'Bravo CSKA! Enjoy Russia!'

Russian football will never be the same again, according to Russian daily Sport-Express, which hopes PFC CSKA Moskva's 3-1 victory over Sporting Clube de Portugal in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday is a sign of things to come for the national game. In contrast, the Portuguese press was understandably downbeat as they sifted through another night of unexpected disappointment.

Russia won her first European trophy last night. Remember this day of 18 May 2005. It will go down in all football books. Why don't we acquire a taste for big wins now? CSKA now have their UEFA Super Cup game against Liverpool [FC] or [AC] Milan, whichever wins [UEFA] Champions League, looming ... For now we are only interested in finals. Bravo CSKA! Enjoy Russia!
(Sport-Express, Russia) 

After the European triumphs of FC Porto, Sporting were a strong candidate to win a third European trophy for Portuguese football, especially because they were playing in their own stadium. It was not possible… In the end it was rerun of EURO 2004™ when Greece, considered an ‘outsider’, surprised everybody to become European champions. On Wednesday it was CSKA's turn to surprise Sporting and, just like that, win the first European trophy in the history of Russian football. That is the nature of football – unpredictable. Sporting’s beautiful dream had come to an end.
(A Bola, Portugal)

There is no doubt that the Moscow side were somewhat lucky at the [Estádio José] Alvalade. For example, when Rogério hit the post midway through the second half and the scoreline became 3-1 seconds later instead of 2-2. But who cares about that now? Who wants to analyse the tactical details of the game now, except downcast Portuguese journalists? Who cares about Sporting when Russian football is divided into BEFORE and AFTER yesterday's match?
(Sport-Express, Russia)

It was so disappointing for Sporting, who fed the dream round after round, in style, with commitment and also class. We must acknowledge that. But what were Sporting missing yesterday? What went wrong? The problem was that CSKA were there, a physically fresh team, with fine players, almost unbeatable in the air and with two Brazilian players who made the difference.
(Record, Portugal)

The Army Men are strong not individually, but in terms of team spirit, fostered by Valeriy Gazzaev with patience and consistency. The same 'All for one and one for all' mentality from Alexandre Dumas' 'The Three Musketeers', which is almost forgetten these days. Even if CSKA had lost to Sporting, they would still be winners. Because they became a Team over the last year. A Team, with a capital T.
(Sovetsky Sport, Russia)

Rogério's goal proved all those people right, even if just temporarily, who had come believing it was party time. And they were so many of them! The Alvalade was packed, a fantastic atmosphere, until Daniel Carvalho spoiled our night. The Brazilian played a part in all of CSKA's three goals, with the same number of assists. For the last two it was just a case of being there and tapping in.
(Record, Portugal)