FEYENOORD FORTUNATE TO WIN UEFA CUP FINAL
Feyenoord 3 (Van Hooijdonk 2 {33 Pen,40), Tomasson 49)
Borussia Dortmund 2 (Amoruso 46 Pen, Koller 57)
A final that saw the home team enjoying every advantage was eventually decided by some questionable refereeing decisions, and a Feyenoord side that had cheated Rangers out of victory in February enjoyed the ultimate triumph.
Portuguese Referee Vitor Pereira has already taken charge of two Rangers' games in recent years in the European Champions' Cup - the defeats in Gothenburg and Munich.
The Stadion Feyenoord was not quite full for this much-anticipated final, but there was nevertheless a vibrant atmosphere with the home side enjoying the bulk of the support, although there were 14,000 German fans present.
Fluttering amongst a multitude of flags were several Union Flags, whilst one even proclaimed 'Feyenoord - No Surrender'.
Borussia defender Worns endeared himself to all 'Gers fans when he clattered Pierre Van Hooijdonk in the opening minutes.
The Bundesliga Champions looked much the more accomplished side in the opening stages - a Rosicky shot in 14 minutes forcing Zoetebier into a fine save.
Van Hooijdonk was up to his old tricks four minutes later, conning the Portuguese official into awarding a free-kick some 25 yards out. The Dutchman's effort came back off the foot of the post.
Dortmund were creating chances with every attack - in 26 minutes Evanilson should have opened the scoring only to fire wide from an Ewerthon pass.
The game changed irrevocably however on the half-hour when Jurgen Kohler was red-carded for a foul on Jon Dahl Tomasson as the Feyenoord striker homed in on goal. Van Hooijdonk did the needful from the penalty spot, and Borussia were up against it.
Nine minutes later another dubious free-kick some 25 yards out led to Van Hooijdonk finding the net yet again with a strike that was reminiscent of the two he scored against Rangers.
The final seemed won, yet within seconds of the restart Dortmund had reduced the deficit when Amoroso netted from the penalty spot.
However yet again Referee Pereira favoured Feyenoord
by showing only a yellow card to Paauwe whose foul on
Ewerthon was a carbon copy of that which had led to
the dismissal of Kohler.
Three minutes later Feyenoord restored their two-goal
lead when Tomasson broke free to drive home a low shot
with Van Hooijdonk in an offside position.
The game was back in the melting pot in 57 minutes
when a stunning Jan Koller volley from 25 yards beat
Zoetebier all ends up to make it 3-2.
Dortmund were now in full cry - and two minutes later
Kohler's netbound drive was held by Zoetebier.
The pace of the game dropped in the closing stages as
Borussia felt the effects of playing for an hour with
ten men, and Feyenoord held on to their 3-2 lead.
Dortmund Manager Matthias Sammer afterwards was
sporting in his assessment of the game:
"We have had an astonishing season, and to finish with
a loss is a great disappointment. We end the season
with regrets, but I do not blame the referee. The
ordering-off was questionable, but we are sportsmen.
On the subject of playing a final against Feyenoord in
Rotterdam, Sammer significantly stated:
"We would not have left the pitch as losers had the
game been played elsewhere, but we always knew it
would be in Rotterdam."
Feyenoord manager Bert Van Marwijk stressed:
"The result matters. Dortmund are a good team, we had
to fight to win the cup."
At the end of the day, the fact remains that it is
Rangers who should have been in Rotterdam tonight.