In the last post we had a look at the UEFA Champions League 2011-12 Match-day 4 matches. We cast our eyes on teams from Group A and B. So today we would go through the results of matches in Group C and D.
GROUP-C
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 [Antonio Valencia 8’, Christian Sarghi (o.g.) 88’] vs. OTELUL GALATI 0
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| Wayne Rooney Stood Out in his Midfield Role |
Wayne Rooney started in an unusual position of midfield. There was neat interplay in the midfield between Valencia, Nani and Rooney. Manchester United always had their noses in front in the opening exchanges. Then the first goal came about, Wayne Rooney passed to Dimitar Berbatov who released Phil Jones, though Jones’s pass was long for Micheal Owen but it found Valencia to perfection who tapped in the opening goal. Many fans would have expected many other goals simply due to the dominance of Manchester United but then they somehow lost their path. Berbatov and Javier Hernandez shot wide. Only significant chance for Otelul arrived when a stray pass found its way to Ionut Neagu but his decent shot was saved by David De Gea. In the second half there were a number of lost opportunities when Berbatov, Phil Jones and Hernandez all shot wide. Adrain Salageanu’s free-kick which found its way through half a dozen Otelul players was the best chance for the Romanian side. Rooney ended the anxiety for Manchester United when his long range shot took a deflection of Sarghi to find its way into the net.
BENFICA 1 [Rodrigo 4’] vs. BASEL 1 [Benjamin Huggel 64’]
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| Rodrigo Scoring the Goal for Benfica |
Benfica started as the dominant side and got a goal through Rodrigo in the 4th minute. It was a dangerous corner that led to the first goal. The ball was nodded down by Nicolas Gaitan and Rodrigo volleyed the ball from 12 yards. There were many other chances that came Benfica’s way to extend the lead. Rodrigo had a chance to double his score when he headed a cross from Pablo Aimar wide in the 8th minute, then in the 19th minute Ezequial Garay headed an excellent cross from Aimar wide from a very close range. The second half started with Gaitan volleying a ball wide. Similar was the fate of Rodrigo and Garay’s chances. But these misses proved costly Benfica. Chipperfield broke down the left for Basel and played a perfect ball into the centre for Huggel to slide it home. This goal opened up the game as both sides looked for the winning goal. But none of them achieved it.
GROUP-D
REAL MADRID 2 [Christiano Ronaldo (24’, 69’ P)] vs. LYON 0
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| Christiano Ronaldo was All Over Lyon Defenders |
Lyon seemed to be up for the challenge of facing Real Madrid. Jimmy Briand tested Real keeper Iker Casillas with a long range shot, Ronaldo also tested Hugo Lloris on the other end of the park. Lyon keeper also had to deal with shots from Karim Benzema and Dejan Lovren had to block a shot from Ronaldo. Real took the lead in the 24th minute when Yoann Gourcuff pushed Benzema allowing Ronaldo the pleasure of scoring with a low free-kick. Xabi Alonso also had his long range effort saved by Lloris. Mesut Ozil, Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria all had their chances of extending the lead but they could not find the target. In the second half Lloris had to dive and clear rushing Benzema and Kone excaped a penalty call when he handled Sergio Ramos’ header. But just two minutes later a penalty call finally went in Real Madrid’s favour when Ronaldo was fouled inside the penalty box by Dabo. Ronaldo shot home from the penalty spot to provide a two goal cushion to Real Madrid. There were not many meaningful opportunities for Lyon and Real Madrid managed to keep a clean sheet.
AJAX 4[Gregory Van der Wiel 20’, Miralem Sulejmani 25’, Siem De Jong 65’, Nicolas Lodeiro 90+2’] vs. DINAMO ZAGREB 0
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| Vand der Wiel Scores Opening Goal for Ajax |
It was a scrappy game but Ajax settled down quickly. Theo Janssen won a corner but whipped it wide of the goal post. Simo Vrsaljko had his cross blocked by Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer. Ajax soon began to have the upperhand. Then in the 20th minute they got the opening goal when Christian Eriksen’s back-heel found Van der Wiel who hit the ball into the roof of the net. After five minutes Ajax doubled their lead when De Jong passed a ball through for Sulejmani who took an excellent first touch and put the ball past the Dinamo keeper into the open net. De Jong made another potent pass to Boerrigter but he failed to convert it. Dinamo had their chance when Ante Rukavina went through the defence and forced Vermeer to come out of his goal to save the situation. In the second half Ajax dominated the proceedings. They were rewarded in the 65th minute when Eriksen flicked a ball to De Jong which he slotted to the bottom left hand corner. Lodeiro then put the final goal past Dinamo in the injury time, when he accepted a pass from Lorenzo Ebecilio and steered the ball in.
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