Glory at De Kuip for Feyenoord

The game was full of action, endeavour and full blooded tackling, and it was Feyenoord who came out the victors thanks to their fearsome strike partnership of Pierre van Hooijdonk and Jon Dahl Tomasson.

It is the last time they will play together for Feyenoord, as Tomasson is moving to Milan in the summer, and he signed off in style with the clinching third goal.

Prior to the Dane`s second-half strike, Dutch assassin van Hooijdonk netted a penalty and a trademark free-kick.

German champions Borussia Dortmund fought to the bitter end, with their goals coming from Amoroso and Jan Koller, but they could not stop Feyenoord lifting the trophy for the first time since 1974.

The night was soured for the Germans, though, by the sending off of Jurgen Kohler who was dismissed for a foul on Tomasson that gave Feyenoord their penalty.

Kohler was looking to end his career on a high, but he ended his playing days with the sight of referee Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira brandishing a red card.

With De Kuip buzzing, Feyenoord started at a rate of knots and teenage sensation Robin van Persie tested Borussia with a number of runs down the left.

Borussia have a bright talent of their own, and Tomas Rosicky teased his way into the box before unleashing a shot that forced Edwin Zoetebier into action.

Feyenoord almost opened the scoring on 25 minutes when van Hooijdonk unleashed a wicked free-kick that clattered against the post.

Dortmund countered and should have scored when Ewerthon teed-up Evanilson but he scooped the ball over with the goal gaping.

The opener did come shortly after the half-hour when Kohler was caught napping on the ball by Tomasson and the defender hauled the Dane down as the forward closed in on goal.

Van Hooijdonk brushed off the delay for Kohler`s sending off to stroke the ball into the bottom corner.

Borussia came more into the game after the goal and went close through Amoroso and Evanilson.

Van Hooijdonk has taken Holland by storm this term and his free-kicks have been a joy to behold.

Jens Lehmann did not learn from the earlier warning as the giant forward found his range with a near identical effort from a similar position to double their advantage.

Borussia were handed a lifeline moments after the break when Patrick Paauwe was adjudged to have given away a penalty and Amoroso held his nerve to score.

After getting back into the game, Dortmund appeared to lose concentration as Tomasson raced clear before slamming a shot past Lehmann, although the Germans may feel somewhat aggrieved as van Hooijdonk seemed to be in an offside position.

The Germans have shown a gritty determination throughout the season, that brought the Bundesliga title, and Koller scored a goal of rare quality to give his side hope.

Towering Czech ace Koller showed a high level of skill to bring the ball down on his chest before rocketing a shot into the top corner from 25 yards.

Dortmund tried hard to fashion an equaliser, with the Feyenoord goal coming under siege in the last quarter hour, but not even the presence of German keeper Lehmann in the opposition penalty area could bring an opening.