Final Will be Between Two Italian Teams

Luis Figo blew away another championship from powerful Real Madrid by botching up a penalty-kick during a tense shootout.

In Game 2 of the 2002-2003 UEFA Champions League semifinal series held yesterday in Italy, Real Madrid, going for its tenth win, had to call it quits after losing to Juventus 1-3. Real Madrid won Game 1, but its earned/lost goals ratio trailed Juventus, forcing it out of the Championship this year.

Two-time league winner Juventus will take on five-time winner AC Milan for the title on May 29 in Manchester, England. This is the first final ever for two Italian teams playing for the championship. Two Spanish teams previously went head to head three years ago in the last one.

Figo fell down mentally on his penalty kick, causing a striking blow to Real Madrid. If Figo had succeeded, Real Madrid would have won a ticket to the final, even when each team allowed four and scored four alike, since Madrid was an "away team."

22 minutes into the second half, Ronaldo induced a penalty kick, and Figo was there as a replacement for the free kick at goal. The shot went straight into the goalkeeper`s hands.

Real Madrid mobilized Raul, who has not yet fully recovered from his appendectomy, and Ronaldo, currently suffering from a thigh injury. They, however, failed to live up to expectations. Zidane made up for one goal with 1:00 left, though no more goals were made for Real Madrid.

Juventus players were in top form. David Trezeguet, Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved all took turns and scored goals for the winning team on their way to the finals.

Del Piero, the `hero from Italy`, lived up to his name. He scored one goal and assisted one. At 12:00, Del Piero headed a ball passed by Nedved on the right to Trezeguet on the left, finally finding its way between the posts. Again at 43:00, his shot from left corner swished through the defensive line and into the goal posts. In another goal, Nedved cannoned a long-range shot which arced to its mark, securing victory for the team and bringing an exciting 70,000 fans to their feet.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com