Translated material
Country Cup
The European trophy was monopolized by the Spaniards
While English clubs have occupied the Champions League, the Spaniards are conducting a planned attack on the UEFA Cup. After the first semi-final matches, it is almost certain: the final of this tournament will be purely Spanish - the German Werder, the last of those resisting the invasion from the Pyrenees, was defeated by Espanyol - 0:3.However, as history shows, a big victory in the first match does not guarantee Espanyol success in a two-round confrontation. 19 years ago, this team reached the UEFA Cup final for the first and so far last time. In the decisive match, the club from Barcelona first defeated the German Bayer - 3:0, then lost in the return match with the same score, and then lost in a penalty shootout. Current Espanyol head coach Erneste Valverde should remember that lesson well - he was one of the participants in those events.
Now he has a chance to get even with the Germans for long-standing grievances, and then win the European Cup in the final. Espanyol came close to executing this plan in the 20th minute. The hosts' success came from a corner kick, after which Hurtado headed the ball into the goal. For the remainder of the first half, Espanyol fought off Werder's persistent attacks and only responded with two dangerous counterattacks just before the break.
The hosts were able to score a second goal again only in the second half of the game. Once again, the Catalans were successful from a set piece - De la Pena's cross was finished off by Walter Pandiani. This goal was already the 11th goal in the tournament for the Uruguayan, and it is unlikely that anyone will be able to overtake him in the scoring competition in the remaining matches. Espanyol scored the third goal at the very end, and the Werder goal was defended by Reinke, and not Wiese, who was sent off for a last-resort foul.
The Germans still retain hope. “In Bremen we need to jump above our heads, but we are capable of this,” says Werder coach Thomas Schaaf. - We made a lot of mistakes in the first match. I hope their limit has been exhausted.”
In the other semi-final, the teams made ineffective mistakes, and the match between Osasuna and Sevilla was not very spectacular, and dangerous moments at the goal arose chaotically. As a result, the hosts were able to take advantage of their home field at the beginning of the second half, when Soldado responded to a free kick pass.
The measured course of the match was first disrupted by minor squabbles between the players, which almost escalated into a major fight, and then by the referee. Eric Bramhar suddenly blew his whistle midway through the half and left the field. His assistants left after him, and the teams were left in bewilderment throwing the ball to each other. Later it turned out that the referee simply pulled a muscle in his leg, and the reserve referee had to continue the match ten minutes later.
Under the new referee, nothing special was created either. The only one who could change the score was Alexander Kerzhakov. The Russian striker came on as a substitute in the 61st minute, but in half an hour he was remembered for only one episode. After a cross from the right flank, Kerzhakov, in a difficult situation, cut the ball into the far corner, but missed by a few centimeters. “The 0-1 defeat is very unpleasant for a European Cup match,” Sevilla coach Jorge Ramos said after the game. - Osasuna played a very good match, but I have no doubt about our overall victory. True, in order to get it, you need to radically improve your game.”
Osasuna coach Jose Angel Siganda, in turn, also promised that his team would score in the return match, and if it succeeds, Sevilla is unlikely to be able to reach the final and retain the UEFA Cup won a year ago.
UEFA Cup. Semi-finals. First matches. Osasuna - Sevilla - 1:0 ( Soldado 55 ), Espanyol - Werder Bremen - 3:0 ( Moises Hurtado 20, Pandiani 50, Corominas 88 ).