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Arsenal floor holders Milan
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 4 March 2008
Arsenal pulled off a major achievement on Tuesday when they won 2-0 at the San Siro to oust 2007 UEFA Champions League winners AC Milan from the tournament. Elsewhere Barcelona and Manchester United also checked into the last eight along with Fenerbahce, who have never before ventured this far in Europe's premier club competition.
(Reuters)
Match of the day
AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal
Goals: Cesc Fabregas 84, Emmanuel Adebayor 90
With an average age of just 24, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal became the first English team to defeat the Rossoneri at the San Siro. Showing a cool maturity beyond their years, the Premier League leaders weathered the expected early storm whipped up by the defending European champions before gradually relieving the pressure.
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas fired the first warning on 34 minutes when he struck the bar from distance. The Londoners then created a string of further chances as the experienced but static Milan defence began to creak. Although the Milanese managed a reaction of sorts after the break, it was Arsenal's lively front line that carried the greater threat.
Wenger's men finally got their reward six minutes from time when Fabregas picked up the ball 40 yards out and sent a raking low drive just inside Zeljko Kalac's right-hand post. Consigned to the task of scoring two late goals to rescue their title defence, the hosts surged forward in numbers only for Arsenal to kill off their hopes on the counter.
After advancing down the right flank Theo Walcott picked out Emmanuel Adebayor at the far post, the Togolese striker gleefully turning the ball home to seal a richly merited win. It proved to be a sad finale for Paolo Maldini, who was making his 172nd and final appearance in the competition.
Goal of the nightBarcelona 1-0 Glasgow Celtic - Xavi 3
Barcelona scored the only goal of the night at the Camp Nou following a trademark flowing move. After receiving the ball from Xavi, Ronaldinho picked out Sylvinho on the left wing with a signature blind pass. And when the Brazilian full-back crossed into the box, Xavi was on hand to thump the ball past the stranded Artur Boruc.
Other matchesManchester United did just enough to secure a slender 1-0 win over enterprising Lyon, and once again it was Cristiano Ronaldo who made the difference. The Portuguese international seized on a loose ball in the Lyon box after Anderson had miscued and shook off the attentions of two defenders before firing past Gregory Coupet. With six goals now to his name, Ronaldo is the top scorer in this year's competition.
The French champions came back strongly, however, and almost snatched an equaliser on 63 minutes when Kader Keita struck the post after being neatly played in by Karim Benzema.
Over in Spain Barcelona picked up where they had left off in Glasgow a fortnight ago, sealing their passage to the next round in some comfort. Xavi's early opener had the Scots on the back foot immediately and although the visitors battled away bravely, they were powerless to prevent the Catalans from weaving their intricate patterns.
The 2006 champions launched some spectacular attacking moves in the second half but failed to add their tally. The only blemish on an otherwise untroubled evening was Lionel Messi's tearful exit through injury after 36 minutes.
FC Sevilla and Fenerbahce served up yet another five-goal thriller when they met at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Daniel Alves got the ball rolling with a long-range strike five minutes in and Seydou Keita repeated the trick just moments later to put the Spaniards in control.
Having celebrated his 55th birthday on Monday, Fenerbahce coach Zico then saw his side hit back midway through the first half when Deivid drove the ball home from Alex's corner. But as the interval beckoned, Sevilla tightened their grip on the tie when Frederic Kanoute shot home on the turn.
Fatigued by their first-half exertions, the Andalusians dropped their rhythm, allowing the Turks to fight their way back again. With 11 minutes remaining, a curling free-kick found its way to Deivid at the far post and although his first effort struck the upright, the Brazilian gratefully slammed home the rebound. And after 30 minutes of extra-time failed to separate the two sides, it was the visitors who held their nerve in the resulting shootout to record an historic achievement.
The numbers game - 166The combined age of the Milan defence. Lining up in front of 35-year-old keeper Zeljko Kalac on Tuesday evening were Massimo Oddo (31), Alessandro Nesta (31), Kakha Kaladze (30) and the one and only Paolo Maldini (39), the oldest player appearing in the last 16.
HistoryAfter being held to draws by Celtic in their last two European meetings at the Camp Nou, it was a case of third time lucky for Frank Rijkaard's side. Back in 2003/04 the duo played out a goalless draw in the second leg of a UEFA Cup last-16 tie, a result that saw the Catalans go out of the competition after losing 1-0 in Glasgow.
When they met again in the group phase of the Champions League the following season, Barça strolled to a 3-1 win at Celtic Park but once again found it impossible to break the Bhoys down at home and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
ResultsManchester United 1-0 Lyon (agg 2-1)
Barcelona 1-0 Celtic (agg 4-2)
AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal (agg 0-2)
Sevilla 3-2 Fenerbahce (agg 5-5 aet, Fenerbahce win 3-2 on penalties)
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 4 March 2008
Arsenal pulled off a major achievement on Tuesday when they won 2-0 at the San Siro to oust 2007 UEFA Champions League winners AC Milan from the tournament. Elsewhere Barcelona and Manchester United also checked into the last eight along with Fenerbahce, who have never before ventured this far in Europe's premier club competition.
(Reuters)
Match of the day
AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal
Goals: Cesc Fabregas 84, Emmanuel Adebayor 90
With an average age of just 24, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal became the first English team to defeat the Rossoneri at the San Siro. Showing a cool maturity beyond their years, the Premier League leaders weathered the expected early storm whipped up by the defending European champions before gradually relieving the pressure.
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas fired the first warning on 34 minutes when he struck the bar from distance. The Londoners then created a string of further chances as the experienced but static Milan defence began to creak. Although the Milanese managed a reaction of sorts after the break, it was Arsenal's lively front line that carried the greater threat.
Wenger's men finally got their reward six minutes from time when Fabregas picked up the ball 40 yards out and sent a raking low drive just inside Zeljko Kalac's right-hand post. Consigned to the task of scoring two late goals to rescue their title defence, the hosts surged forward in numbers only for Arsenal to kill off their hopes on the counter.
After advancing down the right flank Theo Walcott picked out Emmanuel Adebayor at the far post, the Togolese striker gleefully turning the ball home to seal a richly merited win. It proved to be a sad finale for Paolo Maldini, who was making his 172nd and final appearance in the competition.
Goal of the nightBarcelona 1-0 Glasgow Celtic - Xavi 3
Barcelona scored the only goal of the night at the Camp Nou following a trademark flowing move. After receiving the ball from Xavi, Ronaldinho picked out Sylvinho on the left wing with a signature blind pass. And when the Brazilian full-back crossed into the box, Xavi was on hand to thump the ball past the stranded Artur Boruc.
Other matchesManchester United did just enough to secure a slender 1-0 win over enterprising Lyon, and once again it was Cristiano Ronaldo who made the difference. The Portuguese international seized on a loose ball in the Lyon box after Anderson had miscued and shook off the attentions of two defenders before firing past Gregory Coupet. With six goals now to his name, Ronaldo is the top scorer in this year's competition.
The French champions came back strongly, however, and almost snatched an equaliser on 63 minutes when Kader Keita struck the post after being neatly played in by Karim Benzema.
Over in Spain Barcelona picked up where they had left off in Glasgow a fortnight ago, sealing their passage to the next round in some comfort. Xavi's early opener had the Scots on the back foot immediately and although the visitors battled away bravely, they were powerless to prevent the Catalans from weaving their intricate patterns.
The 2006 champions launched some spectacular attacking moves in the second half but failed to add their tally. The only blemish on an otherwise untroubled evening was Lionel Messi's tearful exit through injury after 36 minutes.
FC Sevilla and Fenerbahce served up yet another five-goal thriller when they met at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Daniel Alves got the ball rolling with a long-range strike five minutes in and Seydou Keita repeated the trick just moments later to put the Spaniards in control.
Having celebrated his 55th birthday on Monday, Fenerbahce coach Zico then saw his side hit back midway through the first half when Deivid drove the ball home from Alex's corner. But as the interval beckoned, Sevilla tightened their grip on the tie when Frederic Kanoute shot home on the turn.
Fatigued by their first-half exertions, the Andalusians dropped their rhythm, allowing the Turks to fight their way back again. With 11 minutes remaining, a curling free-kick found its way to Deivid at the far post and although his first effort struck the upright, the Brazilian gratefully slammed home the rebound. And after 30 minutes of extra-time failed to separate the two sides, it was the visitors who held their nerve in the resulting shootout to record an historic achievement.
The numbers game - 166The combined age of the Milan defence. Lining up in front of 35-year-old keeper Zeljko Kalac on Tuesday evening were Massimo Oddo (31), Alessandro Nesta (31), Kakha Kaladze (30) and the one and only Paolo Maldini (39), the oldest player appearing in the last 16.
HistoryAfter being held to draws by Celtic in their last two European meetings at the Camp Nou, it was a case of third time lucky for Frank Rijkaard's side. Back in 2003/04 the duo played out a goalless draw in the second leg of a UEFA Cup last-16 tie, a result that saw the Catalans go out of the competition after losing 1-0 in Glasgow.
When they met again in the group phase of the Champions League the following season, Barça strolled to a 3-1 win at Celtic Park but once again found it impossible to break the Bhoys down at home and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
ResultsManchester United 1-0 Lyon (agg 2-1)
Barcelona 1-0 Celtic (agg 4-2)
AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal (agg 0-2)
Sevilla 3-2 Fenerbahce (agg 5-5 aet, Fenerbahce win 3-2 on penalties)