1-0 Dinisov 72′
2-0 K.Zyrianov 90′+3
Majestic Zenit triumph in Manchester Second-half strikes from Igor Denisov and Konstantin Zyrianov gave FC Zenit St. Petersburg their maiden European title against Rangers FC in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup final, Russia’s second triumph in four years.
Advocaat joy Dominant in possession throughout, a repeat of Zenit’s 4-0 semi-final triumph against FC Bayern München never looked likely as coach Dick Advocaat’s former side proved difficult to break down. The Glasgow outfit had chances of their own at the start of the second half but it merely fired Zenit into life and the cup was effectivelt theirs 18 minutes from time when Denisov met the ball with a powerful run in midfield, found Andrei Arshavin and then collected the return before coolly sliding it to Neil Alexander’s left. Zyrianov doubled the margin with virtual the last kick of the game to spark wild Zenit celebrations.
Tymoschuk hinge The first half had been tight, but it could have been very different had Arshavin done better with a chance after four minutes, firing into the side-netting. It was a quick counterattack but much of Zenit’s approach play was more considered, Anatoliy Tymoschuk providing the pivot in midfield as Rangers chased shadows. Arshavin proved particularly elusive and provided a teasing cross that was meekly headed just over by Fayzulin. Advocaat must have pondered what his suspended star striker Pavel Pogrebnayk might have done with the same opportunity, while for Rangers counterpart Walter Smith it all looked very familiar. A fortnight ago his side played a similar game, sitting back for much of the 120 minutes against ACF Fiorentina and inviting attack after attack, soaking it all up before delivering the knockout blow in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
Anyukov effort Yet there were signs of intent, and while the Scottish side had waited 77 minutes to create their first real opening in Florence, they took only seven here. Steven Davis sent Jean-Claude Darcheville clear down the left, the Frenchman squaring towards Barry Ferguson and it took a timely Radek Šírl block to deny him. It was to prove a false dawn, and for all their first-half possession Zenit created little, though Aleksandr Anyukov did test Alexander with a fizzing shot.
Rangers chance As Rangers went in for half-time, they may have glanced at a huge banner among their numerous supporters that read “This is your chance. This is your time. Become legends”. It was probably a message reiterated by Smith at the interval and if so, they appeared to heed it. Nine minutes into the second period Rangers almost went ahead, the impressive Davis again feeding Darcheville, whose shot towards the far post was well blocked by the legs of Vyacheslav Malafeev. Ferguson was first to the rebound and the goalkeeper was grateful for Ivica Križanac’s presence of mind to retreat to the goalline to clear the Rangers captain’s goal-bound shot.
Papac clearance Saša Papac repeated the feat at the other end soon after as the game sparked into life. Back for a corner, Tekke cleared innocuously up field, but Alexander needlessly opted to run out of his area to collect it and Arshavin beat the keeper to it and attempted to chip two covering defenders, but Papac proved too tall on the goalline. It was a fleeting reprieve, and ten minutes later Arshavin set up Denisov. Smith threw on Nacho Novo and Lee McCulloch but to no avail and in added time Zyrianov made it two, converting Tekke’s centre from point-blank range to etch Zenit’s name on the trophy three years after PFC CSKA Moskva earned Russia’s maiden European title.
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After a long time Russian football has revived its past glory at least at the Europena club level….Great guys..The work rate and ethics shown by the club was great….All kudos to Zenit for a job well done.
