22 June 2002 - Where No Asian Team Has Gone Before

On 22 June 2002, co-hosts South Korea became the first Asian team to advance to the World Cup semifinals by beating Spain on penalties, 0-0 (3-5). Their win, however, came with a bit of controversy.

Spain dominated the first half, with 20-year old Betis midfielder Joaquín Sánchez providing a spark on the right side. But the South Korean defense proved stout and kept the match scoreless in the first half. Spain thought they cracked the Korean's back line mid-way through the second half when a Spanish free kick bounced into the net off the shoulder of Korean center back Kim Tae Young, but the referee disallowed the goal for an apparent foul.

In the second minute of extra time, Spain again thought they had the match-winner when Joaquín ran along the byline and chipped the ball into forward Fernando Morientes, who headed it into the goal. The referee disallowed that goal after the linesman signaled - incorrectly - that the ball had gone out of bounds before the pass.

In the ensuing shootout, Korea went first and were up 4-3 when Joaquín stepped up to the spot. But his shot was tame and easily saved by Korean keeper Lee Woon Jae. The final shot by Korean captain Hong Myung Bo then clinched the victory. South Korea advanced to the semifinals, where they lost to Germany 1-0.

18 March 1998 - Bayer Gets A Real Headache

On 18 March 1998, Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen played the second leg of their Champions League Quarterfinal match-up. Although the Germans had managed a 1-1 draw in the first leg, played in Germany on 4 March, the Spanish giants proved too strong at home, sweeping Bayer aside 3-0 on their way to the club's seventh European Cup/Champions League title.

Real dominated the match from the start, but were kept out of the goal in the first half by Bayer keeper Dirk Heinen (pictured). He made a handful of brilliant saves to keep the match scoreless, including one from a long-range shot taken from just inside the midfield stripe with Heinen just managing to tip the ball over the bar.

Early in the second half Real's pressure paid off with two goals in rapid succession, both coming from set pieces (50', Karembeu and 57', Morientes). With advancement secure, Real capped their victory with a 90th-minute penalty kick to end the match 3-0 for the home side. The scoreline was an accurate reflection of Real's dominance - only Heinen's outstanding play prevented the margin from being substantially larger.

Real went on to claim the trophy with a 1-0 win over Juventus in the Final. Real and Bayer met again in the 2002 Final, played in Glasgow's Hampden Park, with Real once more finishing on top, 2-1.