The new owner of the UEFA Cup after the break of the season was once again a Spanish club - on Wednesday, in the final held at the "Phillips" stadium in Eindhoven, Sevilla team crushed Middlesbrough team from England and won European trophies for the first time in their history.
0 - 4
27` [0 - 1] Luis Fabiano
78` [0 - 2] Enzo Maresca
84` [0 - 3] Enzo Maresca
89` [0 - 4] Frederic Kanoute
Both teams started the game actively, and the first real opportunity to score was created by the Spaniards, but Javier Saviola, after receiving a pass from the left flank, struck a bit inaccurately. Both teams continued to maintain a fairly high pace, but could not successfully finish their attacks. Nevertheless, the first goal fell in the 27th minute - after a pass from the center of the field, Luis Fabiano was left completely free in the penalty area and with a precise header left no chances for goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
For a while, the Middlesbrough players seemed a bit lost, but the Spaniards did not convert their lead into goals and the score, despite all the English efforts at the end of the first half, remained unchanged.
At the beginning of the second half, Sevilla created several chances again, but Middlesbrough forward Mark Viduka had perhaps the most real chance, whose shot from close range was barely saved by goalkeeper Andres Palop. Time passed, and the English attacks were unfinished, shots were inaccurate. And the Spaniards took full advantage of that.
From the 78th minute, Sevilla team started a true show - the score was first doubled by Enzo Maresca who jumped first to the rebound after Frederic Kanoute's shot. Just 6 minutes later, the same Italian sent the ball into the helpless M. Schwarzer's net from the penalty area and finally sealed the victory for the Spanish team.
The final blow to the troubled and lost Middlesbrough players was given by F. Kanoute, who also repeated the shot of his teammate. Sevilla won with an impressive lead and a Spanish fiesta began in the Netherlands.