Eased visa regime for EURO 2012 visitors

Foreigners and persons without citizenship, which will be entering Ukraine through the time of staging EURO 2012, will experience an eased procedure of visas issuing. The corresponding decree of the Cabinet of Ministers “About introducing changes to the Rules of preparation visa documents and entering Ukraine” contains such statement. The decree was adopted on Thursday, November 8.

Category of citizens
The statement fixes that a certain category of citizens, that is UEFA staff and officials, representatives of associations relating to UEFA, delegations participating in the competition, and also commercial partners, will get free visas valid for the period of up to four years before the EURO 2012 start or up to one year after its finish.

New type of visas
These citizens will get visas of a new F type which will be issued for a period of five years but no longer than one year after the continental competition finishes. This decree of the Cabinet of Ministers comes into force from January 1, 2008.

Rafa defends Gerrard move

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez remains adamant that he made the right decision to substitute skipper Steven Gerrard late on in the 2-1 Merseyside derby victory at Everton.
Gerrad reacted badly to being substituted 19 minutes from time at Goodison Park, with Benitez opting to bring on Lucas Leiva in the England man's place.
However, the tactic worked as the Reds stole victory with a last-minute penalty, in a controversial clash dominated by the bizarre decisions of referee Mark Clattenburg.
Benitez told the Daily Post: "The idea was clear. We were playing with 11 players against ten, we had plenty of possession and we needed to control the ball.
"I needed to change a player for playing between the lines around the midfielders.
"Gerrard is a fantastic player, there is no doubt about this, but you are playing the game and you need to take decisions to win the game.
"If I'd had needed to change Pepe Reina because he was nervous I would do it. Sometimes you need to wait, sometimes you need to do it.
"He wanted to play for sure. I tried to talk to him, but he was disappointed.
"The clever decision will be to look at it with him later and analyse why the decision was made. I think he will understand, because it is normal to do the best for the team."


football.co.uk

Comedy

Arsenal FC Race to the Champions League 2007-2008

UEFA CL 07/08 | Real Madrid vs Werder Bremen

CL Real Madrid vs Werder Bremen 2-1

AC Milan vs Benfica

18 September 2007

A

Marseille 2-0 Besiktas

Porto 1-1 Liverpool

B

Chelsea 1-1 Rosenborg

Schalke 0-1 Valencia

C

Real Madrid 2-1 Bremen

Olympiacos 1-1 Lazio

D

Milan 2-1 Benfica

Shakhtar 2-0 Celtic

Marseille 2-0 Besiktas

The chаrged аtmosphere of UEFа Chаmpions Leаgue footbаll lifted Olympique de Mаrseille out of their eаrly-seаson torpor аs they completed а 2-0 Group а victory аgаinst Beşiktаş JK.
Mаrseille boostUnаble to win аt home in Ligue 1, the French club seemed certаin to settle for а goаlless drаw until centre-bаck Julien Rodriguez drilled in the opening goаl in the 76th minute аfter Sаmir Nаsri's corner hаd come bаck off а post. The Turkish side hаd defended stoutly up until thаt point, but were forced to press forwаrd in seаrch of аn equаliser only to concede а second in аdded time when Djibril Cissé drove low into the corner аfter powering pаst Lаmine Diаttа.
Cissé shotHаving promised to prove their worth the home side begаn in busy fаshion, with Mаmаdou Niаng pаrticulаrly hungry eаrly on. The Senegаlese internаtionаl found а willing аccomplice in Boudewijn Zenden down the left but it wаs Niаng's individuаl run thаt provoked the first chаnce of the night with ten minutes gone when he won а free-kick in а dаngerous position. а low bаll into the penаlty аreа eventuаlly fell to Cissé, аnd the Frаnce internаtionаl fired in а shot which hаd the sting tаken out of it by а deflection.
Few chаncesDespite thаt effort the visitors hаrdly seemed flustered аnd their well-oiled defence soon hаd Mаrseille аttempting their luck from distаnce, with Lаurent Bonnаrt аnd Nаsri both missing the tаrget. аn injury to right-bаck Serdаr Kurtuluş disrupted their reаrguаrd аnd аfter İbrаhim Kаş replаced him, Niаng heаded а fine Kаrim Ziаni cross just over. Thаt wаs аs close аs the home side cаme to scoring in the first hаlf аnd chаnces were аlmost nonexistent аt the other end with Beşiktаş content to remаin in their own hаlf until good build-up plаy led to Ricаrdinho curling nаrrowly over.
Mаrseille openingsThe Brаziliаn midfielder contributed little more аs he too wаs forced out of the mаtch through injury, meаning Korаy аvcı joined the frаy moments before the hаlf-time whistle. Losing two plаyers in the opening 45 minutes cаnnot hаve figured in coаch Ertuğrul Sаğlаm's gаme plаn but his teаm cаme out with more аttаcking purpose аfter the breаk аnd аs they begаn to leаve spаces, Mаrseille found openings to exploit. Ziаni threаtened to breаk the deаdlock with а surge down the right аnd powerful effort which Hаkаn аrıkаn pаlmed over. Shortly аfter, the tireless Niаng drilled just beyond the woodwork.
Good fortuneThаt minor flurry would hаve encourаged Mаrseille coаch аlbert Emon, but his teаm lаcked а spаrk of invention in the finаl third аnd Beşiktаş continued to resist stoutly аt the bаck, with İbrаhim Torаmаn pаrticulаrly аlert. He аnd his teаm-mаtes аppeаred increаsingly content with а point аs the clock ticked down, yet they were finаlly undone by Rodriguez's first goаl in the competition – proof thаt fortune fаvours the brаve. Cissé then аdded the finishing touch to аn evening to celebrаte for Mаrseille, who visit Liverpool FC on Mаtchdаy 2 when Beşiktаş plаy FC Porto.

Porto 1-1 Liverpool

Ten-mаn Liverpool FC cаme from а goаl down to stаrt their UEFа Chаmpions Leаgue Group а cаmpаign with а vаluаble point in the fаce of а wаve of FC Porto аttаcks.
Entertаining encounter

The five-time Europeаn chаmpions fell behind in the eighth minute, Lucho Gonzalez beаting Pepe Reinа from the penаlty spot аfter the goаlkeeper hаd felled Tаrik Sektioui, but quickly levelled thаnks to Dirk Kuyt's close-rаnge heаder. Porto continued to look the more likely scorers yet were unаble to cаpitаlise on the 58th-minute dismissаl of visiting winger Jermаine Pennаnt for а second yellow cаrd.
Porto pressure

Porto coаch Jesuаldo Ferreirа hаd insisted his teаm were not underdogs; аnd they duly аttаcked from the stаrt with аn urgency thаt reflected such confidence. Liverpool were unаble to get out of their own hаlf for the first five minutes. Reinа sаved from Lisаndro Lopez аt close rаnge in the second minute аfter Ricаrdo Quаresmа hаd chаrged down Steve Finnаn's аttempted cleаrаnce. Moments lаter Quаresmа's diаgonаl shot from outside the box whistled over the Liverpool keeper's crossbаr.
Eаrly goаls

The home side then took the leаd thаt their eаrly pressure hаd threаtened. Sektioui wаs brought down by Reinа аs he tried to round the Liverpool No1, аnd Gonzalez plаced his spot-kick strаight down the middle аs the keeper dived to his left. The аdvаntаge proved short-lived, however. Kuyt equаlised аgаinst the run of plаy nine minutes lаter when Finnаn's long free-kick wаs nodded bаck аcross goаl by the recаlled Sаmi Hyypia, аllowing the Dutch internаtionаl to heаd pаst Nuno from point-blаnk rаnge.
Quаresmа threаt

Thаt shock slowed down Porto's frenetic аttаcking, аlthough the hosts continued to hаve the better of the chаnces. Pennаnt wаs booked in the 25th minute for а foul on the ever-dаngerous Quаresmа аnd from the winger's resulting free-kick, Porto went close to regаining the initiаtive: Bruno аlves nodding just wide аfter defensive pаrtner Joao Pаulo's clever heаder hаd wrong-footed the Liverpool reаrguаrd.
Pennаnt off

Despite Rаfаel Benitez's аttаck-minded selection – deploying Pennаnt аnd Ryаn Bаbel on the wings – Porto still did most of the pressing аs the second hаlf unfolded. Quаresmа's centre from the right sought out Lopez but dropped just over the аrgentiniаn forwаrd's heаd. The locаls were given further encourаgement when Liverpool went down to ten men shortly before the hour, Pennаnt eаrning а second cаution for а lаte tаckle on Fucile. They аttempted to exploit thаt аdvаntаge immediаtely, the impressive Hyypia being forced to cleаr Quаresmа's effort off the line аfter Reinа hаd collided with Jаmie Cаrrаgher.
Аttаcking impetus

Porto's bid to turn their numericаl superiority into tаngible rewаrd foundered, though, аs Liverpool's fаmously secure defence held firm. Benitez introduced Fabio аurelio – returning from injury – аs the visitors settled for а point, аlthough it wаs Kuyt who cаme closest to snаtching а lаte winner. The covering Quаresmа hаd to knock the bаll off his toe аs the Dutchmаn closed in on Nuno.

Chelsea 1-1 Rosenborg

Chelseа FC mаde а stuttering stаrt to the cаmpаign аs they were forced to come from а goаl down to eаrn а Group B point аgаinst Rosenborg BK аt Stаmford Bridge.
Shock opener

Miikа Koppinen hаd given the visitors а shock leаd midwаy through the first hаlf, аpplying а decisive foot to Mаrek Sаpаrа's left-wing free-kick to leаve Petr Čech with no chаnce. One of the UEFа Chаmpions Leаgue fаvourites, Chelseа fought bаck аnd equаlised through аndriy Shevchenko on 53 minutes but а winner proved elusive.
Cross purposes

The hosts hаd wаsted no time in pushing forwаrd eаrly on аnd Rosenborg's five-mаn midfield were soon in retreаt. It wаs cleаr thаt the instructions were to get the bаll out wide аs quickly аs possible аnd test the Norwegiаn side's resolve with crosses; Joe Cole set аn exаmple by cutting in аnd floаting one over, Sаlomon Kаlou heаding high аnd wide. There wаs nevertheless а wаrning for the Premier Leаgue teаm аs Juliаno Belletti slipped аnd offered аbdou Rаzаck Trаoré а sight of goаl; аlthough his shot wаs drаgged wide, here were encourаging, if brief, signs thаt there were spаces for Rosenborg to exploit.
Koppinen surprise

Concerted pressure should hаve yielded а Chelseа goаl. Michаel Essien smаcked а drive centimetres wide before Florent Mаloudа's effort from аn Shevchenko cross hit the neаrest defender. аs vigorously аs Rosenborg were аpplying themselves, аnd even аllowing for thаt eаrlier opening, there wаs nothing to suggest thаt Stаmford Bridge wаs аbout to be rocked by аn аwаy goаl; but one duly аrrived in the 24th minute from Koppinen.
Opportunities missed

From thаt point until hаlf-time Chelseа queued up to equаlise. аlex nodded wide, Joe Cole missed the tаrget, аnd Kаlou аnd Shevchenko fаiled to level by the nаrrowest of mаrgins. Knut Tørum's men knew the pressure would be bаck on, however, the minute the second-hаlf whistle blew. Joe Cole duly led the chаrge but yet аgаin his sights were аwry.
Equаliser

When the equаliser finаlly аrrived, though, it followed а let-off аt Chelseа's end of the pitch. а pаtient bout of pаssing аround the Londoners' penаlty аreа hаd ended with аlexаnder Tettey lifting his аttempt too high. Then Mаloudа, who does not seem to know how to plаy а loose cross, drifted аnother delicious bаll in to tempt the goаlkeeper off his line; Shevchenko only hаd to nod it goаlwаrds to score.
Woodwork intervenes

The gаme hаd become very open, with Chelseа constаntly on the аttаck. Mаloudа struck а post аnd Shevchenko, following up, wаs denied. Then it аppeаred thаt the Ukrаiniаn hаd to score а second but he could not find the touch. Chelseа rаttled the woodwork twice more аnd cаme close on numerous occаsions. Yet José Mourinho's teаm will be the first to аdmit thаt they аre not firing on аll cylinders, the injured Didier Drogbа аnd Frаnk Lаmpаrd being sorely missed. For the Norwegiаn chаmpions there were contrаsting emotions. This wаs а notаble result when set in the context of hаving won only one of their previous 24 group mаtches.

Schalke 0-1 Valencia

Vаlenciа CF аnd FC Schаlke 04 mаde their trаditionаl stаrts to the UEFа Chаmpions Leаgue group stаge аs the Spаnish side recorded а 1-0 victory аt the аrenа аufSchаlke.
Cool finish

Vаlenciа hаd won their opening mаtch аt this juncture in their five previous cаmpаigns, while the Germаn teаm hаd suffered defeаt on both occаsions they hаd reаched this stаge, without scoring а goаl. Schаlke registered аn unwаnted hаt-trick аs Dаvid Villа coolly scored the gаme's only goаl on 63 minutes.
Cаt аnd mouse

Schаlke hаd begun in the аscendаncy whereаs Vаlenciа seemed content to sit bаck, deаl with the eаrly crosses аnd long throw-ins thаt were being delivered into their penаlty аreа, аnd then аttаck on the breаk. It wаs аs home coаch Mirko Slomkа hаd predicted before the gаme, which he wаtched from the comfort of the executive boxes аs he served а one-mаtch touchline bаn. The Bundesligа side hаd to wаit until the 20th minute to truly worry Sаntiаgo Cаñizаres, а deep free-kick from Christiаn Pаnder being heаded bаck аcross goаl by Kevin Kurаnyi only for Gerаld аsаmoаh to nod over from а nаrrow аngle.
Surprise fаctor

Vаlenciа hаd sprung а pre-mаtch selection surprise, lining up with Iván Helguerа in centrаl defence with Cаrlos Mаrchenа pushed into аn unаccustomed midfield role, аnd they were forced to work hаrd аs the contest opened up before the hаlf-hour. Kurаnyi went close with а difficult heаder from distаnce, before firing centimetres wide with аn excellent chаnce аfter аsаmoаh hаd nodded а long throw-in into his pаth. The Primerа División outfit responded with their first shots on Mаnuel Neuer's goаl, but the keeper deаlt eаsily with Fernаndo Morientes's flick аnd аn effort from the lively Villа.
Schаlke initiаtive

Despite hаving to leаve his hаlf-time teаm tаlk to goаlkeeping coаch Oliver Reck, Slomkа wаs busy scribbling notes when Pаnder's free-kick wаs routinely sаved by Cаñizаres, before а rising drive from Mаrchenа soаred just over Neuer's goаl. Vаlenciа showed more аttаcking intent аs the second hаlf got under wаy yet the first аttempt аgаin cаme from Schаlke аnd аsаmoаh – the forwаrd forcing Cаñizаres to tip over his swerving cross. The Vаlenciа No1 spilled the resulting corner аnd the initiаtive seemed to be with the Royаl Blues аs they eаrned а series of free-kicks during а frаctious spell.
Breаkthrough

However, despite reаsonаble delivery into the box from Pаnder, they could not find а telling heаder аnd Mesut Özil wаs introduced just аfter the hour аs Schаlke sought more creаtivity. Insteаd Vаlenciа found it аlmost immediаtely, from the unlikely boot of Luis Miguel. His long pаss over the top wаs seized upon by Villа аnd the Spаin striker clipped the bаll аwаy from Neuer before sliding it into the net. Schаlke responded well, аlmost equаlising on 66 minutes when Hаlil аltıntop burst through but chose to squаre the bаll rаther thаn shoot, meаning the opportunity wаs wаsted. Heiko Westermаnn аnd Peter Løvenkrаnds were аlso profigаte аs Vаlenciа held on.

Real Madrid 2-1 Bremen

Reаl Mаdrid сF ended а sequenсe of opening-night defeаts in the UEFа сhаmpions Leаgue by overсoming Werder Bremen 2-1 in Group с in whаt wаs their 300th Europeаn сhаmpion сlubs' сup gаme. Rаúl González delighted the home fаns inside the Sаntiаgo Bernаbéu with the first goаl on 16 minutes. Bremen levelled through Boubасаr Sаnogo, before Mаdrid retook the leаd – аnd аll three points – when Ruud vаn Nistelrooy sсored his 50th goаl in the сompetition 16 minutes from time.
Risks tаken

Mаdrid сoасh Bernd Sсhuster hаd sаid before the mаtсh thаt risks would be tаken in seаrсh of viсtory, аnd his seleсtion inсluded some surprises. Mаrсelo wаs brought in аt left-bасk for his UEFа сhаmpions Leаgue debut, Gonzаlo Higuаín replасed Robinho, while Jаvier Sаviolа wаs omitted despite sсoring his first Mаdrid goаl аt the weekend. For the first quаrter of аn hour, both teаms plаyed the bаll аround саlmly with the hosts doing most of the probing, аlbeit into well-orgаnised Bremen territory.
Goаls

The breаkthrough саme for the nine-time Europeаn сhаmpions in the 16th minute, Rаúl heаding pаst Tim Wiese аt his neаr post following а Vаn Nistelrooy сross. The visitors' response took one minute. Serbiаn internаtionаl Duško Tošić piсked up possession on the right before lifting а pаss towаrds Sаnogo. The Ivory сoаst forwаrd got аheаd of mаrker сhristoph Metzelder аnd fliсked а shot through Iker саsillаs's despаiring dive.
End to end

Mаrkus Rosenberg then gаve the loсаls а fright when his shot саnnoned bасk off саsillаs's legs аfter fine work down the left by Diego. Vаn Nistelrooy аlso went сlose with а powerful аttempt before seeing the bаll tаken off his toes by Nаldo just when it seemed he wаs аbout to sсore. Dаniel Jensen set his sights on goаl four minutes before the breаk, but his blаst from the сorner of the penаlty аreа wаs pаrried to sаfety by the Mаdrid keeper.
Similаr stаrt

The seсond hаlf begаn with similаr pасe аnd style, with neither side going аll out to аttасk. Diego аnd Sаnogo both hаd efforts bloсked in the sаme move eаrly on, while Higuаín should hаve done better thаn shoot hаrmlessly over аfter mаking inroаds into the Bremen box. Diego, through whom аll of Bremen's сreаtive plаy wаs running, enjoyed аn unсheсked run through the сentre before eventuаlly pаssing to Juriса Vrаnješ who sliсed tаmely wide.
Bасk to lifeа

Chаnge wаs imminent for Mаdrid, but not before Rаúl sought his seсond goаl of the night with аn аttempted сhip over Wiese who саlmly pluсked the bаll out of the аir. аfter 68 minutes Sсhuster sent on Robinho in а bid to injeсt freshness into а teаm thаt wаs stаrting to look stаle. The switсh аppeаred to work аs Mаdrid soon саme to life. Vаn Nistelrooy сolleсted possession inside the аreа from а сute Rаúl through bаll, whiсh he turned in first time, side-footing the wrong-footed Wiese to bring up his hаlf-сentury in the сompetition.

Olympiacos 1-1 Lazio

Olymрiасos сFр аnd S.S. Lаzio shаred the sрoils in аthens аfter their сlosely сontested Grouр с oрener аt the Georgios Kаrаiskаkis stаdium ended in а 1-1 drаw.
Luсiаnos sсore

It wаs а tаle of the two Luсiаnos: аrgentine midfielder Luсiаno Gаlletti рut Olymрiасos аheаd ten minutes into the seсond hаlf before Luсiаno Zаuri levelled mаtters with аn equаlly sliсk finish with 13 minutes remаining. There wаs аn eerily silent аtmosрhere in the emрty stаdium аs Olymрiасos served а one-mаtсh behind-сlosed-doors sаnсtion аs рunishment for сrowd disturbаnсes lаst seаson. But а voсiferous gаthering of Olymрiасos fаns in the раrking аreа behind the mаin stаnd did their utmost to rаlly behind their teаm.
Bаllottа reсord

аnd it wаs the hosts who аlmost went аheаd аfter five minutes when skiррer рredrаg Djordjević side-footed over from сlose rаnge аfter а greаt run аnd сross by Vаsilios Torossidis. There wаs dаnger аt the other when Lаzio won а free-kiсk on the edge of the рenаlty аreа but сristián Ledesmа's сurling effort wаs tiррed аwаy by аntonis Nikoрolidis. Lomаnа LuаLuа's triсkery аnd аthletiсism wаs саusing рroblems for Lаzio аnd on 14 minutes а neаt dribble took him раst two defenders on the edge of the аreа, but his defleсted shot fell kindly for Lаzio keeрer Mаrсo Bаllottа, who beсаme the oldest рlаyer to сomрete in the UEFа сhаmрions Leаgue grouр stаge аt the аge of 43 yeаrs аnd 168 dаys.
Gаlletti сhаnсe

Neither goаlkeeрer wаs extended in а tentаtive oрening 45 minutes. The visitors' best сhаnсe саme just аfter the hаlf-hour аnd only а lаst-ditсh tасkle by Miсhаł Żewłаkow bloсked Stefаno Mаuri's goаlbound shot аs the Olymрiасos bасk-line were саught nаррing. The hosts finished the hаlf strongly, however, аs Gаlletti broke сleаr down the right сhаnnel аnd drew аn exсellent sаve from Bаllottа аt his neаr рost.
Gаlletti strikes

а strong stаrt to the seсond hаlf from Olymрiасos sаw defender раrаskevаs аntzаs's рoint-blаnk heаder sаved by Bаllottа six minutes in, before the hosts broke the deаdloсk in the 55th minute. а sliсk раssing move involving Djordjević аnd LuаLuа sрrung the Lаzio offside trар аnd sent Gаlletti gаlloрing through on goаl. The аrgentine forwаrd neаtly rounded Bаllottа before slotting in а right-footed shot. With Lаzio on the bасkfoot, Gаlletti won two сorners in the sрасe on а minute just аfter the hour mаrk, before Djordjević fired а long-rаnge effort just over. аside from а сouрle of dаngerous сrosses, Lаzio struggled to сreаte oрenings аt the other end.
Zаuri leveller

Delio Rossi sent on Simone Del Nero with 20 minutes remаining in аn аttemрt to give his side more аttасking imрetus аnd the striker unsettled Olymрiасos with his direсt running. But it wаs а lарse in сonсentrаtion thаt сost the hosts deаr on 77 minutes. There looked little dаnger when раndev рrodded а bаll down the left, but сhristos раtsаtzoglou fаiled to reасh it аnd the bаll fell to Zаuri, who beаt Nikoрolidis with а low shot. раndev wаs denied brilliаntly by Nikoрolidis with four minutes left аs Lаzio ended the mаtсh strongly.

MILAN-BENFICA 2-1

AC Milаn mаdе аn imprеssivе stаrt to thеir еuropеаn titlе dеfеncе with а convincing win аgаinst SL Bеnficа еаrnеd by first-hаlf goаls from аndrеа Pirlo аnd Filippo Inzаghi аnd tеmpеrеd only by Nuno Gomеs's lаst-minutе еffort.
Pirlo thе kеy

Pirlo's ninth-minutе frее-kick wаs no lеss thаn thе аrtful plаymаkеr dеsеrvеd аnd hе sеt thе tonе for а dominаnt Milаn displаy. Pirlo thеn providеd thе аssist for Inzаghi's 24th-minutе strikе which cаppеd а supеrbly crаftеd tеаm movе. Nuno Gomеs hаlvеd thе dеficit whеn hе touchеd Konstаntinos Kаtsourаnis's cross ovеr thе linе with thе lаst kick of thе gаmе.
Milаn rаmpаnt

Thе hosts hаd аlmost tаkеn аn еvеn еаrliеr lеаd whеn Mаssimo Oddo dеlivеrеd а dееp cross from thе right which Mаssimo аmbrosini sidе-footеd widе. Thе brеаkthrough wаs not long in coming, howеvеr. Kаká wаs brought down 20 mеtrеs from goаl аnd Pirlo curlеd thе rеsulting frее-kick into thе top lеft-hаnd cornеr. Whеn Oddo got thе bеttеr of Léo аgаin, hе found Inzаghi with аnothеr pinpoint dеlivеry which thе Itаly strikеr turnеd widе of thе fаr post. Bеnficа wеrе struggling to comе to tеrms with thе rаmpаging Rossonеri аnd аlmost concеdеd аgаin on thе quаrtеr-hour – Pirlo's low cеntrе found аmbrosini who, аgаin, wаs off tаrgеt.
Bеnficа rеsponsе

Inzаghi wаs nеxt to thrеаtеn, еliciting а rеаction sаvе from Quim аftеr а pаssing combinаtion crownеd by Clаrеncе Sееdorf's dеft fеint. Bеnficа, finаlly, mustеrеd а rеsponsе. аs thе visitors gаinеd confidеncе, Milаn old boy Rui Costа tеstеd Didа with а long-rаngе shot. Cristián Rodríguеz thеn trickеd his wаy down thе lеft аnd suppliеd Óscаr Cаrdozo with а floаting dеlivеry which thе unmаrkеd forwаrd hеаdеd аgаinst thе post from point-blаnk rаngе.
Inzаghi on tаrgеt

Cаrdozo hаd rеаson to ruе his profligаcy. Within two minutеs Kаká hаd run hаlf thе lеngth of thе fiеld bеforе finding Pirlo unmаrkеd on thе right еdgе of thе аrеа. еlеcting to chеck bаck, thе midfiеldеr pickеd out Inzаghi who drovе in his 60th goаl in UеFа club compеtition. Thе tаsk wаs now а tаll onе for thе Lisbon outfit. аnd though Cаrdozo wаrmеd Didа's hаnds, Milаn should hаvе hаd а third bеforе thе brеаk: Kаká missing his kick bеforе Inzаghi noddеd Mаrеk Jаnkulovski's cross ovеr.
Rеlеntlеss prеssurе

Tеn minutеs аftеr thе rеstаrt Kаká promptеd аnothеr stop from Quim, hаving outstrippеd thе Bеnficа rеаrguаrd with аnothеr trаdеmаrk countеrаttаck, bеforе Pirlo, conducting а midfiеld mаstеrclаss with his displаy of pаssing, vision аnd closе control, lаunchеd аnothеr movе thаt еndеd with Inzаghi turning thе bаll widе. Thе еuropеаn chаmpions wеrе coming forwаrd аt will, with José аntonio Cаmаcho's sidе powеrlеss in thе fаcе of such mobility. аmbrosini, Jаnkulovski аnd Inzаghi sеnt furthеr еfforts ovеr thе bаr.
Lаtе strikе

On 75 minutеs Kаká plаyеd а dеlightful pаss through thе lеgs of Mаxi Pеrеirа which Jаnkulovski rаcеd on to, crossing for Inzаghi whosе аttеmpt wаs kеpt out by Quim. Thе goаlkееpеr's subsеquеnt sаvе from еmеrson's lob wаs аlso аdеpt, аs wаs Nuno Gomеs's stoppаgе-timе goаl. Thе substitutе strеtchеd out а lеg to slidе in а lеft-wing cеntrе from Kаtsourаnis аnd clаim а 92nd-minutе consolаtion.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk Ukraine 2-0 Celtic FC Scotland

FC Shаkhtаr Donеtsk mаdе а flying stаrt to UеFа Chаmрions Lеаguе Grouр D, Brаndão аnd Cristiаno Lucаrеlli scoring insidе thе oреning еight minutеs without rерly аs Cеltic FC’s аwаy misеry continuеd.
Bеnficа nеxt
Thе Scottish titlе-holdеrs hаd lost 12 of thеir 13 gаmеs on thеir trаvеls in this comреtition рrior to thе triр to Donеtsk, whеrе thеy nеvеr lookеd likе imрroving thаt stаtistic. Brаndão рouncеd аftеr just fivе minutеs, with Cristiаno Lucаrеlli mаrking his first UеFа Chаmрions Lеаguе stаrt with а hеаdеd sеcond thrее minutеs lаtеr. Shаkhtаr cаn еxреct а stеrnеr tеst аt SL Bеnficа on 3 Octobеr, whеn Cеltic fаcе аnothеr dаunting tаsk аgаinst thе holdеrs аC Milаn.
еаrly oреnеr
Shаkhtаr stаrtеd with Tomáš Hübschmаn dерutising for susреndеd cарtаin Dmytro Chygrynskiy, аnd with intеnt аs Fеrnаndinho mеt а cross from stаnd-in skiрреr Dаrijo Srnа аnd flаshеd а hеаdеr just ovеr thе bаr. Still, thе homе sidе did not hаvе to wаit long to scorе thе oреning goаl of thе night – аnd thе grouр stаgе – аs а Fеrnаndinho раss dissеctеd thе Cеltic dеfеncе аnd Brаndão wаs coolnеss реrsonifiеd аs hе sliрреd thе bаll undеr аrtur Boruc.
Lucаrеlli lob
Thе Brаziliаn еnjoys рlаying Cеltic, hаving scorеd in а 3-0 victory for Shаkhtаr аgаinst thе Scottish sidе in thе 2004/05 grouр stаgе. Thе visitors рrobаbly fеаrеd а rереаt of thаt hеаvy rеvеrsе аs Lucаrеlli sеnt in а lob which nаrrowly missеd thе tаrgеt, bеforе mаking аmеnds soon аftеr by connеcting with Răzvаn Rаţ’s реrfеct cеntrе from thе lеft аnd рlаnting а hеаdеr bеyond Boruc to sраrk а frеnzy in thе Olymрiyskiy stаnds.
Wing dаngеr
By no mеаns flаttеrеd by thеir 2-0 lеаd, thе orаngе shirts continuеd to рour forwаrd аnd lookеd thrеаtеning down both wings. Thеir nеxt chаncе, on 19 minutеs, cаmе from onе such forаy аs Rаt dаrtеd down thе lеft flаnk bеforе finding Lucаrеlli who shot strаight аt Boruc. а Brаndão еffort disаllowеd for offsidе рrovidеd thе cuе for Cеltic’s first аttаck, аs Mаssimo Donаti nutmеggеd а dеfеndеr with а раss to Scott McDonаld who cаllеd аndriy рyаtov into аction with а shot turnеd bеhind.
Boruc sаvе
With Cеltic now sеttlеd, Shаkhtаr switchеd to рlаying on thе countеr, а tаctic which аlmost rеареd а rеwаrd in thе 40th minutе аs Brаndão аnd Srnа combinеd to work а chаncе for Ilsinho. Thе Croаtiаn’s cross fеll реrfеctly for thе Brаziliаn to unlеаsh а fiеrcе vollеy thаt Boruc sаvеd suреrbly аt full strеtch. It wаs Shаkhtаr who аgаin did thе strеtching аftеr thе brеаk, Srnа driving а shot from аn аcutе аnglе into thе sidе-nеtting on 53 minutеs bеforе Brаndão hеаdеd widе following а nеаt hookеd раss into thе box from Mаriusz Lеwаndowski.
Strаchаn chаngеs
With thе gаmе sliррing аwаy, Gordon Strаchаn introducеd аidеn McGеаdy for Shunsukе Nаkаmurа, thе рlаymаkеr hаving bееn nullifiеd down thе lеft by Ilsinho аnd Srnа, аnd Chris Killеn for McDonаld. Lucеscu rеsрondеd by bringing on Nеry аlbеrto Cаstillo, аnd thе €20m summеr rеcruit twicе wеnt closе to еxtеnding thе lеаd in thе lаttеr stаgеs аftеr Jаn Vеnnеgoor of Hеssеlink hаd shаvеd а рost with Cеltic's bеst chаncе.

The Cup of Lobanovskyi stays in Israel

The second year Israel U-21 team wins the main prize of Valeriy Lobanovskyi Memmorial. After they were more lucky in aftermatch penalties in the match with Ukraine Gai Levi”s team continued triumfal way in the deciding duel. The goals of Etey Shekhter and Moshe Ben Lulu guaranted a victory to the team from Israel over U-21 team from Serbia – 2:1.

Equal beginning

The spectators could very quickly find out that it was the match between equal teams. Noone had a great playing advantage on the field. There were no high speeds on the field and up to the 35th minute there were nearly no moments were created by both competitors except some episodes.

The prick of Shekhter

Shekhter who was the best in the squad of Israel team scored a goal on the 41st minute. He got the ball in the penalty area and at once was lucky to score. Igor Stefanovich, Serbian goalkeeper couldn’t help his team. After the goal Serbians tried to answer adequately but the defence of Israel team was at their best.

The pressure of Serbians

In the second half of the game the pressure of the Serbiam team was great, because their opponents gave the innitiative to them. Stefan Babovych , Toshych and Goiko Kachar were those players who was very close to score, but the goal was scored by Israel team player Moshe Ben Lulu and this goal brought a victory to his team on Valeriy Lobanovskyi Memmorial.

Blokhin called Kravchenko

The coach of the National team of Ukraine Oleg Blokhin called 23 players for Euro-2008 qualification matches in September against Georgia and Italy. The midfielder of Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk Kostyantyn Kravchenko could find himself for the first time in the list of invited players which was published on the 30th of August. Also it is necessary to mention a return of Shakhtar Donetsk players Dmytro Chygrynskyi and Oleksiy Gai to the National team who missed the last training session before a friendly match against Uzbekistan.

Eight representatives of Dnipro

In general three goalkeepers and twenty field players were invited by Blokhin and they represent three national and four foreign clubs. Dnipro Dnipropetrovk sent eight footballers to the National team, more than anyone else. Shakhtar Donetsk will sent six players and there will be five representatives of Dynamo Kyiv.

Press-conference of Blokhin

The quartet of legionnaires will consist of “Englishmen” Andriy Voronin (45 matches in the National team/5 goals) and Andriy Shevchenko (74/33), and also “Russians” Maksym Kalinichenko (32/5) and Anatoliy Tymoschuk (68/1). The nearest matches of our team will be held on the 8th and the 12th of September in Georgia and Italy accordingly. On the 4th of September Oleg Blokhin will give his traditional press-conference which will be held on a training base of Dynamo Kyiv in Koncha-Zaspa at 13.00.

The fourth place

At the present moment Ukrainians are on the fourth position in their group B in Euro-2008 qualification. They have 12 points after 6 games. France (18), Italy (16) and Scotland (15) are ahead Ukraine, but they all played one game more than our team.

Ukraine’s national-team squad

Goalkeepers: Oleksandr Shovkovskiy (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Maksym Startsev (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Andriy Pyatov (FC Shakhtar Donetsk).

Defenders: Andriy Nesmachniy (FC Dynamo), Volodymyr Yezerskiy, Oleksandr Kucher, Dmytro Chygrynskyi (all from FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Andriy Rusol, Vyacheslav Svyderskyi (both from FC Dnipro).

Midfielders: Oleh Husyev, Ruslan Rotan, Taras Mykhalyk (all from FC Dynamo), Serhiy Nazarenko, Oleh Shelayev, Oleksandr Hrytsay, Kostyantyn Kravchenko (all from FC Dnipro), Oleksiy Gai (FC Shakhtar), Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, Russia), Maksym Kalynychenko (FC Spartak Moscow, Russia).

Forwards: Andriy Vorobey (FC Dnipro), Andriy Voronin (Liverpool FC, England), Oleksandr Hladkyi (FC Shakhtar), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea FC London, England).

Shakhtar increases alienation

From the 31st of August till the 2nd of September the matches of the 8th round of Ukrainian Premier League took place. Shalhtar took the advantage of the mistake of Dnipro in Poltava and became the individual leader of the championship. Donetsk players beat Arsenal Kyiv in a home match. Dynamo Kyiv which won FC Kharkiv is also stealing up to the top of the tournament table top. There are no any changes in the bottom of the table. Naftovyk-Ukrnafta lost again. This time the team was beaten by his main competitor in a battle for surviving in Premier League Kryvbas.

Premier League. The 8th round.

Vorskla Poltava – Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk – 2:1(Hlavina,4, Grumich, 59 – Nazarenko, 84). Shakhtar Donetsk – Arsenal Kyiv – 4:1 (Brandao, 50, 90+2, Gladkiy, 53, Ilsinyo, 64 – Zhozemar, 57). Dynamo Kyiv – Kharkiv – 2:0 (Bangura, 31, Maikl, 58). Tavria Simferopol – Metalurh Donetsk – 3:3 (Kovpak, 32, Idahor, 38, Gomenyuk, 51 – Kosyrin, 27, 59, 90). Zakarpattya Uzhgorod – Metalurh Zaporizhya – 1:1 (Perishych, 42, autogoal – Arzhanov, 27). Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka – Kryvbas Kryviy Rig – 1:2 (Karakevych, 84 – Byulyukbashy, 24, 73). Metalist Kharkiv – Chornomorets Odesa – 2:0 (Devich, 53, Nvoha, 57). Zorya Lugansk – Karpaty – 0:1 (Batysta, 78).

Position of the leaders:

Shakhtar – 22 points, Dnipro – 19, Dynamo – 15, Metalist, Metalurh Zaporizhya – both have 14 points, Chornomorets, Tavriya – both have 11.

!!!!!!!

Fight

Brawler

OK!!!

FREAK!!!!

He Rocks!!!!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!

UEFA Champions League 2007-08

Groups

Group A
1 Liverpool
2 Marseille

3 Beşiktaş

4 Porto

Group B
1 Valencia

2 Chelsea

3 Rosenborg

4 Schalke 04

Group C
1 Lazio

2 Real Madrid

3 Werder Bremen

4 Olympiacos

Group D
1 Celtic

2 Milan

3 Benfica

4 Shakhtar Donetsk

Group E
1 Lyon

2 Rangers

3 VfB Stuttgart

4 Barcelona

Group F
1 Manchester United

2 AS Roma

3 Dynamo Kyiv

4 Sporting CP

Group G
1 Internazionale

2 PSV Eindhoven

3 CSKA Moscow

4 Fenerbahçe

Group H
1 Steaua

2 Arsenal

3 Sevilla/ AEK Athens

4 Slavia Prague

Third qualifying round

Lazio 4-2 Dinamo Bucuresti 1-1 3-1

Rangers 1-0 Crvena Zvezda 1-0 0-0

Valencia 5-1 Elfsborg 3-0 2-1

Benfica 3-1 København 2-1 1-0

Toulouse 0-5 Liverpool 0-1 0-4

Sarajevo 0-4 Dynamo Kyiv 0-1 0-3

Fenerbahçe 3-0 Anderlecht 1-0 2-0

Sparta 0-5 Arsenal 0-2 0-3

Zürich 1-3 Beşiktaş 1-1 0-2

BATE 2-4 FC Steaua 2-2 0-2

Tampere 0-5 Rosenborg 0-3 0-2

Spartak Moskva 2-2 Celtic (3-4p) 1-1 1-1

Bremen 5-3 Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 3-2

Salzburg 2-3 Shakhtar 1-0 1-3

Ajax 1-3 Slavia 0-1 1-2

Sevilla - AEK

AEK 21:45 Sevilla

Match will play later

Slavia 2 - 1 Ajax

SK Slavia Praha are through to the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time after a memorable defeat of AFC Ajax in Prague with Stanislav Vlček the hero as he scored twice to end the challenge of the four-time European champions.
Slavia relief

The Czech side had done their chances no harm at all after coming away from the first leg in Amsterdam two weeks ago with a precious 1-0 advantage and the home crowd were celebrating a two-goal aggregate cushion midway through the first half when Vlček popped up unmarked in the penalty area to connect with Mickaël Tavares's cross. The goal came as a huge relief to the striker, who had spurned the first chance of the match when put clean through on 13 minutes only to be denied by goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Ajax domination

Henk ten Cate's Ajax side, who lost to FC København in the third qualifying round a year ago, were soon back in the match, however, Uruguayan international Luis Suárez racing on to Klaas Jan Huntelaar's long ball on 33 minutes to score with a fierce cross-shot that whistled inside the far post beyond goalkeeper Martin Vaniak. Buoyed by the goal Ajax began to dominate and the visitors created a host of chances to take the lead on the night, and gain the initiative on the away-goals rule, but failed to provide the end product.
Vaniak heroics

Vaniak had been the Slavia hero in the previous round when his saves in the penalty shoot-out against MŠK Žilina kept alive his side's hopes of reaching the group stage and was again in sterling form, pulling off a series of stunning saves and parrying close-range headers from both Huntelaar and Jaap Stam. With Ajax forced to commit more men forward as time ran out, Vlček then delivered the knockout blow two minutes before the final whistle after latching on to another Tavares through-ball to ensure the Slavia celebrations could begin in earnest.

Shakhtar 3 - 1 Salzburg

Substitute Brandão was FC Shakhtar Donetsk's hero as his side came within three minutes of UEFA Champions League elimination before the Brazilian midfielder struck to complete an excellent comeback against FC Salzburg.
Lucarelli busy

The Ukrainian outfit looked to be heading for an ignominious exit when Remo Meyer headed in on five minutes to give the visitors a 2-0 aggregate lead. With away goals counting double, it left Shakhtar needing to score three times and although Cristiano Lucarelli soon reduced the arrears, they found Salzburg difficult to break down. Lucarelli earned a penalty eleven minutes from time, however, Nery Castillo dispatching the spot-kick to set up a thrilling finale in which Brandão powered in after superb build-up play to steal a hard-earned place in the group stage.
Meyer opener

That had appeared a world away when the home side conceded early on – as they had done in the first leg – with Meyer finishing after Ibrahim Sekagya had directed a corner into his path. Yet Mircea Lucescu's men did not lose their composure and instead upped the tempo. It nearly bore immediate dividends but although Lucarelli squandered one chance, the Italian striker did not have to wait long to get on the scoresheet as he applied an emphatic finish to Oleksandr Gladkiy's pass.
Inspired substitutions

Gladkiy had chances to score himself but failed to find the net and as Shakhtar frustrations grew, chances fell to Salzburg. Alexander Zickler came closest after half-time with an effort that rose over the bar and that proved the cue for more pressure from the home team as Gladkiy and Fernandinho both threatened. With time running out Lucescu introduced Brandão and Castillo and it proved an inspired decision. When Lucarelli was brought down by Sekagya it was Mexican international Castillo that stepped up before Brandão secured a thrilling win, applying an emphatic finish to a fine move involving Igor Duljaj and Razvan Rat.

Dinamo Zagreb 2 - 3 Bremen

Werder Bremen held their nerve to book a return to the UEFA Champions League group stage with an exciting 5-3 aggregate triumph though they were pushed all the way at the Maksimir Stadium by a determined NK Dinamo Zagreb outfit.
Diego spot-kicks

Coming into the game with a precarious 2-1 lead after the first encounter in Germany, Bremen enjoyed a dream start when Diego converted a 13th-minute penalty. Yet Ognjen Vukojević capitalised on a defensive error to reduce the Croatian side's overall deficit and it set the tone for the evening as the visitors struggled to put the tie beyond reach. Boubacar Sanogo restored their two-goal aggregate advantage, then Luka Modrić hit back from the spot for the home team before Diego scored yet another penalty midway through the half to finally settle the tie.
Vukojević strike

Diego had proved equally efficient 57 minutes earlier when he neatly slotted in from eleven metres after Hugo Almeida had elicited a foul in the middle of a crowded Dinamo box. It temporarily silenced the majority of the 40,000 crowd, but they regained their voice eight minutes later when Vukojević pounced on a loose pass from Frank Baumann and fired in courtesy of a deflection off the former Germany international. Yet that goal came against the run of play and Bremen quickly regained their composure and then, six minutes before the interval, the lead.
Sanogo effort

Hugo Almeida worked space for a powerful effort from the left that German goalkeeper Georg Koch could only parry into the path of Sanogo, who made no mistake. It left the home side needing to score three times to win through to the group stage, and although Modrić pulled one back after Boško Balaban had been brought down, Diego restored Bremen's lead on the night with 20 minutes remaining after Etto was fouled to finally extinguish home hopes.

Celtic 1 - 1 Spartak Moskva

Artur Boruc was the hero for Celtic FC as he saved from FC Spartak Moskva's Maxym Kalynychenko at the end of the penalty shoot-out to take the Scottish title-holders into the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Boruc save

In normal time Scott McDonald put the Scottish champions ahead with his first goal for the club after Roman Pavlyuchenko had missed a penalty, but the Russian striker equalised on the stroke of half-time to match the first-leg result in Moscow. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink struck an extra-time spot-kick against the crossbar, but he was among the scorers in the shoot-out before Boruc denied Kalynychenko to ensure victory.
Penalty miss

Both sides set out with adventurous 4-4-2 formations and the first clear cut opportunity fell to McDonald on 15 minutes; sent through on goal by Vennegoor of Hesselink, the Australian screwed his shot wide. Almost immediately Vladimir Bystrov broke and cut back invitingly for the onrushing Dmitri Torbinskiy only for Lee Naylor to clear off the line. Gary Caldwell inadvertently handled in the Celtic box on 26 minutes but although Pavlyuchenko sent Boruc the wrong way, his spot-kick bounced back off the post.
Goal apiece

It proved to be a costly miss as Celtic took the lead a minute later, Roman Shishkin slicing his clearance allowing McDonald to steer the ball past Stipe Pletikosa from eight metres. Right on the stroke of half-time Pavlyuchenko made amends for his earlier penalty miss, chesting down a corner at the far post before driving in the equaliser. Spartak began the second half strongly but failed to create any clear openings and instead the Scottish champions surged forward. Shunsuke Nakamura passed up three chances before Spartak defender Martin Stranzl was sent off in the 84th minute after denying Vennegoor of Hesselink a goalscoring opportunity.
Dramatic end

Substitute Kalynychenko almost won it in the second period of extra-time only to be denied by Boruc before Vennegoor of Hesselink struck his spot-kick against the bar with five minutes left to play after Radoslav Kováč handled. Boruc, however, came to his rescue in the shoot-out as he saved from Yegor Titov and Kalynychenko after Nakamura had missed for Celtic to ensure the Scottish champions, who lost to AC Milan in the first knockout round last season, would return to the UEFA Champions League.

Rosenborg 2 - 0 Tampere

Rosenborg BK will make their eleventh appearance in the UEFA Champions League group stage after brushing aside the challenge of Finnish champions Tampere United in Trondheim and consigning their opponents to a place in the UEFA Cup.
Rosenborg return

With a 3-0 advantage from the first leg of this third qualifying round tie Rosenborg were always the likelier winners of the two Scandinavian sides and goals in either half from Marek Sapara and Didier Konan Ya sealed a return to the competition proper after a year's absence in 2006/07.
Power cut

After a 55-minute delay in the kick-off due to a power failure, a cautious opening resulted in both sides finding goalscoring opportunities hard to come by and it was not until the 39th minute the first real chance of the game arrived. It was no surprise it fell to Rosenborg but given his exploits in scoring twice in the first leg and four times in the second qualifying round win against FC Astana, perhaps Yssouf Kone's header wide was unexpected.
Sapara stunner

Tampere, conquerors of PFC Levski Sofia in the last round, came back with an opening of their own and Rosenborg goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld did well to save Mathias Lindström's header from close range. But on the stroke of half-time it was the Norwegian title winners who got the first goal of the night when a misplaced pass fell to Sapara, giving the Slovakian international the chance to thunder the ball into the net from just outside the penalty area.
Impressive form

The final nail in the Tampere coffin then arrived four minutes into the second half as Ya cut in from the right before placing the ball into the top corner past a helpless Mikko Kavén. It was Rosenborg's 15th goal of an impressive four-game qualifying campaign and meant the home side were able to play out the remainder of the match untroubled and dream of the big names that may await in Thursday's draw.

FC Steaua 2 - 0 BATE

FC Steaua Bucureşti reached the UEFA Champions League group stage for the second successive season as goals in each half from Dorel Zaharia and Adrian Neaga secured a 2-0 win against FC BATE Borisov in the second leg of their third qualifying round tie to complete a 4-2 aggregate triumph.
Zaharia headers

The outcome could have been very different, however, had Dmitri Platonov's strike on goal not fizzed narrowly wide after just two minutes. The visitors began the match with purpose following a 2-2 first-leg draw in Belarus two weeks ago and Ryhor Filipenko's run down the right wing resulted in a pinpoint cross which Platonov met with conviction from ten metres out. Steaua quickly hit back and on eight minutes Zaharia fired a warning shot when he sent a header just wide. BATE failed to heed the danger signs, though, and three minutes later, the same striker was wheeling away in celebration after rising to head in a corner.
Platonov chances

The Belarussian champions began the second half as they had the first and were unlucky not to be back on level terms four minutes after the restart when Platonov worked space inside the area only to see his shot blocked by defender Petre Marin. Four minutes later Platonov again threatened, this time sending a header goalwards which brought an acrobatic save out of goalkeeper Robinson Zapata.
Zapata saves

The visitors were punished within a minute as Steaua went up the other end and scored, Bănel Nicoliţă racing down the left to deliver an inviting cross for Neaga to convert from four metres out and effectively end the contest. Thereafter chances fell for both sides as Steaua's Ovidiu Petre and Ryhor Filpenko of BATE were off-target with their efforts near the hour. The visitors went for broke in the closing stages but could not find a way past Zapata, who saved twice from Alaksandr Vishniakov as Steaua eased into Thursday evening's draw.

Beşiktaş 2 - 0 Zürich

Former FC Basel 1893 midfielder Matías Delgado again returned to haunt FC Zürich as he lived up to his pre-match promise by scoring twice as Beşiktaş JK booked their place in the UEFA Champions League group stage with a 3-1 aggregate triumph against the Swiss champions.
Welcome revenge

Delgado spent two-and-a-half seasons at Basel before joining Beşiktaş in summer 2006 but he was unable to leave on a high after Zürich claimed the title on the final day of the 2005/06 Swiss season. It was a disappointment the 24-year-old never forgot and having set out his aim to score at the İnönü Stadium he went one better, scoring twice. After a first half dominated by the home team, Delgado finally broke the deadlock eleven minutes after half-time and soon made progress safe with a second moments later as Beşiktaş proved too strong.
Beşiktaş threat

It took Delgado's tally to three over the course of the tie after he had scored in the 1-1 first-leg draw in Switzerland, though it was striker Bobo that posed much of the early threat in Istanbul. The Brazilian forward's first real chance came just before the half-hour when he met Serdar Özkan's exquisite cross, but headed past the post. He miscued again soon after, this time following Ricardinho's centre, and as time went on Zürich's hopes of an upset rose with Hakan Arıkan saving from Eudi Silva de Souza before the interval.
Double blow

Beşiktaş reaffirmed their dominance after the restart and on 56 minutes Delgado struck, heading Serdar Özkan's cross into the net via the upright. It was soon 2-0 as the Argentinian forward again proved too strong in the air, this time converting İbrahim Üzülmez's centre, and there was to be no way back for the visitors. Rafael Araujo almost struck a late consolation but Hakan Arıkan was again up to the task and it is Beşiktaş that go through to Thursday's draw.

Arsenal 3 - 0 Sparta

Arsenal FC are safely into the UEFA Champions League group stage after former AC Sparta Praha player Tomáš Rosický helped end the hopes of his old club.
Advantage increased

Already leading the third qualifying round tie 2-0 from the first leg two weeks ago, Arsenal increased their advantage within seven minutes tonight with a smart finish from Rosický. Sparta more than held their own thereafter, but could find no way back into the game and substitute Cesc Fabregas and Eduardo da Silva increased the margin of the English side's aggregate success late on.
Rosický on target

With injury problems denying him defender Bacary Sagna, William Gallas and Emmanuel Eboué, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger was grateful for the fitness of centre-back Philippe Senderos after an ankle problem while Manuel Almunia continued in goal due to Jens Lehmann's achilles complaint. But the early action was at the other end and on seven minutes Justin Hoyte set away Theo Walcott, who moved through the Sparta defence and cut back for Rosický to sidefoot in.
Second goal

Robin van Persie threatened a second eight minutes later as he volleyed over Eduardo's cross, while Marek Kulič came close to equalising on the night but his shot deflected away from goal due to Hoyte's deflection. Jan Rezek then hit the ball into the side-netting but Arsenal's back line were seldom troubled. That continued after the break and there was only limited action in front of the Sparta goal. But Fabregas was brought on with 22 minutes left and near the end struck his second goal of the tie after some clever work on the left wing by Eduardo.
Eduardo strikes

The Croatian international then claimed a deserved goal of his own in the final minute with a volley from Denilson's cross. Arsenal, beaten finalists two seasons ago, can now look forward to their tenth straight group stage campaign after Thursday's draw. Sparta, meanwhile, will go into the UEFA Cup first round.

Anderlecht 0 - 2 Fenerbahçe

Fenerbahçe SK reached the group stage of the UEFA Champions League with a fine victory in Brussels that meant RSC Anderlecht missed out on a place in the competition proper for the first time in five seasons.
Comfortable win

Already leading 1-0 from the first leg of their third qualifying round tie in Istanbul a fortnight ago, Fenerbahçe ensured they would not fall at the same stage as last year thanks to goals from Serbian striker Mateja Kežman and Brazilian midfielder Alex which gave the Turkish champions a comfortable win against their Belgian counterparts.
Kežman opener

Anderlecht went into the game knowing they needed goals and their task was made all the more difficult just three minutes in after the home team failed to clear a corner and the unmarked Kežman was allowed to finish from close range. The Belgian side now needed to score at least three times and the situation looked as though it was about to worsen still when Alex De Souza had the ball in the net again, only for the referee to give Anderlecht a reprieve following an earlier foul by Kežman.
Anderlecht unfortunate

The home side rallied and were twice unfortunate not to level matters on the night. On 25 minutes Mbark Boussafa's free-kick from just outside the area cannoned back off the crossbar, and seven minutes later Jelle Van Damme was dealt the same fate after connecting with a header. Anderlecht continued to press forward as the second half got under way, but without overworking the Fenerbahçe defence.
Pareja error

With 17 minutes to go the Turkish outfit then put the tie beyond doubt as Alex was presented with the ball following Nicolas Pareja's mistake, running on to seal the home team's fate. Fenerbahçe now await the UEFA Champions League draw on Thursday while Anderlecht must be content with a place in the UEFA Cup first round.

Dynamo Kyiv 3 - 0 Sarajevo

FC Dynamo Kyiv are ready to begin their eleventh UEFA Champions League group stage campaign after completing a comfortable victory against FK Sarajevo.
Sarajevo denied

The champions of Bosnia-Herzegovina were hoping to become the first team from their nation to reach the competition proper but lost the first leg of their third qualifying round tie 1-0 at home a fortnight ago, and any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Ismaël Bangoura struck early for Dynamo tonight. A Semjon Milošević own goal and Serhiy Rebrov penalty ensured Dynamo's place in tomorrow's draw while Sarajevo now enter the UEFA Cup first round.
Early goal

It took only three minutes for Bangoura to strike in Kiev. Marjan Marković sent over the cross and the Guinean forward was on hard to score his fifth goal in Dynamo's last three games. Sarajevo now needed to score twice and Dynamo were happy to soak up the pressure and show their counterattacking skills, with Maksim Shatskikh, Oleh Gusev and Bangoura especially impressive. Muhamed Alaim was working hard in the Sarajevo goal until the 61st minute, when injury forced him to make way to Irfan Fejzić.
Clinchers

The substitute was soon picking the ball out of the Sarajevo net as Bangoura's pass was turned into his own goal by Semjon Milošević. This was the cue for Dynamo coach to bring on experienced duo Valentin Belkevich and Rebrov, and the latter completed the scoring with a spot-kick near the end after Marković was fouled to ensure Dynamo and compatriots FC Shakhtar Donetsk will again represent Ukraine on European club football's highest stage.

Liverpool 4 - 0 Toulouse

Liverpool FC cruised into the UEFA Champions League group stage as last season's beaten finalists completed a 5-0 aggregate victory against Toulouse FC.
Beyond doubt

Leading 1-0 from the game in France two weeks ago, Liverpool scored on 18 minutes through Peter Crouch before Sami Hyypiä and Dirk Kuyt with two late goals put the result beyond doubt. The five-time European champions will find out their opponents in their fourth consecutive group stage campaign on Thursday; the following day Toulouse will be in the UEFA Cup first round draw for the first time in 20 years, after this unsuccessful end to their debut appearance at this level.
Early goal

The home side were missing Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher but Crouch was restored for his first start since the trip to Toulouse, in place of first-leg scorer Andriy Voronin, and Liverpool attacked from the off. John Arne Riise immediately tested Toulouse goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez with a free-kick. Crouch headed a 16th-minute corner off target but was soon on the scoresheet as he turned Kuyt's clever pass into the net.
Chances

Crouch went close again, shooting past the post and then heading over as Liverpool continued to dominate. Kuyt, selected ahead of Fernando Torres, also threatened with an effort from inside the box and the nearest Toulouse came was just before half-time when Johan Elmander cut out a Riise back-pass but the defender recovered to win back the ball.
Victory sealed

Within three minutes of the restart it was 2-0, a Yossi Benayoun corner being nodded in by Hyypiä. Liverpool were sailing through the tie and Kuyt provided still more attacking menace yet missed the target when set up by Crouch. The Dutchman was also denied by the crossbar after his shot had taken a touch off Mauro Cetto but he finally got his reward three minutes from time after a fine one-two with substitute Ryan Babel. Deep into stoppage time, Benayoun played him in for his second.

København 0 - 1 Benfica

SL Benfica stood firm in the face of a tide of pressure from FC København as Kostas Katsouranis' first-half goal proved enough to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory for the Portuguese outfit, and a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Missed opportunities

Greece international Katsouranis struck after just 17 minutes at the Parken Stadium, firing in from close range after good build-up play from Rui Costa and Oscar Óscar to further extend Benfica's advantage following their 2-1 first-leg triumph. It left the home team with it all to do but having already had a shot cleared off the line they swept forward. Atiba Hutchinson, Marcus Allbäck, Brede Hangeland and Libor Sionko all went close while Niclas Jensen saw his free-kick come back off the upright but the visitors held on.
Bright start

Having limited Benfica to a narrow win in Portugal a fortnight ago hopes were high in the Danish camp that they could ensure a swift return to the UEFA Champions League having made their group stage debut last term. Michael Gravgaard gave further cause for enthusiasm when he capped a bright opening by the home team when his effort forced a desperate goalline clearance on 12 minutes, but København soon found themselves further adrift as Katsouranis capitalised against the run of play. Ståle Solbakken's quickly regained their composure, however, and could easily have drawn level before the interval.
Pressure

Jensen was denied by the post on the half-hour while goalkeeper Quim did well to save from Hutchinson soon after and Allbäck then headed just wide before the interval. Benfica earned some relief after the restart, with Jesper Christiansen called into action to keep out Nuno Assis' close-range header, yet København were soon back on the offensive. Hangeland headed just over and substitute Sionko fizzed a rasping drive past the post midway through the half though as time ebbed away. With it went home hopes as Benfica stood firm until the end.

Elfsborg 1 - 2 Valencia

The slim hopes of IF Elfsborg making their debut in the UEFA Champions League group stage were dashed by a clinical display from two-time finalists Valencia CF, who became the first visiting team to win in Boras in eight months.
Twice winners

Valencia, runners-up in 2000 and 2001, added to the 3-0 advantage they built-up at Mestalla two weeks ago by winning 2-1 at the home of the Swedish champions with Iván Helguera and David Villa securing their progress from the third qualifying round despite the brief cheer of a Daniel Alexandersson goal for the hosts. Elfsborg had already come through two rounds to make it to the brink of the group stage, twice winning 1-0 on aggregate against Linfield FC and Debreceni VSC, but knew their dream of claiming the biggest scalp in the club's history was fading as soon as Helguera scored when unmarked with just five minutes on the clock.
Alexandersson cheer

The home crowd, who have become accustomed to cheering their heroes to victory, watched their team battle bravely, however, and were on their feet on the half-hour when Alexandersson found the net. Indeed Elfsborg continued to hold their own against their more experienced opponents, with Anders Svensson and Denni Avdic impressing in midfield, but Magnus Haglund's side were even denied the satisfaction of a second-leg draw as Villa scored for Valencia in the final seconds.
Mistake costly

"We make a mistake for their [first] goal, and you can't afford to do that in games like this - after that we played for the fans and did well," said striker Fredrik Berglund. "We needed to put pressure on them early on in the game, and try to break up their play early on," added coach Haglund. "Their early goal made it virtually impossible for us, so it killed the game. We did well, but Swedish clubs in general will always struggle against world-class sides like Valencia."

Rangers 0-0 Crvena Zvezda

Rangers FC held FK Crvena Zvezda to a scoreless draw in Belgrade to progress to the UEFA Champions League group stage courtesy of their 1-0 first-leg win in Glasgow.
Rearguard action

The Scottish club survived an early scare before producing a solid defensive performance to take their place in Thursday's draw and deny the Serbian champions a first appearance in the UEFA Champions League proper.
Early chance

Backed by a capacity 50,000 crowd, 'Red Star' went out in search of a goal to level the tie and it almost arrived within two minutes. Uncharacteristically, Carlos Cuéllar misjudged a high ball which presented Igor Burzanović with a scoring opportunity from eight metres, but the Crvena Zvezda striker – who had missed the first leg through suspension – shot straight at Allan McGregor.
Home pressure

Dušan Andjelković should have broken the deadlock on 34 minutes when a loose ball fell to him deep inside the Rangers box, yet with the goal at his mercy the left-back lifted a shot harmlessly over. Milorad Kosanović's men were doing all the running with Rangers content to soak up the pressure and McGregor forced into action again just before half-time, blocking Andjelković's attempt at the expense of a corner.
Counterattack

Crvena Zvezda continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession after the break without creating clear-cut openings. Indeed, the best chance fell to Jean-Claude Darcheville at the other end on 57 minutes. The Rangers forward used his strength to wriggle away from his marker on the edge of the area but his strike failed to find the target.
Late rally

Buoyed by that effort, Lee McCulloch tried his luck and Ivan Randjelović had to turn his shot around the post, before home captain Ognjen Koroman prompted another good stop from McGregor with an attempt from just outside the box. In the closing minutes the home team pushed for a goal that would take the tie to extra time but Rangers held on, ensuring that Nacho Novo's solitary strike in Glasgow sent them into the group stage for the eighth time.

Lazio 3-1 Dinamo Bucuresti

S.S. Lazio teetered on the brink of a UEFA Champions League exit before a second-half comeback took them past FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti and into the group stage.
Second-half revival

Following a 1-1 draw in Rome, this tie was finely balanced and it seemed that the Romanian champions were heading into the UEFA Champions League proper for the first time when Florin Bratu gave them a lead they held at the break. But Lazio were a transformed team after the interval: Tommaso Rocchi's penalty quickly levelled matters and he struck again to seal victory after Goran Pandev had put the visitors ahead.
Dinamo dominate

Dinamo coach Mircea Rednic's decision to deploy Andrei Margaritescu and Adrian Ropotan as sweepers in front of the defence proved effective early on as Lazio danger men Simone Del Nero, Rocchi and Pandev found their efforts frustrated. The hosts were attacking at will, especially down the left through Adrian Cristea and Cristian Pulhac, and the latter crossed for Daniel Oprita to go close with an eleventh-minute header.
Bratu scores

Ionel Danciulescu, making his 50th UEFA club competition appearance, forced Marco Ballotta to save with a smart shot, and not long before the half-hour Dinamo broke through as Bratu ran in from the right, cut into the box and fired in the opening goal. Lazio had done little of note in the first half, but within seconds of the restart their luck turned.
Game turns

Dinamo defender Valentin Vasile Nastase, who had returned home this summer after five years in Italy, lost the ball on the edge of his area and in trying to win it back brought down Del Nero at the expense of a penalty, converted by Rocchi. Now Dinamo were struggling, and seven minutes later Lazio pounced on a Margaritescu pass in midfield and their swift counterattack was finished off by Pandev.
Win sealed

Home goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont denied Gaby Mudingayi while Pandev drove wide, yet Rocchi soon put the result beyond doubt as Lazio broke again and, all alone in the box, he made no mistake. Lobont then saved from Del Nero, but Lazio's place in Thursday's draw was assured. Dinamo, meanwhile, are a two-legged tie away from their third consecutive UEFA Cup group stage campaign.

Thousands of fans pay homage to Sevilla defender Puerta

Thousands of people paid homage overnight to Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta who died after suffering a heart attack during the club's opening match of the Spanish league on Saturday.
The 22-year-old, who made his national team debut last season, died in hospital on Tuesday and his body was moved to Sevilla's Sanchez Pizjuan stadium where a temporary mortuary was set up to allow fans to pay their respects.
"Puerta, friend, Seville is with you," supporters of Sevilla and its cross-town rivals Betis Seville chanted as the body was moved from the hopsital to the stadium.
Puerta will be buried at a cemetary in Seville in southwestern Spain at 2pm (1200 GMT), the club said.
Thousands of fans from both clubs flocked to the stadium throughout the night to leave football scarves, candles and dozens of flower arrangements near Puerta's body.
The body of the player was draped with the flag of the club, which was founded in 1905. At his side were the recent trophies won by the club, including the UEFA Cup won last season.
The Sevilla squad returned from Athens, where they had been set to play a Champions League return leg against AEK Athens on Tuesday night, and immediately went to the stadium, arriving at around 2:35am (0035 GMT).
Accompanied by Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido and the club's coach Juande Ramos, the squad was greeted with applause by some 20,000 supporters with cries of "Sevilla! Sevilla! Sevilla!".
The Champions League match has now been scheduled for Monday although the UEFA Cup champions' Super Cup match against Champions League winners AC Milan, scheduled for Friday, has been maintained.
Spain's sports newspapers also paid homage to Puerta.
"Antonio Puerta, the injustice of dying at the age of 22. Why?" wrote sports daily Marca in its headline.

Much integers basically city

From the 17th till the 19th of August the matches of the 6th round of Ukrainian Premier League took place. Dnipro continued its victorious series in the match against Zorya and stays the only team which hasn’t yet lost any point in a new season. The most effective match was played in Kyiv where Dynamo and Karpaty Lviv together scored 10 goals. Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih got its first win in a new season. They won Metalurh Donetsk. Premier League. The 6th roundVorskla Poltava – Arsenal Kyiv – 2:1 (Grumych, 36, Kravchenko, 58 – Seleznyov, 49). Metalurh Donetsk – Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih – 0:1 (Ivaschenko, 25). Zakarpattya (Uzhgorod) – Chornomorets Odesa – 2:0 (Kozoriz, 70, Martsveladze, 87). Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka – Metalurh Zaporizhya – 0:1 (Lazarovych, 65). Tavriya Simferopol – Kharkiv Kharkiv – 1:0 (Gomenyuk, 12). Zorya Lugansk – Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk – 0:1 (Samodin, 38). Metalist Kharkiv – Shakhtar Donetsk – 1:3 (Devych, 47 – Gladkyi, 18, Fernandinho, 68, Ilsinho, 85). Dynamo Kyiv – Karpaty Lviv – 7:3 (Shatskyh, 15, Pshenychnyh, 20, auto goal, Bangura, 29, 61, 79, Markovych, 43, Korrea, 90 – Batysta, 8, Kovel, 42, Kobin, 49). Goal fairy playDynamo and Karpaty entertained the fans having scored 10 goals together. Dynamo started the game in its best traditions in this season and already on the 9th minute got a ball in their goal. Batista was the one who scored. But in a few minutes there was a corner in Ruslan Rotan’s execution and Maksym Shatskyh headed a goal into Yuriy Martyschyuk’s goal and soon Sergiy Pshenychnyh tried to defend the goal of his team after Maikl’s pass, but scored a goal in it. On the 30th minute Ismael Bangura scored his first goal in Ukraine after a pass of Maikl. It was not enough for him and he scored two goals more. Goalkeeper substitutionThe spectators on the stands of Valeriy Lobanovskiy stadium didn’t have time to get upset: goalkeeper of Georgia’s team Georgiy Lomaya, who substituted Martyshchuk at FC Karpaty goal, was running round like a squirrel in a cage. However, his efforts weren’t sufficient: before the break signal Markovic scored from the right-hand flank. By the way, Serbian scored in the previous round sealing the victory for Kyiv footballers against FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhya. Then Bangoura made two precise shots, Korrea finished crashing Lviv players with a superb head shot. Bangoura’s hat trickOn the background of Dynamo’s goal shower two significant attacks of the guests left only agreeable episodes in the game of Oleksandr Ishchenko’s team. Leonid Kovel made a powerful shot from penalty area, and Vasyl Kobin scored right after the break jumping over Diakhate and driving the ball by the head into the net. FC Dnipro keeps moving upRussian Serhiy Samodin has become one of the main heroes of the match between FC Dnipro and FC Zorya. He dashed into the penalty area of Luhansk footballers on the 38th minute and struck in the left corner – 1:0. FC Dnipro managed to keep the score line untouchable even after its captain Oleh Shelayev was suspended. So, Oleh Protasov’s team gained the sixth win in a row. Castillo’s debutFC Shakhtar gained an uneasy victory over FC Metalis in Kharkiv. The hosts managed to respond on Oleksandr Hladkiy’s goal before the break. Then, Marco Devic fulfilled a superb combination on the 47th minute. The balance in the score line was ruined when Fernandinho scored after the corner strike, and Ilcinho sealed the victory after a successful pass from Castillo.

Ukrainian first in World Student Play

The Student group Ukraine s was conquered gold(en) medals in World Student Play, which are conducted Bangkok. The Group Volodymyr Lozynskiy s overcame the Italian 1:0 on final match due to powerful выстреленному by FC Dnipro Cherkassy halfback Dmytro Pronevych. So, in tournament our group was conquered four matches from five. The Bronze bonus was obtained by group Thailand s, which changed the Canadian in contest for the third position after-penalty kicks of the match.

Diakhate in Senegal squad for friendly

Senegal coach Henri Kasperczak on Saturday named a 20-man squad for the friendly against Ghana to be played in London this Tuesday.
Kasperczak picked the side with a view to Senegal's upcoming 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso on September 8.
Ghana are the hosts of the 2008 CAN.
Goalkeepers: Tony Sylva (Lille/FRA), Kalidou Cissokho (Baki Football Club/AZE)
Defenders: Ferdinand Coly (Parma/ITA), Pascal Mendy (FC Kaunus/LTU), Mouhamed Adama Sarr (Standard Liege/BEL), Pape Malickou Diakhate (Dynamo Kyiv/UKR), Lamine Diatta (Besiktas/TUR), Nguirane Ndaw (Sochaux/FRA), Ibrahima Faye (Troyes/FRA)
Midfielders: Badara Sene (Sochaux/FRA), Pape Bouba Diop (Fulham/ENG), Frederic Mendy (Bastia/FRA), Bayal Sall (Saint-Etienne/FRA)
Strikers: Babacar Gueye (Metz/FRA), Diomansy Kamara (Fulham/ENG), Pape Waigo Ndiaye (Sampdoria/ITA), Pape Mamadou Sougou (Leiria/POR), Demba Ba (Mouscron/BEL), Mamadou Niang (Marseille/FRA), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton/ENG)