aye is Nasty Nas the only one to fancy Boro here folks?
1st match reports from
uefa.com
Basel open door to last four
Thursday, 30 March 2006
FC Basel 1893 took a significant step towards the last four of the
UEFA Cup after an impressive 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough FC in Switzerland.
Schwarzer beaten
Two goals just before half-time inflicted a serious blow to the English Premiership side as Basel made the best of difficult conditions at St. Jakob-Park. On 43 minutes Matías Delgado collected his seventh goal of the competition when his hopeful long-range effort took a wicked bounce off the greasy surface and arced over the unfortunate Mark Schwarzer. The Australian international was beaten again before the interval as David Degen earned Basel a valuable first-leg cushion.
Degen drive
It was a deserved strike for Degen, whose tireless running proved a constant threat to the visitors' shaky defence. After Eduardo glanced a header wide on ten minutes, he was given a clearer opening when he met Degen's pullback, before testing Schwarzer with a shot on the turn. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, were limited to half-chances as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink drove a free-kick off target midway through the half, while a swerving attempt from Gaizka Mendieta forced Pascal Zuberbühler to tip over.
Cruel timing
With opportunities at a premium for Middlesbrough, Basel were rewarded for their endeavour through Delgado's opener, before Degen outpaced a sluggish back line to latch on to Eduardo's through-ball and drill a low shot beyond Schwarzer. The timing was terrible for Steve McClaren's men but they responded well after the break.
Riggott intervention
Hasselbaink drew a diving stop from Zuberbühler three minutes into the second period and Chris Riggott went even closer as he met a corner with a towering header. It cannoned off the crossbar, however, and Delgado repeated the feat at the other end with a free-kick as the game opened up. Riggott was on more familiar defensive duty on 70 minutes, his goalline block denying substitute Scott Chipperfield.
Ehiogu effort
Another replacement, Ugo Ehiogu, almost reduced the deficit late on but Zuberbühler made a fine save, meaning Basel take a healthy lead to the Riverside stadium next week.
Zenit take Sevilla punishment
Thursday, 30 March 2006
Sevilla FC have one foot in the
UEFA Cup semi-finals after a comprehensive 4-1 first-leg victory against nine-man FC Zenit St. Petersburg in Spain.
Historic date
It was 60 years ago that Sevilla won their first and only Spanish title, and while a presentation at half-time celebrated the deeds of the surviving members of that team, Juande Ramos's current vintage proved the star attraction with Javier Saviola scoring twice.
Opening strike
The Argentina forward had tested goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev once before he broke the deadlock after 15 minutes, nodding in Adriano Correia's well-weighted cross. Julien Escudé and Saviola both went close to doubling the home advantage before Aleksandr Kerzhakov headed Andrei Arshavin's centre past Andrés Palop just before half-time.
Dangerous goal
Kerzhakov struck twice against Sevilla when these sides met at the Petrovsky stadium in this season's group stage. But any fear his away goal might prove significant was gradually dispelled as Erik Hagen's foul on Frédéric Kanouté earned the Norwegian a red card on 56 minutes, and Sevilla a penalty.
Penalty success
Kanouté, Saviola and Jordi López all failed to convert spot-kicks during Sevilla's last two Primera División games, but José Luis Martí finally broke that run and Sevilla were to plunder two further goals as Vlastimil Petržela's team unravelled at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Arshavin dismissed
Kanouté fired over as the hosts tried to make the extra man count before Saviola got his second of the night with ten minutes remaining, hitting the ball low into Malafeev's net after a pass from Antonio Puerta. Arshavin further stacked the odds in the Andalusian side's favour by being sent off in the 90th minute.
Final indignity
There was still time for Adriano to salt Zenit's wounds, converting from close range just before the final whistle. With Hagen and the influential Arshavin suspended for the second leg in Russia next week, Zenit's mission looks all but impossible.
Schalke leave Levski reeling
Thursday, 30 March 2006
PFC Levski Sofia have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their
UEFA Cup quarter-final against FC Schalke 04 after seeing their 100 per cent home record ended with a 3-1 defeat in the Bulgarian capital.
Flying start
Stanimir Stoilov's side looked on course for a famous victory when Daniel Borimirov put them ahead after five minutes. But the Bundesliga visitors rallied after Cédric Bardon was dismissed for a second bookable offence, with Gustavo Varela, Lincoln and Gerald Asamoah all scoring in the second half.
Defensive mistake
Levski had won all their preceding
UEFA Cup home games this season, and it seemed they would continue their impressive run after an early mistake by Hamit Altıntop allowed former TSV 1860 München star Borimirov to steal in. The striker-turned-midfielder showed the wisdom of his 36 years as he cleverly put the ball through Mladen Krstajić's legs before poking a shot low past Frank Rost from 12 metres to send the home supporters into raptures.
Second booking
The tide began to turn after French forward Bardon was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Lincoln on 35 minutes. Still, Levski maintained their composure and Schalke were limited to one notable chance before the break, Søren Larsen heading on to the top of the crossbar from Lincoln's corner.
Levelling blow
However, the scores were level within three minutes of the restart. Lincoln struggled to find a way through four Levski defenders, but the ball squirmed out for Varela, who swept it into an empty net. Valeri Domovchiyski subsequently passed up an invitation to restore Levski's advantage, and that near miss was compounded by Lincoln putting the Gelsenkirchen team ahead in the 69th minute, finding the target with a curling shot from 20 metres.
Final insult
Asamoah then added a third for Schalke eleven minutes from time, nodding past Georgi Petkov in the Levski goal after Christian Poulsen's effort had rebounded off a post, leaving the Bulgarian side with it all to do in Germany next week.
Schalke leave Levski reeling
Thursday, 30 March 2006
PFC Levski Sofia have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their
UEFA Cup quarter-final against FC Schalke 04 after seeing their 100 per cent home record ended with a 3-1 defeat in the Bulgarian capital.
Flying start
Stanimir Stoilov's side looked on course for a famous victory when Daniel Borimirov put them ahead after five minutes. But the Bundesliga visitors rallied after Cédric Bardon was dismissed for a second bookable offence, with Gustavo Varela, Lincoln and Gerald Asamoah all scoring in the second half.
Defensive mistake
Levski had won all their preceding
UEFA Cup home games this season, and it seemed they would continue their impressive run after an early mistake by Hamit Altıntop allowed former TSV 1860 München star Borimirov to steal in. The striker-turned-midfielder showed the wisdom of his 36 years as he cleverly put the ball through Mladen Krstajić's legs before poking a shot low past Frank Rost from 12 metres to send the home supporters into raptures.
Second booking
The tide began to turn after French forward Bardon was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Lincoln on 35 minutes. Still, Levski maintained their composure and Schalke were limited to one notable chance before the break, Søren Larsen heading on to the top of the crossbar from Lincoln's corner.
Levelling blow
However, the scores were level within three minutes of the restart. Lincoln struggled to find a way through four Levski defenders, but the ball squirmed out for Varela, who swept it into an empty net. Valeri Domovchiyski subsequently passed up an invitation to restore Levski's advantage, and that near miss was compounded by Lincoln putting the Gelsenkirchen team ahead in the 69th minute, finding the target with a curling shot from 20 metres.
Final insult
Asamoah then added a third for Schalke eleven minutes from time, nodding past Georgi Petkov in the Levski goal after Christian Poulsen's effort had rebounded off a post, leaving the Bulgarian side with it all to do in Germany next week.
Rapid left to rue early lapse
Thursday, 30 March 2006
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A Viorel Moldovan strike earned AFC Rapid Bucuresti a 1-1 draw in the home leg of their
UEFA Cup quarter-final derby against FC Steaua Bucuresti, though Razvan Lucescu's side may rue conceding an early goal.
Opening goal
George Ogararu had already tried his luck from distance for Steaua before the home team were caught cold at the Giulesti stadium on five minutes. Daniel Oprita broke down the right and whipped in a dangerous cross that Banel Nicolita lashed beyond Rapid goalkeeper Danut Coman from ten metres.
Close call
Rapid nearly equalised four minutes later as Daniel Niculae headed against the post from a Ionut Stancu corner, and Marius Constantin then tested Steaua custodian Carlos Alberto Fernandes with a long-range effort. However, Rapid were lucky not to be two goals down when Andrei Cristea missed the target from five metres after Coman could only parry Nicolae Dica's shot.
Moldovan strike
Moldovan finally eased Rapid's nerves five minutes into the second period as he plundered an equaliser. Emil Dica drove a dangerous ball across the Steaua area which Portuguese keeper Fernandes failed to hold on to, allowing the forward to steer home.
Valuable draw
Soon after, Rapid almost went ahead as Dica's attempt was saved by Fernandes, and in the 76th minute Rapid substitute Lucian Burdujan fired wide from inside the box before his close-range effort was blocked by Dorin Goian as Steaua resisted for a valuable draw.
Suspension worries
Lucescu will take comfort from the fact none of the ten Rapid players who are one booking away from a ban picked up the caution that would have ruled them out of the second leg. However, Steaua have no new suspensions either, and will be boosted by the return of midfielder Gabriel Bostina next Thursday.
UEFA-Cup Quarter Finals, 2-nd Legs
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 2
