W Bremen 1-2 Espanyol (agg 1-5)

Coro scored Espanyol's opening goal in Bremen

Espanyol will meet Sevilla in the Uefa Cup final at Hampden Park on 16 May after beating Werder Bremen 2-1 for a 5-1 aggregate victory in the last four.

Bremen, trailing 3-0 after the first leg, went ahead through Hugo Almeida but Miroslav Klose was sent off for a second bookable offence on 19 minutes

Espanyol then equalised through Ferran Coro after keeper Andreas Reinke failed to hold a cross.

Maria Lacruz secured victory on the night with a far-post header.

Espanyol, beaten finalists in the 1998 Uefa Cup final, can now start preparing for their visit to Glasgow.

But it was a nervous start for the Spanish team after Almeida's long-range strike.

However, German international Klose had been booked in the opening minute of the match - and he was dismissed after he was handed his second yellow card for diving.

Bremen continued to push forward, even after Klose's dismissal, and Almeida went close with a volley from an Aaron Hunt cross.

But Espanyol scored the decisive second goal following the error from Reinke, who was playing in goal in the absence of the suspended Tim Wiese.

And Lacruz's header sealed victory for the Catalan team.

---

Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf on striker Klose's dismissal:
"We didn't get the job done in Barcelona in the first leg but I have no understanding for officials when their calls decide a game."

Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde:
"We began badly because they scored an early goal, which was something we wanted to avoid.

"During the first half, we were in danger of losing our place in the final. We needed more composure on the ball but then we scored and everything became easier."

---

Werder Bremen: Reinke, Pasanen, Naldo, Schulz, Owomoyela (Schindler 45), Diego, Daniel Jensen (Wome 70), Frings (Baumann 75), Hugo Almeida, Klose, Hunt.
Subs Not Used: Vander, Vranjes, Polenz, Bischoff.

Sent Off: Klose (19).

Booked: Klose, Hugo Almeida.

Goals: Hugo Almeida 4.

Espanyol: Iraizoz, David Garcia, Lacruz, Jarque, Torrejon, Zabaleta (Angel 65), Ito, Luis Garcia, Riera (Rufete 70), Coro, Tamudo (Julian 79).
Subs Not Used: Kameni, Velasco, Moha, Chica.

Booked: Zabaleta, Coro, Luis Garcia.

Goals: Coro 50, Lacruz 61.

Att: 36,000

Ref: Bertrand Layec (France).