Falcao fires Atletico to Europa win
Source: Agencies |
May 11, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
RADAMEL Falcao's golden boot and coach Diego Simeone's tactical nous helped Atletico Madrid secure a second Europa League title in three seasons with a commanding 3-0 win over fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao in Bucharest on Wednesday.
Colombian striker Falcao struck two superb goals, having also hit the winner for Porto in the 2011 final before a big-money move to Spain, and Brazilian Diego snapped up a late third as Simeone triumphed over fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa.
Falcao, top scorer in the competition for a second straight season, netted a first-half double to put Atletico in control before Diego, who was suspended for the 2009 final when with Werder Bremen, sealed an emphatic win five minutes from time.
"It was a tough match, an extraordinary match, almost perfect," Diego told Spanish television.
Falcao added: "I am grateful for this moment that few players have the chance to experience, grateful to all the team, my colleagues, the coaching staff."
It was fitting reward for Simeone who has revitalized 2010 winner Atletico since taking over in late December at the Vicente Calderon, where he became a fan favorite as a player in winning a league and cup double in 1996.
The 42-year-old former Argentina captain also lifted the UEFA Cup as a player with Inter Milan in 1998.
"I'm really happy to give the Atletico fans another trophy, this time as a coach," he said, managing a rare smile.
"I am a young coach, this is without doubt a very powerful situation for me, thanks to the affection the fans have for me," he added having restored his managerial reputation.
The final was billed as a showdown between managerial friends - Simeone having played during the last years of his international career for Argentina under Bielsa.
Simeone, dressed head to toe in black, regularly encroached outside his technical area while the bespectacled Bielsa, also in black, crouched low to the turf as he tried to plot a way back into the game against a domestic rival it knows well.
Bilbao, playing in only its second European final and first for 35 years, tried to replicate the same attacking intensity that brought exciting knockout stage wins over Manchester United and Schalke 04.
But for the first 70 minutes Athletic, which only fields players of Basque origin, had its cutting edge blunted by an Atletico side moulded in the steely ways of former midfield enforcer Simeone.
By then the impressive Falcao had almost sealed its fate. The Colombian set a European competition record with 17 goals in Porto's triumphant 2010-11 campaign, including the winner in a 1-0 defeat of Braga in an all-Portuguese final.
Colombian striker Falcao struck two superb goals, having also hit the winner for Porto in the 2011 final before a big-money move to Spain, and Brazilian Diego snapped up a late third as Simeone triumphed over fellow Argentine Marcelo Bielsa.
Falcao, top scorer in the competition for a second straight season, netted a first-half double to put Atletico in control before Diego, who was suspended for the 2009 final when with Werder Bremen, sealed an emphatic win five minutes from time.
"It was a tough match, an extraordinary match, almost perfect," Diego told Spanish television.
Falcao added: "I am grateful for this moment that few players have the chance to experience, grateful to all the team, my colleagues, the coaching staff."
It was fitting reward for Simeone who has revitalized 2010 winner Atletico since taking over in late December at the Vicente Calderon, where he became a fan favorite as a player in winning a league and cup double in 1996.
The 42-year-old former Argentina captain also lifted the UEFA Cup as a player with Inter Milan in 1998.
"I'm really happy to give the Atletico fans another trophy, this time as a coach," he said, managing a rare smile.
"I am a young coach, this is without doubt a very powerful situation for me, thanks to the affection the fans have for me," he added having restored his managerial reputation.
The final was billed as a showdown between managerial friends - Simeone having played during the last years of his international career for Argentina under Bielsa.
Simeone, dressed head to toe in black, regularly encroached outside his technical area while the bespectacled Bielsa, also in black, crouched low to the turf as he tried to plot a way back into the game against a domestic rival it knows well.
Bilbao, playing in only its second European final and first for 35 years, tried to replicate the same attacking intensity that brought exciting knockout stage wins over Manchester United and Schalke 04.
But for the first 70 minutes Athletic, which only fields players of Basque origin, had its cutting edge blunted by an Atletico side moulded in the steely ways of former midfield enforcer Simeone.
By then the impressive Falcao had almost sealed its fate. The Colombian set a European competition record with 17 goals in Porto's triumphant 2010-11 campaign, including the winner in a 1-0 defeat of Braga in an all-Portuguese final.
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