This week see’s the return of the mighty Champions League quarter finals and have thrown up some interesting ties and some equally finely balanced score lines for the second leg, which are only a week away. The first ties where played yesterday (Tuesday 7th April 2009.) First up current Champions League holders Manchester United who faced Portuguese domestic champions F.C Porto.
Man Utd came into the game in relatively good form, after beating Aston Villa 3-2 thanks to a last gasp strike from 17 year old Italian striker Federico Machede whose clinical finish came on his first start for the Red Devils. F.C Porto had also come into the tie in relatively good form with a comprehensive 3-1 victory against mid table Guimaraes. The tie began at a frantic pace with Porto taking a shock lead within four minutes, through Christian Rodriguez whose accurate shot found the net. Normal service was soon resumed as Wayne Rooney pounced on a defensive error to level up the scores just before half time.
Man Utd looked frail at the back without talismanic centre back Rio Ferdinand who was ruled out with a groin strain. But still Porto where playing some fantastic fast paced football throughout the second half, the red devils still looked off the pace with Porto’s Brazilian keeper Helton pulling off a number of saves to deny United, notably from Nemanja Vidic’s powerful header from a Ryan Giggs corner. Sir Alex Ferguson was looking for a winner and threw on Argentine striker Carlos Tevez who duly scored with five minutes from time. However there was a final twist in this tale as Porto’s midfield maestro Lucho Gonzalez slipped in Mariano Gonzalez who was unmarked to shoot past Edwin Van Der Sar to level up the tie 2-2. It leaves Sir Alex’s men with a difficult task when they visit Oporto in a week’s time as they look to retain their Champions League crown.
The other fixture on Tuesday was between the Spanish side Villarreal and north London giants Arsenal. Before this fixture the Gunners had been in fine form in the league by beating Manchester City 2-0 with stand out performances from returning stars Emmanuel Adebayor & Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal have been in fantastic form in the league recently and have not been beaten in their last 17 games. Villarreal however had stuttered in the league against relegation threatened Almeria by losing 3-0 former Arsenal player Robert Pires being sent off in the game. Also Villarreal had to deal with the blow of Midfielder Santi Carzola on the sidelines for the rest of the season after badly breaking his ankle during the game.
The game started at a frantic pace with Villarreal really taking it to the visitors, their attractive brand of quick passing and movement drew comparisons with Arsenal in their own pomp. The yellow submarine struck after just 10 minutes after a 30 yard screamer from Spanish midfielder Marcos Senna who was given way to much time to pick his shot. Arsenal where dealt a blow later in the half as keeper Manuel Almunia limped off the pitch with an injured ankle. Replacement Lucas Fabianski duly stepped into the breach and pulled off a number of fantastic saves to keep the Spanish side at bay.
The second half started and Arsenal returned as a different side that graced the pitch in the first half. Now more direct and assertive they began to dictate the game with the unique passing football that is expected from Arsene Wenger’s side. Arsenal levelled up the score on the 66th minute thanks to an exceptional piece of improvisation from Adebayor. A long clipped ball from Cesc Fabregas was dispatched by Adebayor with an outrageous overhead kick which left Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez firmly rooted to the spot. The game finished at 1-1 and the vital away goal leaves Arsenal in the driving seat for a place in the final four of the Champions League.
Wednesday’s set of games also threw up two interesting ties, the first of which being the all English affair between Liverpool and Chelsea. This game had the distinct feeling of déjà vu as the sides have met five times in the last six Champions League seasons. Liverpool came into the game of the back of a last minute victory over Fulham, with a last minute winner from Yossi Benayoun. Chelsea came into the game after comprehensively winning 2-0 against Newcastle United away from home.
The match burst into life in only the sixth minute when Spanish striker Fernando Torres slotting past Peter Chech. Slowly Chelsea got back into the game and striker Didier Drogba spurned a number of chances, but Serbian defender Ivanovic battling through the Liverpool defence to head in Frank Lampard’s corner. The score was finely balanced at 1-1 at half time of a surprisingly open encounter. With the second half underway Chelsea struck again with a carbon copy of their first with the big Serb finding his way through Liverpool’s static zonal marking to make it 2-1 for the Blues.
Liverpool looked increasingly out of sorts and just five minutes later Chelsea delivered a killer blow to Liverpool’s hopes of reaching the last four when Drogba scored from close range to put Chelsea 3-1 up on the night. It may now take a minor miracle for the Liverpool to progress as it’s pretty hard to see Chelsea surrendering a two goal lead at Stanford Bridge.
The final game of the quarter finals came between Barcelona & Bayern Munich. Barca have been in fantastic form on all fronts this season sweeping to a six point lead in the league this season, coming into this fixture after beating Valladolid 1-0 in a difficult fixture after International week. Bayern on the other hand had just been on the wrong end of a 5-1 mauling at the hands of top of the table Wolfsburg, the result piled on pressure on Bayern who domestically look like they are slipping off the pace.
So with that in mind Jurgen Klinsmann’s men came into the game knowing that they had to perform. However that’s hard at the best of times against Barca whose form this season has been sublime. The Catalans wasted little time through the magic of Leo Messi who rounded of a well crafted passing move to calmly slot pass Hans Jorg Butt. Barca where relentless in attack with Bayern looking little like the side that comprehensively beat Sporting in the last 16. Only three minutes later Samuel Eto rounded off another well rounded passing move to score Barca’s second of the evening.
Barca looked like a well oiled footballing machine working hard all over the pitch with or without the ball. It was only a matter of time before it was 3-0 with Thierry Henry providing for Leo Messi who slid in for a third. The French striker got his well deserved goal after a well played advantage from English referee Howard Webb which left Henry one on one with the keeper gracefully slotting into the net and leaving barca with an unthinkable 4 goal lead going into half time.
But credit to Bayern they did improve in the second half thanks in part to the introduction of Andreas Ottel who added some much-needed steel in midfield for the Germans. They did have one chance however; however the trusty boot of Carlos Puyol was there to deny Brazilian Ze Roberto. Barca still had chances and Messi could have scored a hat trick if not for the ball being cleared off the line by his own player. The final score of 4-0 all but means that Barca are in the semi finals and it will be amazing if Bayern are to beat them overall.
Over in America and the MLS is in full swing and is currently in its third week of competition. With the newest franchise to the league Seattle Sounders are certainly making waves early on. Marque signing Fredrick Ljungberg hasn’t taken long to settle in with the Swedish midfielder scoring against Toronto F.C in a comprehensive 2-0 victory. Chivas USA also remain unbeaten in the Western Conference and ground out an impressive victory against Columbus Crew at the weekend with defender Andy Iro on hand to score the winner.
In the Eastern Conference and Chicago Fire are the team to beat, with the like’s of veteran Mexico striker Temo Blanco & seasoned international Brian Mc Bride have created a blossoming partnership upfront. Meaning the Fire will be looking to get their hands on some gold this season. They managed to defeat New York Bulls at the weekend even after midfielder John Torrington fouled New York's Macoumba Kandji earning himself an early bath and leaving his side with ten men. However the Fire fought back and Marco Pappa’s heavily deflected shot was enough to give the Fire a toughly fought victory.
Oh and Month of March threw up some Beautiful strikes goal of the month time ive found three crackers... what do you think? Let me know at michfreeley@hotmail.com
Number 1: Bilica's delicious free kick against Fenerbache (March the 4th)
Number 2: Kenny Cooper does a Beckham, im a fan of the 60 yard strike. the music and commentary just makes it better too. (March 21st 2009)
Number 3:Eduardo Silva's beach football strike against Burnley. I had the priverlage to see this goal live, the Croat from Brazil's volley was on a different planet but is it better than the two previous strikes? (8th March 2009)
