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Archive for the ‘UEFA’ Category

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan earned Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win over Liverpool in their Europa League semi-final first leg. Forlan hit a scrappy winner in only the ninth minute on Thursday night – but the tie is far from over and even without an away goal, Rafael Benitez’s side will be optimistic of overturning the result at Anfield next week.

The Reds missed their injured striker Fernando Torres almost as much as the former darling of the Vicente Calderon missed the chance to face his old club, having also been denied that opportunity in the Champions League last season because of more fitness problems.

Benitez had insisted the 1,200-mile journey by coach, train and eventually plane – after UEFA’s insistence the match go ahead despite the volcanic ash cloud which grounded flights across Europe – had brought his squad closer together.

If only his defence had been tighter-knit in the ninth minute then they may not have conceded.

No one will ever really know whether their exertions in getting to the Spanish capital had an effect but it was a sloppy piece of marking which cost them. Read the rest of this entry »

Liverpool’s  players must sometimes wake up and wonder just how a season that began with such promise has reached the home straight with them playing in the Europa League. When all is said and done, it remains Europe’s second-rate competition.

Nevertheless, Rafael Benitez and his improving team have set about their quest for a consolation prize with admirable zeal in recent weeks and last night’s defeat of Benfica has now made them clear favourites to lift the trophy in Hamburg next month.

For all that they have laboured this season, Benitez’s players have recently shown flashes of the football of which they are capable. It has come far too late to rescue their Barclays Premier League hopes, of course. The team will be hard pushed to finish fourth.

But in Europe they have found a little of their true selves and at a capacity Anfield last night they advanced to a semi-final date with Atletico Madrid on the back of some expansive attacking football.

Victory didn’t come without some anxiety, of course. It seems to be the way with English teams in European competition of late.

Unlike neighbours Manchester United the night before, Liverpool’s carelessness in conceding a goal with 20 minutes left did not lead to the calamity that for a while looked possible as Benfica pressed forwards late in the game. Read the rest of this entry »

Fernando Torres scored twice to help Liverpool keep their season alive by reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with a battling win over Lille.

The Reds started perfectly with a Steven Gerrard penalty on eight minutes after Lucas was felled by Adil Rami following a fine run past four players.

Eden Hazard was denied an equaliser by a smart Pepe Reina save, but Torres chipped in the second after the break.

The Spaniard settled the tie by poking home following Gerrard’s rasping shot.

It was an impressive result against an in-form French outfit and gave England a second team in the Europa League last eight following Fulham’s earlier surprise win over Juventus.

European progression in front of the Anfield faithful was crucial to help salvage the season for a team without a trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 2006. Read the rest of this entry »

David Ngog’s 81st-minute winner spared Liverpool’s blushes as they began their Europa League campaign in disappointing fashion against Unirea Urzinceni.

The Romanian side’s defensive approach looked like earning them a draw in the first leg of their last-32 clash.

Liverpool dominated possession but were unable to break down the visitors and created few clear-cut chances.

But, with time running out, Daniel Pacheco knocked down Ryan Babel’s cross and Ngog headed in from close range.

Steven Gerrard went close to adding a second goal seconds later with a rasping shot that flew inches wide, but a second goal would have put an undeserved gloss on what became a difficult night for Rafael Benitez’s side. Read the rest of this entry »

The last ever UEFA Cup has gone to Shakhtar Donetsk, as Werder Bremen badly missed the banned Diego in a 2-1 Final defeat.

The tournament will change name and format from next season to become the Europa League, so this Final is Istanbul was particularly historic. It’s also to be noted neither of the two clubs had ever won it before and Shakhtar become the first Ukrainian side to lift the trophy.

Werder Bremen eliminated Milan and Udinese on their way to the Final, but were missing suspended star Diego, who is on the verge of completing a transfer to Juventus.

Shakhtar Donetsk had a very strong start as Luiz Adriano drilled wide from a promising position, but he made up for it by scoring the opener. It was a classic counter-attack that sent Luiz Adriano through the middle and he delicately chipped the on-rushing Tim Wiese. Read the rest of this entry »