Bayern Munich won the European Cup for the first time since 1976 when they beat Valencia 5-4 on penalties after a final that finished 1-1 after extra time tonight. Dutch referee Dick Jol awarded three penalties in the first 50 minutes of a physical, scrappy game.
It was Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn who emerged the German hero of the evening as he saved three of Valencia's seven attempts in the shoot-out, the last from Mauricio Pellegrino. Valencia have now lost two Champions League finals in succession.
Captain Gaizka Mendieta put Valencia ahead from the spot after Bayern's Swedish international defender Patrick Andersson was deemed to have handled in his own area after just 80 seconds.
Bayern spurned a golden opportunity to level after just six minutes when Dutch referee Dick Jol awarded them a penalty after Valencia defender Jocelyn Angloma sent Bayern skipper Stefan Effenberg sprawling inside the Valencia box.
But Mehmet Scholl's penalty kick lacked pace and accuracy, allowing goalkeeper Santiago Canizares to save with his legs and send the ball ballooning over the bar to safety.
The start of the second half was as explosive as the beginning of the first. After just four minutes Giovanni Elber wriggled into the Bayern area and chipped over a cross from the left. Amedeo Carboni, under pressure from substitute Carsten Jancker at his back, clearly handled the ball.
Jol pointed to the penalty spot for the third time in the match and Effenberg sent Canizares the wrong way to make the score 1-1 after 51 minutes. (Reuters)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
