By Tony Jimenez
LONDON, May 5 - Sporting Lisbon will enjoy the
advantage of meeting CSKA Moscow in their own Jose Alvalade
stadium in the final of the UEFA Cup on May 18.
Sporting reached their first European final since 1964 after
a dramatic goal from defender Miguel Garcia two minutes into
stoppage time of extra time sank AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands
on Thursday.
Dutch side Alkmaar won the semi-final second leg 3-2 but
their Portuguese opponents went through to the Lisbon final on
the away goals rule after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.
CSKA became only the second Russian team, and the first for
33 years, to reach the final of a major European competition as
they crushed under-strength Parma.
After a goalless first leg in Italy a week ago, CSKA struck
three times at the Lokomotiv stadium in Moscow to win 3-0 on
aggregate.
In Alkmaar, Garcia's header from a right-wing corner put
Sporting through at AZ's tiny but atmospheric Alkmaarderhout
ground.
Kew Jaliens had volleyed AZ 3-1 ahead on the night four
minutes into the second extra period.
A bullet header from Kenneth Perez put the hosts 1-0 up
after six minutes of the second leg.
But Sporting, who beat Hungary's MTK Budapest in the 1964
European Cup Winners' Cup final replay, equalised through
Brazilian striker Liedson on the stroke of halftime.
Substitute Stein Huysegems breathed new life into AZ and the
front man made it 2-1 with 11 minutes left.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT
"It is the highlight of my career to reach the final but we
have not won anything yet," Sporting coach Jose Peseiro told
reporters.
In Moscow, Brazilian striker Daniel Carvalho scored for army
club CSKA in the 10th and 53rd minutes before setting up
defender Vasily Berezutsky for the third goal on the hour.
Daniele Bonera compounded Parma's misery by getting a red
card in stoppage time.
Dynamo Moscow are the only Russian club to play in a major
European final, losing to Scotland's Rangers 3-2 in the now
defunct Cup Winners' Cup in 1972.
Parma coach Pietro Carmignani, who repeatedly said Serie A
survival was more important than winning the UEFA Cup, had
several youngsters, like 17-year-old midfielder Daniele Dessena,
in his line-up while top striker Alberto Gilardino was on the
bench.
CSKA fans celebrated Carvalho's first goal by throwing
firecrackers on the pitch.
One of the flares exploded near Parma keeper Luca Bucci and
he was treated by a doctor, delaying the game for several
minutes.
Although the shaken keeper played on, he was replaced in the
20th minute by Sebastien Frey complaining of dizziness.
CSKA coach Valery Gazzayev said: "The fans were just
fantastic and the atmosphere was great.
"We have won mainly because of them, our fans who gave us
such huge support tonight."