Updates from Match-day 4 (November 1) of UEFA Champions League 2011-12 Part -II

On November 1 as many as 8 Champions League matches were held in Groups E, F, G and H. As the First Round of the Champions League is moving on the fight for places to the next round are getting more intense. Many hitherto unknown clubs have entered into the main draw this time and they are staging quite a few surprises. So let us find out what went on in Match-day 4 matches on November 1 in Group G and H.

GROUP-G

ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG 1 [Lombaerts 45+1’] vs. SHAKHTAR DONETSK O

Lombaerts Celebrates After his Match winning goal

The game had a scrappy opening as had penalty appeals turned away. Zenit midfielder Danny performed admirably all through the first half and Zenit dominated much of the ball possession. On the stroke of half hour Danny sent in a pass to Igor Denisov that the latter struck fiercely, but the shot was saved by Shakhtar goalkeeper Rybka. Roman Shirokov also sent a curling ball to Alexander Bukharov just a few minutes later but the shot went wide. Then in the injury time at the end of first half Nicolas Lombaerts head home a cross from Viktor Fayzulin and took the Zenit into the lead. The range of attacks from Zenit went on in the second half too but these did not fetch any further goals.

APOEL NICOSIA 2 [ Ailton 42’ (P), Manduca 90’] vs. PORTO 1 [Hulk 89’ (P)]

APOEL's Marcelo Oliviera Fighting Out Against Porto Defenders

Porto looked the dominant side all through the first half and the Brazilian striker Hulk was a constant threat for APOEL. Hulk nearly scored in the 19^th minute but his powerful shot was well saved off the near post. Most of the attacks in the first half revolved around Hulk. But Porto were left to rue their chances Ailton Almeida converted a penalty after he was brought down by Eliquim Mangala. Against the run of play APOEL were in the lead. In the second half too Porto went on their search for goals and Hulk, Fernando Belluschi and Joao Moutinho all had their shots saved. Then in the last minute of regulation time Marcelo de Oliviera was fouled by James Rodriguez inside the box. The resulting penalty was converted by Hulk and everyone felt it was enough to secure a point for Porto. But on the stroke of 90 minutes Konstantinos Charalambidis sent in cross to Gustavo Manduca who sent in the ball into the goal with his left feet. This was an upset victory for APOEL for sure who sit on top of the group table.

GROUP-H

BATE BORISLAV 1 [Renan Bressan 55’ (P)] vs. AC MILAN 1 [ Ibrahimovic 22’]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his Way to Scoring Against Bate

Bate Borislav had one of their memorable nights when they earned a point against the Italian giants AC Milan. Throughout the first half Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were constant threats and mesmerized the crowd with their skills. In the seventh minute Alberto Aquilani nearly scored with his 20 yard volley but it missed the post. In the 22^nd minute Ibrahimovic got the ball off Antonio Nocerino and passed it on to Robinho who played the ball back to Ibrahimovic into the box to net in the first goal.  Bate tried to equalise through Skavysh’s header but it was saved by Christian Abbiati. In the 40^th minute Robinho made one of his trademark runs and got clear of the Bate defence just to find the post with his shot. After the break Bate looked to up the tempo and they were rewarded for their efforts. Milan defender Agnazio Abate fouled Kontsevoy within the box and the resultant penalty was converted by Bressan in the 55^th minute. Though Kevin-Prince Boateng came close to getting back the lead for AC Milan in the 76^th minute but his shot was blocked by Gutor.

BARCELONA 4 [Lionel Messi (24’ P, 45+2’, 90+2’), Cesc Fabregas 72’] vs. VIKTORIA PLZEN 0

Lionel Messi Puts One past the Plzen goalkeeper

Pep Guardiola’s 200^th game as a coach was celebrated in style with a win over Viktoria Plzen. Lionel Messi had an outstanding game scoring a hattrick. Barcelona though started out with a very uncharacteristic style of play and went for long range shots. Messi, Thiago Alcantara and Fabregas all tried their luck with long range shots. In the 24^th minute Messi was brought down in the box by Cisovski, who was also sent off for the foul. Messi netted the first goal from the spot. In the stoppage time after first half Messi netted in his second after exchanging passes with Adriano.  Plzen had some chances which they squandered, before Barcelona piled on the misery with their third goal. Fabregas headed home Cuenca’s cross in the 72^nd minute to make it 3-0. Though Barcelona were in the lead but Guardiola was relentless as he substituted forward for defender. His ambitions paid off when Messi completed his hattrick in stoppage time after second half. Messi received a backheel from Gerard Pique and provided a perfect finish. 

Updates from Match-day 4 (November 1) of UEFA Champions League 2011-12 Part -I

On November 1 as many as 8 Champions League matches were held in Groups E, F, G and H. As the First Round of the Champions League is moving on the fight for places to the next round are getting more intense. Many hitherto unknown clubs have entered into the main draw this time and they are staging quite a few surprises. So let us find out what went on in Match-day 4 matches on November 1 in Group E and F.

GROUP-E

VALENCIA 3 [Jonas 1’, Roberto Soldado 65’, Adil Rami 75’] vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN 1 [Stephan Kiessling 31’]

Roberto Soldado and his Team celebrates

The Brazilian Jonas scored the second fastest goal in the Champions League history to get Valencia off to a great start. After the initial set-back Leverkusen regrouped and got the scores levelled with a strike by Stefan Kiessling. In the second half the hosts went on to score two goals with Roberto Soldado and Adil Rami. The opening goal by Jonas was a result of terrible mistake by Leverkusen goalkeeper who kicked the ball straight at Jonas and he obliged by slotting the ball in. It took nearly quarter of an hour for Leverkusen to start attacking. But at stoke of 31 minutes Kiessling scored after a shot from Sidney Sam was parried by Valencia goalkeeper towards him. In the closing stages of the first half Andre Schurrle’s shot was tipped over by the Valencia custodian Alves. Then in the second half the Valencia skipper scored the second goal for his side with an able assist from Jeremy Matthieu. Just a few minutes later Schurrle scored but the goal was ruled out by the offside law. To rub salt to the wounds Rami headed home the third for his team after a neatly taken corner from Costa.

GENK 1 [Jelle Vossen 61’] vs. CHELSEA 1 [Ramires 26’]

Ramires Scoring the Only Goal for Chelsea

This game will be remembered for its lost chances. Chelsea was poor on the pitch again and the chants about Terry’s racism inquiry did not help the cause. Chelsea got ahead with a 26^th minute goal by Ramires who played a lovely one-two before drilling the ball past the legs of Laszlo Koteles. This goal followed a succession of missed chances. Fernando Torres’s 25 yard short narrowly missed the goal. In the 35^th minute Ramires squandered a chance to double his tally when he headed wide a cross from Ashley Cole. Six minutes into the second half it looked definite that Chelsea would double their lead when a penalty was awarded to them. But David Luiz failed to convert the penalty as Koteles, the Genk custodian guessed the shot and saved it. Genk too started their quest for the equaliser, in the 54^th minute Vanden Borre came close to scoring but it was blocked by Cech. Then just past the hour mark Kevin De Bruyne played a ball to Fabien Carmus and it found its way to Vossen who scored the goal with ease. In the 74^th minute Chelsea squandered another chance when Meireles headed to a cross from Malouda straight in the lap of Koteles.      

GROUP-F

ARSENAL 0 vs. MERSEILLE 0

Arsenal Found Merseille's Defence Hard to Breach

It seemed that both these sides cancelled out each other. Though Arsenal had more shots on target but they failed to score and get past the stubborn Merseille defence. The decision to rest their star Robin Van Persie seems to have back fired. This draw will hold Merseille in good stead.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1 [Kevin Grosskreutz 7’] vs. OLYMPIACOS 0

Dortmund Got Much Deserved Points

Dortmund knew that they needed a win to have any chances of qualification into the next round. So they started aggressively and they had a chance to take a lead within the first three minutes but Ivan Perisic fired the ball over the bar. Into the 7^th minute Mario Gotze cut into the centre from the left corner and laid a perfect ball back from Grosskreutz who fired in the 25 yards shot at the back of the net. Soon after the goal Olympiacos through Kevin Mirallas counter attacked but the Borusssia goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeeler averted the danger. Though both the teams had many chances but they could not convert any of these. Thus Borussia Dortmund got their much deserved points that would keep them alive in the league.