LISBON, 19 May 2005 — CSKA Moscow made Russian football history yesterday when they beat Portugal’s Sporting 3-1 in the UEFA Cup final.
What promised to be a Portuguese party in Sporting’s own Jose Alvalade stadium turned sour as three goals in 18 second-half minutes from Alexei Berezutsky, Yuri Zhirkov and Vagner Love made CSKA the first Russian winners of a European club competition.
Sporting dominated the opening period and deservedly led after 29 minutes when Brazilian Rogerio found space on the edge of the area and smashed an unstoppable shot past teenage goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev. Berezutsky’s header brought CSKA level after 57 minutes and nine minutes later Yuri Zhirkov slipped a low shot under Ricardo after being sent clear by Daniel Carvalho. Liedson squandered a golden chance to equalize for Sporting and 30 seconds later Love finished off a swift CSKA counterattack to reduce the home fans to silence.
Vieri Double Fires Inter to Cup Final
Inter Milan reached the final of the Italian Cup after a double strike from Christian Vieri led them to a 3-1 victory over Cagliari yesterday.
Inter go through 4-2 on aggregate and will meet Udinese or AS Roma in the final after the first-leg of their semifinal finished 1-1 in Sardinia last week.
Roberto Mancini’s side, without a domestic trophy since 1989, took a grip on the game when Vieri put them in front in the 26th minute.
Nigerian Obafemi Martins wriggled down the left before picking out his strike partner with a low pass into the area which Vieri blasted home first time.
Cagliari, always a threat on the break, went close to an equalizer when their former Chelsea and Italy forward Gianfranco Zola forced a good save out of Inter keeper Fabian Carini.
Inter went close to a second twice before the break with Vieri and then Greek midfielder Georgios Karagounis forcing Cagliari goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo into saves. Vieri made it 2-0 just 12 minutes after the restart, with a solo effort, bursting into the area and rounding Iezzo before screwing the ball home from a tight angle.
