RangersFC v Zenit St Petersberg

Andrew Paul

The 14th of May is a date that stands out in my mind because this was the night that Rangers football club would play in the UEFA cup final against Zenit Saint Petersburg at the city of Manchester stadium. I was so excited because I was going to watch Rangers in a cup final.

My mum, dad, brother and I made our way through to Ibrox. On the way I put a scarf out the window and rolled the window up so the scarf was flying. Nearly every car that passed us was a Rangers supporter and when they passed they tooted their horn and cheered.

When we got to the stadium it was mobbed with Rangers fans. It was very hard to find a parking space near the stadium. We searched for about half an hour and eventually we got one just off Copland road. We got out the car and made out way to the stadium and stood in the queue at Copland road stand. We queued for one and a half hour and the stewards eventually told us that this stand was not getting opened. All the other stands were already open and all of the supporters said we will never get in now and you could see it in their faces that they were not happy about this situation we were in.

We must have walked around the stadium twice and then the police and the stewards told us that there were no more seats left. Suddenly there were bottles getting smashed off the floor and a lot of people were drunk. So then the police took us and made us queue just outside the Rangers superstore then after all the events that happened the police then told us they had found another 1000 seats. We all cheered and then the stewards let us into the stadium. Eventually we got our seats and waited for the game to start.

10 minutes before the game the big screen got switched on and there was a look back at how Rangers Football Club got to the UEFA cup final. Then the players came out and the club songs were played; all of Ibrox was singing to the Rangers song. The game started and all you could hear from the city of Manchester stadium was cheers and roars from both sets of fans.

In the first half there was not many chances for both teams, only a couple of saves from the Rangers keeper and that was the only worry for the Rangers fans. The first half ended and the disappointment continued after the whistle because my dad and me went to get something to eat and when we got to the tills we eventually found that there was no more food left or no crisps and or sweets. I said to my dad this is a shambles he said aye, `Ah know so all we could get was a drink of juice and had to go back to our seat because the second half was about to start.

The second half started and the only difference from the first half was Zenit had a lot of the ball. This was a worry because Zenit were shooting always and our goalkeeper was outstanding, until the 68th minute, and Zenit scored with a goal which to tell you the truth was quite of a scramble inside the six yard box. The Rangers fans were all devastated. I could see the faces around me at Ibrox were the very same. My jaw fell to the ground because Rangers came very close to scoring in the 80th minute and they kept on having chances but they didnt take them and they could not score.

The last 5 minutes arrived and Rangers were trying even harder to get a goal. There was a late corner which David Weir headed towards goal; the fans all jumped up in hope but still the ball wouldnt hit the back of the net. Zenit cleared the ball by kicking it up field to the striker waiting at the half way mark and as soon as the Zenit striker got the ball none of the Rangers players could get back to defend the shot. When the Zenit player got to the penalty spot he shot and all the Rangers fans were biting their nails. But nothing could stop that shot into the Rangers keeper: the ball rocketed into the back of the net and I thought that the net was going to burst.

As soon as the second goal went in all the fans left Ibrox in misery and in disappointment that we could have won that game. I was only a wee bit disappointed because Rangers Football Club made history by getting to the UEFA cup finale.