Pisa are the champions (By Heinz Eder)

After last year's italian final in Lisbon between Napoli and Perugia, only one team from Italy managed to reach the final, but the winner is still from Italy, after BLACK & BLUE Pisa won a close match against TFC MATTERSBURG.A fter the groups were finished without any big surprises (all the big clubs went through the groups to the round of the last 16), in the first knockout stage already the first surprises happened. Stella Artois Milano managed to beat last year's finalist Perugia and San Siro had a close match against austrian team from Royal 78 Kaisermühlen, which they won in the end on goal difference.There were also some other close games in that round, like Hennuyer against Chaleroi or Stembert against Roligans, both decided in sudden death, first for Hennuyer, second for Roligans. In the quarterfinal the next surprise happened, because the cupholder said good bye after a tie against San Siro Worthing Fivestar, but again after the round of last 16 the goal difference was better for San Siro. To show how close this tournament was in this quarter final 3 out of 4 matches were only decided on goal difference. Mattersburg won against Falcons from Greece, Stella Artois Milano beat Hennuyer on goal difference too.In half final San Siro had to play against Pisa and Mattersburg had to beat Stella Artois Milano to reach the final. In the end Pisa could manage it towin clearly against San Siro and Mattersburg won again on goal difference.The final was very close too, but in the end Pisa managed it to win this game and take to trophy to Italy again. Generally it was a good Europa Cup, the organization was good and theweather in Athens also was very nice with about 20°.