My dreamt of UEFA Cup final is reality!

With the Champions League once again being an elitist tournament of boredom (once again the same clubs in the final stages of the competition, with 3 English clubs out of 4 semi-finalists, that is just too predictable and such a deja-vu that it just isn't worth watching) the UEFA Cup is a true relief for people like me who adore football but prefer to discover new teams from new locations instead of always seeing those same big clubs play.

 

Today the UEFA Cup semi-finals (2nd leg) were being played. Zenit St Petersburg was facing Bayern Munchen while Fiorentina was receiving the visit of Glasgow Rangers. Bayern München was heavy favourites to win this tournament and even though they narrowly escaped elimination in Getafe, the team was still the one club that everyone thought was unstoppable. And if one team was capable of making it hard for Bayern, it'd be Fiorentina.

 

So basically anyone expected a Bayern-Fiorentina final. I on the other hand, prefer unpredictable results and two underdogs competing for the trophy. My wishes have been heard and I got what I was hoping for: the favourites are out, and with underdogs Rangers and Zenit going to the final it is sure that the trophy will be lifted by a team few or nobody had expected. With the CL being so predictable it has lost its appeal, the UEFA Cup with its unpredictable results has been a refuge and this final is definitely a game I won't be missing!

 

 

 

Bayern had only gotten a 1-1 draw versus Zenit at home (the Russians who previously eliminated Bayer Leverkusen after an impressive 1-4 victory on German soil) but Bayern was missing goalgetter Toni then. Now, for the return game in Russia, Bayern were favourites as they had a full-strength squad (including the returns of Kahn, Toni and Klose, and of course with other stars like Ribery and Van Bommel) while Zenit were missing 5 players due to injuries or suspension.

 

But those who'd expect a Bayern easy victory were quickly proven wrong. The Russians, supported by a very vocal audience, immediately took the lead in the first minutes of the game. Pogrebnyak fired a free kick past the Bayern defensive wall and Oliver Kahn was completely surprised... 1-0 Zenit after less than 5 minutes of play.

 

Bayern had slightly more posession but they were never dangerous. The stars team had a complete offday and apart from some crosses easily grabbed by Russian goalie Malafeev, Bayern never came close to scoring. On the contrary, 5 minutes before half-time Zyrianov found a way through the Bayern defense and face-to-face with Kahn he shot the ball perfectly into the far corner. 2-0 at halftime.

 

Bayern of course did come back from a lost position in Spain but it was clear now that they were not going to do it. Zenit didn't allow them any chances and the Russians themselves played a really impressive game, creating more chances and often outplaying the stars team from Munich. When in the second half Fayzulin headed in a perfect cross above the grabbing Oliver Kahn, the decision was final. Zenit St Petersburg on to their first ever European final. The team from Dick Advocaat even made the humiliation for Bayern complete when Pogrebnyak stroke again, shooting the ball perfectly into the low corner of the net. The only downside for Zenit is that they will have to miss this player in the final due to suspension, but other than that we can only say Zenit fully deserved this qualification. They created many chances, Malafeev only had to make one difficult save (a Ribery shot when it was already 3-0) and often the Russians outplayed Bayern. Impressive display and a fully deserved ticket the final.

 

Bayern have a consolidation: this weekend a victory over Wolfsburg assures them the German league crown after already having won the German Cup. For veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn his European career ends in St Petersburg. The goalkeeper, who retires at the end of the season and who defended the Bayern goal for almost 15 years, ended his European career with the biggest defeat he ever had to swallow in his European adventures. A sad ending of the European career of a great goalkeeper, but to finish his career with a Germa title and cup is far from bad.

 

 

 

 

Fiorentina were heavy favourites to beat a Rangers side who go through a hard time in Scotland (including two losses against their hated rivals Celtic) and with a 0-0 in the first leg, everybody expected a Fiorentina win. However, in the first half both teams created only a few half chances. The games was deadly boring until halfway the second half Fiorentina finally started pressing. Rangers could do no other thing than to defend with all the team (to be honest, their tactics seemed to be based on a very defensive style anyway) but Fiorentina only had a lot of corners and some shots missing the target.

 

Extratimes after a boring game, but luckily the extratimes were a lot better and the tension of who'd qualify was an extra ingredient. Rangers now even more than before had to fully focus on defense as Fiorentina now had some pressure, but Christian Vieri missed a great chance and some further corners and shots from distance did not break the deadlock. Ironically, despite losing Daniel Cousin with a red card, Rangers came closest to a goal when on one of their only counter attacks of the game, goalkeeper Frey missed a cross but was just in time to push away the ball before a Scot could score the rebound, a second rebound being blocked by the defense.

 

The game was disappointing but the penalty shootout at least gave us a dramatic ending. The first penalty from Rangers captain Ferguson was brilliantly saved by Frey. But then the next balls all went in, until the third Fiorentina penalty: Liverani's shot was blocked by Rangers reserve goalkeeper Neil Alexander (who played a decent game in absence of first choice keeper McGregor) and Christian Vieri terribly shot the fourth Italian penalty over the bar. This meant Novo scoring the last Rangers penalty was enough to shoot his club to the final, played on May 14th in Manchester.

 

 

 

 

I was hoping for a clash of the underdogs, and with Zenit and Rangers in the final it is sure an unexpected winner will lift the trophy. My preference would be Zenit who really impressed me during the tournament (also, I do like the Russian league) but whoever wins, I am glad it will be one of the underdogs.

 

On to the final in Manchester, played in Man City's "City of Manchester Stadium". And come on Zenit!