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INTERCONTINENTAL CUP - 1998

REAL MADRID 2 - VASCO DA GAMA 1
Real Madrid: Nasa (26, own goal), Raul (83)

Vasco da Gama: Juninho (56)

Real Madrid:
Illgner, Panucci, Hierro, Fernando Sanz, Sanch�s, Roberto Carlos, Redondo, Seedorf, Savio (Suker, 89), Mijatovic (Jarni, 85), Raul

Vasco da Gama:
Carlos Germano, Odvan, Mauro Galvao, Vagner (Vitor, 80), Felipe, Nasa, Luizinho (Guilherme, 84), Ramon (Valver, 88), Juninho, Donizete, Luizao

Red card: none

Yellow card: Fernando Sanz, Roberto Carlos, Seedorf (all Real Madrid) and Nasa, Luizinho, Luizao (all Vasco da Gama).

In a spirited game in which six yellow cards -- three to each side -- were handed out, Vasco played their part in an open, attacking match which tipped Real's way after 25 minutes when Naza headed into his own net when it looked easier to clear. The goal came after Dutch international Clarence Seedorf found Brazilian international Roberto Carlos with a long-range crossfield pass.

Roberto Carlos collected the ball wide on the left and whipped in a speculative cross to where Naza, standing alone six metres from his own goal, appeared to lose his sense of direction and headed the ball past stunned Vasco goalkeeper Carlos Germano and into his own net.

1-0!!!

The Brazilians changed their tactics in the second half going for longer balls that put the Real defence under increasing pressure and in the 57th minute they were rewarded. Real goalkeeper Bodo Illgner parried two shots at close range and Real appeared to have weathered the danger with a high lofted clearance to the edge of their own box. But Juninho, whose namesake plays for Real's city rivals Atletico, did superbly, trapping the ball with his left foot, cutting inside a defender and unleashing an unstoppable rising shot with his right foot from 18 metres out.

Both teams went close to scoring and Real could have taken the lead after 78 minutes but Savio's powerful downward header was superbly saved by Carlos Germano.

From the break Felipe went on a great run deep into the heart of Real's territory leaving two defenders in his wake, but his final angled shot, with only Ilgner to beat, went bouncing agonizingly wide of the far post. Raul though made no mistake at the other end with just seven minutes to play. Another long raking pass from Seedorf found Raul, who brilliantly eluded two defenders before planting a perfectly-placed curling right-foot shot wide of the goalie for the winner. That goal, and his overall contribution, earned him a Toyota car as Man-of-the-Match from the sponsors.

Raul is about to make it 2-1!!!

Raul said his final dazzling display of footwork in front of the net was pure instinct. "I wasn't thinking. the game was even and both teams had a chance to score. I just took the chance," he said.

Best in the world!!!

Real, whose only previous victory in this competition came in the inaugural match in 1960, followed Ajax Amsterdam (1995), Juventus (1996) and Borussia Dortmund (1997) as recent European winners -- the first time that Europe has triumphed for four successive seasons in the competition.

South American countries still the lead overall tally of victories by 20-17. The match was not played in 1975 or 1977.

Past winners