UEFA Cup - Zenit FC Defeat Rangers
Coach Advocaat's Russian Champions Victorious in Manchester Final
Zenit St. Petersburg defeated Glasgow Rangers by 2-0 in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final at the City of Manchester Stadium. Goals by Denisov and Zyryanov ensured their victory.
Zenit St. Petersburg became the first Russian club since CSKA Moscow in 2005 to win a European trophy when they defeated Glasgow Rangers in an absorbing final in the City of Manchester Stadium. Second half goals from Denisov and Konstantin Zyryanov deservedly confirmed their status as UEFA Cup winners for the 2007-2008 season.
Despite the loss of suspended striker and top scorer Pavel Pogrebnyak, Zenit proved too strong for their weary Scottish opponents, who must now concentrate on trying to complete a domestic treble to complement the League Cup won in March. Hopes of the 'Quadruple' have now ended and they must turn their attention to securing the remaining two trophies on offer in Scotland.
Early chance for Arshavin
The atmosphere inside the Eastlands bowl on a balmy Manchester evening was electric, with both sets of supporters in fine tune and bouncing along to the assorted chants and songs in a sea of blue and white. Early chances for both sides were squandered, with Arshavin and Darcheville the main culprits. As the first half wore on, it became apparent that the white jerseys of Zenit looked fresher and dominated possession in midfield but despite this Rangers created a number of half-chances with Whittaker in particular heading over when placed in a good position.
The Glaswegians appealed for a penalty shortly after the interval, but the closest they came was a shot by Captain Barry Ferguson that skimmed the post a minute later. When Pogrebnyak's absence looked to be fatal for Zenit, on 72 minutes they finally made the breakthrough. Gifted playmaker Andrei Arshavin sent Densiov clear and he opened the scoring in clinical fashion much to the delight of their 15,000 supporters in the stadium.
Advocaat triumph
Despite the deployment of additional strikers for the remaining 20 minutes of the game, Rangers couldn't conjure up an equaliser, and Nacho Novo's missed chance in injury time was immediately punished when Zenit produced a second goal on the stroke of full-time. Zyryanov applying an easy finish after a cut-back by Fatih Tekke to ensure that Captain Anatoly Tymoschuk lifted the UEFA Cup.
Victory for Zenit was a personal triumph for their Dutch coach, Dick Advocaat who formerly managed Rangers between 1998 and 2001, when replacing Walter Smith with one of his first acts the introduction of Barry Ferguson to the Rangers team. Advocaat had the final irony exclaiming: "I think the way we have played in this tournament, I think we deserved this victory. I hope this is the start of something for Russian football."
Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup
Rangers, however, still have much work to do in the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup. If they win their three remaining fixtures against Motherwell, St.Mirren and Aberdeen inside a hectic seven day period they will become SPL champions for the first time since 2005. Surprise packets Queen of the South are Cup Final opponents on May 24th and the potential barrier to a treble that remains on offer.
