1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final vs Stuttgart

Lore & Background

The 1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final was played in Stockholm. Chelsea defeated VfB Stuttgart 1–0, with Gianfranco Zola scoring the winning goal in the second half.

In Their Own Story

The air in Stockholm was crisp, heavy with twenty-six years of silence broken only by the rhythmic chanting of a blue sea inside Råsunda Stadium. On the pitch, tension coiled tight; Stuttgart's German discipline held firm against Chelsea's fluid attack, refusing to yield until the second half. Then, time fractured. The ball found Zola near the touchline. He didn't rush. With a deceptive shift of his hips that left defender Carsten Ramelow grasping at empty air, he carved out a sliver of space. The stadium held its breath as he struck it first-time. The ball dipped and swerved before nestling into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Andreas Kopke rooted to the spot. A roar erupted that seemed to shake the foundations of Sweden, declaring Chelsea's return to the European elite.

Reader's Guide

Chelsea's second UEFA Cup Winners' Cup title came in the 1997–98 season. They beat VfB Stuttgart 1–0 in the final, with Gianfranco Zola scoring the winner.

Did You Know?

• Gianfranco Zola scored the winning goal in the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final.
• Chelsea won the 1998 UEFA Super Cup after defeating Real Madrid, with Gus Poyet scoring the winning goal.