21/09/1999  Hertha Berlin 2 Chelsea 1

Chelsea were beaten in the city of spies by double agent 
Ali Daei.

The Iranian striker crashed home a goal in each half to 
shatter Gianluca Vialli's best-laid European plans.

Frank Leboeuf grabbed a late penalty to offer some hope to 
the Londoners but Hertha Berlin, who surrendered a two-goal 
lead against Galatasaray, held out for their first Champions' 
League win.

Chelsea faced an uphill struggle from the third minute when 
Daei pounced to head home a left-wing cross.

They could have been further behind before the break but 
were enjoying their best spell of the game when they gifted 
Daei his second of the night 20 minutes from time.

Leboeuf's spot-kick offered late hope but Chelsea's 
inability to find the net continued to haunt them. It is now 
five games since Dan Petrescu became the last player to score 
from open play.

Berliners had flocked to the historic Olympic Stadium to 
see the home debut of their team in the Champions' League.

Adolf Hitler had presided over the 1936 Olympic Games, when 
Jesse Owens claimed four gold medals, from the vast concrete 
bowl and the Hertha fans had come to celebrate another 
prestigious sporting event.

They were in good voice, undeterred by the fact their team 
had not won for six games, and spirits were lifted further 
when Chelsea's normally solid defence leaked a soft goal in 
the third minute.

Watford had become only the second side to score against 
Gianluca Vialli's men this season when they upset the odds at 
Vicarage Road on Saturday, but the Blues looked far from 
watertight in the first half.

Daei crashed his first Champions' League goal for Hertha 
past Ed de Goey after a sweeping move.

Pal Dardai sprayed a long pass out to Anthony Sanneh 
raiding forward in space on the left and the American's cross 
was headed home from eight yards by Daei, who had drifted 
between Marcel Desailly and Leboeuf.

Daei could have doubled his tally eight minutes later but 
this time his header, from Sebastian Deisler's right-wing 
cross, hit Desailly and looped into de Goey's hands.

Michael Preetz was also guilty of squandering a good 
first-half chance for the home team. The Hertha skipper 
planted his header wide after Daei had picked him out at the 
back post with a cross from the left.

Chelsea's best first-half chance fell to Tore Andre Flo 
moments before half-time.

The big Norwegian, preferred to Chris Sutton, latched onto 
a long ball, shrugged off the attentions of Hendrik Herzog and 
Dick van Burik but rifled his shot wide.

The Londoners looked brighter after the break. Zola went 
close twice and Celestine Babayaro should have done better 
with an effort he crashed into the side-netting.

Kiraly twice denied Flo, once with a left boot and then to 
pluck a crisp left-foot drive out of the air.

Vialli reshuffled his pack, throwing Sutton and Gabriele 
Ambrosetti on for Flo and Albert Ferrer, but the Germans 
struck a body blow in the 70th minute, again with the help of 
careless defending.

Daei beat Leboeuf to a sloppy pass from Desailly 30 yards 
from de Goey's goal and made no mistake with the finish.

Sutton was fouled five minutes from time and Leboeuf 
slammed home his penalty nervelessly but it was not 
enough.