The UEFA Cup final is set to kickoff today between Glasgow Rangers and Zenit St. Petersburg (2:30pm, Fox Soccer Channel). The match pits the high-powered offense of Zenit vs. the stingy defense and counterattacking style of Rangers. Zenit manager Dick Advocaat faces off against his former team in a match that has the makings of a great battle.
American fans will be glad to know that DaMarcus Beasley is healthy and could play in this match (or not. Beasley was not included in Rangers squad list for this phase of the tournament). The U.S. national team winger has yet to play since recovering from knee surgery but he did dress in the team’s most recent match and has the European experience to get the call.
What do I see playing out? Zenit’s attack is so dangerous and relentless that I can’t see Rangers holding it down. That said, this is a final, and I can’t imagine it will be a rout. I’ll take Zenit, 2-1.
Where will you be watching the match today? If you plan on taking in the match, and will be around your computer, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and play-by-play on the match in the comments section below.
Enjoy the final.
although i was rooting for rangers, zenit deserved to win. they dominated the game from start to finish.
For what it is worth, there is no such foul as “handball”. There is, however, a foul called “deliberate handling”. Important difference.
On DeMerit, his poorly headed clearance directly contributed to the 1st Hull goal toward the end of the 1st half that completely changed the nature of the game. He was later embarrassed on the third goal as Watford were throwing everything into the attack. Not a great day for him or Watford (who were very unlucky at times), but I’m sure he will come back from it.
I’m not sure who I want to win promotion, I think I’m leaning toward Bristol City, though I think either one will finish 20th next season.
interesting that the ref did not give a penalty on a clear rangers handball in the box at the end of the first half, especially in light of the recent discussion regarding the “controversial” end of the dynamo rapids match….
@Chase – I agree. I am very happy Rangers lost this game. The Scottish FA should not be proud of the showing by Rangers in the final rounds of UEFA cup. I have a feeling this also spells the end of Rangers championship bid in the SPL.
Zenit WINS!! Well deserved
Can anyone see the watford game? All I see is quotes like “horrific defending by Watford” in the BBC commentary. Guess this isn’t a memorable return for Jay DeMerrit?
Its what both teams deserve, when you play the most unattractive and defensive football this planet has ever seen, you are eventually going to concede, sorry Rangers, but its the truth.
How long before Arshavin moves to a bigger club? The guy was brilliant for Russia in the Euro qualifiers and is clearly a player with the quality to make it England or Spain…
What a build up by Zenit to setup their goal! 1-0 Zenit in the 72′
I keep wishing FSC would play the theme song from Walker: Texas Ranger during this broadcast. Ya know, the one where Chuck Norris is singing?
WOW
Is Rangers the most unentertaining, yet successful football team in Europe? Its getting a bit better now, but the first half of this game was even more painful than their match with Fiorentina…
Is there a record for winning a major cup competition without scoring a goal over the last three games of the tournament?
well, in fairness, the referee just evened things out by not calling a handball on Zenit.
Good idea, I suppose, let them play and settle it from the run of play.
News update: Rangers fans who planned to take a drink every time Rangers get a shot on goal remain stone cold sober for virtually the entire first half.
questionable decision in not calling the hand ball on the Rangers right at the end of 1st half.
Hull just equalized, 42nd minute.
Now up 3-1 on aggregate.
anyone have a url for a webcast?
Wow, Rangers first shot on goal is at 37 mintes! How much more negative can football tactics be? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but it certainly makes me root for Zenit that much more.
Right now it’s Watford 1-0, 30th minute. Hull still up 2-1 on aggregate.
I’m in Minnesota, and my FSC is working fine.
I predict ANOTHER 0-0 draw, with Rangers winning on Penalties.
As usual, ‘Gers will put 10 guys behind the ball and just soak it up for 120 minutes. This just seems like their year though…pretty bold prediction, eh?
I’m in Chicago, and SO FAR, FSC is coming in fine. I have RCN.
Completely black for me with FSC as well. Happens to me with the majority of their UEFA Cup matches.
Although I’m neither a Celtic nor Rangers fan, go Scotland!
Is anybody else, particularly those of us in the midwest having trouble with FSC right now? I’m getting a blank black screen instead of pregame right now. Comcast is my provider, if that helps any 🙁
It’s odd because GolTV is working just fine.
I’m in Boston on business and thinking about heading to Cafe dello Sport in the North End… Does anyone have a better suggestion for me?
In this competition Rangers have 10 people behind the ball, and play bootball to Darcheville. Zenit has made teams look ordinary, especially against Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, they are missing their #1 striker and goal leader in this competition because of accumulated yellow cards.
Still, I am picking Zenit. They broke down Bayern so many different ways, I think they will be able to do the same to Rangers.
However, if the game goes Rangers way, I anticipate some crowd trouble from the travelling Zenit supporters.
Check out the pics and video of the scene on the BBC’s site. Seems like an amazing party in Manchester.
C’MON RANGERS!
Even if DMB were on the list, Rangers have plenty of match-fit midfielders who have earned playing time in the Final.
Being superstitious, the only thing I’ll dare predict is the lineup: Alexander, Papac, Weir, Cuellar, Broadfoot, Hemdani, Thomson, Whittaker, Ferguson, Davis, Darcheville. Most likely subs: Novo, Dailly, McCulloch
Beasley couldn’t play in this match, because they took him off of their European roster when they lost out of the Champion’s League and dropped into the UEFA Cup.
I was so happy to see Da Beaz getting off the bus in Manchester last night while watching Fox Soccer Report, so disappointed this morning that he can’t play because he’s not on some stupid list. Even as a late sub would have been nice.
Murphys in Old Town ALexandria! My boss let me off for it! hell yeah!
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2269852.0.mcgregor_will_grin_and_bear_it.php
“ALLAN McGREGOR will suffer the agony of watching from the stand after playing a massive role in getting Rangers to Manchester.
The keeper is out for the season with an ankle injury and joins fellow-crocks Chris Burke and Stevie Naismith. DaMarcus Beasley is fit again, but was withdrawn from the Uefa list in January when Walter Smith believed he would be out until next season.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/scottish-football/2008/05/13/uefa-cup-final-injury-fear-for-rangers-star-kevin-thomson-86908-20416331/
“Smith already has four players ruled out – keeper Allan McGregor, Chris Burke, Steven Naismith and DaMarcus Beasley. But the loss of Thomson would be a severe blow.”
I gotta say, having watched Zenit a couple weeks back (against Bayern, perhaps?), they play some really great attacking soccer. They seem to play really well together, with great understanding of each other. One thing that struck me was their frequent and very effective use of the dummy. That was fun to watch.
I’ll be trying to watch on my Slingbox feed on the computer here at work. sigh…
rangers didnt concede to fiorentina, so i cant see them scoring more than one goal if that against rangers.
i doubt beasley will see time even though i would love to see him out there.
i think if walter smith was thinking about playing beasley he would have at least tried to get him into a competetive game before the UEFA cup final. seems kind of unreasonable to make that game a players first back since a major leg injury.
that said, im pulling for the rangers.