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| November 3, 2005 | Thursday | Ramzan 29, 1426 |
Chelsea suffer first jolt as Madrid, Lyon march on
PARIS, Nov 2: Chelsea’s Champions League campaign suffered its first real jolt on Tuesday when Jose Mourinho’s Premiership titleholders were stunned 1-0 by Real Betis. As Lyon and Real Madrid became the first sides to seal their places in the last 16 with wins over Olympiakos and Rosenborg, Chelsea’s loss in Seville means they still have unfinished business to ensure their safe passage from group G.
Substitute Dani Martin’s goal left Mourinho frustrated and his Premiership champions without an away win in Europe for over a year.
Chelsea are now lying second on seven points, one ahead of Betis but three adrift of leaders Liverpool after the European champions coasted to a 3-0 win over Anderlecht.
That Anfield result, achieved by goals from Fernando Morientes, Luis Garcia and Djibril Cisse, put Rafael Benitez’ men on the brink of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Real Madrid guaranteed their presence in the next phase with a 2-0 win over Rosenborg, an unfortunate own goal by defender Mikael Dorsin and a strike from Guti inflicting the damage on the Norwegians.
Real are in second in group F on nine points, three shy of Lyon who maintained their perfect record with a 4-1 thrashing of Olympiakos in Greece.
The highflying French champions found themselves on the backfoot after Nigerian attacker Haruna Babangida’s third minute goal.
But two goals in three minutes just before the break from Juninho and Norwegian striker John Carew set the tone for Gerard Houllier’s side, with Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra and a second from Carew sealing the tie.
Real and Lyon are now assured of finishing in the first two regardless of how the last two group games pan out.
PSV Eindhoven took control of Group E by avenging last season’s semifinal loss to AC Milan with a 1-0 win.
Their Peruvian striker Jeffersen Farfan bagged the decisive goal in the 12th minute, with Milan reduced to ten men late on after Dutch defender Jaap Stam was sent off for a second rash tackle on American DaMarcus Beasley.
AC’s city rivals Inter are on the brink of going through from group H after a 2-1 win over Porto in Milan.
But with Rangers and Artmedia Bratislava ending 2-2 the group is wide open.
Two goals in seven minutes from second-half substitute Julio Cruz saw Inter take the honours after Hugo Almedia’s long range free-kick found the top corner before the break for Porto.
RESULTS
PSV Eindhoven 1……………………..AC Milan 0
Schalke 04 2…………………………..Fenerbahce 0
Olympiakos 1…………………………Lyon 4
Rosenberg 0…………………………..Real Madrid 2
Real Betis 1…………………………..Chelsea 0
Liverpool 3…………………………...Anderlecht 0
Artmedia Bratislava 2………………..Rangers 2
Inter Milan 2…………………………Porto 1.
—AFP
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