JUVENTUS last night exorcised the ghost of the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985 when beating defending champions Ajax Amsterdam to win the European Champions' Cup in front of a fiercely partisan 67,000 crowd at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
The new champions, however, had to go all the way to a penalty shoot out to win the trophy.
Goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi and Serb midfielder Vladimir Jugovic were the heroes of the night, with Peruzzi saving penalties from Edgar Davids and Sonny Silooy, while Jugovic converted the vital fourth penalty to set up the 4-2 shoot-out win after the game had finished 1-1 at the end of 120 minutes.
An enthralling, skillful, game had gone to penalties when the passion of Juventus had been just about matched by the foot balling skill of Ajax in a desperately close contest.
Juventus had been the quicker into their stride with Del Piero forcing two corner kicks in the first four minutes with delicate touches. Both sides had lined out very much as expected with only the presence of Kiki Musampa in attack and Frank De Boer in defence providing a mild surprise.
From the opening exchanges, the different intentions of the two sides emerged clearly. Juventus, perhaps the less skillful but certainly not the less determined, seemed intent on upping the tempo and hassling Ajax out of their more languid rhythm.
Within only eight minutes, the Juventus harrying almost paid off as Ajax goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar and defender Sonny Silooy hesitated when dealing with a blocked shot from defender Moreno Torricelli allowing Fabrizio Ravanelli a free shot on a momentarily unmarked goal.
That incident proved to be the dress rehearsal for the openings goal of the game only five minutes later. Again goalkeeper Van der Sar hesitated when dealing with an innocuous looking punt into the penalty area allowing to come between him through wide on the right.
Ravanelli kept his cool to slot the ball into the empty net from the narrowest of angles.
In the past, major finals like this have been ruined for the lack of an early goal. This early Juventus strike fairly put the fit in the fire, stunning Ajax into serious action.
Ajax stepped up a gear and Ronald De Boer, Litmanen, Finidi and Musampa all combined in a breathtaking, 70 yard, five pass move in the 21st minute which ended with Peruzzi making a good save from Musampa's first time shot.
than and move announced loud and clear that despite their goal disadvantage, Ajax were anything but down and out.
Ten minutes later, Ajax went close when Kanu headed goal ward following a corner kick. Referee Diaz Vega, however, correctly called for offside
In the 39th minute Ajax got a deserved equaliser when Litmanen pounced on a poor defensive clearance to score from the six yard line. After Kanu had, been fouled by 37 year old Pietro Vierchowod, Frank De Boer's free kick was punched out by Peruzzi. Unfortunately for the Juventus goalkeeper, defender Ferrara could not control the bouncing ball allowing Litmanen to pounce for the equaliser.
The second half began ominously for Juventus with the substitution of Musampa by the much heralded Patrick Kluivert. However, for much of a vibrant, open second half, it was Juventus who took the game to Ajax with Torricelli, Del Piero and, above all, Vialli just four minutes from the end of normal time, all missing good chances to end the game.
In extra time, too, Del Piero and Vialli both again had their chances. However, goalkeeper Peruzzi atoned for their misses with his two fine penalty saves in the shoot out.
