Udine was dripping with expectation on 23 August 2005. The whole city was dressed up in white and black for the big match taking place that evening. Sporting Lisbon were in town for the second leg of the Champions League play-offs, with a place in the prestigious group stage at stake.
Serse Cosmi's side held a slender advantage thanks to Valerio Bertotto's goal in Lisbon, so Udinese just needed to avoid defeat to achieve a historic qualification for the club.
The crowd of 27,000 got their first cheer midway through the first half as Vincenzo Iaquinta scored from the spot to make it 2-0 on aggregate. Cesare Natali then made things look even more comfortable but Roudolphe Douala gave the visitors hope before the break.
However, the 2-1 scoreline remained intact until second-half stoppage time, when substitute Barreto put the result beyond doubt – Mauricio Pinilla's late consolation strike doing nothing to ruin the party.
Udinese were in the draw for the Champions League group stage for the first time in history! Celebrations continued long into the night for a result that was almost unthinkable for a small city like Udine.
Udinese were drawn against Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Panathinaikos in the 2005/06 Champions League Group C and finished third, having been in with a chance of reaching the knockout rounds until the dying moments of the final game.
Cosmi's side dropped down to the UEFA Cup, where they defeated Lens and were then knocked out by Levski Sofia in the last 16.
Udinese 3-2 Sporting CP (HT 2-1)
Scorers: Iaquinta 23, Natali 35, Douala 39, Barreto 90+1, Pinilla 90+2.
Udinese: De Sanctis; Natali, Bertotto (cap.), Felipe; Zenoni, Obodo, Muntari (Mauri 70), Vidigal, Candela; Di Natale (Barreto 81), Iaquinta.
Subs not used: Paoletti, Sensini, Motta, Juarez, Rossini.
Coach: Cosmi.
Sporting CP: Ricardo; Rogerio (Pinilla 81), Beto (cap.), Anderson Polga, Tello (Edson 46); Rochemback, Loureiro; Moutinho, Sà Pinto (Deivid 46), Douala; Liedson.
Subs not used: Nelson, Tonel, Miguel Garcia, Nani.
Coach: Peseiro.