real zaragoza 1-1 afc ajax afc ajax 4-0 real zaragoza (ajax win 5-1 on aggregate)
afc ajax turned on the style against real zaragoza at the olympic stadium to win the uefa super cup for the second time. ajax, inaugural winners of the competition in 1974, were held to a 1-1 draw at la romareda in early february, but back in amsterdam there was no stopping louis van gaal's brilliant young side.
ajax had thrilled europe on their way to reaching the uefa champions league final, where patrick kluivert's goal had proved the difference against ac milan at the ernst happel stadion in vienna.
van gaal had managed largely to keep his european cup-winning side intact, and kluivert was back amongst the goals in spain. his 70th-minute strike cancelled out xavi aguado's first-half opener and ensured ajax returned home for the second leg at the end of february holding a slender advantage.
back in amsterdam, winston bogarde put ajax in front two minutes before half-time, and the dutch side erupted after the break with three goals in 15 minutes.
finidi george got the first on 54 minutes before a pair of danny blind penalties decided the tie in front of 23,000.
nayim's magical lob from near the half-way line deep into extra-time had defeated arsenal fc in the uefa cup winners' cup the previous may, but there were to be no such heroics from zaragoza in amsterdam as ajax strolled to a 5-1 aggregate victory.
