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Valencia slay Olympique Marseille for virgin Uefa Cup triumph
Gothenburg, May 20: Valencia won the UEFA Cup for the first time with an efficient 2-0 victory over 10-man Olympique Marseille in the final on Wednesday (May 19).
Gothenburg, May 20: Valencia won the UEFA Cup for the first time with an efficient 2-0 victory over 10-man Olympique Marseille in the final on Wednesday (May 19).
Marseille goalkeeper Fabien Barthez was sent off for a two-footed lunge in first-half injury time and after Vicente converted the resulting penalty the Spanish champions eased to their second major trophy of the season.
Spain winger Vicente turned provider for Mista to fire the second goal past substitute keeper Jeremy Gavanon on 58 minutes, effectively killing off the French side as one half of the Nya Ullevi stadium vibrated in a sea of orange.
Valencia's first major European trophy since their Cup Winners' Cup triumph of 1980 capped a superb campaign for Rafa Benitez's side and made up for the Spaniards' double heartbreak of losing successive Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001.
"I would like to dedicate this victory to all the Valencia fans that have made the trip to see us here," said Benitez.
"The first half was even. We found it hard to get behind them but the sending-off opened up the game for us and after that we took control. We might even have added another goal in the second half."
The last three finals had produced 19 goals but this one was never going to be a goal feast with the sides having kept 14 clean sheets between them in the competition.
Barthez's dismissal came at the end of an otherwise disjointed first half, with creative football not helped by a stiff breeze.
Marseille coach Jose Anigo said the dismissal of France keeper Barthez had changed the game but insisted he had no problems with referee Pierluigi Collina's decision.
"We won't cry over spilt milk," he said. "There are rules and Mr Collina applied them. I think it was a bit harsh, it spoiled the final but Fabien got in the way of their player who was going for goal.
Valencia's defenders were quick to stamp their mark on Marseille dangerman Didier Drogba, with the Ivory Coast international, a major injury doubt for the final, the victim of hefty challenges that went unpunished by Collina.
The Spanish side threatened on seven minutes when captain David Albelda's deflected shot into the ground forced Barthez to dive to his left to parry.
Marseille, UEFA Cup runners-up in 1999, responded with playmaker Camel Meriem picking out Steve Marlet in the penalty area but the striker's header flew high and wide.
The influential Meriem blasted wide from the edge of the box before turning creator again on 22 minutes, his free kick, awarded for another foul on Drogba, picking out Habib Beye who put his header off target.
Neither side were able to gain a foothold in the game until the half ended in explosive fashion.
Mista chested down a cross inside the area from Curro Torres and as he was about to shoot Barthez, who re-joined Marseille in January from Manchester United, hauled down the striker with a wild lunge and was sent off.
"It was a penalty but not a red card," a disappointed Barthez told reporters.
Marseille coach Jose Anigo opted to sacrifice Meriem for Gavanon but the keeper could not stop Vicente's clinical spot-kick.
Forced to chase the game, Marseille were left exposed at the back and paid the price when Vicente crossed into the middle for Mista to chest down unopposed and fire home from 10 metres.
Drogba, with 11 goals in Europe this season, did finally test Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares on 64 minutes, forcing him to punch away a fiercely struck free kick.
However, Valencia hung on comfortably to add the UEFA Cup to their 1962 and 1963 triumphs in the old Fairs Cup.
They joined Barcelona, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Juventus as record three-times winners of the competition.
Benitez said his club's first league and European double had been beyond his wildest dreams.
"When we started the season no one expected us to win two such important trophies," Benitez told a news conference after the game.
"I thought that given the commitment and the players' readiness to work we could achieve things this season, but this is a really great achievement."
"The first half was very even," said Benitez. "We found it hard to get behind them and they put us under a lot of pressure, but the incident at the end of the half opened the game up. We might even have got a third goal.
"From my point of view it was a clear penalty and if it was a penalty it was also a red card because it was such a clear scoring chance."
The 44-year-old, who has guided the club to two league titles in his three seasons in charge, said that a strong team spirit has been the key to their success.
"We stressed from the very start that we are a team, and that is our main weapon. Everyone knew what they had to do and they did it.
"Now we are all just going to enjoy this, but I don't want to forget all the people who have worked so hard behind the scenes and all the fans who came to see us here too.
"I am very proud both for myself and the whole club, but I want to keep improving and make sure we win more things."
Benitez also paid tribute to veteran Italian defender Amedeo Carboni who became the oldest player ever to win a European club trophy at the age of 39.
"Amedeo has set a new record and he deserves it, but I hope he breaks that record again in the future as it will mean that Valencia are in another final."
Anigo said Barthez's sending off had "taken the winner" out of the team and changed the whole match. Asked how he had tried to lift his side at halftime, Anigo said: "I tried to motivate them again but they were crestfallen.
"Fabien is someone who is good at pouring oil on troubled waters. He has won a lot in his career and is a man of confidence.
"If you take a winner out of the team it is hard to encourage everyone else."
"We won't cry over spilt milk," he said. "There are rules and Mr Collina applied them. I think it was a bit harsh, it spoiled the final but Fabien got in the way of their player who was going for goal.
"I'm not angry with anybody. I have worked hard for four months and I won't jeopardise the result of that."
Until Barthez's dismissal Marseille, the beaten 1999 finalists, had caused Valencia plenty of problems with playmaker Camel Meriem orchestrating their attacks.
Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, well-shackled by Valencia's much-vaunted defence, was a shadow of the player who has tormented defences all season.
With the French player of the year out of sorts it was left to Meriem to provide Marseille's threat but he was sacrificed by Anigo for substitute keeper Jeremy Gavanon after Barthez walked.
"We had chances in the first half but Fabien's dismissal changed everything. I would have liked to see the game's outcome with 11 players on our side but it did not happen," added Anigo.
"They (Valencia) won it, you cannot take it away from them.
"But my players had a great UEFA Cup campaign. I'm sorry for the Marseille fans."
Bureau Report
"The first half was even. We found it hard to get behind them but the sending-off opened up the game for us and after that we took control. We might even have added another goal in the second half."
The last three finals had produced 19 goals but this one was never going to be a goal feast with the sides having kept 14 clean sheets between them in the competition.
Barthez's dismissal came at the end of an otherwise disjointed first half, with creative football not helped by a stiff breeze.
Marseille coach Jose Anigo said the dismissal of France keeper Barthez had changed the game but insisted he had no problems with referee Pierluigi Collina's decision.
"We won't cry over spilt milk," he said. "There are rules and Mr Collina applied them. I think it was a bit harsh, it spoiled the final but Fabien got in the way of their player who was going for goal.
Valencia's defenders were quick to stamp their mark on Marseille dangerman Didier Drogba, with the Ivory Coast international, a major injury doubt for the final, the victim of hefty challenges that went unpunished by Collina.
The Spanish side threatened on seven minutes when captain David Albelda's deflected shot into the ground forced Barthez to dive to his left to parry.
Marseille, UEFA Cup runners-up in 1999, responded with playmaker Camel Meriem picking out Steve Marlet in the penalty area but the striker's header flew high and wide.
The influential Meriem blasted wide from the edge of the box before turning creator again on 22 minutes, his free kick, awarded for another foul on Drogba, picking out Habib Beye who put his header off target.
Neither side were able to gain a foothold in the game until the half ended in explosive fashion.
Mista chested down a cross inside the area from Curro Torres and as he was about to shoot Barthez, who re-joined Marseille in January from Manchester United, hauled down the striker with a wild lunge and was sent off.
"It was a penalty but not a red card," a disappointed Barthez told reporters.
Marseille coach Jose Anigo opted to sacrifice Meriem for Gavanon but the keeper could not stop Vicente's clinical spot-kick.
Forced to chase the game, Marseille were left exposed at the back and paid the price when Vicente crossed into the middle for Mista to chest down unopposed and fire home from 10 metres.
Drogba, with 11 goals in Europe this season, did finally test Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares on 64 minutes, forcing him to punch away a fiercely struck free kick.
However, Valencia hung on comfortably to add the UEFA Cup to their 1962 and 1963 triumphs in the old Fairs Cup.
They joined Barcelona, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Juventus as record three-times winners of the competition.
Benitez said his club's first league and European double had been beyond his wildest dreams.
"When we started the season no one expected us to win two such important trophies," Benitez told a news conference after the game.
"I thought that given the commitment and the players' readiness to work we could achieve things this season, but this is a really great achievement."
"The first half was very even," said Benitez. "We found it hard to get behind them and they put us under a lot of pressure, but the incident at the end of the half opened the game up. We might even have got a third goal.
"From my point of view it was a clear penalty and if it was a penalty it was also a red card because it was such a clear scoring chance."
The 44-year-old, who has guided the club to two league titles in his three seasons in charge, said that a strong team spirit has been the key to their success.
"We stressed from the very start that we are a team, and that is our main weapon. Everyone knew what they had to do and they did it.
"Now we are all just going to enjoy this, but I don't want to forget all the people who have worked so hard behind the scenes and all the fans who came to see us here too.
"I am very proud both for myself and the whole club, but I want to keep improving and make sure we win more things."
Benitez also paid tribute to veteran Italian defender Amedeo Carboni who became the oldest player ever to win a European club trophy at the age of 39.
"Amedeo has set a new record and he deserves it, but I hope he breaks that record again in the future as it will mean that Valencia are in another final."
Anigo said Barthez's sending off had "taken the winner" out of the team and changed the whole match. Asked how he had tried to lift his side at halftime, Anigo said: "I tried to motivate them again but they were crestfallen.
"Fabien is someone who is good at pouring oil on troubled waters. He has won a lot in his career and is a man of confidence.
"If you take a winner out of the team it is hard to encourage everyone else."
"We won't cry over spilt milk," he said. "There are rules and Mr Collina applied them. I think it was a bit harsh, it spoiled the final but Fabien got in the way of their player who was going for goal.
"I'm not angry with anybody. I have worked hard for four months and I won't jeopardise the result of that."
Until Barthez's dismissal Marseille, the beaten 1999 finalists, had caused Valencia plenty of problems with playmaker Camel Meriem orchestrating their attacks.
Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, well-shackled by Valencia's much-vaunted defence, was a shadow of the player who has tormented defences all season.
With the French player of the year out of sorts it was left to Meriem to provide Marseille's threat but he was sacrificed by Anigo for substitute keeper Jeremy Gavanon after Barthez walked.
"We had chances in the first half but Fabien's dismissal changed everything. I would have liked to see the game's outcome with 11 players on our side but it did not happen," added Anigo.
"They (Valencia) won it, you cannot take it away from them.
"But my players had a great UEFA Cup campaign. I'm sorry for the Marseille fans."
Bureau Report