3 Liverpool, 2-3p)
2006 Belletti proves surprise saviour (Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal)
2012 Drogba hauls Chelsea over the line (Bayern 1-1 Chelsea, 3-4p)
2014 Last-gasp Ramos breaks Atleti hearts (Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético, aet)
Ricken stops comeback in tracks
Lars Ricken had been on the pitch for just 16 seconds when his spectacular lob restored Dortmund's two-goal cushion and ended Juve's hopes of a comeback.
Man. United super-subs stun Bayern
"Football, bloody hell." It is little surprise Sir Alex Ferguson's pithy post-match reaction has gone down in folklore; United looked to be down and out as they trailed 1-0 heading into extra time. Substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær somehow flipped this final on its head.
Kahn saves the day in shoot-out
Oliver Kahn was Bayern's unfortunate keeper that night in Barcelona; two years later, in Milan, he was their hero with three saves in the penalty shoot-out win against Valencia.
Dudek double-save in Miracle of Istanbul
Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down at half-time is well-documented, but all their good work might have gone to waste had Jerzy Dudek not pulled off a remarkable 117th-minute double-save to deny Andriy Shevchenko.
Belletti proves surprise saviour
A 71st-minute substitute, Juliano Belletti was a right-back by trade but it was at the other end of the pitch where he had a memorable impact in the 2006 final: first, an assist for Samuel Eto'o, then the winner.
Drogba hauls Chelsea over the line
Bayern looked destined for glory on home soil until Didier Drogba's 88th-minute header pulled Chelsea level and forced extra time. The Blues' predatory forward then struck the winning penalty in the shoot-out to help atone for the red card he received in the showpiece against Manchester United four years previously.
Last-gasp Ramos breaks Atleti hearts
Atlético looked certain of a first European crown, at the expense of their city neighbours no less, but Sergio Ramos climbed highest three minutes into added time to break their hearts. The momentum was all Madrid's in extra time.