Veteran refree Pierluigi Colina officiated the most memorable and arguably the best comeback in the history of the Uefa Champions League when Bayern Munich succumb to a 1-0 lead as at 90 minutes but had to conceed two goals in injury time to loose the finals 2-1 to Manchester United at the Camp Nou Stadium, Barcelona.
Former Black Stars Captain Samuel Osei Kuffour was so good for the Bavarians on that day and has always refereed that moment to be the worse moment in his football career.
The famous Italian referee Colina when asked about the greatest moment of his career, he said
“It was the last two minutes, I saw the Bayern players on the bench preparing to celebrate the title, the fans were happy in the stadium with their team being crowned the Champions League title,
Suddenly, Manchester scored two goals in two minutes and reversed the score. I will never forget how the English side were bursting with great noise as if they were lions roaring, while there was funeral silence in the Bayern stands,
The man United players were celebrating their second goal hysterically when I saw a Bayern player completely hopelessly fall to the ground and he was feeling great disappointment”.
” I approached him and found nothing to say to him except, “Get up and fight you still have twenty seconds !! ”
At that moment, I saw the true face of football, death and life in one stadium, people celebrating madly and people desperate to death !! ”
Despite the 1999 finals defeat, Bayern Munich won the trophy in 2000.