LONDON, may 2:Zenit St. Petersburg routed Bayern Munich on Thursday to reach their first European final, setting up a UEFA Cup meeting with Rangers.

Zenit beat four-time European champions and tournament favourites Bayern 4-0 to win their two-legged semi-final 5-1, while Rangers beat Fiorentina 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw to reach the May 14 final in Manchester, England.

Bayern were confident of progress in Russia but missed the chance to score a crucial away goal in the third minute when Luca Toni had a shot cleared off the line by defender Kim Dong-jin.

And the visitors were left to rue that miss a minute later when Pavel Pogrebnyak gave Zenit the lead with a free kick through the defensive wall and past keeper Oliver Kahn. Toni, who has scored 36 times for Bayern this season, missed the chance to add to his tournament 10 goals when he headed over from close range and Zenit moved further ahead in the 39th through a shot by midfielder Konstantin Zyryanov.

Victor Fayzulin added a third in the 49th by heading in Aleksandr Anyukov’s cross and Pogrebnyak made it 4-0 in the 73rd.

Fiorentina cry foul

Fiorentina drew 0-0 in Glasgow last week and dominated visiting Rangers at Stadio Artemio Franchi on Thursday, mustering 20 shots on goal to three by the Scottish club in regular time, but failed to capitalise.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli said the wrong side will face Zenit: “It’s a big disappointment because if there was a team that deserved to go to the final, it was Fiorentina.”

Rangers showed little adventure in both ties but prevailed with some dogged defending.

editor@expressindia.com

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