Wednesday, March 11, 2009

KNOCKOUT ROUND - SECOND LEG

4-0 LIVERPOOL vs REAL MADRID

Premier League underachievers in the last 18 years showed no mercy on 9 time European Champions. Real Madrid were never been in the game in the whole 180 minutes and outplayed by Liverpool in every department. Liverpool bolstered by Torres return. Real Madrid were torn to shreds by a breattaking attacking display from Liverpool in remarkable fashion. Torres scored early on, before Steven Gerrard fired home from the spot. Gerrard scored a spectacular third seconds after the break to deflate Madrid further and substitute Andrea Dossena added a fourth with three minutes to go. Gerrard had a greatest night among all by scoring brace on his 100th Europen appearance.

2-2 JUVENTUS vs CHELSEA FC

Chelsea reached the quarter finals of Champions League after coming back twice to overcome 10 men Juventus on 3-2 aggregate. Chelsea came to Turin with a goal advantage from Stamford Bridge when Vincenzo Iaquinta scored in the 19th minute. In the 44th minute referee Alberto Undiano had ruled that a free-kick by Didier Drogba had not crossed the goal line. The debate became academic in first-half stoppage time as Frank Lampard's shot came down off the underside of the bar for Michael Essien to bundle home. Juventus restored their lead on the night when Undiano awarded the Italian side a 74th-minute penalty for handball by Juliano Belletti. Chelsea battled back for a second time when Drogba prodded home a cross from Belletti in the 83rd minute to give the Blues a 3-2 aggregate win. Juventus received a major blow when Pavel Nedved injured twice in the first eight minute which forced him to stay out of the game. Juventus hopes were hampered further when Chiellini was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Drogba.

7-1 BAYERN MUNICH vs SPORTING LISBON


Bayern just continued their merciless assault on Sporting Lisbon just where they have left couple of weeks back. Bayern thrashed Lisbon by 12-1 on aggregate. Leading 5-0 from the first leg, a double from Lukas Podolski and Anderson Polga's own goal put them 3-0 up on the night within 40 minutes before Joao Moutinho pulled one back in stunning fashion. Bastian Schweinsteiger hitting an immediate reply, before Mark van Bommel, Miroslav Klose (pen) and Thomas Muller netted in the second half. Bayern made record aggregate winning margin for post-group stage matches which is previously held by Lyon's demolition on Werder Bremen by 10-2 in 2005.

1-2 PANATHINAIKOS vs VILLAREAL CF

Villareal came to Olympic Stadium for second leg of the first knock-out round tie with the disadvantage of having conceded on home soil in the 1-1 draw two weeks ago. Four minutes into the second half Argentine Ibagaza opened the scoring for Villareal. Vangelis Mantzios levelled the tie with his fourth goal in six matches in the 55th minute through powerful header. Joseba Llorente's strike sealed Villarreal's place in the Champions League quarter-finals in the 70th minute. Llorente was replaced ineffective Nihat Kahveci.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

SAF : Next 7 Days Time to Land Big Five...

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told his players that the next seven days could unlock the door to a record-breaking five trophies this season.

With the Carling Cup and the Club World Cup already in the bag, United face Fulham in the FA Cup today, Inter Milan in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday and Barclays Premier League title rivals Liverpool next Saturday.
The United manager had shied away from talking about a possible five trophies but last night he hinted that it will be a real possibility. Ferguson said: 'If you asked me at the start of the season where I would like to be in the middle of March, you couldn't go much beyond where we are now.

United have had opportunities to sweep the board domestically before, but their Treble of 1999 is the only time they have gone close to claiming all the trophies available to them in one season.

United rest key players today but will field a team strong enough to reach the semi-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be in the squad, despite the buffeting he took at Newcastle in midweek.