For the first time in its history, a Russian club has become the winner of the UEFA Cup. Let me remind you that back in distant 1972, the Dynamo Moscow players played in the decisive match, but they could not withstand the Scottish "Glasgow Rangers". And now, 33 years later, another Moscow team, "CSKA", took advantage of its chance to the full 100 percent.
This year, the UEFA Cup final was held at the Lisbon stadium "Jose Alvalade". In the decisive match, Portuguese "Sporting" and Moscow "CSKA" met. The match itself can be divided into two parts. If in the first half the "Sporting" footballers dominated, then after the break the game changed dramatically and the Russians demonstrated their best qualities.
The score was opened in the 29th minute of the first half. A beautiful goal from about 18 meters was scored by Rogerio, who, having freed himself from Carvalho's marking, struck irresistibly into the upper left corner of Akinfeev's goal. A few seconds before the end of the first 45 minutes, CSKA forward Vagner Love simply had to equalize the score, but from about 8 meters the Brazilian "shot at sparrows". So, after the first half it was 1:0 in favor of "Sporting".
At halftime, presumably, Valeriy Gazzaev had a man-to-man talk with his charges, and in the second 45 minutes the army men tactically outplayed their opponents. And the goals of Aleksei Berezutsky, Vasyl Zhyrkov and Vagner Love are further proof of that. Although the "Sporting" footballers could also have struck CSKA's goal, fortune that evening was on the side of the players from the Russian capital.
And, finally, I will note that the gold medal of a participant in the final match was also received by former Ukraine national team defender Bohdan Shershun, however he never came out onto the football pitch of "Jose Alvalade".
"Sporting" (Portugal) – "CSKA" (Moscow) – 1:3 Rogerio – 29th minute, Aleksei Berezutsky – 57, Vasyl Zhyrkov – 65, Vagner Love -74