GIANFRANCO ZOLA'S season of torment ended in glorious European triumph as Chelsea overcame the inept challenge of German side VfB Stuttgart. A single goal was enough to lift the Cup Winners' Cup on a night when Gianluca Vialli's number two Graham Rix once again underlined his worth to the London club.

Zola looked a forlorn figure as he was consigned to a place on the substitutes' bench after a desperate bid to prove his fitness to Italian boss Vialli. But, after 70 minutes of frustration, a masterstroke by Rix and a stroke of pure genius by Zola provided Chelsea with their first European trophy for 27 years.

Perhaps it wasn't achieved with the style and panache of the 1971 brigade but it was, nonetheless, a comfortable Chelsea victory, secured by the only goal of the game from the little Italian, with only his second touch of the night.

Afterwards, as Chelsea fans began the celebration party in Stockholm, player-manager Vialli by far the best player on the night reserved his congratulations for compatriot Zola, and for the man who has made his introduction to management such an incredible success.

While it was a pair of Italians who added European glory to domestic Coca-Cola Cup success, it was Yorkshireman Rix who pulled the strings from the sidelines; most notable being the decision to replace Tore Andre Flo with the eager Zola 20 minutes from time.

The last time Rix took part in a Cup Winners' Cup Final, he missed the vital penalty in Arsenal's shoot-out defeat by Valencia in 1980. The last time Chelsea won the trophy, in 1971, Arsenal went on to complete the double. Little wonder Rix was savouring his celebration cigar.

And little wonder that considerate and compassionate boss Vialli was quick to heap praise on his number two, saying: It