Middlesbrough reach UEFA Cup
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Article summary
Middlesbrough FC will play in Europe for the first time after winning the English League Cup final.
Article body
Middlesbrough FC booked their place in next season's UEFA Cup and ended their 128-year wait for major silverware on Sunday by defeating Bolton Wanderers FC 2-1 to lift the League Cup at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Flying start
Middlesbrough made the most of a flying start after Cameroon striker Joseph-Désiré Job put them ahead after only two minutes and Boudewijn Zenden converted a penalty five minutes later. The Dutchman added his name to the scoresheet when Brazilian defender Emerson Thome tripped Job and the on-loan Chelsea FC player's mis-hit spot-kick spun in off Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen's leg.
Davies delight
A 21st-minute mistake by Jaaskelainen's opposite number Mark Schwarzer allowed Kevin Davies to squeeze a shot in and halve the deficit and Bolton might easily have equalised before the break as Jay-Jay Okocha curled a free-kick just over the bar, Per Frandsen hit the post and Youri Djorkaeff narrowly missed following up the rebound.
Domestic bliss
Middlesbrough dominated a goalless second half and could have won by a greater margin as they pressed on the counter in the dying stages. The victory made Steve McClaren the first English manager to win a domestic trophy since Brian Little lifted the League Cup with Aston Villa FC in 1996.
