Real Madrid CF and AC Milan played out a UEFA Champions League classic as the Serie A side recovered from Dida's early error to breathe life into their Group C campaign with a 3-2 win. European heavyweights Last-minute change Casillas culpable Sting
With 16 European Champion Clubs' Cups between them and a plethora of stars on display, fans flocked to the Santiago Bernabéu expecting something special – they were not disappointed. Raúl González opened the scoring midway through the opening period but two second-half goals in four minutes from Andrea Pirlo and Pato turned the game on its head. Royston Drenthe's low drive restored parity before Pato decided the contest with a dramatic volley two minutes from time.
So Madrid's night ended as it had begun – on a sour note. Gonzalo Higuaín picked up an injury during the warm-up to join a daunting list of absentees. Yet Manuel Pellegrini is hardly short on talent and, with Esteban Granero handed his UEFA Champions League debut, the hosts set the early pace. Granero and Karim Benzema bristled with intent and the pair were in the thick of things as Madrid broke the deadlock on 19 minutes. Benzema drew defenders on the edge of the Milan area before teeing up Granero for a speculative effort. It was straight at Dida yet the Brazilian, playing in place of the injured Christian Abbiati, let the ball slip on to his knee and into the path of the prowling Raúl who clipped in his 66th UEFA Champions League goal.
Madrid pressure
The Rossoneri were stunned, and as they allowed their opponents more possession they might have been punished further had Lassana Diarra applied more finesse to his chip. The French international sent another attempt just wide from distance and Marcelo also warmed Dida's hands. Milan threatened only once in the first half, Clarence Seedorf's cross needing a timely Raúl Albiol interception to deny the lurking Filippo Inzaghi with the scores at 0-0, and the second period started in a similar fashion. Raúl flashed a left-footed drive wide before Kaká measured a teasing pass across goal to no avail.
Dida was getting plenty of opportunity to atone for his error, denying Benzema and then, following a defensive lapse, Raúl. It all looked so comfortable for Madrid but, in the space of four minutes, they were behind. Receiving possession 30 metres from goal, Pirlo unleashed a blistering strike that crept inside Iker Casillas's near post. The goalkeeper could do nothing about that, yet was culpable when he opted to come out to meet Massimo Ambrosini's lofted pass soon after but misjudged the bounce, leaving Pato to slide the ball into an unguarded net and give Leonardo's side the lead.
It was merely the beginning of the drama. With 14 minutes left, Drenthe met Raúl's corner with a crisp low shot that levelled matters, yet these sides had played enough European Cup football – 526 matches between them – to suspect another sting in the tail. It duly came: Pato latching on to Seedorf's flighted pass with an emphatic volley to finally settle a thrilling contest.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Real Madrid 2-3 AC Milan
FC Zürich 0 - 1 Marseille
Gabriel Heinze's second-half volley kick-started Olympique de Marsille's UEFA Champions League campaign at the third time of asking as the French side earned three vital points at FC Zürich to move back into Group C contention. Early warning Heinze strikes
Open group
The visitors knew anything less than a win would leave them in a precarious position and produced a display of enterprise and endeavour. Yet they had to wait until 21 minutes from time to break the deadlock in a tight contest, with Zürich looking more determined to avoid a repeat of their opening 5-2 home defeat by Real Madrid CF than to build on their victory at AC Milan last time out. Marseille's success, along with Milan's triumph in Madrid, leaves the Spanish giants and their Serie A rivals on six points apiece, while Zürich and Marseille both have three.
Marseille went into the game chasing their first points after losses to Milan and Madrid, and had the ball in the net after just three minutes, though Hilton was adjudged offside after Johnny Leoni had parried Benoît Cheyrou's shot. Undeterred, the Mediterranean team continued to press and Cheyrou fizzed another long-range effort over, while Lucho and Brandão probed as the visitors sought a way through the Zürich defence.
Late flurry
There was no shortage of neat short passing or running off the ball, but both sides struggled to find that decisive final pass or to elude particularly effective offside traps. Zürich midfielder Milan Gajić tried to inject menace with a low drive from the edge of the area but two clearer chances fell to the Ligue 1 club in quick succession just before the break. Hilton rose highest to meet Mathieu Valbuena's left-wing cross but could only direct his header over. Next, Leoni conjured a superb reflex stop when Brandão complemented Mamadou Niang's inviting low centre with a flicked shot from close range.
Marseille momentum
Zürich made a brighter start to the second half, demanding of Steve Mandanda his first real save of the match as he tipped over a wickedly swerving shot from Johan Vonlanthen. However, Marseille quickly recovered their poise and attacking momentum. Their midfielders were constantly looking to release Brandão as they pushed on and there was an opening for Valbuena who hooked a hopeful effort centimetres too high.
If Marseille were beginning to wonder whether they would ever get tangible reward for their efforts, the question was answered emphatically by Heinze. A quick throw-in gave Lucho space to swing over a cross from the right and the Argentina defender, completely unmarked at the far post, coolly volleyed past Leoni and into the far corner. To their credit, the Swiss champions responded immediately and Mandanda had to react sharply to turn Gajić's bouncing free-kick round the post. Zürich duly threw everything at the Marseille goal in the closing stages and might have levelled when Alain Rochat was allowed a free header at the very end. His effort flew too high, however, and Didier Deschamps' men held on for a crucial win ahead of the reverse fixture at the Stade Vélodrome on 3 November.
Chelsea FC 4 - 0 Atlético Madrid
Three games, three wins and still to concede a goal. Chelsea FC may have encountered some difficult waters in the Premier League but in the UEFA Champions League they are once again making serene progress through the group stage as Club Atlético de Madrid found to their cost at Stamford Bridge. All to do Blushes spared
Two goals from Salomon Kalou helped inflict a second successive defeat for the Spanish side who conceded twice more through Frank Lampard and Luis Perea's own goal. Chelsea can seal qualification in Madrid in two weeks' time when Atlético, five points behind second-placed FC Porto, will have it all to do to keep their hopes alive.
Carvalho dropped
There was a lively opening in west London where Atlético knew there was no benefit for adopting a strategy of containment, their predicament of a single point from two games demanding they seek out attacking opportunities. They may also have been encouraged by the way Chelsea had been conceding goals in the Premier League and the latest demonstration of these frailties, Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa FC, cost Ricardo Carvalho his place with Branislav Ivanović installed at centre-back.
Early chances
Diego Forlán embarked on an early run but failed to trouble Petr Čech with his shot. Then, following Simão's burst of pace that took him beyond Michael Essien, a glorious chance presented itself to the Uruguayan but Čech was equal to his near-post header. Two minutes later and the noisy band of Spanish supporters were ready to acclaim a Sergio Agüero strike as he chased a flick-on with Ivanović slow to respond yet his firm left-footed drive only found the side-netting. The action was coming thick and fast. Next to feature was Lampard as his free-kick was palmed into his own net by Sergio Asenjo but a flag indicating Kalou's offside position spared his blushes.
Kalou then missed badly as Deco and Michael Ballack combined to play him in but he came good four minutes from the break when he turned in Ashley Cole's cross. Atlético's hope of a comeback unravelled within seven minutes of the restart as Kalou scored again. For Asenjo it was a short period of contrasting fortunes. He first denied Nicolas Anelka who had let fly with a shot of real venom. From a throw-in soon after Asenjo had to hurriedly scramble to claw the ball to safety, but from Lampard's ensuing corner he was undone again as the Ivorian striker climbed imperiously at the far post to nod in.
Lampard makes sure
An immediate chance arose for Agüero to reduce the deficit when he was sent clear again but the Argentinian hesitated, allowing Čech to get down and make the save. Chelsea made sure of the points when Lampard played a one-two with Essien before beating Asenjo at his right-hand post from the edge of the box. Substitute Maxi Rodríguez twice came close to a consolation but, in added time, the visitors suffered the final cruel cut as Perea headed Florent Malouda's free-kick into his own net.
FC Porto 2-1 APOEL FC
Jesualdo Ferreira celebrated his 100th win in charge of FC Porto as Hulk inspired a 2-1 comeback victory over APOEL FC that strengthened the Portuguese titleholders' hand in UEFA Champions League Group D. Turnaround Hulk run Porto momentum Elia handball APOEL effort
Caught cold by the Cypriot outfit's first real foray forward on 22 minutes, which ended with Álvaro Pereira helping the ball over his own goalline, Porto reacted with wounded pride and levelled through the excellent Hulk eleven minutes later. The Brazilian striker was a constant menace and it was fitting that he should deliver the telling blow, scoring from the spot three minutes into the second period. Mariano González's late dismissal gave APOEL hope of salvaging a draw, yet they never really threatened to add to their solitary point in the section.
Their defensive injury concerns worsened by Christos Kontis's pre-match withdrawal, APOEL nonetheless kept faith in the cautious approach that had posed their previous opponents problems. A style based on closing spaces and harrying the opposition, it tested Porto's talent for invention, although Hulk almost passed that examination single-handedly with 14 minutes gone. The No12 raced past three defenders down the right before shooting off target.
Surprise opener
That effort aside, he and his colleagues were reduced to trying their luck from distance, until a close-range overhead attempt from Cristián Rodríguez, claimed by APOEL goalkeeper Dionisios Chiotis, suggested they were finally zeroing in on their objective. To general surprise, however, the deadlock was broken at the other end, Pereira bundling the ball into his own net in an attempt to prevent Constantinos Charalambides from connecting with Chrysostomos Michail's centre from the left.
Briefly stunned, the hosts responded 12 minutes before half-time and it was a defensive mistake that let them in. APOEL's Portuguese midfielder Hélio Pinto headed the ball back towards his own area, only to feed Falcao, who skipped past a challenge and set up Hulk to slot low into the far corner. Soon after, Bruno Alves fired over from an indirect free-kick inside the box and Mariano fizzed an effort wide as Porto looked to make their dominance count.
If Ivan Jovanović's APOEL had finished the first period on the ropes, they began the second on the canvas as Hulk converted from the spot following Marios Elia's handball. Having switched flanks, the talented forward then fed Falcao with a perfect low cross which his attacking partner somehow failed to bury. Hulk also elicited a Chiotis save with a vicious drive.
The home team were clearly anxious to put the contest beyond their rivals, but their intensity slowly waned. APOEL duly started to venture forward and, with 66 minutes gone, they attempted their first shot with Nectarios Alexandrou bringing Helton into the game. The visitors' hopes were further aided by a 74th-minute red card for González after he had clashed with Nuno Morais. Even that numerical advantage was not enough to get them back in, though, and they will need to be more adventurous when they welcome the same opponents on 3 November.
VfL Wolfsburg 0-0 Besiktas JK
Besiktas JK picked up their first point of this season's UEFA Champions League as the Turkish champions produced a gritty performance to earn a goalless draw at VfL Wolfsburg. Industrious display Deft header Wolfsburg enterprise Suffocating pressure Grafite off
After successive defeats, visiting coach Mustafa Denizli had set his squad the task of simply avoiding an unwanted hat-trick of Group B losses at a chilly VfL Wolfsburg Arena. Though they remain bottom of the section, the Istanbul side edged themselves back into the reckoning with an industrious display that stifled the hosts, for whom a frustrating night was completed with the 74th-minute dismissal of Grafite.
Early chance
Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh had asked his habitually attack-minded team to rein in their more cavalier instincts, yet it did not take long for the German titleholders to get on to the front foot. Ricardo Costa headed over a corner after Besiktas goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber had misjudged the flight of the ball. Then an unmarked Edin Džeko had an excellent opportunity to reproduce his headed strike of Matchday 2, but the Bosnian international failed to find the target.
Besiktas were attempting to open their account after a point-less start to the campaign, and İbrahim Kaş tested Diego Benaglio with the home rearguard under pressure following a corner. However, with left-back Marcel Schäfer revelling in the space afforded him down that flank, Wolfsburg continued to threaten. A penetrating dart from the Germany player ended with low shot that forced Rüştü into a near-post save, before a pinpoint Schäfer centre found Džeko whose deft header sailed just wide of the far post.
Having dampened the locals' early ardour, Besiktas began to show more enterprise. Benaglio had to race off his line to gather at Bobô's feet before Nihat Kahveci's alert play enabled Rodrigo Tello to send a curling effort perilously close to the top corner. The danger posed by the away side proved fleeting, though. Wolfsburg used their overwhelming possession to good effect, even if the best of their first-half chances came courtesy of a miscued İbrahim Kaş header which released Džeko to fire tamely at Rüştü.
The former Turkish international was fortunate not to be picking the ball out of his net during a suffocating burst of Wolfsburg pressure just after the break. Having come to punch clear a high ball, Rüştü was left stranded but Christian Gentner blazed over the unattended goal. The Besiktas No1 then saw Džeko strike the outside of a post from an acute angle after the Wolfsburg forward had wriggled clear of Matteo Ferrari.
The traffic was not all one-way, and Alexander Madlung was required to step across smartly to prevent Nihat racing clear. However, Wolfsburg's hopes of a second group-stage win effectively disappeared with Grafite's red card following an off-the-ball incident involving İbrahim Kaş. The striker will therefore be suspended for the clubs' Matchday 4 encounter in Istanbul on 3 November, when Besiktas will be seeking the victory that will breathe fresh life into their campaign.
CSKA 0-1 Manchester United
Manchester United FC produced yet another late winner as they defeated PFC CSKA Moskva thanks to an 86th-minute goal from Antonio Valencia. Far-post strike Regulars missing Krasić miss Scent victory
The Ecuadorean winger followed up his first United goal last weekend by opening his UEFA Champions League account, beating Igor Akinfeev with a far-post shot to secure victory for the English titleholders on their return to the Luzhniki Stadium, scene of their 2008 final victory, and maintain their 100 per cent record at the Group B summit. Sir Alex Ferguson's men won their first two games with goals after 77 and 78 minutes but the fact they had to work even harder will be no consolation to a CSKA side beaten for the second time in three matches.
Neither team entered the contest at full strength. Missing the injured Guilherme, CSKA coach Juande Ramos opted for a 4-4-1-1 system with lone striker Tomáš Necid supported by the lively Alan Dzagoev. United, for their part, had travelled out to Moscow without a handful of regulars – Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park – which meant a UEFA Champions League debut for the 19-year-old Brazilian Fabio at left-back.
Slow pace
Nemanja Vidić presented an early opportunity to the hosts when ceding possession but Miloš Krasić failed to direct his shot on target. If the game was unfolding at a slow pace that was through no fault of Fabio, the United teenager playing an active part down the left, where the visitors did most of their best work. Paul Scholes offered their first serious threat on goal when he tried his luck from distance after 25 minutes – the ball took an awkward bounce in front of Igor Akinfeev and the Russian international goalkeeper had to react smartly to push it over the crossbar.
After headed opportunities for Necid and Berbatov, Krasić came close to opening the scoring for CSKA, firing past the far post from a tight angle on the right side of the United area. United then threatened through an unlikely source as captain Gary Neville picked up Berbatov's flick and tried his luck from distance, his shot striking the top of Akinfeev's net. The tempo picked up further after the restart and there were opportunities at both ends. Dzagoev put the ball in the United net in the 54th minute but was denied by an offside flag while his free-kick led to Sergei Ignashevich shooting just wide. At the other end Akinfeev showed his brilliance on the hour, denying Nani's diving header from Neville's cross.
Typically United started to scent victory in the closing stages. With ten minutes remaining Valencia and Nani exchanged passes on the edge of the box before the Ecuadorian sent the ball crashing against the crossbar. CSKA were trying to catch United on the counterattack but Valencia would not be denied and six minutes later after Berbatov had flicked on Nani's left-wing cross, he turned and fired past Akinfeev. Anderson almost added a second in added time, curling the ball past the far post, but one was enough for United.
Juventus 1 - 0 Maccabi Haifa
uventus grabbed three precious points in UEFA Champions League Group A after toughing out a 1-0 win against ten-man Maccabi Haifa FC in a rainy Turin on Matchday 3. High and low Early scares Dancing feet Sending-off Post rattled
Giorgio Chiellini's simple header two minutes after the break was enough to lift Juventus on to five points at the group's halfway stage. By contrast, the Israeli champions, who faded after a bright beginning and suffered the second-half dismissal of Tiago Dutra, still have nothing, not even a goal, to show for their efforts in the competition.
After a fruitless first two group games, Haifa almost had the perfect start. Finding himself alone eight metres out, Vladimer Dvalishvili headed a bouncing centre powerfully towards goal but Gianluigi Buffon – warm enough with two minutes gone – stuck out a hand to leave the Georgian pulling his hair in frustration. Soon after, Buffon's opposite number, Nir Davidovitch, did the same to divert to safety Fabio Grosso's firm, if poorly disguised, free-kick from the edge of the area.
Although the hosts had endured a winless month, there was a sprightliness to Juventus's early play. Driven on by Sebastian Giovinco's quick feet and Grosso's surging overlaps, the Bianconeri pestered the right side of Maccabi's defence. From one Grosso cross, Trezeguet, playing his 300th match for the Turin club, steered a volley centimetres wide with the outside of his boot. Giovinco was beating players for fun and had to be upended by Jorge Teixeira mid-slalom.
Test of nerve
Mohamed Sissoko glanced a Mauro Camoranesi set-piece narrowly off target, then Diego cracked a free-kick just past the woodwork, yet the first goal would not arrive before half-time to calm the Old Lady's nerves. Two minutes after the interval, though, she could relax and sit pretty. Haifa's defence retreated before Diego's firm, inswinging free-kick from the left and Chiellini popped up at the back post to nod in.
Diego almost doubled the advantage with a cheeky chip from 25 metres before Trezeguet and Giovinco forced Davidovitch into decent stops as the home team surged forward. The Ligat Ha'Al side were losing their discipline more than their shape. Midway through the second period, Chiellini was involved in another key incident when he fell under a dangerous-looking challenge from Dutra. The Haifa substitute was shown a straight red card to complicate matters further for Elisha Levi's charges.
Amauri replaced Trezeguet with ten minutes left as Juventus attacked with caution against the ten men – betraying their anxiety and the importance of a first victory. They were nearly made to pay for their conservative approach as first Dvalishvili, with a turn and shot, and then Dekel Keinan – back-post header – gave Buffon serious work to do. Camoranesi might have settled matters as the clocked ticked down, rattling the near upright with only the keeper for company. Giovinco's last-minute free-kick brought another scare for Davidovitch, but one goal was enough in the end. The clubs meet again in sunnier climes on 3 November.
Bordeaux 2 - 1 Bayern Munich
Michaël Ciani scored for the second UEFA Champions League game running to make amends for his early own goal and enable FC Girondins de Bordeaux to see off nine-man FC Bayern München in a tense and eventful game. Drama Own goal Ciani redemption Penalty saved Toni denied
Bayern got off to an ideal start thanks to Ciani's misfortune but the game slipped from their grasp in three disastrous first-half minutes when Ciani equalised and Thomas Müller was then dismissed. Marc Planus put Les Marine et Blanc ahead before the break and though Hans-Jörg Butt saved two second-half penalties, the latter after Daniel Van Buyten was also sent off, Bordeaux hung on to go two points clear at the top of Group A, with Bayern down to third before these sides' 3 November rematch.
Ciani's first-ever European goal secured all three points for Les Girondins against Maccabi Haifa FC last time out, yet the defender's luck deserted him six minutes in as he deflected Holger Badstuber's corner into his own net from close range. Having just suffered a second straight defeat for the first time in Laurent Blanc's reign on Saturday, this early strike further dented the home side's confidence as Bayern's powerful midfield trio established a grip.
Bordeaux's principal creator, Yoann Gourcuff, failed to even touch the ball for nine minutes, but when he finally did, his diagonal pass found Marouane Chamakh who sliced wide from a tight angle. While chances from open play proved scarce, the Ligue 1 outfit succeeded in upping the pressure via set-pieces. Wendel had seen one stinging free-kick parried by Butt when, on 27 minutes, the Brazilian's corner was brilliantly flicked in by Ciani at the near post for the first goal against Bayern in the group, prompting an outpouring of relief from the 25-year-old.
Bordeaux ahead
The contest swung further in favour of the French champions when the visitors' in-form playmaker Müller picked up his second yellow card for a trip on Mathieu Chalmé, giving a now vibrant Bordeaux even more momentum. Wendel nodded Chalmé's cross over before Gourcuff's superb swirling shot produced a fine fingertip Butt save. However, the second goal duly arrived after 40 minutes, Planus forcing in Hamit Altıntop's attempted clearance after Wendel had whipped in a low free-kick from the right.
The ten men of Bayern appeared content to allow Bordeaux possession in the second half, choosing their moment to spring forward with menace. On one such occasion, Luca Toni ghosted in at the near post before turning Bastian Schweinsteiger's cross wide. Gourcuff had the ideal opportunity to calm his side's nerves from the penalty spot after Butt had lost possession and fouled Chamakh, but the goalkeeper made amends by saving the French international's dinked effort one-handed. Gourcuff hooked the rebound wide of an empty net.
The drama continued on 72 minutes, Toni heading Mark van Bommel's centre against the post. That proved Bayern's final chance, but Bordeaux were made to sweat until the very end after substitute Jussiê had another spot-kick saved by Butt following a challenge on Chamakh for which Van Buyten was dismissed. Both he and Müller will miss the return.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Olympiacos FC 2 - 1 Standard de Liège
A last-gasp Ieroklis Stoltidis header earned Olympiacos FC an invaluable UEFA Champions League Group H win against R. Standard de Liège in Piraeus. Dramatic end Frantic opening Chances Exciting finish
Standard had forged ahead through captain Igor De Camargo's composed finish late eight minutes before half-time but Kostas Mitroglou ensured the sides were all-square at the interval. Both sides had chances but the match seemed destined for a draw until deep into added time when substitute Stoltidis powered in Luciano Galletti's corner. Olympiacos closed within one point of leaders Arsenal FC, four ahead of AZ Alkmaar and five clear of bottom-placed Standard, who welcome the Greek champions on 4 November.
Olympiacos coach Zico had urged his players to attack from the first minute and they did just that, Dudu blazing over after their initial attack. The visitors responded swiftly, Dieudonné Mbokani shooting wide. Yet the home side were soon on top and as the boisterous supporters in the stands tried to unsettle László Bölöni's team, Galletti – making his group-stage bow after injury – and Jaouad Zairi were doing likewise down the flanks.
Zairi tried his luck from distance, but Standard remained a threat and midfielder Wilifried Dalmat was presented with a chance to put the visitors ahead midway through the half. The impressive Mbokani dribbled past Olof Mellberg and Michał Żewłakow on the left before sending over a cross which landed kindly for Dalmat, but the Frenchman flashed his shot narrowly wide. Galletti replied immediately for Olympiacos, shaving the left post with a speculative strike.
Goal rush
Despite long spells of pressure from the home side it was Standard who opened the scoring. De Camargo, who passed a late fitness test after recovering from a broken toe, ran on to Milan Jovanović's clever through-ball and slotted low past Antonis Nikopolidis to stun the home crowd. Olympiacos were level two minutes before half-time, however, Mitroglou looping in a header from Galletti's free-kick.
Standard threat
The visitors were back on the attack after the restart and Jovanović was denied by a point-blank Nikopolidis save four minutes in. At the other end Galletti drew a smart save from Sinan Bolat with a shot from an acute angle while Mellberg flashed a header over as Olympiacos regained the initiative.
Both teams continued to go for goals in an entertaining match, Mitroglou trying his luck with an improvised overhead kick before Jovanović rattled the crossbar with a stunning strike from distance. Olympiacos poured forward in the latter stages and Dudu had the ball in the net after 84 minutes but his effort was ruled out for handball. Maresca then drew a superb save from Bolat but the goalkeeper was finally beaten at the death by Stoltidis, a 72nd-minute replacement for Zairi.
AZ Alkmaar 1 - 1 Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC looked destined to make it nine points from three games in UEFA Champions League Group H after captain Cesc Fàbregas struck in the first half, only for David Mendes da Silva to volley an equaliser for AZ Alkmaar in the third minute of added time. Midfield tussle AZ hold their own Van Persie threat Late drama
The home side initially held their own, matching Arsenal in midfield, but failed to really test Vito Mannone in the visitors' goal. Arsenal struggled to create many clear-cut openings either yet still took the lead on 36 minutes when Fàbregas stroked in after linking superbly with Andrei Arshavin and Robin van Persie. The Dutch international came close to doubling his side's lead before and after the break, whereas AZ were only sporadically dangerous until Mendes da Silva struck, leaving his side in third place with two points, five behind leaders Arsenal who they visit on 4 November.
Arsenal almost took the lead on nine minutes when Van Persie gathered Abou Diaby's cross, cut inside and sent in a powerful shot from ten metres that forced a fine save from Sergio Romero. Despite the early chance for the visitors, AZ did not look like a team who had lost five of their last eight matches, winning the majority of challenges in midfield and keeping possession well. They nearly edged in front after 26 minutes, but Mounir El Hamdaoui's venomous drive from the edge of the box just cleared the bar. Three minutes later, Arshavin's clever curling shot dropped onto the roof of the net with Romero beaten.
Fàbregas strikes
Arsenal continued to probe the AZ defence and were rewarded nine minutes before the break. Arshavin dispossessed Niklas Moisander and released Van Persie, whose perfect centre was tapped into a gaping net by Fàbregas. Van Persie almost doubled his side's lead on 43 minutes, with Romero only just managing to deflect his thunderous shot over the top. The same player threatened first after half-time, but AZ's Argentinian international keeper got down well to palm his 25-metre free-kick away.
AZ were battling hard to get back into the match, but with an hour on the clock Mannone had not needed to make a save. Van Persie still seemed the most likely to score at the other end, but his drive on 63 minutes was high and wide. Ronald Koeman tried to break the pattern of the game by introducing striker Jeremain Lens for Maarten Martens soon after, but it was an Arsenal player who nearly brought the Dutch champions level, Diaby heading a Stijn Schaars corner onto the top of his own bar with just under 20 minutes to go.
The AZ coach upped the ante even further by replacing midfielder Brett Holman with forward Graziano Pellè, though it was a defender who came agonisingly close, Moreno toe-poking a Schaars free-kick millimetres wide with Mannone stranded. Just as Arsenal looked destined to leave with all three points, though, Pellè headed on a high ball into the box for Mendes da Silva to volley in an equaliser in the third minute of added time and earn his side a precious point.
VfB Stuttgart 1 - 3 Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC put one foot in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round as two Sébastien Squillaci goals helped secure a third successive Group G win at VfB Stuttgart, despite a spirited performance from the home team. Stuttgart surge Sucker punch Squillaci again
Clinical edge
The German side put in a promising attacking display but were ultimately made to pay for a failure to convert their chances. Two set-piece headers from French international defender Squillaci either side of a Jesús Navas strike did the damage for the visitors, who established a five-point cushion at the top of the section. They were forced to endure plenty of pressure against a positive Stuttgart team who perhaps deserved more than Élson's 74th-minute consolation.
Stuttgart started purposefully, Julian Schieber heading Sami Khedira's cross just wide inside the first minute. Schieber was clearly keen to prove his worth having been preferred to Pavel Pogrebnyak up front, going close twice more in the opening 15 minutes while Aleksandr Hleb threaded a superb pass through for Cacau to cut in from the left, but his effort was comfortably saved by Javi Varas.
Squillaci surprise
With pressure mounting a goal appeared imminent and seemed to have arrived when Zdravko Kuzmanović shot in from the edge of the penalty area, but Schieber had strayed offside. The home crowd were in fine voice as their side dominated the opening exchanges, but 23 minutes in the stadium fell silent as Jesús Navas rolled a short corner to Adriano and the midfielder made the most of the time and space he was afforded, measuring a perfect cross for Squillaci to head in at the far post.
Positive response
Markus Babbel's charges refused to let their heads drop and almost responded immediately, Hleb's left-foot shot fizzing just wide and Kuzmanović firing narrowly over after some intricate footwork from the impressive Hleb. Sevilla coach Manuel Jiménez clearly took heed of the plentiful warnings, replacing Luis Fabiano with Aldo Duscher at the interval in hope of preserving the slender lead.
The more defensive switch did nothing to alter the pattern of play, Stuttgart again enjoying the upper hand, yet once more they were caught out at the back ten minutes after the restart. Jens Lehmann could only palm out substitute Diego Perotti's awkward left-wing cross and the alert Jesús Navas was swift to profit, prodding into the yawning net. With Stuttgart forced to commit men forward Frédéric Kanouté took advantage of the resulting space and found himself clean through, rounding Lehmann only for Khalid Boulahrouz to spare Stuttgart blushes.
Any lingering home hopes were nevertheless finished by another Sevilla set-piece on 72 minutes, Ivica Dragutinović delivering an inswinging free-kick from the right for Squillaci to glance past the exposed Lehmann. Although substitute Élson replied at once with a stunning free-kick from 25 metres, it was scant consolation for Stuttgart and Babbel's team now face an uphill struggle to progress ahead of the reverse fixture in Spain on 4 November.
Rangers FC 1 - 4 FC Unirea Urziceni
FC Unirea Urziceni recorded their maiden UEFA Champions League win after inflicting Rangers FC's second straight 4-1 home defeat in Group G on a night of three own goals. Second place Rangers ahead Equaliser Visitors ahead Victory sealed
Rangers hoped to have banished their Matchday 2 loss to Sevilla FC when Ricardo Vilana deflected into his own net in the second minute. But Marius Bilasco equalised midway through the first half and after Daniel Tudor had saved Steven Davis's penalty, the second period began with both Rangers substitute Kyle Lafferty and team-mate Lee McCulloch scoring for Unirea. Pablo Brandán's clinching fourth lifted the Romanian champions to second place in the pool, two points ahead of VfB Stuttgart.
Unirea coach Dan Petrescu made nine changes from the side that lost to SC Vaslui at the weekend with Tudor making his UEFA Champions League debut and the goalkeeper's first task was to pick the ball out of the net after less than 90 seconds. From the first corner of the game Jérôme Rothen picked out Pedro Mendes on the edge of the box and the Portuguese midfielder's shot took a massive deflection off Vilana before looping over Tudor into the net.
Unirea change
It was the perfect start for the home side and Mendes, back in the side after recovering from a thigh strain, was the architect of Rangers' next opportunity ten minutes later when Kenny Miller headed over from a free-kick. To their credit Unirea then settled and Petrescu demonstrated his attacking intent by sacrificing wing-back Epaminonda Nicu for another striker, Marius Onofraş. However, twice in the space of a minute, Rangers could have doubled their lead when Miller and Steven Naismith passed up presentable opportunities.
However, Unirea made their pressure count just after the half-hour. Brandán was released down the left and his low centre picked out Bilasco, who slotted in from close range. Six minutes later Rangers had a penalty when Bruno Fernandes handled a David Weir header in the box, but Tudor dived to his right to deny Davis.
Walter Smith's response was to introduce Lafferty for Mendes at half-time as Rangers reverted to a 4-4-2 formation. However, it made little difference to the overall pattern of the game and indeed the substitute was in the wrong place when the visitors took the lead four minutes after the interval. A short corner was played to Iulian Apostol and his low cross was backheeled by Fernandes, taking the faintest of touches off Lafferty's left leg before nestling in the back of the net.
To make matters worse for the home side, Unirea scored a third just before the hour and again it was an own goal, McCulloch diverting Tiberiu Bălan's free-kick past McGregor. An evening of defections was completed when Brandán's free-kick took a touch off Naismith's boot to give Unirea their maiden European victory and leave Rangers rooted to the bottom of Group G as they prepare to visit Romania on 4 November.
Internazionale 2 - 2 FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Internazionale Milano have now gone a year without a UEFA Champions League victory and it could have been worse after they had to twice come from behind to earn a share of the Group F spoils with an adventurous FC Dynamo Kyiv team. Barren spell Attacking bent Stanković equaliser Shevchenko chance
The visitors controlled much of the first half and were ahead inside five minutes as Taras Mikhalik coolly slotted in. By contrast Inter were lacklustre, but dragged themselves back into the contest ten minutes before half-time. Dejan Stanković equalised after a blistering counterattack and, although the hosts went into the interval behind following Lucio's own goal, they were a different side from then on. Walter Samuel levelled again two minutes after the restart and 2-2 is how it ended, despite chances for both teams.
Valeri Gazzaev had made a bold statement in selecting a three-man forward line and his audacity brought early reward. The game was just four minutes old when Artem Milevskiy, the centre of the attacking trident, flicked a corner into the path of Andriy Yarmolenko who somehow poked wide from two metres. Yet before the replays could show just how good a chance that was, Dynamo were ahead. An innocuous free-kick from the left deflected off Stanković and to Mikhalik, who turned adroitly and fired in off Júlio César's near post.
José Mourinho's Christmas tree formation was showing little sparkle and Andriy Shevchenko, returning to a stadium he knows better than most, almost doubled the lead with a downward header on 26 minutes. That would have been the former AC Milan striker's 15th goal against the Nerazzurri but fortune was not on his side and, having created so little, the hosts were soon level after a move smacking of class. Wesley Sneijder spun into space inside his own half and spread the ball right to Lucio, who slid it to meet Stanković's delightfully-timed run. With Stanislav Bogush rushing off his line the Serbian midfielder finished low past him.
Set-pieces
Dynamo rallied and got the luck they deserved five minutes before the break. Milevskiy got the slightest of touches to another corner and Lucio, unable to adjust, headed into his own net. Mourinho was stung into action, introducing an extra attacker in David Suazo and sending his players out early for the second half. Within two minutes of the restart it was 2-2, Samuel swooping to flick a header into the far corner following Sneijder's corner.
Inter pressed for the winner but with little joy as Dynamo defended deeply. Still menacing on the break, a hashed clearance by Lucio on 73 minutes allowed Shevchenko a clear run on goal but the veteran fired badly wide with only César to beat. Still Inter came and though Suazo did find the net in added time, the assistant referee's raised flag ensured this match ended 2-2. Wuth a single point separating the four teams in Group F, the sides will lock horns again in Kiev in a fortnight hoping for more.
FC Barcelona 1 - 2 FC Rubin Kazan
FC Rubin Kazan's stunning 2-1 win at European champions FC Barcelona was both a triumph for their coach Kurban Berdyev and a sorry case of déjà vu for opposite number Josep Guardiola. Unwanted statistic Glorious strike Resistance Clincher
Guardiola has now been involved in both victories by Russian clubs at Camp Nou – this remarkable triumph, courtesy of goals in each half from Aleksandr Ryazantsev and Gökdeniz Karadeniz, followed a PFC CSKA Moskva success in the 1992/93 UEFA Champions League which eliminated Guardiola and company from the competition as holders. The visitors displayed total confidence and even though Zlatan Ibrahimović blasted in a 48th-minute equaliser and hit the bar late on, there was no denying them a glorious first win in the group stage.
Despite all the warnings from their coach against complacency, and specifically about the Russian champions' ability to shoot from range, Barcelona could not have expected such a rude awakening. Some fans were still taking their seats, and one or two European champions were evidently settling into the match, when Yaya Touré let the ball slip through his legs. Midfielder Ryazantsev swiftly collected possession, sized up the distance and unleashed a marvellous right-footed shot from well outside the box that fizzed past Víctor Valdés.
Although the hosts tried to emulate Ryazantsev's thrilling strike for the remainder of the first half, they simply could not. Ibrahimović, victim of a knee injury which had kept him out of the weekend goalless draw at Valencia CF, led the way. Twice in 15 minutes he forced Sergei Ryzhikov to make decent saves, before Rubin's Spanish defender César Navas robbed the Swede with a terrific last-gasp tackle when Ibrahimović was about to pull the trigger. Pedro Rodríguez, scorer of the goal that gave Barça the UEFA Super Cup in August, then produced a prodigious leap to head towards the corner of the net – but Ryzhikov stopped the ball at full stretch. Indeed, the visiting No77 looked nothing like a goalkeeper who had already conceded four goals in Group F as he thwarted Lionel Messi shortly before the break.
Conviction
Nor were Rubin performing like a team whose 2-1 weekend league victory against FC Khimki had been their first win in six outings – Berdyev's charges showed great conviction throughout. Despite defending in numbers, they caused another flutter of Blaugrana nerves with a free-kick just before the break as Alejandro Domínguez stung Valdés's palms.
Within three minutes of the restart, Ibrahimović's first UEFA Champions League goal for Barcelona seemed to herald a dramatic second-half turnaround, but the Spanish titleholders never appeared at ease and only another Ibrahimović free-kick threatened a second goal for the home side. So the group-stage debutants waited for their chance and took it with aplomb 17 minutes from time. Domínguez broke down the middle and supplied a perfect pass for Karadeniz whose blistering speed left Rafael Márquez floundering and allowed him the opportunity to rifle the ball across Valdés and in. Barcelona's new No9 almost rescued a bittersweet point with an effort off the bar, as did Touré's header against the upright. Yet this Russian triumph was as deserved as it was surprising.
Debreceni 3 - 4 Fiorentina
An inspired performance from Adrian Mutu helped ACF Fiorentina to a thrilling 4-3 victory away to Debreceni VSC which strengthens the Viola's grip on second place in Group E. First goal Drama Goals galore Defensive difficulties Return fixture
Debrecen also conceded four at home to section leaders Olympique Lyonnais last time out and are still searching for a first UEFA Champions League point in their debut campaign, but can draw much hope from tonight's showing. They scored their first group-stage goal as Péter Czvitkovics fired them in front early on, only for two Mutu strikes and another from Alberto Gilardino to put the visitors 3-1 ahead. Gergely Rudolf and Fiorentina's Mario Santana then traded goals before Adamo Coulibaly headed in two minutes from time to set up a frantic finale.
It capped a stunning encounter which had begun when, with the fans still settling into their seats, Czvitkovics slid in at the far post to convert a teasing deep cross from newly-capped Hungary midfielder József Varga. Debrecen's joy was short-lived and four minutes later Mutu turned in the equaliser with a calm side-footed finish following Dario Dainelli's right-wing delivery.
Mutu and Gilardino were in inspired mood. It was Mutu's ball from a Juan Vargas slide-rule pass into the box which allowed Gilardino – who missed Matchday 2's 2-0 defeat of Liverpool FC through suspension – to fire the visitors in front on ten minutes. Vargas had hit the crossbar moments earlier in a rampant Fiorentina spell. Mutu's second of the evening, before 20 minutes were up, struck the post as it fizzed its way in. Gilardino had returned the favour to his strike partner with a subtle lay-off after bundling his way past defenders Norbert Mészáros and Leandro.
Rudolf strike
Incredibly, those goals were upstaged by something even better as Debrecen pulled a goal back when Rudolf rounded off a solo run with a stunning curling finish from a tight angle on the left edge of the box which gave Sébastien Frey no chance. The French goalkeeper had gone 428 minutes without conceding prior to Saturday's 1-1 draw at Juventus, yet here faced up to the rare sensation of picking the ball out of the back of the net for the second time.
A sixth goal followed eight minutes before the break, a strike which highlighted Debrecen's difficulties in defending the second ball. Mutu's near-post shot was well saved by Vukašin Poleksić but the rebound fell to Santana, who side-footed in via a slight deflection off Zoltán Szélesi. Early in the second period Mutu could have completed his hat-trick but sent an unmarked diving header wide from close range.
Coulibaly three times went close to pulling a goal back for the Hungarian champions before finally heading in László Bodnár's free-kick with two minutes to play, although the drama ended there. Fiorentina will hope to take another step towards finishing in the top two when they host the return fixture on 4 November.
Liverpool 1-2 Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais asserted their supremacy at the top of Group E in superb fashion as they came from behind to record a famous victory at Liverpool FC through goals from substitutes Maxime Gonalons and César Delgado. Injury blows
Late turnaround
Liverpool looked on course to claim the three points after shrugging off a slow start and taking a 41st-minute lead through Yossi Benayoun but Lyon revived impressively in the closing stages and after young defender Gonalons had headed them level, the stage was set for Delgado's added-time winner. Miralem Pjanić sent Sidney Govou into the box down the right and though his cross evaded both Pepe Reina and Bafétimbi Gomis, Delgado was on hand to turn it in at the far post. For Lyon, a glorious denouement on their Anfield debut; for Liverpool, serious concerns after their second defeat in Group E and fourth in succession – their worst run since 1987.
Liverpool came into the game in need of a restorative result yet, already handicapped by the absences of Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson – necessitating a rare start for David Ngog and a first start for Martin Kelly respectively – they then lost Steven Gerrard, the captain lasting just 25 minutes of his return after a groin problem. At that stage, Rafael Benítez's team had struggled to trouble the visitors. Gerrard had seen an early shot deflect into the side-netting while Dirk Kuyt's push on Jérémy Toulalan meant his subsequent headed goal did not stand.
Lisandro opening
The best early opening had come at the other end with Lisandro looking certain to score when he got his head to Aly Cissokho's superb cross but directing the ball too close to Reina. Govou then tried a spectacular volley but blazed over. As it was, Gerrard's replacement, Fábio Aurélio, made a telling contribution as Liverpool seized control during a strong finish to the half. The Brazilian, operating in left midfield, almost set up a breakthrough after 36 minutes, retrieving an overhit Kelly cross and returning the ball to the middle where Kuyt's shot was blocked and Ngog's volley stopped by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Aurélio impact
Aurélio's next cross, driven low, did lead to a goal. The ball deflected off Cris and across goal where Kelly missed his kick but Benayoun, arriving at the far post, swept the ball past Lloris. That was Cris's last contribution, the defender leaving on a stretcher with apparent concussion having earlier felt Kuyt's knee crash against his head. Aurélio himself then almost added a second, his header from a fine centre by Kelly drawing an excellent one-handed stop from Lloris.
Lyon triumph
Liverpool remained on top after the restart but missed opportunities to extend their lead, Benayoun and Ngog both going close before Lloris turned behind Kuyt's header. To their credit Lyon kept going and their reward came in the 72nd minute with Gonalons' equaliser. After Reina had flapped at a corner, the Spaniard looked to have redeemed himself with spectacular saves from Toualalan and Jean II Makoun but despite Kelly's best efforts on the line there was no stopping Gonalons' ensuing header. Not a bad way for the 20-year-old makeshift centre-back, Cris's replacement, to score his first senior goal and there was even better to follow for the visitors as Delgado followed suit, the Argentinian opening his UEFA Champions League account in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Zürich shock AC Milan & Real Madrid 3-0 Marseille
AC Milan 0-1 FC Zürich
FC Zürich pulled off one of the shocks of the UEFA Champions League group stage as Hannu Tihinen's tenth-minute goal earned the Swiss titleholders a memorable win at AC Milan.
Cheeky
Tihinen's touch of impudence – a back-heel from Milan Gajić's corner – stunned the Rossoneri, who created enough chances to equalise in an excitingly open match, but found ill fortune and an inspired Johnny Leoni in their way at every occasion. The Finnish international's goal proved enough to earn Zürich their first Group C victory, lifting them to second place, above Milan on head-to-head record thanks to this result.
Tihinen's moment
Milan, despite shaky domestic form, began with the composure of a side seasoned in European football and came close to a breakthrough when Ignazio Abate, on his first UEFA Champions League start, sent over a right-wing cross which almost fooled Leoni, who cleared off the line with his feet. Yet it was Leoni's opposite number Marco Storari who was most surprised when, from their first corner, Zürich took the lead as Tihinen steered in Gajić's centre with a clever back-flick.
Lost chances
Storari was furious at his team-mates, who responded by charging upfield and creating a chance for Filippo Inzaghi. The prominent Clarence Seedorf combined with Marek Jankulovski, whose pass to the far post eluded the stretching Inzaghi by fractions. Seedorf himself blazed over after Pato had teed him up midway through the first period, and Inzaghi glanced a header wide from another quality Abate delivery. As the Italian outfit turned the screw, Seedorf tried his luck again, blasting a 20-metre shot narrowly wide.
Zürich improvement
It was by no means one-way traffic though: Dušan Djurić, Silvan Aegerter and Gajić causing the hosts problems with their quick passing and movement. Indeed, Zürich looked the stronger of the sides as the half progressed. Djurić had already fired wide on 14 minutes before Xavier Margairaz sent an even better opportunity over the bar following a slick interchange and, on the stroke of half-time, Gajić elicited a diving stop from Storari.
Milan onslaught
Coach Leonardo introduced Ronaldinho at the break and Milan soon upped the tempo. Within minutes, the Brazilian had warmed Leoni's palms with a powerful free-kick. The Zürich No1 saved again on 58 minutes, brilliantly turning Inzaghi's goal-bound header away from the top corner. Nor could Inzaghi believe his luck seven minutes later when he met Ambrosini's cut-back only for Leoni's feet to deny him. During the onslaught, Pato had also raced on to Ronaldinho's slide-rule pass, only to chip narrowly wide.
To the rescue
Against the run of play, Milan were almost caught out when Margairaz hared through on goal but Storari's left foot kept his side in the match. Two-nil would have been an unfair reflection of events and, as the Serie A giants poured forward late on, Ambrosini and Inzaghi both came agonisingly close to equalising with the seconds ticking down. Gianluca Zambrotta even hit a post with a curling effort, but the night belonged to Zürich.
Real Madrid 3-0 Marseille
Real Madrid CF made sure of their second triumph in UEFA Champions League Group C after three second-half goals in quick succession helped Manuel Pellegrini's side break down a stubborn Olympique de Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Decisive spell
After a subdued first-half showing, the Spanish club finally opened up their Mediterranean guests with Cristiano Ronaldo registering twice and Kaká scoring from the penalty spot. Amid the flurry of goals, OM were reduced to ten men by Souleymane Diawara's sending-off.
Confident start
Marseille came into the match on the back of five straight away defeats in the competition and without the injured Bakari Koné, Garry Bocaly and Hilton, yet the visitors began confidently and Benoît Cheyrou missed the game's first chance with a shot over the crossbar. Didier Deschamps' team continued to seek out an opening as the half progressed and Stéphane Mbia almost found Mamadou Niang with a low pass into the centre, but Iker Casillas was alert to the danger.
Solid goalkeeping
Madrid had enjoyed a 100 per cent start to their season prior to this encounter with Ligue 1 opposition, yet against a five-man Marseille defence, Los Merengues struggled to show any fluidity and were limited to speculative efforts from Kaká and Ronaldo which Steve Mandanda handled comfortably. Just after the midway point, the visiting supporters sensed their moment had arrived when Lucho fed the sprightly Niang who eased past Pepe before firing straight at Casillas. At the other end, Ronaldo tested Mandanda with another strike from distance before Benzema almost found the target with an overhead kick that dropped over the bar. Benzema was again involved moments before the break when he accepted Kaká's flick-on and had his ensuing attempt saved by the Marseille keeper.
Madrid blitz
After a sluggish opening to the second period, the match changed completely in the space of six minutes as Madrid scored three times and Marseille lost a man. Ronaldo made the difference when he raced on to Pepe's long punt forward before rolling the ball underneath the leaping Mandanda. Shortly afterwards Ronaldo was the centre of attention again, the referee awarding a penalty after he had zipped past Gabriel Heinze and been halted by Diawara. The defender received a second yellow card. Kaká dispatched a cool penalty. With the hour mark reached and Madrid's fans in full voice, Benzema played a one-two with Kaká on the edge of the area before laying a ball across goal for Ronaldo to net his second, and his fourth of this UEFA Champions League campaign.
Record breaker
Raúl González kept the festive mood going when he entered the fray as a 78th-minute substitute – the 32-year-old becoming the capital club's record appearance maker with 709 outings in all competitions. Fellow replacement Gonzalo Higuaín might have added to the winning margin late on but failed with two attempts, before Brandão had an effort kept out by the otherwise underemployed Casillas.
Chelsea top of the group and porto sink Atletico Madrid
APOEL FC 0-1 Chelsea FC
It was business as usual for Chelsea FC as, despite a few late scares from a determined APOEL FC side, a goal from Nicolas Anelka earned their second successive 1-0 victory in Group D.
Drogba suspended
With Didier Drogba two games into a three-match UEFA Champions League suspension Anelka once again harboured Chelsea's goalscoring burden in Nicosia, as he had at home to FC Porto a fortnight ago. His 18th-minute breakthrough had been coming but the visitors failed to press their advantage and were almost made to pay as an increasingly adventurous APOEL side laid siege to their goal late on. Yet there was no way through.
Belletti build-up
After a typically cautious start, the visitors gradually wrested control of the game and were almost in cruise control when Anelka – who also struck the only goal of the game against Porto – broke the deadlock on 18 minutes. Given freedom to roam down the right, Juliano Belletti attacked with purpose, making light work of Altin Haxhi before cutting back to Anelka. The Frenchman still had work to do but he did it with aplomb, firing his first-time shot inside Dionisios Chiotis's far post.
Growing threat
Despite Chelsea's dominance the goalkeeper – APOEL's hero as they earned a point at Club Atlético de Madrid on Matchday 1 – otherwise had very little to do. Ashley Cole, Florent Malouda and Anelka all tried their luck from distance, but with little menace, and on the counterattack the home side began to ask questions of the Blues' back line. Christos Kontis and Nenad Mirosavljević both threatened, briefly, and it proved the platform for a much-improved second-half performance from the home team.
Attacking bent
With the words of coach Ivan Jovanović ringing in their ears the Cypriot titleholders stepped up a gear after the restart, winning a succession of corners but Chelsea stood firm. An injury doubt before the game, striker Kamil Kosowski was introduced just before the hour to inject another dimension and, going into the final ten minutes, APOEL found it.
Charalambides chance
Attacking down the flanks they began to peg back Chelsea as Belletti and Cole had done earlier in the match and with six minutes remaining came their chance: Constantinos Charalambides sending his header a whisker wide. It was as close as they would come, despite the efforts of Jean Paulista and Kosowski, so Chelsea go three points clear in Group D ahead of their meeting with Atlético in three weeks. Still on one point, APOEL nevertheless travel to Porto with confidence restored.
Porto 2-0 Atletico Madrid
FC Porto made their second-half superiority tell as they saw off Club Atlético de Madrid 2-0 at the Estádio do Dragão to revive their Group D fortunes and move second in the section thanks to goals from Falcao and Rolando.
Improvised opener
Porto were desperate for victory after a Matchday 1 loss at Chelsea FC, and deservedly broke through on 75 minutes when Falcao beat Atlético's substitute goalkeeper David De Gea with a wonderfully improvised back-heel from a Hulk pass. Seven minutes later Rolando tucked the ball into the empty net after his central-defensive partner Bruno Alves's header from a corner had rebounded off the post.
Injured Roberto
The home side were quicker into their stride with powerful forward Hulk involved in most of their best moves. One superb delivery from the left wing would have resulted in the game's opening goal had home captain Bruno Alves been able to connect at the back post. By then Porto were aiming at a new goalkeeper. Roberto had watched efforts from Mariano González and Hulk sail well over before injuring his right leg trying to make a clearance. When Falcao headed just over on 25 minutes, Roberto ended up in a heap in the back of the goal and could play no further part.
Helton busy
With regular No1 Sergio Asenjo on duty with Spain at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt, Atlético coach Abel Resino turned to 18-year-old De Gea. The debutant had little to do for the rest of the half as the visitors grew into the game. Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán both forced Porto No1 Helton into stops and with a slightly cleaner contact at the near post Juanito could have given the visitors the lead with a header from a Simão corner.
Thunderous drive
There could be no faulting Juanito's connection with another header from the same source early in the second half. This time, from a central position about six metres out, he could not keep the ball down. Just beyond the hour mark, De Gea suddenly found himself much busier, saving from a thunderous Bruno Alves free-kick, and then using his body to scramble a long-range effort from Porto substitute Fredy Guarín around the post.
Hulk assist
It was fitting that Hulk played a key role in Falcao's goal 15 minutes from time. De Gea could only return the big Brazilian's shot back to him. After initially miscontrolling the return, Hulk squared for Falcao, whose superb finish at last found De Gea wanting. The Colombian should have added another with a free header moments later, although Porto's second arrived soon after thanks to Rolando. Porto will take confidence from the victory into their double-header with APOEL FC, while Atlético have it all to do as they twice take on group leaders Chelsea with just a point to show from their opening two outings.
