How a local substitute delivered one of football's most lightning-fast goals
In short: In May 1997, the defending champions arrived in Munich as heavy favorites. But a 20-year-old local boy was about to enter the pitch and change Dortmund's history in just sixteen seconds, securing a legendary Champions League victory.
The 1s997 UEFA Champions League final at the Olympiastadion in Munich was more than just a title match; it was a clash of heavyweights. Borussia Dortmund faced the defending champions, Juventus, in a game that saw the German side secure a 3–1 victory. This match marked the third consecutive final involving a defending champion, and notably, all three of those champions had lost their respective championship matches.
The match was defined by clinical efficiency from Dortmund and a moment of pure magic from a substitute. Karl-Heinz Riedle opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a low strike following a cross from Paul Lambert, before adding a second header from an Andreas Möller corner just five minutes later. While Alessandro Del Piero managed to pull one back for Juventus with a back-heel after entering the game, the decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute.
Lars Ricken, a 20-year-old Dortmund local, entered the fray and took only 16 seconds to strike. Receiving a pass from Möller, Ricken chipped goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi from over 20 yards out. This feat remains the fastest goal ever scored by a substitute in the competition. The victory was particularly sweet for Dortmund, as several of their players, including Jürgen Kohler and Andreas Möller, had previously played for Juventus, even participating in the club's 6–1 UEFA Cup victory over Dortmund in 1993.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 1997 UEFA Champions League final
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