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Shakhtar Donetsk captain Darijo Srna and team mates celebrate with the trophy after defeating Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup final soccer match at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul May 20, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
Brazilian Jadson struck an extra-time winner to earn Shakhtar Donetsk a 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen to clinch the UEFA Cup title on Wednesday.
Jadson's first-time shot from Darijo Srna's cross seven minutes into the first extra period squirmed under keeper Tim Wiese and Shakhtar became the first Ukrainian team to win a major European trophy since the break up of the Soviet Union.
Shakhtar were the third former Soviet club to win the UEFA Cup in five seasons following victories for CSKA Moscow in 2005 and Zenit St Petersburg last year.
Brazilian Luiz Adriano had put Shakhtar, in their first European final, ahead with a neat finish after 25 minutes but compatriot Naldo equalized before halftime after keeper Andriy Pyatov fumbled his well-struck free kick into the net.
Shakhtar, pleasing on the eye with slick one-touch passing, threatened at times to carve Werder apart but the Bundesliga side, desperately missing the creativity of suspended playmaker Diego, defended stoutly.
Lucescu included all five of his Brazilian players in an attack-minded starting side and they soon made their prescence felt as Ilsinho and Jadson combined to create a chance for Adriano but he blazed wide.
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Shakhtar Donetsk players hold up the UEFA Cup trophy after defeating Werder Bremen in the final soccer match at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul May 20, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo] |
Werder replied with Frank Baumann's snapshot off-target and Clemens Fritz fired over the bar but Shakhtar soaked up the pressure and hit Werder on the break.
Left back Razvan Rat's incisive pass was collected by Adriano, who skipped into the penalty area and clipped his shot over Wiese.
The UEFA Cup will become the Europa League next season, a revamped competition UEFA hopes will enhance the image and profile of European football's second-tier tournament.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2009)
