Match summary
A packed Olympic Stadium in Japan saw Real Madrid give a clinical display to outwit Vasco da Gama. Vasco centre-back Nasa put through his own net to give Madrid an early lead, only for Juninho to level the match shortly after the break with a thunderous strike that flashed past Illgner into the top corner.

An action-packed second half offerred chances aplenty for both sides, with the Brazilians having a goal disallowed. The Spanish side saw more of the ball but Vasco were a constant threat, Madrid's keeper having to be at his athletic best to keep them at bay. Right when his team needed him most, Raúl pulled a rabbit out of the hat to snatch the game with extra-time beckoning. Controlling a 35-yard pass from Seedorf, the star striker went past Vitor and left Odvan for dead before coolly rounding keeper Carlos Germano to stroke home the winning goal.

Key player
Raúl González, aged just 21, was already an established star before the final in Tokyo, where his performance only served to cement the young striker's place as the darling of the Madrid fans. After making his Liga debut with Madrid at just 17, his sparkling displays and opportunist goals have put him firmly on the path to becoming a legend at both club and international level.

"I received a great ball by Seedorf, dribbled past Vitor and Odvan and scored with my right foot as the keeper Germano came off his line. That piece of skill was christened aguanis, " Raúl would later recall with typical modesty.

Coach
"When you've got players like Raúl, they can make all the difference," said coach Guus Hiddink. The Dutchman presided over Real Madrid's second Intercontinental triumph 38 years on. But following a good start to the 1998/99 season, Madrid's form deserted them after the Toyota Cup win, leading to Hiddink's dismissal after only seven months in charge.

Hiddink began his managerial career at PSV Eindhoven in the late 80s before going on to manage Fenerbahce (90/91), Valencia (91/94) and the Dutch national team between 1995 and 1998. Following his brief spell at the Bernabéu, he coached the Korea Republic national team with great distinction, leading them to fourth place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan TM and becoming a hero to the Asian fans in the process. Flushed with success, he returned to PSV Eindhoven to take up the coaching reins once more. Most recently he has taken on the role of Australia national team coach.


Tokyo National Stadium ,1 December 1998
Real Madrid 2-1 Vasco da Gama
Goals: Nasa (25' o.g.), Juninho (56'), Raúl (83')
Referee: Mario Sánchez (CHI)
Attendance: 51,514 spectators
Real Madrid: Illgner, Panucci, Sanchís, Sánz, Roberto Carlos, Hierro, Redondo, Seedorf, Savio (Suker, 89'), Raúl, Mijatovic (Jarni, 89')
Vasco da Gama: Carlos Germano, Wágner (Víctor, 75'), Odvan, Mauro Galvão, Felipe, Nasa, Luizinho (Guilherme, 85'), Juninho, Ramón (88' Válber) Donizete, Luizão