Juventus, Montpellier and West Ham into UEFA Cup
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Juventus, Montpellier and West
Ham United advanced to the first round of the UEFA Cup on
Tuesday after winning their respective Intertoto Cup finals.
While Montpellier beat Hamburg SV on penalties, there was to
be no French treble as Juve drew 2-2 with Rennes to win 4-2 on
aggregate, while Metz went down 3-1 at home to West Ham after winning the away leg 1-0.
Juventus, European Cup finalists in three successive years
from 1996 and semifinalists last season, were always favourites
after their 2-0 home leg win though they had a scare when
Elhadhi Diouf volleyed home a fine pass by Cedric Bardon for
Montpellier after 20 minutes.
But veteran Antonio Conte equalised nine minutes later and
Gianluca Zambrotta added a second for the Italians in the 72nd - both goals made by Alessandro Del Piero.
Rennes' Burundi striker Shabani Nonda equalised in the dying
moments.
Montpellier beat Hamburg 4-1 on penalties after their game
finished 1-1 after extra time - the same score as the first leg.
Hamburg had taken a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute with a goal
from Tony Yeboah but Oliver Sorlin equalised in the 70th.
Both sides missed chances in the latter stages but when it
came to the shoot-out Hamburg had a disaster, missing their
first three kicks.
First half goals by Trevor Sinclair and in-form Frank
Lampard had West Ham deservedly ahead at Metz.
Metz fought back, however, and after Frederic Meyrieu hit
the bar, Yugoslav striker Nenad Jestrovic blasted home to raise
French hopes.
But 10 minutes from time Paulo Wanchope settled the match
when he skipped through to score West Ham's third.
West Ham have never played in the UEFA Cup before and last
played in one of the main European competitions 18 years ago
when they appeared in the Cup Winners' Cup.
The match was marred by some minor crowd trouble as West Ham fans tried to break down a fence, but the authorities were able to control the problem.
