UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DAY 2: A BRIEF ROUND UP This might be coming up a bit too late which is due largely to poor network and some busy schedule i just have do my best to put it up. The second round of matches in the UEFA Champions League offered everything it was meant to offer and a bit more. Some surprises, records broken, records maintained and so much excitement. WELBECK AND GALATASARAY FANS SET THE EMIRATE ON FIRE The Turkish fans of Galatasaray offered more excitement than their players as they lit up the Emirates with fire works associated only to the middle east and North Africa. A show that could have set the Emirates a blazed if not for the timely intervention of security agents. But the actual fire came from a very unexpected source as Danny Welbeck showed the Turkish fans how hit he can be playing to his full potentials. Arsenals new recruit was on fire as he netted a stunning hat-trick to trigger off a new debate as to why Manchester United let him go? Alexis Sanchez also scored as Wojciech Szczesny was sent off on the hour mark after taking out Galatasaray forward Burak Yilmaz. Yilmaz then stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and grab a consolation goal for the Turkish visitors. 4-1 it ended. The victory was a perfect celebration as he marked his 18th anniversary in charge of the Gunners. Elsewhere in Group D, substitute Adrian Ramos ensured Borussia Dortmund maintained a perfect start to their Champions League Group D campaign by sealing a 3-0 victory at Anderlecht. The Colombian’s late double cemented the lead given to the visitors by Ciro Immobile’s early opener and negated the efforts of home keeper Silvio Proto, who had kept the Germans at bay for more than an hour in between. Dortmund now leads the group with a maximum 6 points after having recorded a 2-0 victory over Arsenal on day one. FIRST ROUND EXIT STARING BENFICA IN THE FACE Benfica has been poor so far this season after slumping to a second successive defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. Stefan Kiessling opened the scoring and Son Heung-min doubled the lead before Eduardo Salvio grabbed one back against the run of play. But Hakan Calhanoglu swiftly netted another from the penalty spot to hand Leverkusen a 3-1 win and leave Benfica bottom of the group without a point. In the other match of the group, Zenith St Petersburg played out a goalless draw with visiting AS Monaco. Meanwhile, Markus Rosenberg’s brace gave Malmo a famous 2-0 victory over Olympiacos in their Champions League Group Group A encounter while Zenit St Petersburg drew 0-0 at home to Monaco in Group C. MALMOS SHOCKER FOR OLYMPIAKOS AS ARDAN TURAN STRIKES FOR ATHLETICO Olympiakos could not re-ignite the superbly robust performance they put up against last seasons vice champions Athletico Madrid as they slumped to a surprised 2-0 defeat in the hands of Minnows FC Malmo. Malmo won their very first game in the Champions League proper on Wednesday night at home against Olympiakos courtesy of two goals from hometown boy Markus Rosenberg. Age Hareides side, top of the Allsvenskan with only four matches remaining, had to see off some significant pressure from the Greek champions. Olympiakos had a goal ruled out for offside and were also unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Giannis Maniatis was booked for simulation instead. Nonetheless, Malmo, runners-up in the European Cup in 1979, absorbedthe pressure and earned their victory with a well-planned counter-attacking victory. In the other game of the group, it was a highly physical and robust display from both teams as Spanish Champions Athletico Madrid tackled Italian Champions Juventus at home. Bearded talisman Arda Turan reignited Atletico Madrids Champions League campaign when he struck 15 minutes from time to give last seasons beaten finalists a 1-0 win at home to Juventus in Group A on Wednesday. Beaten 3-2 at Olympiacos in their opening game two weeks ago, Atletico hassled and harried the Italian champions at the Calderon and were rewarded in the 75th minute when Turkey midfielder Arda poked the ball into the net from close range. Juves goalie, Buffon hadnt conceded a goal all season until that moment. The stocky playmaker, who scored a superb winner in this months 2-1 La Liga win at European champions Real Madrid, settled an intense encounter in the Spanish capital in which neither side created many clear chances. MOURINHOS HOME COMING, BOO BOY PAYS BACK IN STYLE AND SCHALKE 04S STUTTERING FORM CONTINUES Mourinho traveled back to his root as he took his Chelsea side to Lisbon to face Sporting Lisbon in a must win match after been forced to a 1-1 draw in their opening game at home to Schalke 04. Nemaja Matic was booed by the home team for his affiliation with Benfica only for him to respond by scoring the only goal of the game via a touring header from Fabregas corner kick. The game saw Chelsea miss numerous goal scoring chances most notable were early chances for Costa and Schurlle. Schurlle had a game to forget as he missed glaring chances. Sporting Lisbon tried to put up a fight but couldnt create clear cut chances. Chelse a got the much needed 3 points. Schalke 04 were disappointing as they were held to a 1-1 draw by supposed group whipping boys Maribor. Having showed so much promise against Chelsea in London, one would have expected them to at list comfortably beat Maribor at home but they struggled and were even on the loosing side at half time. This result coupled with Sportings loss at home to Chelsea has set up a nerve cracking double header between Schalke and Sporting. MADRID SURVIVES LUDOGORETS SCARE WHILE BASEL KEEPS UP WITH BEING ENGLISH NIGHTMARE Real Madrid needend 2 penalties and a late Kareem Benzemas goal to overcome a stubborn and well set up Ludogoret team in Sophia. The Bulgarians put up a gallant fight and took the game to the Champions right from the start and stunned Madrid with an early strike. Chicharito was brought down minutes later and Madrid awarded a penalty but Ronaldo uncharacteristically missed from 12yards. Moments later, Ronaldo was fouled again in the box for a second penalty. Ronaldo made no mistake this time as he was more decisive this time. Ludogoret held on until substitute Benzemas late winner. Basel continued their upholding their tag as being English teams nightmare as they inflicted a moral denting 1-0 defeat on Liverpool. Liverpool face a daunting task as they face Madrid in a double header which they must come out of with at list 3 points, and hope that Basel doesnt collect maximum points from Ludogret, to have any hope of advancing. MANCHESTER CITY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE IN EUROPE AS BAYERN ADOPTS THE FUNNIEST FORMATION IN MOSCOW Manchester City continue to struggle in the Champions League as they were held to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad by Roma. A first half penalty by Sergio Aguero gave City the lead but veteran and Roma legend equalized and won a vital point for his team as they face Bayern Munich next in a double header Bayern Munich set up in a 3-1-3-1 formation as they squared up against CSKA Moscow. A first half penalty by Muller was enough to seal a vital victory for the away team. The victory keeps Munich in pole position to top the group leaving Roma, City and CSKA to fight for the other spot. Bur in football, anything can happen. BARCELONA FLAWS REVEALED AS APOEL HOLDS AJAX PSG picked up all three points following a riveting 3-2 victory over firm favourites Barcelona. Prior to this match Barcelona are yet to concede a single goal in all competition this season while PSG has been in a patchy form in their league and with their talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing in action due to injury, a win for the Catalans was highly anticipated. But the Parisian club put up a display worthy of note and had it not being for the wastefulness of Edison Cavani, it could have been a nightmare for Barcelona. 3-2 it ended as Barcelonas defenwife frailties resurfaced and Messi scored his 68th goal in the UCL as he and Ronaldo continues to pursue Rauls record of 71 UCL goals. Given the 1-1 draw between APOEL Nicosia and Ajax in Group F’s other contest, PSG now find themselves in a safe place going into their double header with APOEL while Barcelona face a daunting task of topping the group ahead of PSG by battling Ajax home and away in their next two fixtures. PORTO LEAVES IT LATE TO SNATCH A POINT IN UKRAINE Porto delivered Wednesday evening’s late drama, scoring a pair of late goals to earn a 2-2 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in Lviv—the Ukrainian side’s temporary home. BATE Borisov defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the section’s other match.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 15:58:25 +0000
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