Werder Bremen - RCD Espanol 1 -2
Ferrán Corominas and Jesús María Lacruz were on target as RCD Espanyol secured a place in an all-Spanish UEFA Cup final against Sevilla FC. Their 5-1 aggregate triumph against Werder Bremen does not tell the story, however, of a tie that hung in the balance for a long time despite Miroslav Klose's early dismissal. Having lost the first leg 3-0, Bremen enjoyed a dream start at the Weserstadion as Hugo Almeida gave them an early lead, but when Klose was shown his second yellow on 19 minutes for simulation on the edge of the area, their hopes appeared to have been extinguished. Yet they pressed on and looked a real threat until Corominas struck five minutes after the restart. Lacruz soon added to the home team's misery as the Barcelona-based outfit reached their second UEFA Cup final having lost to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 1988 showpiece. The stadium announcer had warmed up for the game with a deafening rendition of AC/DC's Highway to Hell, and it appeared a pertinent selection as Espanyol endured a torrid start. Less than five minutes had gone when Hugo Almeida reduced their aggregate advantage, dextrously chipping over the advancing Gorka Iraizoz and into the empty net from well outside the box after Diego's block had spun fortuitously into his path. The partisan crowd rose in unison; their pre-match talk had been of the "Wunder auf der Weser", Bremen's penchant for turning around the seemingly impossible, and here it was happening. Coach Thomas Schaaf's attacking triumvirate of Klose, Hugo Almeida and Diego, supported by Aaron Hunt and Daniel Jensen on the flanks, were causing all manner of problems as they interchanged with bustling pace. Klose, in particular, looked dangerous, perhaps attempting to prove himself following speculation linking with a move away from the club. He was cautioned within 90 seconds after an aerial challenge on Daniel Jarque, but was soon in more familiar territory, terrorising the visiting defence. Twice in two minutes Klose was denied by last-ditch interventions from centre-backs Marc Torrejón and Jarque, yet just as the tie seemed to be tipping in Bremen's favour, the Germany striker was needlessly sent off for his second bookable offence. It was an obvious blow though it did little to stem the tide as Bremen continued to press, Hunt and Jensen both testing Iraizoz as they revelled in the freedom Espanyol's ragged defence were affording them. The fact hopeful half-time whistles began emanating from the away section five minutes before the interval spoke volumes. Still, Bremen had to score twice more so Schaaf brought on winger Kevin Schindler at the break, replacing Patrick Owomoyela as the hosts switched to three at the back. It was a gamble, and it soon proved one risk too far as an attack broke down and the ball was quickly swept to the left flank and Albert Reira. The midfielder's low cross looked fairly innocuous but Andreas Reinke, playing in place of the suspended Tim Wiese, fumbled and Corominas was on hand to sweep in the equaliser. Within ten minutes the Spanish side were home and dry as Lacruz nodded in Luis García's corner at the far post to make it 2-1 on the night and ensure Espanyol will be at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 16 May.
FC Sevilla - CA Osasuna 2 - 0
One half of Glasgow will be painted in the red and white of Sevilla FC on 16 May after the Andalusian club completed a 2-0 victory at home to UEFA Cup semi-final rivals CA Osasuna, Brazilian duo Luis Fabiano and Renato making the difference for the holders. Juande Ramos's team will defend their trophy against compatriots RCD Espanyol thanks to a convincing win against valiant opponents who could not protect their 1-0 first-leg advantage. Luis Fabiano lit the way with a combination of skill and strength on 37 minutes, but it was Renato's cool finish eight minutes after the interval that set up another historic occasion for the hosts. These sides knew each other well from Spanish league skirmishes; even so, the spring air crackled with the special kind of electricity European nights invariably generate. And even if Sevilla's evening kicked off with a rendition of their centenary anthem of 2006, there was no question of looking to past glories. Especially not when Osasuna came out determined to close them down, a perseverance that stopped the home side settling early on. Chances slowly began to materialise for Sevilla, although they tended to snatch at these when they did come - José Luis Martí, Luis Fabiano and surprise starter Antonio Puerta all shooting well over. A little more penetration was needed and Sevilla eventually got it when Frédéric Kanouté burst into the box, turned inside César Cruchaga and was only prevented from pulling the trigger by José Izquierdo's sliding tackle. Desperate to draw level in the tie, Ramos's men suffered a blow when Adriano Correia limped off on 27 minutes. No matter: their growing domination continued and Carlos Cuéllar did brilliantly to deny Kanouté's attempt to connect with a threatening cross from substitute Duda. The No5 was helpless to keep out Luis Fabiano on 37 minutes, though, as the 26-year-old Brazilian forward latched on to a bouncing long ball from Christian Poulsen, brushed Cuéllar aside on the penalty spot and, with his sixth touch, rifled a shot past Ricardo López. Cuéllar was then relieved to see Kanouté unable to get sufficient power on his point-black header after his failure to clear left the Malian well placed. The half-time whistle brought relief for the beleaguered visitors, yet they were under pressure again straight from the restart when Renato flashed the ball just wide of the target from 35 metres, closely followed by a Kanouté effort which was gathered easily by Ricardo. Their every touch whistled by the locals, Osasuna seemed thoroughly subdued until Pierre Webó blasted narrowly over. That insurgence proved a false dawn, however, as moments later Renato put Sevilla ahead on aggregate with his outstretched leg, leaping through the air to turn in Daniel Alves's centre from the right. The euphoria in the stadium was almost extinguished when Webó nodded a corner against the post in the hunt for a decisive away goal, yet Sevilla responded immediately through Luis Fabiano, whose own header flew agonisingly wide. Long-range drives from Duda at one end and Osasuna substitute Valdo López at the other – both saved – kept up the frenetic pace.
The Pamplona outfit's dreams of Glasgow were fading by the minute, though, and it was Sevilla who finished the stronger, almost adding a late third through Daniel Alves after he was played in by Aleksandr Kerzhakov on the counterattack. While Sevilla marched on, José Ángel Ziganda's visitors were left to content themselves with a continental campaign that exceeded expectations and won them many admirers along the way.
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