|
|
|
| February 23, 2006 | Thursday | Muharram 24, 1427 |
Champions League: Arsenal outguns Real Madrid on night of few goals
LONDON, Feb 22: Arsenal scored one of the greatest victories in their long European history when they defied the odds to beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday.
Thierry Henry’s magnificent solo match-winning effort was one of only five goals on the night as Bayern Munich and AC Milan drew 1-1, Benfica beat European champions Liverpool 1-0 and Olympique Lyon won 1-0 at PSV Eindhoven.
The first leg ties marked the resumption of the Champions League after the winter break in the first knockout round.
Henry’s strike was also one of the finest in Europe this season as Arsenal, injury-hit, out of form and written off by almost everyone, became the first English team to beat the nine-times European champions in European competition at home.
However, none of the 14 players who appeared for Arsenal on the night were English, while Real started with two — Jonathan Woodgate and England captain David Beckham.
“We need to keep our feet on the ground and not get carried away with the result,” Henry told reporters. “I’ve seen a lot of things happen in my career, so we must stay calm and focused.”
While Henry’s goal settled the match in Arsenal’s favour, European champions Liverpool did not fare quite so well on the western side of the Iberian peninsula, losing 1-0 to Benfica in Lisbon after a headed goal from Luisao six minutes from time.
Olympique Lyon, tipped as dark horses to reach the final in Paris in May, avoided any slip-ups at PSV Eindhoven and also ended the night 1-0 winners with the advantage of an away goal.
Juninho Pernambucano scored after 64 minutes.
Bayern Munich failed to win at their new home for the first time in 15 matches in all competitions as AC Milan forced a 1-1 draw. Andriy Shevchenko’s penalty 13 minutes after the break cancelled out Michael Ballack’s stunning 23rd-minute opener.
Ballack sent a half-volley flying in, but Bayern might have had an inkling it was not going to be their night when keeper Oliver Kahn was injured in the pre-match warm-up and had to be replaced in the starting lineup by substitute Michael Rensing.
With so few goals the four ties remain on a knife-edge ahead of the March 8th second legs but Arsenal fans will be dreaming of the quarter-finals when Real visit Highbury for the first time since playing a friendly there more than 40 years ago.
Arsenal took a grip of the game from the first minute and had three scoring chances in the opening exchanges before Real had even got into their stride.
The visitors hardly allowed Real to play all night and, apart from a battling performance by Beckham, the Spanish side offered very little resistance.
The achievement of Arsene Wenger’s team was all the more remarkable since he was without the likes of Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Robin van Persie and flight-shy Dennis Bergkamp.
Arsenal were duly rewarded for their ambition, drive and determination when Henry scored two minutes into the second half.
The Frenchman struck after dispossessing Ronaldo near the halfway line and evading three challenges on a mazy run before steering the ball past Ilker Casillas.
It ranks among the best of the 201 goals he has now scored for Arsenal and the 40 he has netted in Europe.
Henry’s goal was enough to send Real crashing to their first home defeat in the competition in 19 matches since October 2002 and gave Arsenal a fourth successive away win in the Champions League this season.
The first knockout round continues on Wednesday with Chelsea facing Barcelona, Rangers playing Villarreal, Ajax Amsterdam meeting Inter Milan and Werder Bremen hosting Juventus.
Results:
Last 16
Bayern Munich 1 AC Milan 1
Benfica 1 Liverpool 0
PSV 0 Lyon 1
Real Madrid 0 Arsenal 1
—Agencies
|
|
|
|
