Zenit lift UEFA Cup after 2-0 win over Rangers

Manchester - May 21. Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg won their firstEuropean silverware when second-half goals from Igor Denisov and KonstantinZyrianov secured a 2-0 victory over Rangers in the UEFA Cup final onWednesday.
Denisov slotted home after 72 minutes and fellow midfielder Zyrianov sealedvictory with a close range effort in stoppage time at the City of Manchesterstadium to secure the trophy for Zenit in their first European final.
It was the second UEFA Cup success by a Russian side in four seasonsfollowing CSKA Moscow's triumph in 2005.
"Winning a prize like this does not come often in your life," Zenit coachDick Advocaat told a news conference. "We are very proud that Zenit wontonight and after the way we played in this tournament, we really deservedit."
Rangers supporters traveled south from Glasgow in their thousands, easilyoutnumbering the Zenit fans inside the stadium and thronging the city centreto watch on big screens.
However, trouble flared when one screen broke down and riot police had tomove in to restore order under a hail of bottles. A total of 30 fans werearrested during the evening and one Russian fan was stabbed in the backafter the match.
On the pitch, the defeat suffered by Rangers ended their quest for anunlikely quadruple with the Scottish League Cup winners still contesting theleague title and also lining up in the Scottish FA Cup final later thismonth.
"I cannot speak highly enough of the group of players we have," said Rangersmanager Walter Smith. "We didn't think this season would lead to a Europeanfinal. Obviously, we're disappointed to lose after a good campaign for us."
Zenit failed to reproduce their impressive demolition of competitionfavourites Bayern Munich in the semi-finals but their attacking qualities,honed by Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, were too much for a spirited Rangersside.
Zenit gave an early demonstration of their counter-attacking prowess whencaptain Anatoly Tymoschuk robbed a hesitant Brahim Hemdani in midfield and aswift break ended with Andrei Arshavin shooting narrowly wide.
Rangers quickly settled though and Zenit's Victor Fayzulin made a well-timedinterception to clear Jean-Claude Darcheville's dangerous cross into thegoalmouth in a decent opening for both sides.
The Russian side enjoyed plenty of possession with Tymoschuk at the heart ofsome intricate passing moves. Fayzulin headed over an Arshavin cross, thenAlexander Anyukov tested Rangers goalkeeper Neil Alexander with a raspingdrive.
Rangers were content to soak up the pressure, showing little attackingintent of their own as Zenit probed away with Arshavin a menacing presenceon the left flank.
Walter Smith's side conceded only two goals in eight games en route to thefinal and their organized defense held firm.
Zenit's Turkish forward Fatih Tekke, handed a place up front by Advocaat inplace of suspended striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, was given no opportunity togain from a succession of Arshavin crosses into the danger area.
Rangers were the first to threaten after the break when they at last createda clear opening, Darcheville getting ahead of his marker to fire a low shotthat was parried by Vyacheslav Malafeev.
In the ensuing scramble Rangers were adamant they should have been awarded apenalty by Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt when Barry Ferguson's flickappeared to strike the arm of Denisov.
Rangers were pushing further forward but in doing so left themselves exposedto Zenit's swift counter-attacks which on 64 minutes nearly brought thebreakthrough.
Alexander rushed out of goal to intercept a long clearance downfield butArshavin was first to the ball. Rangers were fortunate to have two defendersalive to the danger and Sasa Papac got back to clear Arshavin's curlingstrike off the line.
Zenit finally found a way to beat Alexander when Denisov and playmakerArshavin split the Rangers defense through the middle with the formerslotting the ball home from eight meters.
Konstantin Zyrianov hit the post from close range a few minutes later beforethe midfielder converted Tekke's cross in added time after a fine passingmove to spark a Russian party.
Arshavin got man of the match award for outstanding performance.