The UEFA Cup, believe it or not folks, doesn’t actually exist any more. Well, that’s not entirely true. It does exist, it’s just that its name has already changed, way ahead of the official rebranding next year, to the Champions League. Think about it… the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams in Europe’s greatest leagues used to duke it out for this formerly great trophy. Where do they do that now?
What we’re left with are the utter dregs of European football’s leagues and that’s why this competition is a joke. That’s not to say there aren’t occasional great games or goals, I just don’t care that much for the teams involved, nor do the teams involved care that much about the contest, judging by the sides that strolled out of the tournament last night.
Just about all I can muster enthusiasm for is a ‘game of the round‘, which happens to be the game I got to watch live on turkish TV last night, and what a humdinger it was. Galatasaray 4 – Bordeaux 3 (Agg. 4-3) is the match in question. Cimbom’s defence was torn to shreds inside 20 seconds, a long ball pumped upfield for Man Utd legend David Bellion to score from. Arda Turan then levelled with a spawny effort before Harry Kewell scored the goal of the season so far with an absolute belter. I hope English scouts have got an eye on this impressive up and coming young Australian, he really seems one for the future. The Lions looked to be cruising when young Arda scored his second of the night in the 65th minte, but two quick-fire goals from Marouane Chamakh and Fernando Cavenaghi looked to have sent the French side through on away goals. But an injury-time winner from cult here Sabri Sarıoğlu ended a thriller in Galatasaray’s favour.
