Chelsea playing in yellow, hosted Vicenza Calcio in the 1998 UEFA European Cup Winners Cup Semi-Final 2nd-Leg. One of the most memorable games in Chelsea history, played in one of the noisiest atmospheres ever experienced at Stamford Bridge.
Having lost the First Leg 1-0 in Italy, Chelsea found themselves with a mountain to climb when Vicenza Calcio scored in the 32nd minute to go 2-0 up on aggregate, and with the away goals rule in operation, Chelsea would need to score 3 without reply to progress to the final.
Gus Poyet scored for Chelsea with a brilliantly executed scissor kick in the 35th minute but Chelsea's second on 50 minutes was even better as Gianfranco Zola met Gianluca Vialli's bullet cross with a bullet header. In a pulsating end to end match, and with Stamford Bridge rocking with noise, Chelsea needed one more goal. On 76 minutes Mark Hughes controlled a long Ed De Goey clearance as only Mark Hughes could. A cushioned header to put the ball exactly where he wanted it, actually heading a pass to himself, over his right shoulder and on to his left foot for an unerring, unstoppable, unforgettable half volley into the bottom corner. 3-1 Chelsea, and The Blues had won a UEFA European Cup Winners Cup Semi-Final wearing yellow, just as they had in 1971.
SCORE DRAW Official Retro Shirt Match:
Chelsea 3 v 1 Vicenza Calcio.
Thursday 16 April 1998.
UEFA European Cup Winners Cup Semi-Final 2nd-Leg.
Stamford Bridge.
Attendance 33,810.
Chelsea Team: Ed De Goey. Steve Clarke. Graeme Le Saux. Frank Leboeuf. Michael Duberry. Jody Morris (Mark Hughes). Dennis Wise. Gus Poyet. Eddie Newton (Laurent Charvet). Gianluca Vialli. Gianfranco Zola (Andy Myers).
