MOSCOW, May 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulation telegram to Valery Gazzayev, the manager of CSKA Moscow, the UEFA Cup winners, the Kremlin press service said. "It is for the first time that a Russian team won a high-profile tournament like this. CSKA's sporting triumph has been a great gift to millions of fans and to entire Russia. I am assured that this achievement will give a great impetus to football and sports in our country," the telegram reads.
On May 18, CSKA beat Sporting Lisbon in front of a Portuguese home crowd, in Sporting's home stadium Jose Alvalade, 3 goals to 1, making a wonderful comeback from the first half to take the UEFA Cup, second most revered and Russia's first-ever European club trophy.
Roman Abramovich-sponsored CSKA came to UEFA Cup victory from the sidelines of the Champions League where it took third place in Group B. From the 1/16th to the final match CSKA knocked out Benfica of Portugal, Partizan of Serbia, Auxerre of France, and Parma of Italy.
In the final match, the home side took the lead after Rogerio's superb 29th-minute strike from just outside the box. However, the Russian Army side (CSKA is disabbreviated in Russian as the Central Sporting Club of the Army - Ed.) stormed back in 19 second-half minutes with three goals, all masterminded by Brazilian playmaker Daniel Carvalho. Later Carvalho was voted the Man of the Match.
Now CSKA will play for the Supercup with Liverpool of England or Milan of Italy. The two will clash for Europe's No 1 soccer trophy, European Champion Clubs' Cup, on May 25 in Istanbul, Turkey.
