Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Sports » Football » Reuters > Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Sevilla meet Espanyol in UEFA Cup final
Get Sports updates:What's this?
Advertisement
May 04, 2007 08:59 IST

Sevilla will defend their UEFA Cup crown in an all-Spanish final against Espanyol later this month after their irresistible blend of Brazilian magic knocked out Osasuna on Thursday.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Pamplona, goals from Brazilians Luis Fabiano and Renato secured a 2-0 win for the holders at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sevilla meet Espanyol, the 1988 runners-up, at Hampden Park in Glasgow on May 16 after the Catalans added to their 3-0 first-leg victory with a 2-1 triumph over Werder Bremen in Germany.

Werder's task, despite an early goal from Hugo Almeida, was made all the harder by Germany striker Miroslav Klose's red card after 19 minutes at the Weserstadion.

Espanyol took full advantage, replying with second-half goals from Ferran Corominas and Mari Lacruz.

"Getting to the final is a great achievement especially for a team like this," Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde told Canal Plus television.

"Sevilla are the holders and they are having a great season. They are still in with a chance of winning the league and the (King's) Cup as well as the UEFA Cup but I don't expect they'll be giving anything away to us."

Sevilla could become the first side since Real Madrid in 1986 to make a successful UEFA Cup defence.

"Getting to two consecutive finals is an achievement which is within reach of very few teams and we've done it," Sevilla coach Juande Ramos told reporters.

His dangerous attack, the Andalucians have now scored in their last 13 UEFA Cup home fixtures, carried the threat to Osasuna.

CLOSE RANGE

Luis Fabiano blasted over from a promising position then strike partner Frederic Kanoute, sliding in to meet Duda's dangerous cross, hoisted over the bar from close range.

Sevilla's pressure eventually told when Luis Fabiano, who scored the first goal in the 4-0 demolition of Middlesbrough in last year's final, levelled the tie eight minutes before halftime.

The Brazilian was rewarded for his persistency as he challenged for a high ball outside the box, gaining control with two touches as he was challenged by two defenders, and then shot low under keeper Ricardo.

The decisive second goal arrived eight minutes after the break, Renato meeting a cross from fellow Brazilian Daniel Alves with a clinical left-foot volley.

Espanyol could be forgiven for fearing the worst after Werder got the early goal they wanted when Portuguese striker Almeida took advantage of a defensive mix-up to beat keeper Gorka Iraizoz after four minutes.

But the Bundesliga side were dealt a severe blow 15 minutes later when Klose, one minute after being booked, was shown a second yellow card for a dive on the edge of the penalty area.

Werder still threatened but the tie was as good as over when stand-in keeper Andreas Reinke, playing in place of the suspended Tim Wiese, failed to hold Albert Riera's cross and Corominas tapped the ball in after 50 minutes.

Lacruz outjumped Daniel Jensen at the far post to head in the second on the hour.



© Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2007 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback