So having bowed out in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup in the 2004/5 season, attention switched back to our league form which was hoped would propel us back into next season’s competiton. Our form was fairly consistent towards the back end of the season as key players returned, although there was a big late season charge from Manchester City which threatened our chances of finishing in the all important seventh place in the league, which would enable us to qualify for the following year’s competition. Intriguingly, we had to play Manchester City away on the last day of the season - it would become a famous showdown, as after a nervy win over Spurs in our final home game of the season (Spurs were until that point still challenging us themselves) it had become a straight fight between us and City. A draw would be enough to secure qualification for us - if we lost then City would qualify. The first half was like a dream - Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored with an absolute piledriving 30 yard free kick that hit the underside of the crossbar midway through the half and so we went into the break 1-0 up. However, City equalised immediately after the break through Kiki Musampa and it was then set up for a tense finale! In injury time, as City heaped on the pressure, the referee gave them a soft penalty and it was up to Robbie Fowler to step up and fire City into Europe. However, Mark Schwarzer famously guessed the right way and made a superb save - “GET IN YER BIG AUSSIE!!!” was the cry from the radio commentry… A sentiment echoed by Boro fans everywhere! The rest was history and it would again be Boro’s turn to have a crack at the UEFA cup!
The main sqaure in Stuttgart...
The competition started in the first round against FC Xanthi of Greece, who Emerson now played for (once one of Boro’s most high profile players) - But we brushed them aside over two legs, winning 2-0 at home, followed by a 0-0 draw away in Greece. We then topped a group, which on paper looked considerably easier than the previous year’s group, and so it proved - we beat Grasshoppers of Zurich 1-0 away, then overcame Dnipro of the Ukraine 3-0 at home, before drawing 0-0 away with AZ Alkmaar of Holland and rounding off the group with a 2-0 home victory against Litex Lovech of Bulgaria. However that was the easy part, in the last 32 we were drawn against VfB Stuttgart, one of Germany’s top clubs, and if we made it past them we would more than likely face AS Roma of Italy, who need no introduction!!! The UEFA Cup had suddenly got tough! Whats more was our form was terrible leading up to the Stuttgart tie, although the seeds of recovery were just starting to show through as we travelled to Germany. We booked some cheap flights from London Stansted and drove down through the night in order to catch the flight at 7 a.m. Once we were at the airport the holiday spirit reigned over us and we enjoyed an early morning vodka and coke! Only one mind as we had a hire car to collect at the other end!!! We flight passed without a hitch and we touched down in Karlsruhe-Baden airport which was an hour’s drive away from Stuttgart. We had a lovely black top of the range BMW 1 series to shuttle us around in, which was good although it was probably a bit like trying to crack a nut with a sledge hammer, because we only used it for a sum total of a bout 2 hours 30 minutes on the whole trip! It was fun switching the Sat-Nav to different languages though and the 3 stage heated seats were mega!!!
Rochemback tangles with a Stuttgart player
Anyway, I digress! We arrived at the hotel, dumped our bags and headed into the city centre on the tram, which was about a mile away. There was a good atmosphere in the city and we had a good afternoon wandering around - The city was gearing up to be one of the hosts in the upcoming World Cup and there were loads of footballs hanging from all the trees! The only problem was there was only one bar we knew about that was open to Boro fans in the whole city… But what a bar it was! It was called Sophie’s bar and it didn’t stop bouncing the whole time we were there!!! Unfortunately, I had the pleasure of been wiped out by a 24 hour sickness bug that evening and spent virtually the whole night and all of the next day tucked up in bed at the hotel! I was gutted because the lads were having an amazing time out and about. It was touch and go whether I’d make the game or not, I really was that bad despite the lads taking the mick saying I was faking it!!! However, I was determined to make the game and I’m so glad I went. In spite of the driving February rain we made our way to the game and it was a magical experience. The stadium was awesome and although there was a running track on the outside of the pitch, the atmosphere was still good. We went 1-0 up in the first half through Hasselbaink and consolodated our lead straight after the break with another goal, this time by Stuart Parnaby following a cracking run from George Boateng down the wing. The dangerous Daniel Ljuboja scored a free kick before the end though, leaving the second leg still in the balance.
Mendieta challenges for the ball back at the Riverside
However that didn’t quell the celebrations as we had managed to win away unexpectedly in Germany against a top side! By this point I was definitely feeling brighter and we headed back to Sophie’s bar for a party! I was feeling pretty fresh in the morning, but the other lads were struggling because they’d had far more to drink than me, so it was a fairly rough trip back home. In the second leg at home, Stuttgart scored early on through Christian Tiffert, but we held on really well and made some cracking blocks - One of Boateng’s in particular was immense! The final whistle blew and we were through - it was the greatest defeat I had witnessed (to that point) as a Boro fan! We had set up a last 16 tie against Roma who as expected knocked Club Brugge out of the competition! In the Pacific bar after the game (which had become our post European night haunt!), my mate James and I were in shock - we just kept saying that we couldn’t believe we’d knocked Stuttgart out and were about to face Roma… It was like a dream!!!
By Ben Charlton.
