WERDER BREMEN 1-2 SHAKHTAR DONETSK
Shakhtar Donetsk have made history in becoming the first Ukranian team to win the UEFA Cup, and the last winners of the trophy in its current format, defeating German side Werder Bremen in a Final held in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium (home of Fenerbache) which is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, making it the first European Final to be held outside of European territory.
While the game did not posess as much drama or goals as the semi-finals which preceeded it, it was still an intrueging match, the teams enjoying open-ended play, and there was not much to call between them, but in the end it was a Shakhtar victory, inspired by their quintet of Brazilians at the forefront of their attacking play, playing in true samba style.
In a side inspired by Brazilians, it was inevitable that their goals would likely come from that source, a fine move putting through Luiz Adriano, who dinked it past Wiese to make it 1-0 on 25 minutes. 10 minutes later, however, Bremen replied with their own Brazilian, defender Naldo lashing a free-kick from 35 yards, helped by an indecisive Pyatov in goal, 1-1. Wiese then hat to pull off a fine save from Lewandowski to keep the score level at half time
The second half was a bit less entertaining, aside from a pitch invasion by a cat, but both sides would have chances, which they failed to convert, and extra-time was a confirmed inevebility. The hero in extra-time was attacking midfielder Jadson, who’s weak toe-poke somehow found its way into the net on 97 minutes. Werder Bremen tried to salvage something, and were dramatically denied an equaliser from Claudio Pizzaro with the last chance of the game, as his goal was judged to have been preceeded by shirt-pulling and pushing. No-goal, and the UEFA Cup was heading to Eastern Europe for the 3rd time in 5 seasons. Captain Darijo Srna lifted the trophy, the last act under the UEFA Cup name, as the competition is re-branded to the UEFA Europa League next season.
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