Arsenal were hit by a stoppage-time equaliser as AZ Alkmaar earned a draw in tonight's Champions League Group H clash.
• Wenger: We were naive
Cesc Fabregas' first-half strike had looked to be enough to secure a third straight European victory, which would have all but secured Arsenal a place in the knockout stages. However, the Dutch side, managed by Ronald Koeman, refused to give up and snatched a point at the death through Mendes Da Silva.
The fact AZ remained resilient should have come as no surprise given they had previously lost just once at home in Europe, against Everton two years ago, from 34 games. Off the field, however, the Dutch club have some financial worries after owner Dirk Scheringa was declared bankrupt, the immediate impact of which was the team playing without shirt sponsors.
In stark contrast to their last European away game, when going 2-0 down inside five minutes at Liege, Arsenal were quickly on the offensive. Van Persie, who netted in his fourth straight game against Birmingham on Saturday, charged at the centre of the AZ defence but was barged off possession by Niklas Moisander.
On eight minutes, Abou Diaby broke down the right, and whipped the ball back towards the far post, where Van Persie brought it down and drilled a shot goalwards, which Argentina international Sergio Romero gathered at the second attempt. The hosts continued to enjoy good possession, but without a cutting edge in the final third.
AZ created their first decent opening on 26 minutes when Moussa Dembele fed Mounir El Hamdaoui on the edge of the Arsenal area, and the former Tottenham striker fired his shot just over. Emmanuel Eboue was put clear down the right channel, and sent over a first-time cross which Andrey Arshavin met at the far post before floating it back over the goalkeeper but onto the roof of the net.
Arsenal finally got it right after 35 minutes when Fabregas swept them ahead. Alex Song intercepted a stray pass from Moisander, before feeding Arshavin who put Van Persie in on the left side of the penalty area. Unselfishly, the Dutchman drew the goalkeeper, before squaring to Fabregas who slotted home.
Arsenal suddenly looked a much more cohesive outfit, with Arshavin finding more space down the left. Fabregas curled an effort goalwards from 20 yards, but it was straight at the AZ goalkeeper. Romero then spilled an 18-yard shot from Van Persie, but luckily the ball flew wide.
Arsenal continued to press at the start of the second half. Eboue was tripped by Hector Moreno 25 yards out in a central position. Van Persie whipped the free-kick around the wall, but Romero was down quickly to make a fine save. Arsenal's Dutch frontman felt he should have had a penalty when turning on the goalline between two AZ defenders - but Swedish referee Martin Hansson was not interested.
Arsenal remained in control, with Song breaking up possession ahead of the back four. Van Persie was allowed the space to run at the AZ defence, but blazed over from the edge of the penalty area. There was, however, a let-off for Arsenal on 72 minutes when a corner deflected off Diaby and onto the top of the crossbar.
Van Persie was given a rest when Mexican striker Carlos Vela came on. A free-kick then caused chaos in the Arsenal six-yard box, but Moreno was not able to convert. Vela looked to have a strong penalty claim denied when he appeared to be tripped by Kew Jaliens after darting in from the left channel. Arshavin saw a low shot saved by Romero.
Just as Arsenal looked to have done enough, AZ snatched a dramatic equaliser in time added on, when Mendes Da Silva blasted in from close range after Moreno's ball into the box had been flicked on by substitute Graziano Pelle.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Dumb Rangers defeated ...
Sorry Gers crash to home defeat
GettyImages
Steven Davis is distraught after missing a penalty
Scoring Summary
Rangers
Unirea Urziceni
Ricardo Gomes Vilana (og 2)
Marius Bilasco (32)
Steven Davis (pen miss 38)
Kyle Lafferty (og 49)
Lee McCulloch (og 59)
Pablo Brandán (65)
Match Stats
Rangers
Unirea Urziceni
Shots (on Goal)
15(1)
10(3)
Fouls
21
16
Corner Kicks
4
2
Offsides
1
0
Time of Possession
56%
44%
Yellow Cards
1
2
Red Cards
0
0
Saves
1
1
Match Information
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium, Scotland Attendance: Match Time: 19:45 UKOfficial(s): Eric Braamhaar (Referee)
document.write('');
Teams
Rangers
Unirea Urziceni
1 Allan McGregor
74 Daniel Tudor
3 David Weir
24 Vasile Maftei
6 Lee McCulloch
22 Bruno
5 Sasa Papac
6 George Galamaz
16 Steven Whittaker
32 Iulian Apostol
4 pedro mendes
18 Ricardo Gomes Vilana
7 Steven Davis
19 Pablo Brandán
8 Kevin Thomson
16 Epaminonda Nicu
14 Steven Naismith
7 Marius Bilasco
11 Jerome Rothen
21 Tiberiu Balan
18 Kenny Miller
9 Dacian Varga
Substitutes
20 DaMarcus Beasley
Ersin Mehmedovic 4
27 Kyle Lafferty
António Semedo 17
10 Nacho Novo
Giedrius Arlauskis 1
26 Steven Smith
Valeriu Ionut Bordeanu 23
9 Kris Boyd
Razvan Paduretu 10
29 John Fleck
Marius Onofras 11
25 Neil Alexander
Sorin Frunza 30
Substitutions
Kyle Lafferty for pedro mendes (45)
Marius Onofras for Epaminonda Nicu (19)
Nacho Novo for Jerome Rothen (66)
Sorin Frunza for Tiberiu Balan (75)
Razvan Paduretu for Dacian Varga (89)
Yellow Cards
Steven Naismith (58)
Pablo Brandán (37)
Ricardo Gomes Vilana (61)
· Club Squads: Rangers Unirea Urziceni
Updated: October 21, 2009, 8:02 AM UKRangers' Champions League aspirations are in tatters after an embarrassing defeat to Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox.
• Petrescu: We've still got another level
A second 4-1 home European defeat in succession leaves Rangers bottom of Group G with one point from three games and facing the return game in Romania in a fortnight knowing only a victory will do. On the evidence of this match, few would countenance that prospect.
Pedro Mendes' second-minute drive, which took a deflection off Unirea midfielder Ricardo Vilana before going in, gave the home side the perfect start. However, in a bizarre night of football in Govan, the Light Blues proceeded to concede four goals, two of them own goals, while missing a penalty at 1-1.
After Marius loan Bilasco equalised just after the half-hour mark, Steven Davis had a spot-kick saved by Unirea keeper Daniel Tudor. Half-time substitute Kyle Lafferty, on for Mendes, helped a Bruno Fernandes flick past Allan McGregor and into his own net before Lee McCulloch left his McGregor stranded with a header just before the hour mark. More woe followed when Pablo Brandan made it four to send the home fans heading to the exits with 25 minutes remaining.
More than 1,000 members of the Armed Forces had been given free tickets to the game and it was a night they are unlikely to forget either. Although Ibrox was short of capacity, the atmosphere was cranked up after Mendes collected a Jerome Rothen corner at the edge of the box and drove towards goal, happy to see the ball take a significant deflection off Vilana before looping over Tudor.
However, instead of inspiring Rangers, the fortuitous goal was followed by a nervy period in which the visitors were allowed to play their way into the game. With Unirea pressing high up the park, the Light Blues struggled to escape the confines of their own half.
There was the occasional flurry in the visiting box but in the 32nd minute Unirea deservedly drew level with a fine goal by striker Bilasco. Midfielder Iulian Apostol split the Ibrox defence to send Brandan into the box and his cut-back from the left was easily slid in to the empty net by Bilasco.
Five minutes later Rangers had the chance to retain their lead when Fernandes was adjudged by referee Eric Braamhaar to have handled a David Weir header, following a looping Rothen free-kick into a packed penalty area. Davis struck the penalty to Tudor's right and watched in dismay as the goalkeeper dived to push the ball behind for a corner.
Lafferty replaced Mendes at the break but the Irishman's first real involvement was five minutes later when he helped the visitors take the lead. When Apostol's low cross was delivered into the box, Fernandes flicked the ball on and it took the slightest of touches off the luckless Northern Ireland international before it sped past McGregor and in off the post.
It was all going horribly wrong for Walter Smith's men and more trouble soon followed. The boos rang out around Ibrox in the 59th minute when McCulloch headed a Brandan free-kick past McGregor to make it 3-1, and many Rangers supporters simply upped and left in disgust when Brandan fired in a 30-yard drive after taking a short free-kick from Apostol.
The rest of the game was played in a mixture of frustration and stunned silence until the final whistle, when the home fans revealed their unhappiness in no uncertain terms. Rangers now have to somehow regroup, first of all for the SPL game against Hibernian on Saturday before they think of trying to salvage a European campaign which is unravelling game by game.
Petrescu: We've still got another level
Unirea manager Dan Petrescu, the former Chelsea player, suggested his team had not performed well for much of the match.
"After we scored the third the game was over - but before that, I thought we could have done better," Petrescu said. "We must be very happy now.
"We conceded an early goal and had to change the system. I thought if they scored a second it would be difficult to come back. Now we have to think about the next game, because it's going to be a different game in Romania.''
Petrescu was pleased with the victory but said: "It's going to be big if we qualify. If we don't win it's not that big.''
Rangers captain David Weir is hoping Walter Smith's team can make amends in their next European match after slumping to a 4-1 defeat against Unirea Urziceni.
"We're obviously very disappointed with the way it's gone tonight," Weir told Sky Sports. "We've got to try to win the next game - it's as simple as that. We've got to win the next game and see where that takes us.''
Weir admits he was "very disappointed'' with the outcome at Ibrox, which prompted much booing of the home side - while many supporters left long before the final whistle.
"It's their prerogative; if they want to leave and boo that's their decision,'' Weir said
GettyImages
Steven Davis is distraught after missing a penalty
Scoring Summary
Rangers
Unirea Urziceni
Ricardo Gomes Vilana (og 2)
Marius Bilasco (32)
Steven Davis (pen miss 38)
Kyle Lafferty (og 49)
Lee McCulloch (og 59)
Pablo Brandán (65)
Match Stats
Rangers
Unirea Urziceni
Shots (on Goal)
15(1)
10(3)
Fouls
21
16
Corner Kicks
4
2
Offsides
1
0
Time of Possession
56%
44%
Yellow Cards
1
2
Red Cards
0
0
Saves
1
1
Match Information
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium, Scotland Attendance: Match Time: 19:45 UKOfficial(s): Eric Braamhaar (Referee)
document.write('');
Teams
Rangers
Unirea Urziceni
1 Allan McGregor
74 Daniel Tudor
3 David Weir
24 Vasile Maftei
6 Lee McCulloch
22 Bruno
5 Sasa Papac
6 George Galamaz
16 Steven Whittaker
32 Iulian Apostol
4 pedro mendes
18 Ricardo Gomes Vilana
7 Steven Davis
19 Pablo Brandán
8 Kevin Thomson
16 Epaminonda Nicu
14 Steven Naismith
7 Marius Bilasco
11 Jerome Rothen
21 Tiberiu Balan
18 Kenny Miller
9 Dacian Varga
Substitutes
20 DaMarcus Beasley
Ersin Mehmedovic 4
27 Kyle Lafferty
António Semedo 17
10 Nacho Novo
Giedrius Arlauskis 1
26 Steven Smith
Valeriu Ionut Bordeanu 23
9 Kris Boyd
Razvan Paduretu 10
29 John Fleck
Marius Onofras 11
25 Neil Alexander
Sorin Frunza 30
Substitutions
Kyle Lafferty for pedro mendes (45)
Marius Onofras for Epaminonda Nicu (19)
Nacho Novo for Jerome Rothen (66)
Sorin Frunza for Tiberiu Balan (75)
Razvan Paduretu for Dacian Varga (89)
Yellow Cards
Steven Naismith (58)
Pablo Brandán (37)
Ricardo Gomes Vilana (61)
· Club Squads: Rangers Unirea Urziceni
Updated: October 21, 2009, 8:02 AM UKRangers' Champions League aspirations are in tatters after an embarrassing defeat to Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox.
• Petrescu: We've still got another level
A second 4-1 home European defeat in succession leaves Rangers bottom of Group G with one point from three games and facing the return game in Romania in a fortnight knowing only a victory will do. On the evidence of this match, few would countenance that prospect.
Pedro Mendes' second-minute drive, which took a deflection off Unirea midfielder Ricardo Vilana before going in, gave the home side the perfect start. However, in a bizarre night of football in Govan, the Light Blues proceeded to concede four goals, two of them own goals, while missing a penalty at 1-1.
After Marius loan Bilasco equalised just after the half-hour mark, Steven Davis had a spot-kick saved by Unirea keeper Daniel Tudor. Half-time substitute Kyle Lafferty, on for Mendes, helped a Bruno Fernandes flick past Allan McGregor and into his own net before Lee McCulloch left his McGregor stranded with a header just before the hour mark. More woe followed when Pablo Brandan made it four to send the home fans heading to the exits with 25 minutes remaining.
More than 1,000 members of the Armed Forces had been given free tickets to the game and it was a night they are unlikely to forget either. Although Ibrox was short of capacity, the atmosphere was cranked up after Mendes collected a Jerome Rothen corner at the edge of the box and drove towards goal, happy to see the ball take a significant deflection off Vilana before looping over Tudor.
However, instead of inspiring Rangers, the fortuitous goal was followed by a nervy period in which the visitors were allowed to play their way into the game. With Unirea pressing high up the park, the Light Blues struggled to escape the confines of their own half.
There was the occasional flurry in the visiting box but in the 32nd minute Unirea deservedly drew level with a fine goal by striker Bilasco. Midfielder Iulian Apostol split the Ibrox defence to send Brandan into the box and his cut-back from the left was easily slid in to the empty net by Bilasco.
Five minutes later Rangers had the chance to retain their lead when Fernandes was adjudged by referee Eric Braamhaar to have handled a David Weir header, following a looping Rothen free-kick into a packed penalty area. Davis struck the penalty to Tudor's right and watched in dismay as the goalkeeper dived to push the ball behind for a corner.
Lafferty replaced Mendes at the break but the Irishman's first real involvement was five minutes later when he helped the visitors take the lead. When Apostol's low cross was delivered into the box, Fernandes flicked the ball on and it took the slightest of touches off the luckless Northern Ireland international before it sped past McGregor and in off the post.
It was all going horribly wrong for Walter Smith's men and more trouble soon followed. The boos rang out around Ibrox in the 59th minute when McCulloch headed a Brandan free-kick past McGregor to make it 3-1, and many Rangers supporters simply upped and left in disgust when Brandan fired in a 30-yard drive after taking a short free-kick from Apostol.
The rest of the game was played in a mixture of frustration and stunned silence until the final whistle, when the home fans revealed their unhappiness in no uncertain terms. Rangers now have to somehow regroup, first of all for the SPL game against Hibernian on Saturday before they think of trying to salvage a European campaign which is unravelling game by game.
Petrescu: We've still got another level
Unirea manager Dan Petrescu, the former Chelsea player, suggested his team had not performed well for much of the match.
"After we scored the third the game was over - but before that, I thought we could have done better," Petrescu said. "We must be very happy now.
"We conceded an early goal and had to change the system. I thought if they scored a second it would be difficult to come back. Now we have to think about the next game, because it's going to be a different game in Romania.''
Petrescu was pleased with the victory but said: "It's going to be big if we qualify. If we don't win it's not that big.''
Rangers captain David Weir is hoping Walter Smith's team can make amends in their next European match after slumping to a 4-1 defeat against Unirea Urziceni.
"We're obviously very disappointed with the way it's gone tonight," Weir told Sky Sports. "We've got to try to win the next game - it's as simple as that. We've got to win the next game and see where that takes us.''
Weir admits he was "very disappointed'' with the outcome at Ibrox, which prompted much booing of the home side - while many supporters left long before the final whistle.
"It's their prerogative; if they want to leave and boo that's their decision,'' Weir said
ADrian the Genius...
Fiorentina edged a seven-goal thriller against Debrecen in Budapest to keep up the chase of Lyon at the top of Group E. Peter Czvitkovics opened the scoring in the second minute, but two goals from Adrian Mutu and an Alberto Gilardino strike turned the game on its head before 20 minutes had even been played.
• Prandelli: I predicted Mutu would be special
Gergely Rudolf reduced the arrears once again in the 28th minute, but Mario Santana restored Fiorentina's two-goal cushion in the 37th minute before Adamo Coulibaly made it a nervous ending for the Italians with his side's third in the 88th minute.
Debrecen, who had yet to score in the Champions League this season, got off to a flying start with Czvitkovics breaking their duck with just over a minute on the clock. He took advantage of some sleepy Fiorentina defending to convert Zoltan Kiss' cross to catch Fiorentina out cold. They soon warmed up, though, and were level four minutes later.
Centre-back Dario Dainelli had stayed up following a free-kick and he found himself in the right place to retrieve a loose ball inside the penalty area which he sent back into the danger zone where Mutu hit a side-footed volley past Vukasin Poleksic from eight yards.
The Viola were gaining momentum and Gilardino put them ahead in the 10th minute. The crossbar was still rattling after Juan Vargas' shot moments earlier when the ball came back into the Debrecen penalty area where Mutu squared the ball intelligently to Gilardino, who took his time to settle before picking his spot in the corner. Back at the other end, Coulibaly had a chance similar to the one Mutu scored, but his sidefoot volley went wide of the far post.
Fiorentina were now on fire and they extended their lead in the 20th minute. Gilardino did what he does best with his back to goal after winning a few fortunate rebounds and he laid the ball into the path of Mutu, who arrowed a shot in off the inside of the post from 20 yards out. However, Debrecen hit back in the 28th minute with a fine individual goal from Rudolf, who cut in from the left and curled his shot over Sebastien Frey into the far top corner of the goal
Fiorentina had to attack again and they restored their two-goal cushion in the 37th minute thanks to Santana. Marco Donadel sent Manuel Pasqual free down the left wing and his cross was diverted towards goal by Mutu, but Poleksic made an instinctive save. He could not hold the ball, though, and it rebounded to Santana, who sent it back into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
It appeared there would be even more goals in the second half when Donadel's free-kick almost slipped in as Poleksik could only save with his leg after being blinded by his wall. The Hungarians then looked for a response as Fiorentina began packing men behind the ball to protect their lead. Coulibaly only found the outside of the net in the 77th minute before spurning a one-on-one opportunity five minutes later as Frey stood his ground.
But Coulibaly was rewarded for his persistence with his side's third with just two minutes remaining as he raced in to send a bullet header past Frey from a right-wing free-kick.
Prandelli: I predicted Mutu would be special
Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli praised Mutu's ability to lift his teammates. "Mutu produced a top-draw performance which obviously helps the team to play at a higher level. I knew he was going to do something extra after his approach and work in recent weeks," Prandelli said.
Debrecen coach Andras Herczeg bemoaned his side's failure to secure a point despite breaching the Fiorentina defence on so many occasions. "If someone had told me before the game we would score three goals and not get a point I would not have believed it," Herczeg told reporters.
var activeLeague = "UEFA.CHAMPIONS"
Jump To Scores -- UEFA Champions LeagueEnglish League ChampionshipJohnstone's Paint TrophyEnglish ConferenceLeague of Ireland Premier DivisionCONCACAF Champions LeaguePrimera División de HondurasCopa Sudamericana
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Debrecen
3
Fiorentina
4
FT
Liverpool
1
Lyon
2
FT
Barcelona
1
FK Rubin Kazan
2
FT
Internazionale
2
Dynamo Kiev
2
FT
Rangers
1
Unirea Urziceni
4
FT
VfB Stuttgart
1
Sevilla FC
3
FT
AZ Alkmaar
1
Arsenal
1
FT
Olympiakos
2
Standard Liege
1
FT
• Prandelli: I predicted Mutu would be special
Gergely Rudolf reduced the arrears once again in the 28th minute, but Mario Santana restored Fiorentina's two-goal cushion in the 37th minute before Adamo Coulibaly made it a nervous ending for the Italians with his side's third in the 88th minute.
Debrecen, who had yet to score in the Champions League this season, got off to a flying start with Czvitkovics breaking their duck with just over a minute on the clock. He took advantage of some sleepy Fiorentina defending to convert Zoltan Kiss' cross to catch Fiorentina out cold. They soon warmed up, though, and were level four minutes later.
Centre-back Dario Dainelli had stayed up following a free-kick and he found himself in the right place to retrieve a loose ball inside the penalty area which he sent back into the danger zone where Mutu hit a side-footed volley past Vukasin Poleksic from eight yards.
The Viola were gaining momentum and Gilardino put them ahead in the 10th minute. The crossbar was still rattling after Juan Vargas' shot moments earlier when the ball came back into the Debrecen penalty area where Mutu squared the ball intelligently to Gilardino, who took his time to settle before picking his spot in the corner. Back at the other end, Coulibaly had a chance similar to the one Mutu scored, but his sidefoot volley went wide of the far post.
Fiorentina were now on fire and they extended their lead in the 20th minute. Gilardino did what he does best with his back to goal after winning a few fortunate rebounds and he laid the ball into the path of Mutu, who arrowed a shot in off the inside of the post from 20 yards out. However, Debrecen hit back in the 28th minute with a fine individual goal from Rudolf, who cut in from the left and curled his shot over Sebastien Frey into the far top corner of the goal
Fiorentina had to attack again and they restored their two-goal cushion in the 37th minute thanks to Santana. Marco Donadel sent Manuel Pasqual free down the left wing and his cross was diverted towards goal by Mutu, but Poleksic made an instinctive save. He could not hold the ball, though, and it rebounded to Santana, who sent it back into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
It appeared there would be even more goals in the second half when Donadel's free-kick almost slipped in as Poleksik could only save with his leg after being blinded by his wall. The Hungarians then looked for a response as Fiorentina began packing men behind the ball to protect their lead. Coulibaly only found the outside of the net in the 77th minute before spurning a one-on-one opportunity five minutes later as Frey stood his ground.
But Coulibaly was rewarded for his persistence with his side's third with just two minutes remaining as he raced in to send a bullet header past Frey from a right-wing free-kick.
Prandelli: I predicted Mutu would be special
Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli praised Mutu's ability to lift his teammates. "Mutu produced a top-draw performance which obviously helps the team to play at a higher level. I knew he was going to do something extra after his approach and work in recent weeks," Prandelli said.
Debrecen coach Andras Herczeg bemoaned his side's failure to secure a point despite breaching the Fiorentina defence on so many occasions. "If someone had told me before the game we would score three goals and not get a point I would not have believed it," Herczeg told reporters.
var activeLeague = "UEFA.CHAMPIONS"
Jump To Scores -- UEFA Champions LeagueEnglish League ChampionshipJohnstone's Paint TrophyEnglish ConferenceLeague of Ireland Premier DivisionCONCACAF Champions LeaguePrimera División de HondurasCopa Sudamericana
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Debrecen
3
Fiorentina
4
FT
Liverpool
1
Lyon
2
FT
Barcelona
1
FK Rubin Kazan
2
FT
Internazionale
2
Dynamo Kiev
2
FT
Rangers
1
Unirea Urziceni
4
FT
VfB Stuttgart
1
Sevilla FC
3
FT
AZ Alkmaar
1
Arsenal
1
FT
Olympiakos
2
Standard Liege
1
FT
Jose's special Blunder
Inter's miserable Euro run continues
GettyImages
Lucio scores and own goal to put Inter behind for a second time
Scoring Summary
Internazionale
Dynamo Kiev
Dejan Stankovic (35)
Taras Mikhalik (5)
Walter Samuel (47)
Ferreira Lucio (og 40)
Match Stats
Internazionale
Dynamo Kiev
Shots (on Goal)
15(6)
11(3)
Fouls
19
15
Corner Kicks
3
7
Offsides
3
2
Time of Possession
58%
42%
Yellow Cards
4
4
Red Cards
0
0
Saves
2
4
Match Information
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza Attendance: Match Time: 19:45 UKOfficial(s): Martin Atkinson (Referee)
document.write('');
Teams
Internazionale
Dynamo Kiev
12 Julio César
31 Stanislav Bogush
25 Walter Samuel
44 Leandro Almeida
6 Ferreira Lucio
34 Yevhen Khacheridi
26 Cristian Chivu
21 Gerson Magrão
13 Maicon
11 Roman Eremenko
19 Esteban Cambiasso
17 Taras Mikhalik
11 Sulley Muntar
5 Ognjen Vukojevic
4 Javier Zanetti
10 Artem Milevskiy
10 Wesley Sneijder
36 Milos Ninkovic
9 Samuel Eto'o
70 Andriy Yarmolenko
5 Dejan Stankovic
7 Andriy Shevchenko
Substitutes
14 Patrick Vieira
Atanda Yussuf 25
23 Marco Materazzi
Oleg Gusev 20
1 Francesco Toldo
Oleksandr Rybka 55
2 Ivan Cordoba
Oleksandr Aliev 8
18 David Suazo
Artem Kravets 22
30 Alessandro Mancini
Betao 3
39 Davide Santon
Roman Zozulya 49
Substitutions
David Suazo for Sulley Muntar (45)
Oleg Gusev for Milos Ninkovic (69)
Patrick Vieira for Dejan Stankovic (85)
Betao for Gerson Magrão (70)
Marco Materazzi for Esteban Cambiasso (86)
Artem Kravets for Artem Milevskiy (90)
Yellow Cards
Dejan Stankovic (23)
Leandro Almeida (31)
Maicon (29)
Andriy Shevchenko (61)
Cristian Chivu (52)
Artem Milevskiy (68)
Javier Zanetti (83)
Ognjen Vukojevic (82)
· Club Squads: Internazionale Dynamo Kiev
Updated: October 21, 2009, 8:45 AM UKSerie A leaders Inter Milan twice came from behind to earn a draw with Dynamo Kiev in an entertaining Champions League clash at the San Siro. Taras Mykhalyk put Dynamo in front and after Dejan Stankovic had equalised, Ferreira Lucio headed into his own net to give the visitors a 2-1 half-time lead.
Walter Samuel equalised less than two minutes into the second half but neither side was able to find a winner despite a number of chances. The visitors took a shock lead after just four minutes courtesy of a superb opportunist finish from Mykhalyk.
Junior Gerson Magrao's woeful free-kick should have been cleared by any of the three Inter players on the edge of the area, but somehow found its way through to Mykhalyk and he swept the ball into the bottom corner off the post. Inter were struggling to get anything going in attack and Wesley Sneijder's abysmal free-kick summed up their early efforts.
Samuel Eto'o then felt he should have had a penalty when he collided with Yevhen Khacheridi as he ran into the area but referee Martin Atkinson was unmoved. Dejan Stankovic then flashed a shot wide before becoming the first player booked for a foul on Magrao, but it was Dynamo who really should have got on the scoresheet again on 25 minutes.
Roman Eremenko produced a superb cross and Andriy Shevchenko climbed highest between two Inter defenders only to steer his header inches wide of the post.
It took until the 30th minute for Inter to force visiting goalkeeper Stanislav Bogush into a genuine save, Dynamo failing to clear a free-kick and Stankovic connecting with a stinging half-volley which Bogush gratefully parried clear at his near post. Stankovic would not be denied for long however, the home side getting back on level terms in the 35th minute with a rapid counterattack.
Sneijder and Ferreira Lucio combined to free Stankovic and his task was made considerably easier as Bogush charged out of the area, leaving Stankovic to flick the ball into an empty net with the outside of his right foot. However, Dynamo took the lead again just five minutes later when Lucio inexplicably headed into his own net from Magrao's corner.
Whatever manager Jose Mourinho said at half-time had the desired effect and Inter equalised again less than two minutes into the second half.
Sneijder's outswinging corner was met by Walter Samuel and superbly headed into the far corner from a difficult angle. The game had really opened up as both sides were not happy to settle for a draw, Eto'o forcing a good save from Bogush and Julio Cesar needing to scamper quickly from his line moments later at the other end to snuff out a Dynamo attack.
Shevchenko's free-kick was comfortably saved by Cesar at his near post before Eto'o dithered too long on the edge of the area, only to scuff a weak shot straight at Bogush.
The best chance of a winner fell to Inter substitute David Suazo, who was found five yards from goal by Javier Zanetti's brilliant cutback, only to somehow miss the target when it looked easier to score. Suazo did have the ball in the net in injury time but was correctly ruled offside.
GettyImages
Lucio scores and own goal to put Inter behind for a second time
Scoring Summary
Internazionale
Dynamo Kiev
Dejan Stankovic (35)
Taras Mikhalik (5)
Walter Samuel (47)
Ferreira Lucio (og 40)
Match Stats
Internazionale
Dynamo Kiev
Shots (on Goal)
15(6)
11(3)
Fouls
19
15
Corner Kicks
3
7
Offsides
3
2
Time of Possession
58%
42%
Yellow Cards
4
4
Red Cards
0
0
Saves
2
4
Match Information
Stadium: Giuseppe Meazza Attendance: Match Time: 19:45 UKOfficial(s): Martin Atkinson (Referee)
document.write('');
Teams
Internazionale
Dynamo Kiev
12 Julio César
31 Stanislav Bogush
25 Walter Samuel
44 Leandro Almeida
6 Ferreira Lucio
34 Yevhen Khacheridi
26 Cristian Chivu
21 Gerson Magrão
13 Maicon
11 Roman Eremenko
19 Esteban Cambiasso
17 Taras Mikhalik
11 Sulley Muntar
5 Ognjen Vukojevic
4 Javier Zanetti
10 Artem Milevskiy
10 Wesley Sneijder
36 Milos Ninkovic
9 Samuel Eto'o
70 Andriy Yarmolenko
5 Dejan Stankovic
7 Andriy Shevchenko
Substitutes
14 Patrick Vieira
Atanda Yussuf 25
23 Marco Materazzi
Oleg Gusev 20
1 Francesco Toldo
Oleksandr Rybka 55
2 Ivan Cordoba
Oleksandr Aliev 8
18 David Suazo
Artem Kravets 22
30 Alessandro Mancini
Betao 3
39 Davide Santon
Roman Zozulya 49
Substitutions
David Suazo for Sulley Muntar (45)
Oleg Gusev for Milos Ninkovic (69)
Patrick Vieira for Dejan Stankovic (85)
Betao for Gerson Magrão (70)
Marco Materazzi for Esteban Cambiasso (86)
Artem Kravets for Artem Milevskiy (90)
Yellow Cards
Dejan Stankovic (23)
Leandro Almeida (31)
Maicon (29)
Andriy Shevchenko (61)
Cristian Chivu (52)
Artem Milevskiy (68)
Javier Zanetti (83)
Ognjen Vukojevic (82)
· Club Squads: Internazionale Dynamo Kiev
Updated: October 21, 2009, 8:45 AM UKSerie A leaders Inter Milan twice came from behind to earn a draw with Dynamo Kiev in an entertaining Champions League clash at the San Siro. Taras Mykhalyk put Dynamo in front and after Dejan Stankovic had equalised, Ferreira Lucio headed into his own net to give the visitors a 2-1 half-time lead.
Walter Samuel equalised less than two minutes into the second half but neither side was able to find a winner despite a number of chances. The visitors took a shock lead after just four minutes courtesy of a superb opportunist finish from Mykhalyk.
Junior Gerson Magrao's woeful free-kick should have been cleared by any of the three Inter players on the edge of the area, but somehow found its way through to Mykhalyk and he swept the ball into the bottom corner off the post. Inter were struggling to get anything going in attack and Wesley Sneijder's abysmal free-kick summed up their early efforts.
Samuel Eto'o then felt he should have had a penalty when he collided with Yevhen Khacheridi as he ran into the area but referee Martin Atkinson was unmoved. Dejan Stankovic then flashed a shot wide before becoming the first player booked for a foul on Magrao, but it was Dynamo who really should have got on the scoresheet again on 25 minutes.
Roman Eremenko produced a superb cross and Andriy Shevchenko climbed highest between two Inter defenders only to steer his header inches wide of the post.
It took until the 30th minute for Inter to force visiting goalkeeper Stanislav Bogush into a genuine save, Dynamo failing to clear a free-kick and Stankovic connecting with a stinging half-volley which Bogush gratefully parried clear at his near post. Stankovic would not be denied for long however, the home side getting back on level terms in the 35th minute with a rapid counterattack.
Sneijder and Ferreira Lucio combined to free Stankovic and his task was made considerably easier as Bogush charged out of the area, leaving Stankovic to flick the ball into an empty net with the outside of his right foot. However, Dynamo took the lead again just five minutes later when Lucio inexplicably headed into his own net from Magrao's corner.
Whatever manager Jose Mourinho said at half-time had the desired effect and Inter equalised again less than two minutes into the second half.
Sneijder's outswinging corner was met by Walter Samuel and superbly headed into the far corner from a difficult angle. The game had really opened up as both sides were not happy to settle for a draw, Eto'o forcing a good save from Bogush and Julio Cesar needing to scamper quickly from his line moments later at the other end to snuff out a Dynamo attack.
Shevchenko's free-kick was comfortably saved by Cesar at his near post before Eto'o dithered too long on the edge of the area, only to scuff a weak shot straight at Bogush.
The best chance of a winner fell to Inter substitute David Suazo, who was found five yards from goal by Javier Zanetti's brilliant cutback, only to somehow miss the target when it looked easier to score. Suazo did have the ball in the net in injury time but was correctly ruled offside.
Will Liverpool ever win Again
Delgado strike condemns Liverpool
GettyImages
Lyon sub Maxime Gonalons levels the scores
Scoring Summary
Liverpool
Lyon
Yossi Benayoun (41)
Maxime Gonalons (72)
César Delgado (90)
Match Stats
Liverpool
Lyon
Shots (on Goal)
16(5)
19(7)
Fouls
12
8
Corner Kicks
6
5
Offsides
1
3
Time of Possession
53%
47%
Yellow Cards
1
3
Red Cards
0
0
Saves
5
4
Match Information
Stadium: Anfield, England Attendance: Match Time: 19:45 UKOfficial(s): Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Referee)
document.write('');
Teams
Liverpool
Lyon
25 Pepe Reina
1 Hugo Lloris
5 Daniel Agger
28 Jeremy Toulalan
23 Jamie Carragher
3 Cris
22 Emiliano Insua
20 Aly Cissokho
34 Martin Kelly
13 Anthony Reveillere
21 Lucas
17 Jean Makoun
20 Javier Mascherano
6 Kim Kallstrom
24 David Ngog
8 Miralem Pjanic
8 Steven Gerrard
10 Honorato Campos Ederson
15 Yossi Benayoun
9 Lisandro López
18 Dirk Kuyt
14 Sidney Govou
Substitutes
12 Fabio Aurelio
Remi Vercoutre 30
10 Andriy Voronin
Francois Clerc 2
19 Ryan Babel
Michel Fernandes Bastos 7
37 Martin Skrtel
Bafetimbi Gomis 18
1 Diego
César Delgado 19
28 Damien Plessis
Maxime Gonalons 41
26 Jay Spearing
Ishak Belfodil 39
Substitutions
Fabio Aurelio for Steven Gerrard (25)
Maxime Gonalons for Cris (43)
Martin Skrtel for Martin Kelly (74)
Bafetimbi Gomis for Honorato Campos Ederson (61)
Andriy Voronin for Yossi Benayoun (85)
César Delgado for Lisandro López (86)
Yellow Cards
David Ngog (45)
Cris (34)
Sidney Govou (55)
Anthony Reveillere (90)
· Club Squads: Liverpool Lyon
Updated: October 21, 2009, 8:01 AM UKLiverpool conceded an injury-time goal which puts their Champions League future in grave doubt.
• Benitez: Gerrard start was no gamble• Harris: Liverpool sink further into the mire• Jolly: Problems mounting at Anfield
An injury-ravaged home side had produced a display of spirit and effort which did not deserve to see them finish as losers. But they have now lost four games in succession for the first time since 1987 as their season plunges into despair.
Captain Steven Gerrard's groin problem forced him off in the first half, as Liverpool lost this Group E match to a side who now top the group with nine points. Liverpool led at the break through Yossi Benayoun, but Lyon slowly edged their way towards victory with goals from substitutes Maxime Gonalons and Cesar Delgado.
An air of nervous tension hung over Anfield, such were the levels of distress from fans unused to their side losing with such regularity. The beach-ball embarrassment of the defeat at Sunderland just about summed up Liverpool's indifferent season. Their form has been poor, a situation made worse by having their squad systematically deprived of its best players. Fernando Torres was again out, while Glen Johnson was missing with a groin injury. At least Gerrard was back - but that lasted only 25 minutes.
Teenager Martin Kelly, Whiston-born and academy produced, made his full debut at right-back, having had just a handful of minutes prior to this as a late substitute against PSV Eindhoven in Holland last December in this competition. Facing them were a clever, experienced team - full of neat passing, solid possession and pacy movement which threatened a fragile Liverpool.
It needed a close-range save from Jose Reina to keep out a powerful header from Argentina striker Lisandro before patched-up Liverpool - who had David Ngog in Torres' role - continually wasted possession. Former Liverpool and Lyon boss Gerard Houllier watched from the directors' box as the Reds struggled, while co-owner George Gillett was also in the posh seats, fresh from his trip to Saudi Arabia.
And there were signs of Liverpool defiance, a Dirk Kuyt headed disallowed for offside from Gerrard's deep cross. That was virtually the only contribution from the skipper, who trudged off to be replaced by Fabio Aurelio. The groin injury sustained on England duty had given way again.
It needed a performance of defiance, spirit and sheer desire from Liverpool to survive this. And there were signs to warm the Kop. Defender Cris was booked for a foul on Kuyt, the Dutchman's knee crashing into his head as he fell. The Brazilian did not last much longer, carried off in a daze.
Liverpool were beginning to show genuine fight now, and somehow France number two 'keeper Hugo Lloris kept out an Ngog effort after fine work by Kelly, Kuyt and Aurelio. Aurelio had a powerful header saved by Lloris' left-hand from Kelly's run and cross, before Liverpool took a 41st minute lead. Benayoun showed calmness to lift the ball over Lloris from eight yards, after Aurelio's cross evaded Kelly in the six-yard box.
Ngog was booked for a foul on Jeremy Toulalan, then Lyon skipper Sidney Govou was cautioned for flattening Emiliano Insua. Benayoun, with a fine header, and Ngog - from eight-yards - could have stretched Liverpool's lead in the second period, while Lloris needed to be at full stretch to keep out Kuyt's header from Aurelio's cross.
Lyon sent on striker Bafetimbi Gomis to partner Lisandro in place of Ederson - and they began to stretch Liverpool. Bosnian teenager Miralem Pjanic, followed relentlessly by Lucas, was starting to find space to produce the sort of tricks which have helped his country into the World Cup play-offs.
The pressure increased and Lyon equalised in the 72nd minute. Liverpool failed to clear a corner, Reina made two outstanding saves from Toulalan and Govou before the ball reached substitute Gonalons, who dived to head home. The hosts then lost young Kelly with an ankle injury, with Martin Skrtel taking over in a defence under increasing pressure.
Benitez sent on Andriy Voronin for Benayoun, to boos from the Kop, as Liverpool searched for a second. But the decider came in injury-time from substitute Cesar Delgado, arriving at the far post to sidefoot past Reina from Govou's cross.
Benitez: Gerrard start was no gamble
Rafael Benitez insisted he did not take an unwise gamble on Steven Gerrard's fitness in tonight's 2-1 Champions League defeat at home to Lyon.
"It was not a gamble to play Gerrard," Benitez said. "He wanted to play and had trained normally for two games.
"He was given the all-clear by the doctor, and what happened was just bad luck. He felt something wrong in his groin, and it was wise to come off.''
Benitez will tomorrow oversee a succession of scans for his injured stars before being able to start preparation for Sunday's visit of Premier League champions Manchester United.
Liverpool have staged miracle survivals in the group stages of Europe before - and will need another one now.
Benitez recalled: "We have come back before - and we can do it again. We now must be ready for the next match. I have confidence that we have the quality to overcome these problems.
"We have to push players now, to keep working and to maintain our confidence. We just had too many problems before and during the game. Losing Glen Johnson before the match, and then Gerrard and Martin Kelly during the match, was just too much to contend with.
"It was a difficult game with all our problems, and we had done well to be leading at the break. Then we had two or three chances soon after the interval. Had we scored, it would have changed everything.''
Benitez also explained his decision to take off Benayoun and send on Andriy Voronin in the closing stages - a choice that was booed by the Kop.
"The fans know Yossi is a good player, but I felt he was getting a little tired and I wanted to use some fresh legs,'' he said. We needed to change something, to put a fresher man on - and it was a chance worth taking.''
Captain Jamie Carragher insisted Liverpool would bounce back after a fourth straight defeat in all competitions at home to Lyon.
Carragher told Sky Sports: "It's a massive disappointment, a bad result which leaves us a lot to do. We're going through a tough patch but we've been through them before, we will come through no doubt.
"We have great fight and character. We had a lot of young lads out there tonight, if we could have hung on (for a draw) it would have been a good result.''
Despite their poor run, Carragher feels facing Barclays Premier League leaders United at Anfield could be the ideal fixture.
"It's always a great game, they are a top side,'' he added. "That could be the game we need.''
Lyon chief Claude Puel was delighted with his side's victory, having had Brazilian defender Cris carried off in the second half with concussion.
"Cris has had scans on his head. He was unconscious, but he has improved. Despite that problem, it was an excellent performance. It was a tough match, decided by fine details.
"They put us under a lot of pressure with crosses and high balls into the box, and they took the lead. But we kept our organisation and our shape, and slowly maintained more possession.
"We were the better side in the second period - and we deserved the win. But I do not believe we have already qualified. Liverpool will have to win when they come to Lyon in a fortnight - that will be a very hard game for us, because Liverpool will be going for it and attacking.''
GettyImages
Lyon sub Maxime Gonalons levels the scores
Scoring Summary
Liverpool
Lyon
Yossi Benayoun (41)
Maxime Gonalons (72)
César Delgado (90)
Match Stats
Liverpool
Lyon
Shots (on Goal)
16(5)
19(7)
Fouls
12
8
Corner Kicks
6
5
Offsides
1
3
Time of Possession
53%
47%
Yellow Cards
1
3
Red Cards
0
0
Saves
5
4
Match Information
Stadium: Anfield, England Attendance: Match Time: 19:45 UKOfficial(s): Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Referee)
document.write('');
Teams
Liverpool
Lyon
25 Pepe Reina
1 Hugo Lloris
5 Daniel Agger
28 Jeremy Toulalan
23 Jamie Carragher
3 Cris
22 Emiliano Insua
20 Aly Cissokho
34 Martin Kelly
13 Anthony Reveillere
21 Lucas
17 Jean Makoun
20 Javier Mascherano
6 Kim Kallstrom
24 David Ngog
8 Miralem Pjanic
8 Steven Gerrard
10 Honorato Campos Ederson
15 Yossi Benayoun
9 Lisandro López
18 Dirk Kuyt
14 Sidney Govou
Substitutes
12 Fabio Aurelio
Remi Vercoutre 30
10 Andriy Voronin
Francois Clerc 2
19 Ryan Babel
Michel Fernandes Bastos 7
37 Martin Skrtel
Bafetimbi Gomis 18
1 Diego
César Delgado 19
28 Damien Plessis
Maxime Gonalons 41
26 Jay Spearing
Ishak Belfodil 39
Substitutions
Fabio Aurelio for Steven Gerrard (25)
Maxime Gonalons for Cris (43)
Martin Skrtel for Martin Kelly (74)
Bafetimbi Gomis for Honorato Campos Ederson (61)
Andriy Voronin for Yossi Benayoun (85)
César Delgado for Lisandro López (86)
Yellow Cards
David Ngog (45)
Cris (34)
Sidney Govou (55)
Anthony Reveillere (90)
· Club Squads: Liverpool Lyon
Updated: October 21, 2009, 8:01 AM UKLiverpool conceded an injury-time goal which puts their Champions League future in grave doubt.
• Benitez: Gerrard start was no gamble• Harris: Liverpool sink further into the mire• Jolly: Problems mounting at Anfield
An injury-ravaged home side had produced a display of spirit and effort which did not deserve to see them finish as losers. But they have now lost four games in succession for the first time since 1987 as their season plunges into despair.
Captain Steven Gerrard's groin problem forced him off in the first half, as Liverpool lost this Group E match to a side who now top the group with nine points. Liverpool led at the break through Yossi Benayoun, but Lyon slowly edged their way towards victory with goals from substitutes Maxime Gonalons and Cesar Delgado.
An air of nervous tension hung over Anfield, such were the levels of distress from fans unused to their side losing with such regularity. The beach-ball embarrassment of the defeat at Sunderland just about summed up Liverpool's indifferent season. Their form has been poor, a situation made worse by having their squad systematically deprived of its best players. Fernando Torres was again out, while Glen Johnson was missing with a groin injury. At least Gerrard was back - but that lasted only 25 minutes.
Teenager Martin Kelly, Whiston-born and academy produced, made his full debut at right-back, having had just a handful of minutes prior to this as a late substitute against PSV Eindhoven in Holland last December in this competition. Facing them were a clever, experienced team - full of neat passing, solid possession and pacy movement which threatened a fragile Liverpool.
It needed a close-range save from Jose Reina to keep out a powerful header from Argentina striker Lisandro before patched-up Liverpool - who had David Ngog in Torres' role - continually wasted possession. Former Liverpool and Lyon boss Gerard Houllier watched from the directors' box as the Reds struggled, while co-owner George Gillett was also in the posh seats, fresh from his trip to Saudi Arabia.
And there were signs of Liverpool defiance, a Dirk Kuyt headed disallowed for offside from Gerrard's deep cross. That was virtually the only contribution from the skipper, who trudged off to be replaced by Fabio Aurelio. The groin injury sustained on England duty had given way again.
It needed a performance of defiance, spirit and sheer desire from Liverpool to survive this. And there were signs to warm the Kop. Defender Cris was booked for a foul on Kuyt, the Dutchman's knee crashing into his head as he fell. The Brazilian did not last much longer, carried off in a daze.
Liverpool were beginning to show genuine fight now, and somehow France number two 'keeper Hugo Lloris kept out an Ngog effort after fine work by Kelly, Kuyt and Aurelio. Aurelio had a powerful header saved by Lloris' left-hand from Kelly's run and cross, before Liverpool took a 41st minute lead. Benayoun showed calmness to lift the ball over Lloris from eight yards, after Aurelio's cross evaded Kelly in the six-yard box.
Ngog was booked for a foul on Jeremy Toulalan, then Lyon skipper Sidney Govou was cautioned for flattening Emiliano Insua. Benayoun, with a fine header, and Ngog - from eight-yards - could have stretched Liverpool's lead in the second period, while Lloris needed to be at full stretch to keep out Kuyt's header from Aurelio's cross.
Lyon sent on striker Bafetimbi Gomis to partner Lisandro in place of Ederson - and they began to stretch Liverpool. Bosnian teenager Miralem Pjanic, followed relentlessly by Lucas, was starting to find space to produce the sort of tricks which have helped his country into the World Cup play-offs.
The pressure increased and Lyon equalised in the 72nd minute. Liverpool failed to clear a corner, Reina made two outstanding saves from Toulalan and Govou before the ball reached substitute Gonalons, who dived to head home. The hosts then lost young Kelly with an ankle injury, with Martin Skrtel taking over in a defence under increasing pressure.
Benitez sent on Andriy Voronin for Benayoun, to boos from the Kop, as Liverpool searched for a second. But the decider came in injury-time from substitute Cesar Delgado, arriving at the far post to sidefoot past Reina from Govou's cross.
Benitez: Gerrard start was no gamble
Rafael Benitez insisted he did not take an unwise gamble on Steven Gerrard's fitness in tonight's 2-1 Champions League defeat at home to Lyon.
"It was not a gamble to play Gerrard," Benitez said. "He wanted to play and had trained normally for two games.
"He was given the all-clear by the doctor, and what happened was just bad luck. He felt something wrong in his groin, and it was wise to come off.''
Benitez will tomorrow oversee a succession of scans for his injured stars before being able to start preparation for Sunday's visit of Premier League champions Manchester United.
Liverpool have staged miracle survivals in the group stages of Europe before - and will need another one now.
Benitez recalled: "We have come back before - and we can do it again. We now must be ready for the next match. I have confidence that we have the quality to overcome these problems.
"We have to push players now, to keep working and to maintain our confidence. We just had too many problems before and during the game. Losing Glen Johnson before the match, and then Gerrard and Martin Kelly during the match, was just too much to contend with.
"It was a difficult game with all our problems, and we had done well to be leading at the break. Then we had two or three chances soon after the interval. Had we scored, it would have changed everything.''
Benitez also explained his decision to take off Benayoun and send on Andriy Voronin in the closing stages - a choice that was booed by the Kop.
"The fans know Yossi is a good player, but I felt he was getting a little tired and I wanted to use some fresh legs,'' he said. We needed to change something, to put a fresher man on - and it was a chance worth taking.''
Captain Jamie Carragher insisted Liverpool would bounce back after a fourth straight defeat in all competitions at home to Lyon.
Carragher told Sky Sports: "It's a massive disappointment, a bad result which leaves us a lot to do. We're going through a tough patch but we've been through them before, we will come through no doubt.
"We have great fight and character. We had a lot of young lads out there tonight, if we could have hung on (for a draw) it would have been a good result.''
Despite their poor run, Carragher feels facing Barclays Premier League leaders United at Anfield could be the ideal fixture.
"It's always a great game, they are a top side,'' he added. "That could be the game we need.''
Lyon chief Claude Puel was delighted with his side's victory, having had Brazilian defender Cris carried off in the second half with concussion.
"Cris has had scans on his head. He was unconscious, but he has improved. Despite that problem, it was an excellent performance. It was a tough match, decided by fine details.
"They put us under a lot of pressure with crosses and high balls into the box, and they took the lead. But we kept our organisation and our shape, and slowly maintained more possession.
"We were the better side in the second period - and we deserved the win. But I do not believe we have already qualified. Liverpool will have to win when they come to Lyon in a fortnight - that will be a very hard game for us, because Liverpool will be going for it and attacking.''
Champion League as it Happened
Rubin Kazan pulled off one of the greatest shocks in Champions League history by beating champions Barcelona 2-1 at a stunned Nou Camp.
GettyImages
Rubin players celebrate their win as Barcelona despair
Aleksandr Ryazantsev's blockbuster put the Russian side ahead within two minutes before Zlatan Ibrahimovic levelled with a precise finish just after the break. But Karadeniz Gökdeniz fired Rubin back in front after good work from Alejandro Dominguez.
Barca pressed for an equaliser and though Ibrahimovic hit the post right at the death Rubin held on for a famous victory.
The other match in Group F saw Inter Milan held to a 2-2 draw by Dynamo Kiev as their winless run in the Champions League stretched to eight games.
Taras Mikhalik gave Kiev the lead on five minutes but Dejan Stankovic drew Jose Mourinho's side level half an hour later. A Lucio own goal gave Dynamo the lead again but Walter Samuel ensured Inter a point.
In Group E Liverpool lost 2-1 to Lyon in injury-time to put their Champions League future in grave doubt. Rafa Benitez's side have now lost four games in succession for the first time since 1987.
Liverpool led at the break after Yossi Benayoun stabbed home at the far post, but Lyon slowly edged their way towards victory with goals from substitutes Maxime Gonalons and Cesar Delgado.
Fiorentina edged a seven-goal thriller against Debrecen thanks to a superb Adrian Mutu performance. Peter Czvitkovics put the Hungarians ahead inside two minutes but Mutu scored two and set another up for Alberto Gilardino as La Viola netted three times in 14 minutes.
Gergely Rudolf made it 3-2 on 28 minutes before Mario Santana put Viola 4-2 up nine minutes later. Adamo Coulibaly's late goal gave Debrecen hope but Fiorentina held on.
Arsenal were hit by a stoppage-time equaliser as AZ Alkmaar earned a draw in their Group H clash.
Cesc Fabregas' put Arsenal in front after neat interplay between Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie, but Mendes Da Silva smashed home from a free-kick knockdown to rescue a point for Ronald Koeman's side.
A late winner from Ieroklis Stoltidis gave Olympiakos a 2-1 win over Standard Liege in the group's other game. Konstantinos Mitroglou had given the Greek side the lead before Igor De Camargo pulled Liege level.
In Group G Rangers were humiliated by Urinea Urziceni who inflicted a second 4-1 Champions League defeat in succession at Ibrox.
Rangers took the lead after just two minutes when Ricardo Gomes Vilana deflected Pedro Mendes' shot into his own net but Marius Bilasco equalised. Steven Davis then had a penalty saved before Kyle Lafferty and Lee McCulloch put through their own net. Pablo Brandán added a fourth for Dan Petrescu's side.
Sevilla essentially secured qualification for the next stage with a comfortable 3-1 win at Stuttgart. The Spanish side, who are just one win away from advancing, went three up courtesy of two goals from Sebastien Squillaci and one from Jesus Navas. Elson grabbed a consolation for Stuttgart.
GettyImages
Rubin players celebrate their win as Barcelona despair
Aleksandr Ryazantsev's blockbuster put the Russian side ahead within two minutes before Zlatan Ibrahimovic levelled with a precise finish just after the break. But Karadeniz Gökdeniz fired Rubin back in front after good work from Alejandro Dominguez.
Barca pressed for an equaliser and though Ibrahimovic hit the post right at the death Rubin held on for a famous victory.
The other match in Group F saw Inter Milan held to a 2-2 draw by Dynamo Kiev as their winless run in the Champions League stretched to eight games.
Taras Mikhalik gave Kiev the lead on five minutes but Dejan Stankovic drew Jose Mourinho's side level half an hour later. A Lucio own goal gave Dynamo the lead again but Walter Samuel ensured Inter a point.
In Group E Liverpool lost 2-1 to Lyon in injury-time to put their Champions League future in grave doubt. Rafa Benitez's side have now lost four games in succession for the first time since 1987.
Liverpool led at the break after Yossi Benayoun stabbed home at the far post, but Lyon slowly edged their way towards victory with goals from substitutes Maxime Gonalons and Cesar Delgado.
Fiorentina edged a seven-goal thriller against Debrecen thanks to a superb Adrian Mutu performance. Peter Czvitkovics put the Hungarians ahead inside two minutes but Mutu scored two and set another up for Alberto Gilardino as La Viola netted three times in 14 minutes.
Gergely Rudolf made it 3-2 on 28 minutes before Mario Santana put Viola 4-2 up nine minutes later. Adamo Coulibaly's late goal gave Debrecen hope but Fiorentina held on.
Arsenal were hit by a stoppage-time equaliser as AZ Alkmaar earned a draw in their Group H clash.
Cesc Fabregas' put Arsenal in front after neat interplay between Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie, but Mendes Da Silva smashed home from a free-kick knockdown to rescue a point for Ronald Koeman's side.
A late winner from Ieroklis Stoltidis gave Olympiakos a 2-1 win over Standard Liege in the group's other game. Konstantinos Mitroglou had given the Greek side the lead before Igor De Camargo pulled Liege level.
In Group G Rangers were humiliated by Urinea Urziceni who inflicted a second 4-1 Champions League defeat in succession at Ibrox.
Rangers took the lead after just two minutes when Ricardo Gomes Vilana deflected Pedro Mendes' shot into his own net but Marius Bilasco equalised. Steven Davis then had a penalty saved before Kyle Lafferty and Lee McCulloch put through their own net. Pablo Brandán added a fourth for Dan Petrescu's side.
Sevilla essentially secured qualification for the next stage with a comfortable 3-1 win at Stuttgart. The Spanish side, who are just one win away from advancing, went three up courtesy of two goals from Sebastien Squillaci and one from Jesus Navas. Elson grabbed a consolation for Stuttgart.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Owen's Chance for making it 2 WC
Sir Alex Ferguson insists Michael Owen should not abandon all hope of featuring in his fourth World Cup finals next summer.
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Although Owen did take up an invite to attend England's victory over Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday, his chances of making Fabio Capello's 23-men squad for South Africa appear remote.
The Manchester United front-man has not featured in the Italian's plans since the friendly defeat to France 18 months ago, with a succession of injuries leaving Capello unable to make any objective judgement on England's fourth highest goalscorer. And, although Ferguson believes Capello knows almost all of the men he wants alongside him in the battle for the world's biggest prize, the United chief insists Owen could still make it.
''There may be two or three places up for grabs,'' observed Ferguson. ''Fabio maybe will have a number up to 25 in his mind. He will then have to eliminate from that to make 23. 'Michael Owen has a good chance because he is a striker and England don't have a tremendous number of them.
''The form of Carlton Cole will have encouraged him and Peter Crouch's goals don't do him any harm. Along with Wayne Rooney I think those three will go to South Africa, then it is a fight for one more.''
The significant flaw in Ferguson's assessment is that Emile Heskey is not mentioned. Given the Aston Villa man is rated so highly by Capello, it is difficult to imagine him not making the trip. However, the point has been made. Now Owen just needs to stay fit, given his last appearance against Wolfsburg was wrecked when he limped off with his latest injury.
''Michael has to play more games,'' said Ferguson. ''Maybe we shouldn't have played him against Wolfsburg. He felt his groin two days before, so we should have left it alone. He did train three days later but we know that part now and we wouldn't do it again.''
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Although Owen did take up an invite to attend England's victory over Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday, his chances of making Fabio Capello's 23-men squad for South Africa appear remote.
The Manchester United front-man has not featured in the Italian's plans since the friendly defeat to France 18 months ago, with a succession of injuries leaving Capello unable to make any objective judgement on England's fourth highest goalscorer. And, although Ferguson believes Capello knows almost all of the men he wants alongside him in the battle for the world's biggest prize, the United chief insists Owen could still make it.
''There may be two or three places up for grabs,'' observed Ferguson. ''Fabio maybe will have a number up to 25 in his mind. He will then have to eliminate from that to make 23. 'Michael Owen has a good chance because he is a striker and England don't have a tremendous number of them.
''The form of Carlton Cole will have encouraged him and Peter Crouch's goals don't do him any harm. Along with Wayne Rooney I think those three will go to South Africa, then it is a fight for one more.''
The significant flaw in Ferguson's assessment is that Emile Heskey is not mentioned. Given the Aston Villa man is rated so highly by Capello, it is difficult to imagine him not making the trip. However, the point has been made. Now Owen just needs to stay fit, given his last appearance against Wolfsburg was wrecked when he limped off with his latest injury.
''Michael has to play more games,'' said Ferguson. ''Maybe we shouldn't have played him against Wolfsburg. He felt his groin two days before, so we should have left it alone. He did train three days later but we know that part now and we wouldn't do it again.''
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