2008 UEFA Super Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2008 UEFA Super Cup was the 33rd UEFA Super Cup, a football match played between the winners of the previous season's UEFA Champions League
and UEFA Cup
competitions. The 2008 competition was contested by Manchester United
of England
, who won the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, and Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia
, the winners of the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. The match was played on 29 August 2008 at the Stade Louis II
in Monaco
.
Zenit St. Petersburg won the match 2–1, Pavel Pogrebnyak
scoring just before half-time, before Danny doubled the Russians' lead just before the hour mark. Nemanja Vidić
reduced the deficit to one goal in the 73rd minute, but it was not enough to wrest the trophy from Zenit's grasp, as they became the first Russian team to win the competition. The sending-off of Paul Scholes
in the 90th minute resulted in him missing Manchester United's opening game in their defence of the UEFA Champions League
, a home tie against Villarreal
.
This was Zenit St. Petersburg's first appearance in the competition, while Manchester United had appeared twice before, in 1991 and 1999; their first appearance finished in a 1–0 win over Red Star Belgrade
, while their most recent appearance was a 1–0 loss to Lazio
, the last winners of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
to compete in the UEFA Super Cup.
. Both Konstantin Zyryanov
and Aleksandr Anyukov
created opportunities on the right wing, only for Pavel Pogrebnyak
to miss the target from a promising position on both occasions. Danny also managed to break into the box from the right-hand by-line, only for Rio Ferdinand
to block his low cross.
Up at the other end, United had a couple of half-chances of their own as, first, Carlos Tévez
hit a weak shot into Vyacheslav Malafeev's arms before sprinting after a ball played up the right wing, just managing to keep it in, before breaking through one tackle into the box and squaring the ball to Wayne Rooney
. However, the England
striker's first touch was poor, and the delay meant that the chance had passed.
Zenit's pressure began to mount and, with half-time approaching, they won a corner on the left-hand side. Alejandro Domínguez
took an in-swinging corner. Igor Denisov
flicked the ball on at the near post, and it floated over Edwin van der Sar
for Pavel Pogrebnyak to head in on the line. Paul Scholes
picked up a yellow card shortly after the game had restarted, but the half-time whistle soon followed and Zenit went in on top.
and Tottenham Hotspur
over the summer, came on as a substitute for Alejandro Domínguez at half-time, but it was Danny who made the breakthrough for the second goal on the hour mark. Picking up the ball just inside the United half, the United defence continued to back off from him and he broke into the box, firing a shot past Edwin van der Sar, who dived the wrong way.
A Carlos Tévez effort came close to pulling a goal back for Manchester United, and sparked a period of sustained pressure for the European champions. As United began to get into full swing, the Zenit side struggled to cope and, after Tévez had been found in space in the box by Wayne Rooney, he pulled the ball back to Nemanja Vidić
who stabbed the ball into the net from six yards out. O'Shea
, Park
and Rooney all went close as the clock ran down, but it was Danny who went closest to getting another goal for Zenit, shooting over the bar with just Van der Sar to beat after picking up a through ball from Andrei Arshavin.
With only a minute of normal time remaining, Wes Brown sent over a cross from the right wing. Paul Scholes rose to meet the ball, but, instead of heading the ball, he stuck out his right arm and punched the ball goalwards. The referee had no hesitation in showing Scholes a second yellow card and sending him off. The red card meant that Scholes would miss Manchester United's first UEFA Champions League
game of the 2008–09 season, at home to Villarreal
.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center>
ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG:
|
GK
16
Russia Vyacheslav Malafeev
RB
22
Russia Aleksandr Anyukov
CB
4
Croatia Ivica Križanac
CB
28
France Sébastien Puygrenier
LB
11
Czech Republic Radek Šírl
DM
44
Ukraine Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (c)
RM
18
Russia Konstantin Zyryanov
LM
27
Russia Igor Denisov
AM
19
Portugal Danny
CF
7
Argentina Alejandro Domínguez
CF
8
Russia Pavel Pogrebnyak
Substitutes:
GK
1
Slovakia Kamil Čontofalský
DF
5
South Korea Kim Dong-Jin
DF
15
Russia Roman Shirokov
MF
2
Russia Vladislav Radimov
MF
10
Russia Andrei Arshavin
MF
20
Russia Viktor Fayzulin
FW
9
Turkey Fatih Tekke
Manager:
Netherlands Dick Advocaat
brewers
Carlsberg were the main sponsors of the event, and the Man of the Match award was officially called "Carlsberg Man of the Match".
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
competitions. The 2008 competition was contested by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, who won the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, and Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the winners of the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. The match was played on 29 August 2008 at the Stade Louis II
Stade Louis II
The Stade Louis II is a stadium located in the Fontvieille district of Monaco. It serves primarily as a venue for football, being the home of AS Monaco and the Monaco national football team, as well as the location of the annual UEFA Super Cup match...
in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
.
Zenit St. Petersburg won the match 2–1, Pavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Viktorovich Pogrebnyak is an association footballer currently plays as a striker with German side VfB Stuttgart and the Russian national team...
scoring just before half-time, before Danny doubled the Russians' lead just before the hour mark. Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011....
reduced the deficit to one goal in the 73rd minute, but it was not enough to wrest the trophy from Zenit's grasp, as they became the first Russian team to win the competition. The sending-off of Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
in the 90th minute resulted in him missing Manchester United's opening game in their defence of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, a home tie against Villarreal
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
.
This was Zenit St. Petersburg's first appearance in the competition, while Manchester United had appeared twice before, in 1991 and 1999; their first appearance finished in a 1–0 win over Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
, while their most recent appearance was a 1–0 loss to Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
, the last winners of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
to compete in the UEFA Super Cup.
First half
The opening exchanges of the match were dominated by Zenit, counter-attacking down their right flank, exploiting the attack-minded Patrice EvraPatrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
. Both Konstantin Zyryanov
Konstantin Zyryanov
Konstantin Georgiyevich Zyryanov is an association footballer who currently plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg and the Russian national team....
and Aleksandr Anyukov
Aleksandr Anyukov
Aleksandr Gennadyevich Anyukov is a Russia international association football defender. He plays and is the current club captain for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg....
created opportunities on the right wing, only for Pavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Viktorovich Pogrebnyak is an association footballer currently plays as a striker with German side VfB Stuttgart and the Russian national team...
to miss the target from a promising position on both occasions. Danny also managed to break into the box from the right-hand by-line, only for Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
to block his low cross.
Up at the other end, United had a couple of half-chances of their own as, first, Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
hit a weak shot into Vyacheslav Malafeev's arms before sprinting after a ball played up the right wing, just managing to keep it in, before breaking through one tackle into the box and squaring the ball to Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
. However, the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
striker's first touch was poor, and the delay meant that the chance had passed.
Zenit's pressure began to mount and, with half-time approaching, they won a corner on the left-hand side. Alejandro Domínguez
Alejandro Damián Domínguez
Alejandro Damián Domínguez is an Argentine footballer who plays for River Plate, as an attacking midfielder or a second striker.-Career:...
took an in-swinging corner. Igor Denisov
Igor Denisov
Igor Vladimirovich Denisov is an association footballer who played midfielder. He currently plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg and represents Russia at international level but he refused to be called up for the provisional 25-man squad of players for the Euro 2008.Denisov was part of the 2008 UEFA...
flicked the ball on at the near post, and it floated over Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
for Pavel Pogrebnyak to head in on the line. Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
picked up a yellow card shortly after the game had restarted, but the half-time whistle soon followed and Zenit went in on top.
Second half
Andrei Arshavin, a target for BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
over the summer, came on as a substitute for Alejandro Domínguez at half-time, but it was Danny who made the breakthrough for the second goal on the hour mark. Picking up the ball just inside the United half, the United defence continued to back off from him and he broke into the box, firing a shot past Edwin van der Sar, who dived the wrong way.
A Carlos Tévez effort came close to pulling a goal back for Manchester United, and sparked a period of sustained pressure for the European champions. As United began to get into full swing, the Zenit side struggled to cope and, after Tévez had been found in space in the box by Wayne Rooney, he pulled the ball back to Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011....
who stabbed the ball into the net from six yards out. O'Shea
John O'Shea
John O'Shea can refer to:*John O'Shea, Irish footballer with Sunderland*John O'Shea , New Zealand film director*John O'Shea *John O'Shea , Wales international rugby union footballer*John O'Shea...
, Park
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
and Rooney all went close as the clock ran down, but it was Danny who went closest to getting another goal for Zenit, shooting over the bar with just Van der Sar to beat after picking up a through ball from Andrei Arshavin.
With only a minute of normal time remaining, Wes Brown sent over a cross from the right wing. Paul Scholes rose to meet the ball, but, instead of heading the ball, he stuck out his right arm and punched the ball goalwards. The referee had no hesitation in showing Scholes a second yellow card and sending him off. The red card meant that Scholes would miss Manchester United's first UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
game of the 2008–09 season, at home to Villarreal
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | MANCHESTER UNITED: | |||
| GK | 1 | Netherlands Edwin van der Sar Edwin van der Sar Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history... |
||
| RB | 2 |  England Gary NevilleGary Neville Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years.... (c) |
||
| CB | 5 | England Rio Ferdinand Rio Ferdinand Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team... |
||
| CB | 15 | Nemanja Vidić Nemanja Vidic Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011.... |
||
| LB | 3 | France Patrice Evra Patrice Evra Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is... |
||
| RM | 24 |  Scotland Darren FletcherDarren Fletcher Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team... |
||
| CM | 18 | England Paul Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... |
||
| CM | 8 |  Brazil AndersonAnderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team.... |
||
| LM | 17 | Portugal Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... |
||
| CF | 10 | England Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... |
||
| CF | 32 | Argentina Carlos Tévez Carlos Tévez Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City... |
||
| Substitutes: | ||||
| GK | 29 |  Poland Tomasz KuszczakTomasz Kuszczak Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Manchester United and the Polish national team.Born in Krosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak has previously played for Śląsk Wrocław in Poland, as well as for the German clubs KFC Uerdingen 05 and Hertha BSC, before... |
||
| DF | 6 | England Wes Brown Wes Brown Wesley Michael "Wes" Brown is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Sunderland. Before joining Sunderland, Brown had spent his entire career at Old Trafford, having joined the Manchester United youth team in 1996... |
||
| DF | 22 |  Republic of Ireland John O'SheaJohn O'Shea John O'Shea can refer to:*John O'Shea, Irish footballer with Sunderland*John O'Shea , New Zealand film director*John O'Shea *John O'Shea , Wales international rugby union footballer*John O'Shea... |
||
| MF | 13 | South Korea Park Ji-Sung Park Ji-Sung Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football... |
||
| MF | 28 | Republic of Ireland Darron Gibson Darron Gibson Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team... |
||
| MF | 34 | Brazil Rodrigo Possebon Rodrigo Possebon Rodrigo Pereira Possebon is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Santos and, by virtue of his ancestry, the Italian U-20 national team. He signed for Santos from Manchester United on 20 August 2010... |
||
| FW | 31 | England Fraizer Campbell Fraizer Campbell Fraizer Lee Campbell is an English footballer who plays for Sunderland as a striker. He previously played for Manchester United, Royal Antwerp, Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur.... |
||
| Manager: | ||||
| Scotland Sir Alex Ferguson Alex Ferguson Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986... |
||||
Russia Vyacheslav Malafeev Russia Aleksandr AnyukovAleksandr Anyukov
Aleksandr Gennadyevich Anyukov is a Russia international association football defender. He plays and is the current club captain for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg....
Croatia Ivica KrižanacIvica Križanac
Ivica Križanac is a Croatian football defender who currently plays for RNK Split.He previously played for Górnik Zabrze of Poland where he became one of Polish league's best players. Since joining FC Zenit Saint Petersburg Ivica has been a major player. He is a consistent player...
France Sébastien PuygrenierSébastien Puygrenier
Sébastien Nicolas Puygrenier is a French football player. He is a centre back, who currently plays for Zenit St. Petersburg.-France:...
Czech Republic Radek ŠírlRadek Šírl
Radek Šírl is a Czech football midfielder. He currently plays for FK Mladá Boleslav. His former clubs include Sparta Prague and Bohemians Prague. He plays as a left midfielder or left back. He has been called up to the Czech Republic national football team. He also played for them at the 2001 FIFA...
Ukraine Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (c) Russia Konstantin ZyryanovKonstantin Zyryanov
Konstantin Georgiyevich Zyryanov is an association footballer who currently plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg and the Russian national team....
Russia Igor DenisovIgor Denisov
Igor Vladimirovich Denisov is an association footballer who played midfielder. He currently plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg and represents Russia at international level but he refused to be called up for the provisional 25-man squad of players for the Euro 2008.Denisov was part of the 2008 UEFA...
Portugal Danny Argentina Alejandro DomínguezAlejandro Damián Domínguez
Alejandro Damián Domínguez is an Argentine footballer who plays for River Plate, as an attacking midfielder or a second striker.-Career:...
Russia Pavel PogrebnyakPavel Pogrebnyak
Pavel Viktorovich Pogrebnyak is an association footballer currently plays as a striker with German side VfB Stuttgart and the Russian national team...
Slovakia Kamil ČontofalskýKamil Contofalský
Kamil Čontofalský is a Slovak international football goalkeeper who plays for the Czech Gambrinus liga side SK Slavia Prague.-Club career:...
South Korea Kim Dong-JinKim Dong-Jin
Kim Dong-Jin is a South Korean footballer who plays for FC Seoul as left back. He can also play as a centre back.-Club career:...
Russia Roman ShirokovRoman Shirokov
Roman Nikolayevich Shirokov is an association football defensive midfielder. He currently plays for Zenit in the Russian Premier League and for the Russia national football team.-Early career:...
Russia Vladislav RadimovVladislav Radimov
Vladislav Nikolayevich Radimov is a retired association footballer who played midfielder. Currently, he works as an assistant coach with FC Zenit St. Petersburg. He was previously the captain of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg and is a former Russian international player. He was a right-sided...
Russia Andrei Arshavin Russia Viktor FayzulinViktor Fayzulin
Viktor Igorevich Fayzulin is a Russian football midfielder, who currently plays for Zenit.A graduate of CYSS based in his hometown Nahodka, he started his professional career with Okean. Later he played for SKA-Energia and Spartak Nalchik. In December 2007 he signed a contract with Zenit until...
Turkey Fatih TekkeFatih Tekke
Fatih Tekke is a Turkish international footballer who currently plays as a striker for Orduspor in the Süper Lig.-Club career:...
Netherlands Dick AdvocaatDick Advocaat
Dirk Nicolaas "Dick" Advocaat is a Dutch football manager and former player currently the manager of the Russia national football team.He has been moderately successful as a football player and as a coach, which included two stints with the Dutch national football team...
Man of the Match: Portugal Danny (Zenit St. PetersburgFC Zenit Saint Petersburg Football Club Zenit is a Russian football club from the city of Saint-Petersburg. Founded in 1925 , the club plays in the Russian Premier League... ) Assistant referees Assistant referee (association football) In association football, an assistant referee is one of several officials who assist the referee in controlling a match. Two officials, traditionally known as linesmen , stand on the touchlines, while a fourth official assists administrative or other match related tasks as directed by the referee... :  Denmark Henrik Sonderby Denmark Anders NorrestrandFourth official: Denmark Nicolai VollquartzNicolai Vollquartz Nicolai Vollquartz is a Danish football referee. He was born in Viborg. He was promoted to the FIFA referees list in 1999 and took charge of his first UEFA Cup match – a first round tie between Rapid Bucureşti and Liverpool – on 14 September 2000. His UEFA Champions League debut came a year later,... |
| UEFA Super Cup 2008 |
|---|
 Russia |
| Zenit St. Petersburg First Title |
Sponsorship
DanishDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
brewers
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
Carlsberg were the main sponsors of the event, and the Man of the Match award was officially called "Carlsberg Man of the Match".