Russian left-back Yuri Zhirkov scored one of the goals as his CSKA Moscow side see off Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon in the 2005 UEFA CUP final to win the 2004/05 UEFA CUP title. Yuri Zhirkov scored the second CSKA Moscow on the way to the 3-1 win over their Portuguese top flight opponents.
Zhirkov was part of a four-man defence in front of goalkeeper IgorAkinfeev. Apart from the ex-Chelsea defender, VasiliBerezutskiy, Alexei Berezutskiy and Sergei Ignashevich were also in the CSKA Moscow defence who kept Sporting Lisbon quiet for a long time. Apart from the first goal of the game, the CSKA Moscow defenders did their defensive job well against the Lisbon attackers.
Sporting Lisbon took the lead through Rogerio just before the half hour mark. The advantage from Rogerio lasted till the end of the first half as Sporting Lisbon took a big step towards the title. However, CSKA Moscow had other ideas after they scored three times in the second half to emerge as European title winners for the first time in their history.
Alexei Berezutskiy started the game at the heart of the CSKA Moscow defencealongside Sergei Ignashevichand he was the recipient of the equaliser on 56 minutes. Yuri Zhirkov doubled the lead for the Russians in the 65th minute before Brazilian striker Vagner Love wrapped up the win with a third goal for CSKA Moscow. The Russians scored three times in a little under twenty (20) second half minutes to win the game