Gers' dreams die as Zenit triumph
by Ben Blackmore, 14 May 2008
Rangers’ dream of lifting their first major European trophy in 36 years fell at the final hurdle as Zenit St Petersburg triumphed 2-0 to claim the Uefa Cup.
An inspiring, heroic, sometimes negative but always dramatic European adventure came to a gut-wrenching climax at The City of Manchester Stadium, as Igor Denisov and Konstatin Zurianov struck the winning goals for the Russians - led by former Gers boss Dick Advocaat.
Ironically, the crucial breakthrough goal arrived just moments after The Gers’ best period of the match, but there could be no arguing the worthiness of its source, as man-of-the-match Andrei Arshavin produced the killer pass for Igor Denisov to claim the cup.
It was Arshavin again who masterminded the clincher with a slick one-two, before Fatih Tekke squared for Zurianov to wrap things up at the death.
Rangers will look back to a huge penalty appeal against match-winner Denisov just after half time, but in truth – perhaps through tiredness – they were always second best against a technically gifted Zenit side.
Walter Smith kept faith with the formula that had served Rangers so well all the way to the final, keeping just one up top as Kevin Thomson slotted back into midfield.
Zenit were made to do without top striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, suspended, but the news was not all good for The Gers as midfield schemer Arshavin returned to the starting XI.
The first half was typical Rangers. Compact, well-marshalled by Carlos Cuellar, with the sole intention of hitting their opponents on the break.
Nacho Novo has been in excellent form for The Gers, scoring twice against Dundee United, but Walter Smith made his intentions clear with the selection of Steven Whittaker.
Smith was wary of the threat of Arshavin – mastermind of England’s Euro 2008 downfall – down the left flank, and his concerns were nearly justified inside five minutes.
Zenit, spraying the ball around with the confidence of a team who had hammered Bayern in the semi-finals, accelerated quickly after Brahim Hemdani lost possession, releasing Arshavin on the left of the box, but the diminutive attacker could only hit the side-netting.
It was a warning, and Rangers responded. Jean-Claude Darcheville, too often left isolated against four Russian defenders, found a rare moment of joy inside the Zenit box, but when he squared for Ferguson the Rangers skipper was a stud’s length from connecting.
Smith defensive tactics were generally spot-on, with Zenit limited to a Radek Sirl free kick and a Viktor Faitzulin header.
However, that work was nearly all undone on the stroke of half time as Kirk Broadfoot’s outstretched arm stopped a cross entering Rangers’ box, but referee Peter Frojdfeldt waved away the Russian appeals.
If that was a big moment for the Swedish referee, there was an even bigger one to follow 10 minutes into the second period as Ferguson made his presence felt.
Darcheville had the initial effort, forcing a magnificent low stop by Viatcheslav Malafeev, but when Ferguson followed up the ball clearly struck Denisov’s arm – prompting mass appeals from the men in blue.
It was a big moment…but bigger was to follow.
After Whittaker had skipped inside two tacklers to raise Glaswegian pulses once again, Zenit quickly broke in the same laser-sharp manner that destroyed Bayern.
Arshavin was the beacon as he beat Alexander to a long ball outside the area, the entire stadium drew breath as the Zenit star released his shot at an empty net, but there was Sasa Papac on the line to rescue his side.
Arshavin was seeing too much of the ball though and a goal inevitably came with 18 minutes remaining, the Rangers defence finally cut to ribbons.
Receiving the ball in a more central position, Arshavin threatened to continue the move going left, only to reverse a sharp through-ball for Denisov – who punctured the hearts of the many Gers fans crammed into The City of Manchester Stadium.
Smith threw on Novo and Kris Boyd in a desperate attempt to rescue the dream, but Arshavin had the last laugh, releasing Tekke who squared for Zurianov to crush Rangers hopes.
The Gers go down with pride, and must now regroup if they are to complete a domestic treble.