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Valencia 1 - Heerenveen 1 Valencia: Palop; Djukic, Björklund, Pellegrino; Angulo, Albelda (Carew 77'), Baraja, Vicente; Parri (Juan Sánchez 46'); Zahovic, Diego Alonso. 3-4-1-2. Goals: Final league positions (6
matches): Valencia got the point they needed to end up champions of group C, although given the result in the other game it wasn't strictly necessary. Héctor Cúper rested several of his key players, including Mendieta and Kily González, and finally gave Palop the game he was asking for in the Valencia goal. With Parri, Albelda and Angulo also getting a start, the manager played a formation with three at the back and five in midfield, with Zahovic playing up front alongside Diego Alonso. They were up against a Heerenveen side that had little to play for, being last of their group with four defeats in their five games. Valencia dominated for much of the game, although they were unable to make much impact on Vonk's goal despite playing with an extra man from the 60th minute after Belgian referee Mr. Pireaux sent off Ebbinge for a second bookable offence. The first goal came early on after Diego Alonso touched on a pass in from Parri, but they allowed the Dutch side back in to the match seven minutes from half time, the referee ruling that Djukic had played on the ball cancelling out the possible offside of Venema. Cúper did not want to lose his run of 14 victories in a row at home, and he brought on Sánchez at half time, with Zahovic dropping back to play behind the front two. But it was not Valencia's night, and despite a constant barrage of balls into the Heerenveen goalmouth, the defence held fast and the match was drawn. The only effect on Valencia was to deprive them of half of the lucrative prize money, but they go on to the next phase with their pride (and home record) intact. They have been drawn in group A with Manchester United (again), Panathinaikos and Sturm Graz. |
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