Ronaldo seals it for Barcelona

When Luis Enrique put him through on the left, the Brazilian cut into the penalty area like a flash and his marker Bruno N8217;Gotty was woefully late with a desperation tackle, committing a clear cut foul.

Ronaldo, who missed a penalty against Real Madrid over the weekend, stepped up to the spot himself, remained cool as a flare whizzed overhead, and sent goalie Bernard Lama the wrong way for the key goal.

PSG did not give up defence of their title easily, coming desperately close to an equaliser when striker Patrice Loko hit the inside post in the 59th minute.

8220;What a let down, but we showed we were equal to them,8221; said loko.

Luis Figo could just as easily have made it 2-0 in the 86th minute when his chip over Lama bounced off the bar before it was cleared away.

It was the eighth time a defending Cup Winners champion was unable to hold on to the Trophy in the final the following year, a jinx stretching back to 1962.

The win gave coach Bobby Robson a major trophy in his first year at Barcelona and could help secure his post for next year. Barcelona is also in the Spanish Cup final and maintain an outside chance to win the league title.

Yesterday, Barcelona could have been in the lead even ahead of Ronaldo8217;s goal when defender Fernando Couto scored with a turning header on a Guardiola corner. But Barcelona captain Gheorghe Popescu was using far too much of his body to cut a clear swath into the goalmouth.

Ronald was strangely passive as the Parisian defenders laid a siege on him. Yet his passing can be spectacular too as he showed in the 10th minute. Luis Figo set up a one-two with him, earning the Portuguese a clear shot a goal. The angle proved too tight though, and his shot grazed the outside of the far post.

In the second half, PSG threw caution to the wind, and had two great chances to equalise.

In the 50th minute, Leonardo put Benoit Cauet through on the left and it took a brilliant save of Vitor Baia to deflect his swerving shot to the near corner.

Nine minutes later, Leonardo put Loko through on the right with the Barcelona defence flatfooted, and Loko8217;s angled shot hit the inside of the far post before Leonardo again rushed the rebound over the bar.

With the 48,000 fans at the De Kuip relishing the sight, chances now came quickly at both ends.

Ronaldo set up Amor with a free shot at goal from 25 metres on the hour mark but the substitute8217;s drive just sailed wide.

In the dying minutes, PSG threw everyone desperately forward, but the passion and ambition could not make up for the lack of creativity and luck.

Ronaldo, no longer the striker waiting for the others, fought like a bulldog for every ball as the clock whittled the minutes away.

PSG came into the final with a fully fit team on 10 days of rest while Barcelona came off a bruising weekend battle with arch rival Real Madrid, which cost Giovanni his place on the starting lineup. Defender Miguel Nadal was suspended for the final.

PSG beat Rapid Vienna 1-0 in last year8217;s final.

Barcelona had already won the Cup in 1979, 1982 and 1989.