1998/99 FC Dynamo Kyiv 3-3 FC Bayern München: Report

Matches often hinge on pivotal moments, but few can have been as decisive as this. An hour into this semi-final and FC Dynamo Kyiv had mighty FC Bayern München on the ropes, trailing 3-1 and lashed into submission by Andriy Shevchenko's chastening forward play. Then Vitaliy Kosovskiy was sent through with only Oliver Kahn to beat, with the chance to finish Bayern off – what happened changed the whole complexion of the tie.

Kosovskiy opted to chip; the 88,000 fans braving the rains at the roofless Olympic Stadium held their breath before succumbing to an exasperated gasp as the effort sailed just over the bar. Bayern had been let off the hook and, emboldened, they gradually tiptoed forward. Stefan Effenberg pulled one back with a clever free-kick 12 minutes from time and Carsten Janker's late effort on the turn snatched an improbable 3-3 draw.

It had all begun so brightly for the hosts, whose quality was beautifully underlined on 16 minutes. Valiantin Belkevich was the instigator, volleying a fine through ball with the outside of his foot; Markus Babbel misjudged his approach but not Shevchenko, who gathered and checked inside before impressively side-footing past the advancing Kahn and into the far corner.

Twelve months earlier the 22-year-old had been living in a flat with his parents but now, having captivated Europe all season, he had the run of the house. Two minutes before half-time he demonstrated another of the qualities that had suitors, led by AC Milan, queuing at his door, whipping in a free-kick that evaded everyone and bounced inside the far post.

Bayern replied almost immediately with a set piece of their own after earning a foul 35 metres from goal. Disappearing inside his own half for the run up, Michael Tarnat re-emerged to unleash an Exocet that swerved inside the upright. Kosovskiy restored the three-goal cushion after the restart, but his tidy left-footed volley was soon eclipsed by that chip.

"I didn't cry after the match but my disappointment was profound," he recalled in 2009. "I guess if I'd scored my second then, Bayern would not have got back into the game. I'm still sure that Dynamo were stronger that season; the German side basically got three goals out of nothing." Bayern went on to complete a remarkable comeback on home turf; they would receive a heavy dose of their own medicine in the final, however.