The coaches of the opposing teams, who studied each other in the Spanish example to buttons on suits, managed to prepare some staff surprises. Juande Ramos, defining Enzo Marescu as the main creators, expected the same courage from the Italian as in last year’s final. In turn, Ernesto Valverde left in reserve the most successful tournament sniper Walter Pandiani - counting on his joker services in the second half.
The teams entered the eye-vegan field under the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, however, judging by the first minutes, only the Andalusians managed to penetrate the youthful rebellious spirit sung in it. The starting third of the first half, the wards of Ramos spent how active, so vain. Not having achieved success at the very beginning, the Sevilians were tempted to agility, but only to catch the Catalans at the very first counterattack.
This year, Andrés Palop has become actively involved in changing the score in favor of his team. Having scored a memorable goal for Shakhtar in the 1/8 finals, in the last match of the draw, the 33-year-old goalkeeper was noted for an effective pass. Sent by him to the breakthrough, the left-wing winger Adriano came in handy for the right-foot skills acquired at the time of replacing the injured Jesus Navas. "Seville" led.
Ernesto Valverde, initially relying only on refined programs by de la Peigny, soon decided to diversify his attacking methods. The flanks were much more active, and the initiative shown by the left midfielder Riera led to an equalization of the score.
Ramos’s reckoning that nostalgia for last year’s finals will leap up in Maresca did not materialize. Eliminated from defensive efforts, Enzo could concentrate only on creation, but did not succeed at all in this. Not seeing the good in the Italian’s continued stay on the field, Ramos replaced him during the break with Jesus Navas, at the same time abandoning the “diamond” in the middle line and switching to a game with two wingers. The situation on the right edge of the Seville attack noticeably revived. If in the first half, Daniel Alves was forced to pay attention to the pursuit of David Garcia and Riera, then with the exit of Navas, the right flank became the cause of almost all the troubles at the Gorka gate. And if in the second half Navas’ partners didn’t manage to convert his canopies and backache into goals, then in overtime this finally happened. Frederic Canute, thanking Jesus for a graceful pass between the legs of the defender, scored in the second UEFA Cup final in a row.
It is pleasant to realize that the exit of Alexander Kerzhakov in the 64th minute actually predetermined the subsequent nature of the meeting. The first touch of the ball of the Russian forced to foul and leave the field of Moises Hurtado - the fundamental player for Espanyol. It was he who provided the defense communication with Ivan De La Peña and, burning the land in the center of the field, allowed the Little Buddha to calmly engage in creativity in the attack. Having lost Moises, Valverde did not dare to leave De La Peña on the field. Replacing Ivan Zhonatas, entering the field, illuminated Hampden Park with a radiant smile, only in the end of overtime that gained relevance. The most powerful blow of a 24-year-old Brazilian, bought in the summer from Flamengo for 2 million euros, shocked the Andalusians. The second time they took the lead, they began, not without a share of foppiness, to squander numerous half-goal moments, literally radiating confidence in the final victory.
And she came to them. But only after a series of penalties, the main character of which was Andres Palop, who beat off three out of four hits.
However, the dramatic Spanish brawl, which identified Sevilla as triumphs, did not overshadow the personal success of Alexander Kerzhakov. The current striker club demonstrated to the leadership of the previous one that the desire to win three UEFA Cups in ten years is not so far from reality.
Espanyol Spain - Sevilla Spain - 2: 2 (1: 1, 0: 0, 1: 1), on a penalty - 1: 3
Goals: 0: 1 - Adriano (18), 1: 1 - Riera (28), 1: 2 - Canute (105), 2: 2 - Jonatas (115).
Penalty shootout: 0: 1 - Canute, 0: 1 - Luis García (goalkeeper), 0: 2 - Dragutinovic, 1: 2 - Pandiani, 1: 2 - Daniel Alves (past), 1: 2 - Jonatas (goalkeeper), 1: 3 - Puerta, 1: 3 - Torrejon (goalkeeper).
ESPANIOL : Gorka, David Garcia, Sabaleta, De La Peña (Jonatas, 87), Riera, Torrejon, Harke, Moises Hurtado, Tamudo (Lacrus, 72), Luis Garcia, Rufet (Pandiani, 56).
SEVILLA : Palop, Javi Navarro, Daniel Alves, Dragutinovic, Adriano (Renato, 76), Poulsen, Puerta, Marty, Maresca (Jesús Navas, 46), Luis Fabiano (Kerzhakov 64), Canute.
Warnings : Moises Hurtado (13), Puerta (25), Luis Fabiano (62), Canute (82).
Removal : Moises Hurtado (68, second warning).
16th of May. Glasgow. Hampden Park.
Judge : M. Buzacca (Switzerland).