EPL Champions League Teams Struggle
Chelsea Lose to Roma; Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool Draw
Nov 7, 2008
Chelsea easily despatched of Sunderland at the weekend and went to Rome in high spirits only for their bubble to be broken by former player Christian Panucci.
After dominating the early stages, some awful defending allowed Panucci to slip around the back of super-hero John Terry and coolly slotted past Petr Cech.
Things went from bad to worse for Chelsea after the break. Within 15 minutes of the second half, Mirko Vucinic trebled his side’s lead to give the Stadio Olimpico side an unassailable lead.
Captain Fantastic Terry then pulled a goal back despite, arguably, being offside. Chelsea were then reduced to 10-men as Deco was dismissed, rather harshly, for two bookable offences.
Steven Gerrard Penalty Saves Liverpool
Liverpool were saved by a penalty from Steven Gerrard as they looked down the barrel of a home loss to Atletico Madrid.
The Spanish side went ahead against the run of play as Antonio Lopez played linked up with Maxi Rodriguez who converted. It was back-to-the-wall stuff for the next hour as the visiting defence impressed.
As the referee looked at his watch after 93 minutes, he suddenly realised Liverpool were on the verge of losing. Then, with an incredible stroke of luck, captain Gerrard went flying after being disposed of the ball by Mariano Pernia!
In the official’s defence, it is well documented that Gerrard never dives so it must have been a foul and Liverpool remain on course to win their group.
Ryan Giggs Header Denies Celtic
Manchester United also needed rescuing after almost losing to Celtic. Australian Scott McDonald put the Scottish side ahead after just quarter of an hour with a superb chip over Ben Foster.
Smililarly to Liverpool, United went on to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Glaswegian’s resolute defence. Boruc was beaten after an almost unstoppable Wayne Rooney effort was pushed into the path of Ryan Giggs who finished.
Dimitar Berbatov was then guilty of missing a sitter which he would probably have buried had he been in the white of Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal Draw with Fenerbache
Arsenal were unable to put the ball in the net as Fenerbache did what Madrid and Celtic failed – to keep a clean sheet. The North Londoners missed Emmanuel Adebayor and the watching crowd won’t be relishing the prospect of facing United without either Adebayor or Robin Van Persie.
Van Persie should have put the game beyond doubt but must watch from the Emirates stands as he embarks upon a three-game ban.
‘The Best League in the World’ hardly lived up to its reputation and needed saving as its UEFA Cup teams all triumphed. Although Aston Villa and Manchester City held on to one-goal victories, Tottenham eased bast Dinamo Zagreb 4-0.
