UEFA Cup 2000
The UEFA Cup 2000 season was won by Galatasaray of Turkey, who defeated Arsenal F.C. of England in the final. It is the first time a Turkish side has won a European club football trophy, prompting wild celebrations on the streets of Istanbul.
Galatasaray entered the competition through the back door - as one of the third-placed teams in the first group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Even then they had to beat AC Milan in their last game to qualify. But win they did, and that victory was the start of a run which took the Cimbom from the UEFA Cup Third Round, past Bologna FC, BV Borussia Dortmund, RCD Mallorca and Leeds United AFC, to the final at the Parken Stadium.
The 2000 UEFA Cup Final was scoreless through the first ninety minutes and stayed that way through thirty minutes of extra time. In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, Patrick Vieira and Davor Šuker missed for Arsenal F.C. Galatasaray's Ergün Penbe, Hakan Şükür, Ümit Davala all gave David Seaman no chance with their spot-kicks before Gheorghe Popescu, scored the winning kick to win the cup.
Galatasaray had won an impressive treble that season, after claiming Turkish league title, as well as the Turkish Cup.
Read more about this topic: Galatasaray S.K. In Europe
Famous quotes containing the word cup:
“In poorer lands
No one touches the water of life.
It has no taste
And though it refreshes absolutely
It is a cup that must also pass
Until everybody
Gets some advantage....”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)