Tokyo, Japan - Borussia Dortmund 2v0 CruzeiroIn 1997 it was guaranteed that a new Club would win the right to call themselves World Champions after Borussia Dortmund conquered Europe for the first time in their history.
For their opponents Cruzeiro, it was a second shot at German opposition, after defeat v Bayern Munich following Cruzeiro's only previous Copa Libertadores triumph in 1976.
Borussia Dortmund were surprise winners, seeing off World and European Champions Juventus 3v1 in the Final, no mean feat against an Italian side boasting the likes of Zidane, Deschamps and Del Piero.
But Dortmund's rise to glory had been slow and steady, under Legendary Manager Ottmar Hitzfeld who led the side from mid table in 1991, attracting some big names to the club, such as Paulo Sousa, Karl-Heinze Riedle, Matthias Sammer and Andreas Moller.
Silverware had started to adorn the Dortmund Trophy Room, winning the Bundesliga in 95 and 96, with Sammer named European Footballer of the Year.
But unfortunately there would be no prolonged period of domination for this Dortmund side.
Of the players who played v Juventus, 7 would leave within a year, including Sousa and Riedle, with Sammer suffering a career ending injury soon after the final, leading to his eventual retirement.
After the Final Hitzfeld was moved to a Sporting Director Role, later to take up Managerial duties at Bayern Munich and his replacement Nevio Scala was a disaster, as Dortmund finished 10th in the Bundesliga, months after becoming World Champions in Tokyo, taking the Club until 2002 to win another German Title.
Their opponents, Cruzeiro were also unlikely Continental Champions, having lost all 3 of their first 3 matches in the Copa Libertadores.
After a strong recovery in the Group stage they were again unconvincing in the knockout stages, before seeing off surprise finalists Peru's Sporting Cristal in the Final.
Controversially Cruzeiro recruited Brazilian Internationals, Bebeto, Donizete and Goncalves to their side to appear for the Brazilian side for one game only.
Bolstered by their new additions, Cruzeiro started the game strongly, and Dortmund Keeper Klos had to make 2 good saves early on as Cruzeiro's quick skillful attacking play had the German side under pressure early on.
In an open start to the game, Moller had a free-kick well saved at the other end by Dida, but it was Cruzeiro who looked the better side in the early stages as Donizete teased the Dortmund defence, before unleashing a shot kept out by the legs of Klos.
But the flow of the game was interrupted by several niggly fouls, and this seemed to suit the German side better as they started to come into the game more.
Dortmund took the lead on 34 mins through the oldest player on the pitch, Michale Zorc. Cruzeiro were caught out by a quickly taken free-kick and Chapuisat's cross fell invitingly for the veteran midfielder who made no mistake,
Chapuisat almost got on the scoresheet himself, shortly before half time only for Dida to keep out his headed effort.
Cruzeiro were threatening, with Sousa blocking a Palacios effort and Klos having to stop a goalbound effort from one of his own players, as a cross was inadvertently diverted towards the Dortmund goal.
But once again, Dortmund survived the early storm and came back into the game. After 66mins Dortmund's task of holding onto their lead was made easier when Vitor was sent off after picking up 2 yellow cards, the second of which was a needless foul by the corner flag.
To their credit Cruzeiro still managed a period of pressure, but with a man disadvantage large gaps were appearing in the Cruzeiro defence, and Dida was forced into 2 good stops for Cruzeiro to keep his side in the game.
But in the closing stages Cruzeiro were finished off by a second Dortmund goal when Sousa cut out a Cruzeiro counter attack and played in Herrlich, who expertly guided the ball into the net.
It would be glorious night for the Dortmund as they would be about to embark on a difficult period ahead of them.
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