Brazilian Jadson earns Ukraine its first Euro champs

AN EXTRA-TIME winner from Brazilian midfielder Rodrigues Jadson earned Shakhtar Donetsk a dramatic but deserved victory in the last ever Uefa Cup final.

The 96th-minute strike, which slipped through Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese’s fingertips, also brought Ukraine their first European triumph since independence in 1991.

Werder had forced extra-time when Ronaldo Naldo’s free-kick was fumbled in, cancelling out Luiz Adriano’s breakaway opener for classy Shakhtar. Last night’s final in Istanbul was the last in Uefa Cup history, with the competition to be replaced by the Europa League.

Shakhtar took the lead on 25 minutes when a fleet-footed counter-attack sent Luiz Adriano clean through down the middle, and he expertly lifted a cool finish over the on-rushing Wiese.

The Ukrainian side began to purr but 10 minutes later goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov handed Werder an equaliser, fumbling Ronaldo Naldo’s 30-yard free-kick into his top corner.

Chances abounded and both goalkeepers were tested repeatedly before the match entered extra time. But six minutes in Wiese was beaten, the Werder stopper allowing Jadson’s low shot to creep through his fingers.