EINDHOVEN, Netherlands -- Sevilla made its first European trophy a memorable one Wednesday, getting two goals from Enzo Maresca in a 4-0 rout of Middlesbrough and future England coach Steve McClaren in the UEFA Cup final.
The harsh final score spoiled the farewell game for McClaren, who will take over for Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup.
He took some amazing tactical risks in the second half to claw back in a tight game, but his recklessness to play four forwards was punished with three late Sevilla goals.
Apart from Maresca, Mali's Frederic Kanoute and Brazil's Luis Fabiano scored for Sevilla.
"It's been a perfect day," said Maresca, who was named man of the match but will not be with Italy at the World Cup. "It has been the best day of my life."
The 12,000 Sevilla fans had rolled a huge banner of "Somos Grandes -- we are great" at the Philips Stadium, and with a performance as cunning as beguiling, few doubters were left.
Middlesbrough got close around the hour-mark with a few good chances and a disputed penalty incident, but the English team was left to rue an easy opportunity missed by striker Mark Viduka, who could not get past outstanding goalkeeper Andres Palop from close range in the 52nd minute.
Viduka knew he could have turned the match. "Sometimes it goes in, sometimes it doesn't. I thought we could go all the way tonight," Viduka said.
Middlesbrough, which twice faced elimination and a three-goal deficit in the quarterfinals and semifinals, couldn't pull of such a feat in the final against a more sophisticated side.
"It certainly wasn't magical tonight," McClaren said. "The last two weeks have been a rollercoaster and this is a low."
Sevilla's first goal in the 27th was the product of a talented team in total synch and highlighted a Latin touch well beyond its roots in southern Spain's Andalusia. It fielded players from Italy, Brazil, France and Argentina to find the right mix that gave the small club a European trophy.
A second Spanish-English clash is set for next Wednesday, when FC Barcelona plays Arsenal in the Champions League final.
While Argentina forward Javier Saviola lured one defender away from the center, Luis Fabiano moved into the open space where he was served a perfect cross from right back Daniel Alves. Luis Fabiano produced a header as powerful as it was delicate, flicking it off the right post for the opener.
