Laurent Blanc handed the UEFA Cup on a plate to Parma last night as the Italian side carved out their own niche in football history.

Marseille skipper Blanc, rated as one of the world's greatest centre-backs, produced an agonising mistake in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium and one which will haunt him for the rest of his career.

The normally reliable veteran was under no pressure as he looked to knock back Juan Veron's looping forward header to his own goalkeeper, Stephane Porato. But Blanc gained little purchase on his feeble 26th minute flick for which striker Hernan Crespo needed no second invitation. Crespo stole in and delightfully flicked his 28th goal of the season - and sixth of the tournament - over the outstretched grasp of a disbelieving Porato. After the ball had taken one bounce into the net, Porato stared in wide-eyed astonishment at his captain, who clasped his hands behind his bowed head - actions which underlined his embarrassment.

After missing Barcelona's Cup Winners' Cup final victory two years ago because of injury and France's World Cup final success last summer through suspension, this was the latest heartbreaking chapter in Blanc's illustrious career.

It was also a nail in the coffin of a confidence-drained Marseille side decimated by suspensions, two of which arose after a mass brawl at the end of their last-gasp semi-final second leg away goals win in Bologna three weeks ago.

South Africa's Pierre Issa stepped into the breach for Marseille as expected, but Brazilian Edson got a midfield starting role ahead of the Ivory Coast's Tchiressoua Guel. The 23-yearold Issa was only making his ninth start to this season, but with five players out through suspension, the French club's coach Rolland Courbis gave him his chance.

However, Issa's job of stopping Parma's strike partnership of Enricoi Chiesa and Crespo was to prove too much of a challenge.

Crespo's opening goal was just the platform Parma needed to become the first club to win the Italian Cup - given their two-legged success over Fiorentina last week - and the UEFA Cup in the same season.

The match, in front of a 61,000 crowd, was effectively over as a contest in the 36th minute when Paolo Vanoli headed home his first UEFA Cup goal this season.

With Marseille showing little stomach for the fight, Parma duly compounded the Italian domination of the competition with a third in the 55th minute courtesy of a stunning half-volley from Chiesa, his eighth goal of the campaign.

The closest the French side came to a consolation was through Titi Camara, who is heading to Liverpool for £3.5 million this summer, with a 70th minute leftfoot drive which flashed past otherwise untroubled Parma goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Afterwards, Crespo said his goal was the most important he has scored for the Italian side. "This was my most important goal in the Parma strip this season," he said.

Coach Alberto Malesani was also delighted. "We simply have very good players and that is the reason for our win tonight. I was very pleased with the result and I am looking forward to an even better season next season."

The victory was Parma's third European success of the '90s following their win in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1993 and their UEFA Cup win in 1995.

"Today I felt myself more stressed than during the final of the World Cup in 1998," said Parma's French full back Lilian Thuram.

Marseille coach Courbis said: "I did not see a good match from our point of view. Even at 2-0 down at half-time we had a chance, but the third goal was the end."

Italian sides have now won eight of the last 11 UEFA Cups.

Parma: G Buffon; L Thuram, N Sensini (capt), F Cannavaro; P Vanoli, A Boghossian, D Baggio, D Fuser; J Veron (S Fiore 77th); E Chiesa (A Balbo 73rd), H Crespo (F Asprilla 85th).

Marseille: S Porato; P Blondeau, L Blanc (capt), C Domoraud, Edson (T Camara 46th), P Issa; F Brando, D Bravo, J Gourvennec, R Pires; Florian Maurice.

Referee: H Dallas (Scotland).