UEFA Cup

Middlesbrough are hoping to join Liverpool (European Super Cup) and Arsenal (Champions League) and become the third English to reach a European Final this year.

Middlesbrough FC will be seeking a hat-trick, of sorts, when they attempt to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Bulgarian team FC Steaua Bucuresti at the Riverside stadium in the second leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final. Steve McClaren's team lost away games in the previous two knockout rounds, but prevailed at home, most memorably in the quarter-finals when Massimo Maccarone completed a stunning comeback in the last minute against FC Basel 1893.

1-nil down from the first leg, Middlesbrough will need to score two to avoid extra-time, but more importantly they must maintain a clean sheet to avoid the pitfalls of the away-goal rules.

16 mins: Terrible start for Middlesbrough as Dica scores and the Romanian fans go crazy. Marin picked up the ball out on the left before cutting inside and delivering a powerful shot which Jones parried into the path of Dica and the striker made no mistake from close range. Middlesbrough now need three goals to win...a 2-1 scoreline in their favour will mean nothing. The only good thing is that at least the goal came early giving them the majority of the game to get back in the tie.
24 mins: It goes from bad to worse as Goian scores the second for Bucuresti - It's surely all over now as Middlesbrough's defensive shambles from another corner allows Dorin Goian to fire home from close range after his initial header was saved. They look to be heading out of a second semi-final in the space of a week!
2-0 to the visitors on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. Middlesbrough now need four!!!
26 mins: Maclaren does the smart thing and sends on a forward for a defender, with Southgate making way for Maccarone. They've got to push forward.
33 mins: The substitution pays off and there's a lifeline as Maccarone scores. Unbelievable scenes at the Riverside as a long ball forward ends up with Viduka around 20-yards from goal and the Australian then passes to Maccarone inside the area and the little Italian fires home. They still need three more, but hopefully the goal will give them a boost.
45+4 Mins: Half-Time and even four extra minutes have yeilded no goals for the home team. Middlesbrough's ground has been a little sparse for their Euro games. Whoever is there will need to make some noise if they want to repeat Liverpool feat last year.
46 Mins: The second-half begins. 'Brough will need to get an early goal to set the ball rolling for this Houdini act.
48 Mins: Things go from bad to worse for 'Brough as the game has to be stopped as the Dutch midfielder receives treatment. Middlesbrough eventually launch the free kick into the area but Steaua have no problem clearing the ball away. At least Boateng comes back onto the field of play.
50 Mins: The 'Brough fans have found their voice, but they will have to keep it up if they want to lift their team to victory. Three goals in 40 minutes are required. Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, Seville are still 0-0 with German's Schalke, and will need two goals themselves to go through after going down 3-1 in the first (away) leg.
65 Mins: Finally another goal for Middlesbrough. Downing receives the ball way out the left and the winger's cross into the box and Viduka heads it over the advancing Carlos and into the goal. 2-2. Two more goals needed and 25+ mins left to do it in. Com'mon ladds.
68 mins: Dica foolishly handles the ball in the opposition half and the resulting booking means he will miss the final should they get there - he's looks in pieces now and will be of no use (hopefully) to the team in the rest of this match. Still Steaua choose to take off Daniel Balan and bring on Iacob in his place.
73 mins: That's #3! A high ball into the box is flicked on to Downing on the left side of the area and his low shot is parried into the path of Riggott who makes no mistake from close range. Middlesbrough are making it quite the habit waiting 'til the last minute to attack these games. One more without reply will see them thoughwith almost 20 minutes (including injury time) left to go.
77 Mins: The Riverside is probably the loudest it has ever been as the fans cheer their side on towards a final in Eindhoven. I guess all of those who missed the Basel game are getting a 'make-up' . Great games and great comebacks are a sign of good things. Last year Liverpool came back 3-1 against Olympiacos, held onto a 0-0 in the San Siro and beat Chav$ki with a wonder goal before going on to the greatest game and comeback in European history.
80 Mins: 'Brough have just 10 minutes left to score the winning goal. Steaua, meanwhile, make a defensive substitution with the rest of the side looking nervous.
83 mins: Olaroiu, the 36-year-old manager of Steaua, stands on the touchline instructing his side to defend, but they are not doing a great job of it.
87 mins: The visitors run down the clock by making another substitution, this time Mihai Nesu replacing Bostina, who walks off very slowly.
88 mins: Boro keep pressing forward and Hasselbaink is able to shoot from the edge of the area but the Dutchman's effort rolls wide of the post. Two minutes left - nerve wracking stuff for Middlesbrough fans.
89 mins: GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL - Maccarone heads the ball past Carlos and into the net! Amazing stuff! Now they just need to keep their concentration for the last few minutes.
90+1 mins: There will be four minutes of stoppage time to be played and Ugo Ehiogu has come on to keep the Bulgarians at bay, replacing Hasselbaink.
90+4 mins: That's it 'Brough are through to the final (joined most likely by German side Schlake 04). An amazing game, that will surely be remembered as their best game ever. Two English teams in two European finals - fantastic stuff. McClaren won't be giving a toss about the imminent arrival of Scolari now!