UEFA Champions League
<SPAN class=art-title2>Fab four in the driving seat</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top> <SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>On his 33rd birthday, Filippo Inzaghi proved to be the matchwinner for AC Milan against Red Star Belgrade.
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>DANIELE LA MONACA
</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10 Aug 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>With many of Europe's domestic leagues still at the pre-season stage, fans starved of competitive action since Germany 2006 were grateful to the UEFA Champions League for providing some timely drama. It did not disappoint.
In Wednesday's matches in the third qualifying round of the competition, AC Milan had to settle for a single-goal victory over Red Star Belgrade and 2005 winners Liverpool came from behind to beat Maccabi Haifa.
Ajax Amsterdam were 2-1 winners at FC Copenhagen. AEK Athens enjoyed the same scoreline against Heart of Midlothian and Hamburg SV were held to agoalless draw against Osasuna.
A brace from Cesc Fabregas and a Robin van Persie strike has almost assured Arsenal's place in the group stages on the competition. The Gunners enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory away from home against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Craig Bellamy scores an important equaliser for Liverpool in their 2-1 defeat of Maccabi Haifa.</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>DARREN STAPLES</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Milan's happy anniversary
Exactly a month after Italy lifted the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy, four of their squad, Filippo Inzaghi, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Alberto Gilardino, helped Milan to a1-0 win over Red Star Belgrade.
On 'Superpippo's' 33rd birthday, the striker had another reason to celebrate when he scored the only goal of the match in the 21st minute, taking his tally to 24 goals in 40 European appearances for the Italian side.
"The only disappointment is that we couldn't get another goal," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti. "Given the stage of our preparation this season, I can't have any complaints about the performance. The lads showed a lot of grit and determination."
Grit and determination were shown at Anfield, the home of Liverpool. Falling behind to Gustavo's 29th minute strike, two of Rafael Benitez's new signings struck to give the Reds a slight advantage going into the second leg.
Wales striker Craig Bellamy scored the equaliser in the 33rd minute, but they had to wait until the 88th for the winner. Having only been on the field for two minutes, substitute Mark Gonzalez produced a cool right-footed finish to send the majority of the crowd home happy.
"That's what we've bought them for - to score important goals for us - and they've done their job tonight," commented Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. "We
<SPAN class=art-title2>Fab four in the driving seat</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top> <SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>On his 33rd birthday, Filippo Inzaghi proved to be the matchwinner for AC Milan against Red Star Belgrade.
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>DANIELE LA MONACA
</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10 Aug 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>With many of Europe's domestic leagues still at the pre-season stage, fans starved of competitive action since Germany 2006 were grateful to the UEFA Champions League for providing some timely drama. It did not disappoint.
In Wednesday's matches in the third qualifying round of the competition, AC Milan had to settle for a single-goal victory over Red Star Belgrade and 2005 winners Liverpool came from behind to beat Maccabi Haifa.
Ajax Amsterdam were 2-1 winners at FC Copenhagen. AEK Athens enjoyed the same scoreline against Heart of Midlothian and Hamburg SV were held to agoalless draw against Osasuna.
A brace from Cesc Fabregas and a Robin van Persie strike has almost assured Arsenal's place in the group stages on the competition. The Gunners enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory away from home against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Craig Bellamy scores an important equaliser for Liverpool in their 2-1 defeat of Maccabi Haifa.</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>DARREN STAPLES</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Milan's happy anniversary
Exactly a month after Italy lifted the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy, four of their squad, Filippo Inzaghi, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Alberto Gilardino, helped Milan to a1-0 win over Red Star Belgrade.
On 'Superpippo's' 33rd birthday, the striker had another reason to celebrate when he scored the only goal of the match in the 21st minute, taking his tally to 24 goals in 40 European appearances for the Italian side.
"The only disappointment is that we couldn't get another goal," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti. "Given the stage of our preparation this season, I can't have any complaints about the performance. The lads showed a lot of grit and determination."
Grit and determination were shown at Anfield, the home of Liverpool. Falling behind to Gustavo's 29th minute strike, two of Rafael Benitez's new signings struck to give the Reds a slight advantage going into the second leg.
Wales striker Craig Bellamy scored the equaliser in the 33rd minute, but they had to wait until the 88th for the winner. Having only been on the field for two minutes, substitute Mark Gonzalez produced a cool right-footed finish to send the majority of the crowd home happy.
"That's what we've bought them for - to score important goals for us - and they've done their job tonight," commented Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. "We