Kuyt makes it advantage Liverpool; King Deivid strikes down Chelsea
Arsenal 1 - Liverpool 1 (Champions League, April 2, 2008) (Longer highlights here and extended highlights here.) Arsenal took the lead against Liverpool when Robin van Persie delivered in a delightful inswinging cross, and Adebayor, negligently free in a crowded box, headed home the opener. But Liverpool have a strong European reputation for a reason, and captain fantastic Steven Gerrard showed skill and close control to attack down the left, and Dirk Kuyt was well positioned to prod in the valuable equaliser. (First-half highlights here.) The Gunners came out more purposeful in the second-half (highlights here) and were denied a cast-iron penalty when Hleb was yanked down by Kuyt. Minutes later Arsenal only had themselves to blame when Bendtner was trapped on the line by Fabregas’ shot, deflecting the ball away from safety with no Liverpool defenders in sight. Liverpool held on for a draw, knowing that the away goal gives them the edge for the second leg at Anfield. (Both goals here.)
Fenerbahce 2 - Chelsea 1 (Champions League, April 2, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Chelsea went ahead when Florent Malouda found space down the left, crossed, and Deivid produced an unstoppable finish to put the ball in the back of his own net. Chelsea dominated much of the play, but on a night full of English teams, it was Fener’s Englishman Colin Kazim-Richards who latched onto a ball over-the-top and coolly dispatched the leveller past Cudicini. And the comeback was completed by villain-turned-hero Deivid de Souza, who fizzed a belter into the top corner from 30 yards to send the Turks wild.
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Doncaster 0 - Leeds 1 (League One, April 1, 2008) On-loan Alan Sheehan’s superb free-kick, fired into the top corner just out of Neil Sullivan’s reach, was enough to pinch three precious points for Leeds.
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PSG 1 - Strasbourg 0 (Ligue 1, April 2, 2008) After the French league cup heroics, PSG were forced to return to troubling domestic matters beginning the night in the bottom three. The Parisans made it back-to-back wins thanks to sub-Diane’s 73rd-minute winner, slotting home Mendy’s cut-back, taking them out of the relegation zone.
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Aris 1 - Atromitos Athinon 0 (Greek Cup, April 2, 2008) A dramatic injury-time saw Calvo convert a late penalty, before Rovas and Ivic were sent-off in the dying stages, and players of both sides fought in the tunnel as they made their way off the field the end of the game.
Thrasyvoulos 2 - Olympiakos 3 (Greek Cup, April 2, 2008) Olympiakos led 2-0 after 29 minutes thanks to goals from Mendrinos and Nunez. Thrasyvoulos, who defeated Super League sides PAOK and Larissa in previous rounds, hit back immediately when Anastasakos and Bris levelled within seven minutes. Substitute Kovacevic struck a minute from time to gave the Super League leaders a slim advantage to defend at home in a fortnight.
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Pachuca 2 - DC United 0 (CONCACAF Champions Cup, April 1, 2008) Pachuca pummeled DC United in the first-half without success, but striker Luis Montes came off the bench to put in a brilliant match winning performance after the break. His first was a sublime finish, spotting the keeper off his line and hammering the ball in the near post from an acute angle on the left-hand side. His second was a brave header from a free-kick.
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Lanus 3 - Estudiantes 3 (Copa Libertadores, April 2, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Lanus went ahead through Sand, followed quickly by a second goal from Valeri, who pounced on a loose ball in the area. Estudiantes hit back with Desabato’s header, before Benitez produced a top-draw free-kick to make it 2-2 at the break. The visitors then completed the comeback when grizzly-looking Ivan Moreno y Fabianese slid home number three. But a powerful left-foot drive from Acosta made the game 3-3. Estudiantes keeper Andujar was the late hero, making an incredible double save from Acosta’s penalty and rebound to preserve the scoreline.
Sao Paulo 1 - Luqueno 0 (Copa Libertadores, April 2, 2008) A 90th minute header from badboy Adriano gave Sao Paulo the win.
Club America 4 - River Plate 3 (Copa Libertadores, April 2, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) A truly fantastic match saw six headed goals before Cabanas’ low drive gave Club America a famous win. River took an early lead through Archubi’s header, which they held onto throughout the first-half (highlights here). Then came an explosion of goals between the 51st and 69th minutes. Inigo equalised for America, only for Esqueda to make it 2-1 to the Mexicans. America defender Cervantes then headed into his own net to make it 2-2, before he redeemed himself to put the home team back in front. Abreu again drew River level, before Cabanas scored the winner.
Fluminense 2 - Libertad 0 (Copa Libertadores, April 2, 2008) (Longer highlights here.) Brazil’s Fluminense advanced to the second round of the Copa Libertadores for the first time in its history. The first goal came in the 29th minute when Cicero headed home a free-kick from Neves. Neves also supplied the cross for the second headed goal, scored by Silva.
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River-PI 2 - Botafogo 1 (Copa do Brasil, April 2, 2008) Mineiro put the minnows ahead before a wonder-volley from Paulista ripped into the back of the net on 26 minutes. Kemerson’s low drive secure the win for the hosts.
Sao Caetano 1 - Coritiba 0 (Copa do Brasil, April 2, 2008) Luan scored a beauty into the top corner.
Brasiliense 1 - Sport Recife 2 (Copa do Brasil, April 2, 2008)
Central-PE 1 - Palmeiras 5 (Copa do Brasil, April 2, 2008)
Portuguesa 2 - Volta Redonda 0 (Copa do Brasil, April 2, 2008)
Atletico Goianiense 2 - Gremio 1 (Copa do Brasil, April 2, 2008)
Vitoria 2 - Parana 1 (Copa do Brasil, April 2, 2008)
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I WANT TO WATCH LIVE SOCCER
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Thanks for the goals from the only scouser in Kathmandu!
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Cast iron penalty, you dickhead. Get a grip.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
What are you talking about Alan? Kuyt clearly pulled Hleb back and that is a penalty, plain and simple. How is it not a penalty? Through on goal, and hauled back by the opposition. Get your rules straight.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Arsenal - Liverpool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH5XGXb6ntI
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Just a correction gents. Luis Montes is 21. So more like young wunderstriker than ‘teenage striker’. Just thought you should know.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Cheers TTTT,
AP suck - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/04/02/ccc.roundup.ap/
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Their arms got tangled, Kuyt did not pull him whatsoever.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
We’re going to have to disagree, I see Kuyt’s arm coming right around Hleb and impeding his progress, and to me that is a foul and as it is in the box, a penalty.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 am
It was a DEFINITE Penalty. You only need to look at the replay once to see that. I really don’t know what was going through the ref’s mind. I don’t like to think about corruption in the beautiful game but incidents like this cause it to raise its ugly head.
Anyone saying that it’s not a penalty is definitely a DIE HARD Reds supporter….therefore your ignorance is excused!
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 am
Totally a penalty. The ref was right in line with it, you can see that in the replay, so how can he not see the foul?
But now I hear on BBC Radio 5 Live that Kuyt apparently donates half his pay to charity, according to John in Plymouth BBC R5 Live 606 phone-in.
Arsenal out of it already? For the sake of football, I hope not.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
You get you rules right!
If that’s a penalty then we can all fall over after somebody flicks us and then it is a penalty.
On the way to work today the wind blew me, I fell over and looked for a referee to show the breeze a red card. Unfortunately it did not happen.
Hleb never got ‘hauled’ back, as soon as Kuyt’s hand touched him, he fell down easily. He couldn’t continue running because he has no physical strength - no Arsenal player does.
Arsenal and the rest of their diving players don’t deserve to progress. I hope Liverpool knock them out. Only 2 shots on goal and one goal - efficient, nice, fair result haha.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
“Arsenal out of it already? For the sake of football, I hope not.”
For the sake of football, I hope so.
Football isn’t about diving or French pretentiousness. Whoever said Arsenal’s way of playing was the way to play. Manchester United play more attractive football for starters.
Arsenal over play, like a French man dressing his mash and beetroot with 101 clovers to get it just right. There are no computer game retries in real life. Arsenal are victims of their own silly principles - pretentious, endless passing with no end product.
Liverpool & Manchester United have scored more goals than them this season: that says it all.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Alan,
I don’t think Arsenal’s intention is to pass the ball to death, I think they resort to habit when they’re not playing confidently. At the start of the season they were very purposeful with their attacks.
If you don’t think its a penalty then that’s fine, i’d disagree, he didn’t get the ball and pulled a player off balance who was struggling to keep his feet anyway. A rather clumsy attempt at defending.
Your dislike of the French seems fairly nailed on, makes me wonder what experience with a Frenchman as a child scarred you so much.
You’re right about one thing: Manchester United do play attractive football and probably don’t get enough credit for it….but they dive too and none of their players have ever been pretentious (they can’t all be French can they).
Finally….i’d argue against Adebayor and Toure having no physical strength.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Completely unbiased here - have to agree with SKTT - no question it was a penalty..