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| September 16, 2005 | Friday | Sha'aban 11, 1426 |
Late goals rescue European giants
PARIS, Sept 15: Late goals saw three giants of European football salvage points against sides considered minnows of the Champions League in the group matches played on Wednesday. Arsenal were spared the embarrassment of a 1-1 draw with Swiss side Thun by an injury-time winner from Dennis Bergkamp while Benfica scraped a 1-0 win over unheralded French side Lille also in time added-on through a header from probably the smallest man on the pitch, Fabrizio Miccoli.
There was also to be last-minute disappointment for Czech Republic outfit Sparta Prague as they were held 1-1 at home by Dutch giants Ajax - a club formerly managed by Benfica’s handler Ronald Koeman - Wesley Sneijder’s stunning effort giving them a point.
Italian clubs had a good night as Juventus recorded a 2-1 victory away at Bruges with Daviod Trezeguet scoring his 100th goal for the club moving ever closer to French compatriot Michel Platini’s club record of 104.
Vincenzo Iaquinta scored a hat trick in Udinese’s maiden Champions League match as the unglamorous Italian side recorded a 3-0 home victory over Greek giants Panathinaikos.
The good was balanced by the ugly as fiery England striker Wayne Rooney capped a pretty disastrous last 10 days for England and Manchester United by being sent off for two bookable offences - the second for dissent at his initial booking - in United’s 0-0 away draw with Spanish side Villarreal.
Juve’s French hardman midfielder Patrick Vieira was given his marching orders in the final minute of the Bruges match.
Results
Group A
Bruges 1 Juventus 2
Rapid Vienna 0 Bayern Munich 1
Group B
Arsenal 2 FC Thun 1
Sparta Prague 1 Ajax 1
Group C
Udinese 3 Panathinaikos 0
Werder Bremen 0 Barcelona 2
Group D
Benfica 1 Lille 0
Villarreal 0 Manchester United 0
—Agencies
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