Zenit St Petersburg 2 Rangers 0
Posted on May 15, 2008
Filed Under Uefa Cup
Zenit St Petersburg won there first ever European trophy when they beat Rangers in the Uefa cup final which was played at Old Trafford.They thoroughly deserved there win as they played the better football & looked like the more attacking team.Rangers didn’t look to good but i think being made to play that many games in the spl would give any opposition to Rangers the upper hand & the Scottish Fa need to look at this.
The game started with Rangers looking to hold Zenit as they had 2 holding midfielders & you could see from the off set they were going to defend.Zenit came out attacking & with Arshavin back from suspension he gave them there first chance.The Rangers midfield weren’t doing very well & Hemdani got caught in possession Arshavin fired in a shot but it hit the side netting & that was only after 4 minutes.But as Rangers were only letting Zenit get in long range shots it was Zenit who was also giving as good as they were getting.
With this happening Rangers were relying on counter attacking football while Zenit had a Anyukov volley & a Tymoschuk shot saved by there keeper Alexander.It was Ferguson who had Rangers first good chance Darcheville manged his way into the penalty box passed the ball to Ferguson but Radek made a excellent challenge to denie him a goal.Rangers were then playing better but when Steven Davis sent over a great cross only to see Whittaker miss his chance at the back post when he was unmarked they started to wonder.
Than Rangers had a scare when Zenit got to the by line & sent over a cross only for the football to strike Kirk Broadfoot in the penalty box & some of the Zenit player were up for a penalty but the ref said no & blew his whistle for half time with Zenit looking the more dangerous & Rangers wondering how can they win this game. Walter Smith Interview
They came out in the second half believing they could as they started the better & when Darcheville smacked in a low shot it took the Zenit keeper Malafeev to make a fine save to keep him out.When the corner came in there was a Almighty goal mouth scramble in the box there was allsorts going on appeals for a penalty & so on but Ferguson got hols of the football but could only toe poke it against the post.Then with Whittaker & Davis having shots being cleared almost off the goal line where they going to score.
But it was Zenit who broke free Archavin took on the goalkeeper Alexander & beat him & put in a chip which was going into the goal & it was only the Rangers defender Papac heading it off the line kept the scores level.But it didn’t stay level for long when Denisov broke through the Rangers defence & slotted the ball past Alexander & put Zenit ahead.Up to that point it looked as though they were going to pay for missing the suspended Pogrebnyak but it wasn’t the case.
Zenit now saw the Uefa cup was there’s as Zyrianov went on the hit the post.This sent Rangers throwing everyone forward looking for the equalizer & a way back into the game & maybe they should have bin when the sub Nacho Novo blasted over a great opportunity to be a hero.But Zenit then finished it off & win the football Match when in injury time Faith Tekke had the ball & cut it back & Zyryanov fired the ball into the net to send the Zenit fans wild & the player as they realized they have won there first ever European trophy & Rangers still waiting to win after 36 years. Dick Advocaat Interview
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