Published Date:
21 May 2009
By Justin Palmer in Istanbul
EUROPE'S last UEFA Cup final had Brazil stamped all over it, but it was Shakhtar Donetsk's skilful imports from South America who were celebrating victory over Werder Bremen.
All three goals were scored by Brazilians as Shakhtar prevailed over the German club in extra time to became the first Ukrainian team to win a major European trophy since the break up of the Soviet Union.
Jadson's first-time shot from Darijo Srna's cross seven minutes into the first extra period squirmed under the Werder Bremen goalkeeper, Tim Wiese, for what proved to be winner.
Shakhtar were the third former Soviet club to win the UEFA Cup in five seasons following victories for CSKA Moscow in 2005 and Zenit St Petersburg, who beat Rangers in Manchester last year.
"It was important not to allow Werder to play to their style. We contolled the game and we created most of the chances," explained Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucesu.
Brazilian Luiz Adriano had put Shakhtar, playing in their first European final, ahead with a neat finish after 25 minutes, but compatriot Naldo equalised before half time after keeper Andriy Pyatov fumbled his well-struck free-kick into the net.
Shakhtar, pleasing on the eye with slick one-touch passing, threatened at times to carve Werder apart but the Bundesliga side, missing the creativity of suspended playmaker Diego, defended stoutly. Lucescu included all five of his Brazilian players in an attack-minded starting side and they soon made their prescence felt.
Left back Razvan Rat's incisive pass was collected by Adriano, who skipped into the penalty area and clipped his shot over Wiese to put Shakhtar in front.
Adriano, finding plenty of space to run into the channels behind Werder's stretched defence, should have doubled Shakhtar's advantage soon after from another lightning break but failed to test Wiese with a wild shot.
Despite lacking a cutting edge, Werder were handed their equaliser by Pyatov, the keeper inexplicably allowing Naldo's free kick, which was struck straight at him from 25 metres, to deflect in off his gloves.
The half ended with Shakhtar again on top, though, Mariusz Lewandowski forcing a full-length save from Wiese who turned his stinging drive around the post. A less entertaining second half brought few chances of note.
"We were just not fast enough and not just effective enough, we were not able to put any pressure on our opponents," Werder coach Thomas Schaaf said.
The UEFA Cup will become the Europa League next season, a revamped competition Uefa hopes will enhance the image and profile of European football's second-tier tournament.
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov; Srna, Kucher, Chygrynskiy, Rat; Lewandowski, Fernandinho; Ilsinho (Gai 100), Jadson (Duljaj 112), Willian; Luiz Adriano (Gladkiy 89).
Werder Bremen: Wiese; Fritz (Pasanen 95), Proedl, Naldo, Boenisch; Niemeyer (Tziolis 113), Frings, Baumann, Ozil; Rosenberg (Hunt 78), Pizarro.
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)
Attendance: 53,100
The full article contains 491 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
21 May 2009 12:32 AM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
Europa League
