Thursday, 6 November 2014

Archive #5: European Cup 2012-13


Continuing with the European Cup records catch-up with the 2012-13 edition:


Proceedings kicked-off with a pair of shocks, as both the holders Vasas Budapest and the previous season's beaten finalists Sporting Lisbon fell at the first hurdle, along with a greater proportion of seeded teams than has been the norm.

The quarter-finals provided a good deal of excitement, with Velez Mostar earning a crucial first leg victory in Hungary against Raba ETO Gyor, Dubocica Leskovac producing a fine second leg comeback to overcome Stromsgodset, and Internazionale conquering Atletico Madrid with a late, decisive third goal in their rematch, Atletico previously having squeaked past Rapid Vienna on penalties after a drawn second round replay, the same stage at which Matlock Town were thrashed by Raba after putting up a fine display over the two original legs of the tie. Making up the last four, and for the first time, were Slavia Prague, convincing winners over Saint-Etienne, beaten heavily for the second season in succession.

Slavia fell to Internazionale but only after a replay in the semi-final, whilst Dubocica again tripped at the penultimate stage, once more losing out by a single goal on aggregate, this time to Bosnian neighbours Velez, who then proceeded to win the cup, for the first time, thus depriving Internazionale of what would have been a record-equalling fifth triumph, in a thrilling end-to-end final.




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