Ten-man Arsenal moved to the summit of the Premier League with a 2-0 home win over West Ham.
Denilson handed Arsenal the lead within five minutes, before Belgian centre half Thomas Vermaelen conceded a penalty and was subsequently given his marching orders on the stroke of half time. Manuel Almunia saved Diamanti's spot-kick to preserve the north London side's lead. Captain Cesc Fabregas settled the tie on 82 minutes from the penalty mark after Matthew Upson was adjudged to have handled the ball.
The win moves Arsenal a point clear at the top of The Premiership with Man United and Chelsea in action tomorrow afternoon. United host rivals Liverpool at 13:30 whilst Chelsea travel to Blackburn's Ewood Park in the 16:00 kick off. West Ham, however, failed to capitalise on defeats to relegation rivals Hull and Burnley, whilst seeing the two sides above them take positive results. West Ham's cushion between themselves and the drop zone remains at three.
Bristol City were pegged back from a two goal lead as Newcastle slip up at Ashston Gate.
First half goals from Lewin Nyatanga and Nicky Maynard handed caretaker Manager Keith Millen's side a 2-0 half time lead. But Newcastle made a strong comeback in the second half, with two goals in four minutes from Jonas Gutierrez and Andy Carroll leaving each side to share the spoils.
The result leaves Newcastle two points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand over their three closest rivals. Boss Chris Hughton will be confident in promotion, but it is yet to be seen whether The Magpies will sustain their title charge. Bristol City, meanwhile, are seven points clear of the relegation zone and not yet safe from the drop.
Saturday 20 March 2010
Saturday Afternoon Round-Up
The Premiership:
Harry Redknapp's Spurs earned a hard-fought away win at The Brittania Stadium after Niko Kranjcar's late goal seized the initative in the race for fourth. The north London side will have been buoyed by their 2-1 victory following a 2-2 draw in the early kick off for Aston Villa in an entertaining derby match with Midlands rivals Wolves. Villa boss Martin O' Neil will have been frustrated by his side's inability to overcome Wolves, and it took a late, and questionably offside equaliser from John Carew to secure a point for the Champions League chasing side. Elsewhere in the race for fourth spot, Everton did their prospects no harm with a professional 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Bolton at Goodison Park. Everton took the lead on 72 minutes shortly after the dismissal of the away side's Gretar Steinsson. The red card seemed to change the game, with Everton having being frustrated by the visitors to that point.
In this season's tense relegation scrap both Burnley and Hull conceded at the death to succumb to defeat. Iain Dowie's first game in charge of strugglers Hull seemed set to end in a priceless away win, until late goals from Jamie O' Hara and Nwankwo Kanu in the final two minutes snatched a 3-2 win for the doomed south coast team. Meanwhile, Hugo Rodallega's last minute goal over Brian Laws' Burnley will be considered by many as the goal that consigns Burnley to relegation in a heart-breaking 1-0 defeat.
At The Stadium of Light a goalkeeping masterclass from Sunderland stopper Craig Gordon saw the Black Cats safely through to a 3-1 win over stuttering Birmingham. Two early goals from Darren Bent saw the home side make an imperious start to the match, before Cameron Jerome pulled a goal back on 60 minutes to set up a tense finale. But Frazer Campbell's 88th minute goal settled the tie and brought Steve Bruce's side a welcome win over his former club to take Sunderland away from the relegation pack.
The Championship:
With Newcastle not due to kick off until 17:20, West Brom had an opportunity to close the gap at the top to just one point with a home game against Preston. The Baggies took their chance in a lively 3-2 victory, with all the goals coming in the first half. Having taken a 2-0 lead through goals from Ben Watson and Chris Brunt in the 7th and 9th minute, Preston defender Sean St. Ledger pulled one back for the visitors. Greame Dorrans restored a two-goal cushion for Roberto Di Matteo's side before Neil Mellor pulled another goal back for Preston on the stroke of half time. And 3-2 it stayed to take the automatic promotion chasing Baggies within a point of rivals Newcastle who would face Bristol City later on.
Robert Earnshaw's early goal proved to be the decider for Billy Davies' Nottingham Forest as they secured their 11th home win on the bounce over struggling Peterborough. The result leaves Forest 8 points behind automatic promotion with only 8 games remaining, which will surely prove to be insurmountable with Forest's patchy away form.
Playoff hopefuls Doncaster and Sheffield United played out a 1-1 draw at The Keepmoat Stadium, where it took a late James Harper equaliser to bring The Blades back on level terms. Meanwhile, playoff outsiders Middlesbrough and Reading also finished 1-1, as Blackpool needed a late Ben Burgess equaliser to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. The result leaves the league table looking ominous for Palace, as they drop into the relegation zone.
Elsewhere in the relegation battle, there were valuable home wins for both Ipswich and Scunthorpe. The 1-0 win for Roy Keane's side over Barnsley takes them 8 points clear of the meleé, and they can surely regard themselves as nearly home and dry. Scunthorpe secured a massive win over fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle to lift themselves out of the relegatio zone and leave Plymouth 6 points off safety with a 65 minute Martyn Woolford winner in a 2-1 victory. And Scunthorpe's win left steel city club Sheffield Wednesday looking nervously over their shoulders with just a point separating them and the drop zone following a 0-0 stalemate at home against Derby County.
League One:
There was frustration in the race for automatic promotion as both Charlton and Norwich dropped points. Norwich still hold an 8 point lead at the top, with Leeds due to play their game in hand on Monday night with Millwall. But it could have been a 10 point gap, had it not been for a late Gorden Greer equaliser for the home side as playoff-chasing Swindon Town secured a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile a battling away performance from Gillingham saw them gain a point in a 2-2 draw against local rivals Charlton. The result leaves Charlton 4 points behind second-placed Leeds United, and Swindon move level on 67 points as they make a late bid for automatic promotion.
In the race for the playoffs, Colchester succumbed to a poor 1-0 away defeat to 10-man Walsall, courtesy of a dramatic 94th minute winner from Darren Byfield. Colchester's loss was Huddersfield's gain as they strolled to a comfortable 2-0 away win at Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road. And in the outisde pack, Bristol Rovers' 3-0 away win at Yeovil saw them move to within a point of MK Dons, who were heavily beaten 3-0 at home by rank outsiders for the playoffs, Southampton.
Meanwhile, in the tight relegation scrap there were draws for three of the four sides in the drop zone. Stockport County were defeated 1-0 at home to Brentford in a result which sounded the death-knell on their season. Wycombe and Exeter played out a 2-2 draw with a point bringing Exeter within a point of safety but leaving The Chairboys in real peril 7 points from survival. Southend also played out a 2-2 draw at Roots Hall against Carlisle. And in a tie between two sides not yet safe from relegation, Brighton enjoyed a 2-0 away win over Oldham to take them up into 14th spot, but still only 7 points away from the drop zone.
League Two:
Two late goals for Rochdale secured a 4-2 away win for champions elect away at Accrington. Both sides were reduced to 10-men after 74 minutes, after which Rochdale scored two late goals to take them 11 points clear at the top of the table. Notts County underlined their automatic promotion credentials with a battling 1-0 away win at Crewe Alexandra as Bournemouth's hopes were dealt a blow after they conceded a late goal away at Grimsby's Blundell Park to lose 3-2. The result was a massive one for The Mariners, bringing them back to 4 points off survival.
Rotherham applied further pressure to Bournemouth with a 1-0 victory over Bury, which saw the away side slip further down the table and away from the automatic promotion spot. And Chesterfield were left to settle for an away point at mid-table Burton Albion in a 2-2 draw between two sides who had both conceded 5 the previous Saturday; whilst Chesterfield having been hammered 5-0, Burton remarkably lost 6-5 at home to Cheltenham.
Results from the playoff hopefuls saw Northampton take a comfortable 3 points from fellow playoff contenders Morecambe in a 2-0 win at Sixfields as Aldershot enjoyed the same scoreline in a home win over Shrewsbury Town. Dagenham & Redbridge came from behind to secure a 3-1 home win over Macclesfield which leaves Macclesfield yet to be sure of League 2 survival.
At the foot of the table, Grimsby's 3-2 win over Bournemouth moves them to within 4 points of safety as a 2-1 home defeat for Darlington against Barnet all but confirmed their relegation as The Bees moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone. A 2-0 win for Hereford over Bradford meant they remained level with Barnet on points, also 10 points clear of the drop zone. The 1-1 stalemate between Cheltenham and Port Vale will leave The Robins nervously watching the progress of Grimsby Town behind them.
Harry Redknapp's Spurs earned a hard-fought away win at The Brittania Stadium after Niko Kranjcar's late goal seized the initative in the race for fourth. The north London side will have been buoyed by their 2-1 victory following a 2-2 draw in the early kick off for Aston Villa in an entertaining derby match with Midlands rivals Wolves. Villa boss Martin O' Neil will have been frustrated by his side's inability to overcome Wolves, and it took a late, and questionably offside equaliser from John Carew to secure a point for the Champions League chasing side. Elsewhere in the race for fourth spot, Everton did their prospects no harm with a professional 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Bolton at Goodison Park. Everton took the lead on 72 minutes shortly after the dismissal of the away side's Gretar Steinsson. The red card seemed to change the game, with Everton having being frustrated by the visitors to that point.
In this season's tense relegation scrap both Burnley and Hull conceded at the death to succumb to defeat. Iain Dowie's first game in charge of strugglers Hull seemed set to end in a priceless away win, until late goals from Jamie O' Hara and Nwankwo Kanu in the final two minutes snatched a 3-2 win for the doomed south coast team. Meanwhile, Hugo Rodallega's last minute goal over Brian Laws' Burnley will be considered by many as the goal that consigns Burnley to relegation in a heart-breaking 1-0 defeat.
At The Stadium of Light a goalkeeping masterclass from Sunderland stopper Craig Gordon saw the Black Cats safely through to a 3-1 win over stuttering Birmingham. Two early goals from Darren Bent saw the home side make an imperious start to the match, before Cameron Jerome pulled a goal back on 60 minutes to set up a tense finale. But Frazer Campbell's 88th minute goal settled the tie and brought Steve Bruce's side a welcome win over his former club to take Sunderland away from the relegation pack.
The Championship:
With Newcastle not due to kick off until 17:20, West Brom had an opportunity to close the gap at the top to just one point with a home game against Preston. The Baggies took their chance in a lively 3-2 victory, with all the goals coming in the first half. Having taken a 2-0 lead through goals from Ben Watson and Chris Brunt in the 7th and 9th minute, Preston defender Sean St. Ledger pulled one back for the visitors. Greame Dorrans restored a two-goal cushion for Roberto Di Matteo's side before Neil Mellor pulled another goal back for Preston on the stroke of half time. And 3-2 it stayed to take the automatic promotion chasing Baggies within a point of rivals Newcastle who would face Bristol City later on.
Robert Earnshaw's early goal proved to be the decider for Billy Davies' Nottingham Forest as they secured their 11th home win on the bounce over struggling Peterborough. The result leaves Forest 8 points behind automatic promotion with only 8 games remaining, which will surely prove to be insurmountable with Forest's patchy away form.
Playoff hopefuls Doncaster and Sheffield United played out a 1-1 draw at The Keepmoat Stadium, where it took a late James Harper equaliser to bring The Blades back on level terms. Meanwhile, playoff outsiders Middlesbrough and Reading also finished 1-1, as Blackpool needed a late Ben Burgess equaliser to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. The result leaves the league table looking ominous for Palace, as they drop into the relegation zone.
Elsewhere in the relegation battle, there were valuable home wins for both Ipswich and Scunthorpe. The 1-0 win for Roy Keane's side over Barnsley takes them 8 points clear of the meleé, and they can surely regard themselves as nearly home and dry. Scunthorpe secured a massive win over fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle to lift themselves out of the relegatio zone and leave Plymouth 6 points off safety with a 65 minute Martyn Woolford winner in a 2-1 victory. And Scunthorpe's win left steel city club Sheffield Wednesday looking nervously over their shoulders with just a point separating them and the drop zone following a 0-0 stalemate at home against Derby County.
League One:
There was frustration in the race for automatic promotion as both Charlton and Norwich dropped points. Norwich still hold an 8 point lead at the top, with Leeds due to play their game in hand on Monday night with Millwall. But it could have been a 10 point gap, had it not been for a late Gorden Greer equaliser for the home side as playoff-chasing Swindon Town secured a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile a battling away performance from Gillingham saw them gain a point in a 2-2 draw against local rivals Charlton. The result leaves Charlton 4 points behind second-placed Leeds United, and Swindon move level on 67 points as they make a late bid for automatic promotion.
In the race for the playoffs, Colchester succumbed to a poor 1-0 away defeat to 10-man Walsall, courtesy of a dramatic 94th minute winner from Darren Byfield. Colchester's loss was Huddersfield's gain as they strolled to a comfortable 2-0 away win at Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road. And in the outisde pack, Bristol Rovers' 3-0 away win at Yeovil saw them move to within a point of MK Dons, who were heavily beaten 3-0 at home by rank outsiders for the playoffs, Southampton.
Meanwhile, in the tight relegation scrap there were draws for three of the four sides in the drop zone. Stockport County were defeated 1-0 at home to Brentford in a result which sounded the death-knell on their season. Wycombe and Exeter played out a 2-2 draw with a point bringing Exeter within a point of safety but leaving The Chairboys in real peril 7 points from survival. Southend also played out a 2-2 draw at Roots Hall against Carlisle. And in a tie between two sides not yet safe from relegation, Brighton enjoyed a 2-0 away win over Oldham to take them up into 14th spot, but still only 7 points away from the drop zone.
League Two:
Two late goals for Rochdale secured a 4-2 away win for champions elect away at Accrington. Both sides were reduced to 10-men after 74 minutes, after which Rochdale scored two late goals to take them 11 points clear at the top of the table. Notts County underlined their automatic promotion credentials with a battling 1-0 away win at Crewe Alexandra as Bournemouth's hopes were dealt a blow after they conceded a late goal away at Grimsby's Blundell Park to lose 3-2. The result was a massive one for The Mariners, bringing them back to 4 points off survival.
Rotherham applied further pressure to Bournemouth with a 1-0 victory over Bury, which saw the away side slip further down the table and away from the automatic promotion spot. And Chesterfield were left to settle for an away point at mid-table Burton Albion in a 2-2 draw between two sides who had both conceded 5 the previous Saturday; whilst Chesterfield having been hammered 5-0, Burton remarkably lost 6-5 at home to Cheltenham.
Results from the playoff hopefuls saw Northampton take a comfortable 3 points from fellow playoff contenders Morecambe in a 2-0 win at Sixfields as Aldershot enjoyed the same scoreline in a home win over Shrewsbury Town. Dagenham & Redbridge came from behind to secure a 3-1 home win over Macclesfield which leaves Macclesfield yet to be sure of League 2 survival.
At the foot of the table, Grimsby's 3-2 win over Bournemouth moves them to within 4 points of safety as a 2-1 home defeat for Darlington against Barnet all but confirmed their relegation as The Bees moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone. A 2-0 win for Hereford over Bradford meant they remained level with Barnet on points, also 10 points clear of the drop zone. The 1-1 stalemate between Cheltenham and Port Vale will leave The Robins nervously watching the progress of Grimsby Town behind them.
Friday 19 March 2010
Ferguson will be wary of Bayern Munich threat
Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will have been pleased by this morning's UEFA Champions League quarter and semi-final draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
The English champions avoided current holders and favourites Barcelona in both the quarter and semi-final stage, drawing Bayern Munich in a repeat of the thrilling 1998/1999 final. Should United progress against the German side they would face the winner of the all-French quarter final between Bordeaux and Lyon, in the semi-final.
On paper, United have drawn the most favourable opponents, and would now be considered likely to reach the showpiece final in Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium. But Bayern are not a side to be underestimated.
After an inconsistent start to this year's Bundesliga campaign, manager Louis van Gaal has got his Bayern side firing. The Germans currently sit atop the league, and overcame Fiorentina to progress to the quarter-final stage. During the course of this tie, Bayern showed incredible resolve, alongside a dangerous attacking threat. Arjen Robben's sensational strike handed van Gaal's side a win on the away goal ruling and Bayern will be buoyed by their record against United. In seven meetings between the two, the English have only a solitary win (that memorable 1999 final)
Memories of that incredible 1999 final will undoubtedly dominate the media focus approaching the fixture, and rightly so.
It is not that the match, itself, was particularly entertaining. It is simply the sheer, unbridled nature of the reversal that makes this match unique. Bayern twice struck the woodwork when one goal up, and would surely have won the trophy had either effort found the goal. But it was not to be, and the late goals from Sheringham and Solskjaer have gone down in Manchester United and Champions League folklore.
But the Bayern fans will remember that night too. The Germans will be keen to turn United over and start the healing process from that fateful night in Barcelona in 1999. Whilst United will be strong favourites to win the tie, and, indeed, progress to the final, Bayern will be as spurred on as United by events from the final 11 years ago.
The English champions avoided current holders and favourites Barcelona in both the quarter and semi-final stage, drawing Bayern Munich in a repeat of the thrilling 1998/1999 final. Should United progress against the German side they would face the winner of the all-French quarter final between Bordeaux and Lyon, in the semi-final.
On paper, United have drawn the most favourable opponents, and would now be considered likely to reach the showpiece final in Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium. But Bayern are not a side to be underestimated.
After an inconsistent start to this year's Bundesliga campaign, manager Louis van Gaal has got his Bayern side firing. The Germans currently sit atop the league, and overcame Fiorentina to progress to the quarter-final stage. During the course of this tie, Bayern showed incredible resolve, alongside a dangerous attacking threat. Arjen Robben's sensational strike handed van Gaal's side a win on the away goal ruling and Bayern will be buoyed by their record against United. In seven meetings between the two, the English have only a solitary win (that memorable 1999 final)
Memories of that incredible 1999 final will undoubtedly dominate the media focus approaching the fixture, and rightly so.
It is not that the match, itself, was particularly entertaining. It is simply the sheer, unbridled nature of the reversal that makes this match unique. Bayern twice struck the woodwork when one goal up, and would surely have won the trophy had either effort found the goal. But it was not to be, and the late goals from Sheringham and Solskjaer have gone down in Manchester United and Champions League folklore.
But the Bayern fans will remember that night too. The Germans will be keen to turn United over and start the healing process from that fateful night in Barcelona in 1999. Whilst United will be strong favourites to win the tie, and, indeed, progress to the final, Bayern will be as spurred on as United by events from the final 11 years ago.
Zamora still has more to prove to book World Cup spot
There have been increasing calls for Bobby Zamora's inclusion in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad following the striker's impressive showing against Juventus last night.
The 29 year old Fulham player put in a mature performance against the most decorated side in Italian football history, scoring The Cottagers' opening goal and sparking the emphatic come-back which saw the West Londoners through to the Europa League quarter final. But the clamour for Zamora to feature in England's squad for South Africa is more an indictment of English attacking depth - beyond the imperious Wayne Rooney - than it is belief that Bobby Zamora is the calibre of player to score the goals that will win the World Cup.
The striker, to his credit, has scored some crucial goals for Fulham this season. Having declined a summer move to Premiership strugglers Hull City, the former Spurs and West Ham player has enjoyed his most consistent top-flight season to date. The 29 year old has netted 16 goals this season, with Premiership strikes against Liverpool and Manchester United. Furthermore, Zamora has weighed in with some important goals in Fulham's European adventure. His strong outing in The Cottagers' crucial 3-2 win at FC Basel's St. Jakob-Park saw him score twice to send his side through to the knockout phase of the Europa League. There, he scored the winner at Craven Cottage over Europa League holders, Ukranian side Shaktar Donetsk before last night's effort against Juventus.
Zamora is undoubtedly a grafter, and typifies the workmanlike foundation upon which the impressive Roy Hodgson has constructed his Fulham side. The English striker has demonstrated a penchant for scoring in important fixtures this season, but it is yet to be seen whether or not he can perform on the biggest stage. Without any international or Champions League appearances in his career, Fabio Capello will struggle to assess Zamora's big-match credentials, save for Fulham's buccaneering European campaign. Furthermore, Zamora does flatter to deceive. The unimpressive form shown prior to this season must be taken into account. In terms of Premiership records, the 29 year old can only be regarded as a failure at both Spurs and West Ham.
Today's news of an hamstring tear suffered by Jermain Defoe, as well as monitoring Carlton Cole's return to fitness, will frustrate Fabio Capello. The England manager unveils his 23-man squad on the 1st of June, and he has been posed several dilemmas by injuries to players on the periphery of his squad for South Africa. The attacking department is just another area where Capello now has crucial decisions to make.
Whilst Zamora's recent performances will not have gone unnoticed by the 63 year old manager - Capello was present at Fulham's Craven Cottage triumph last night - he has not shown much creativity in his attacking selections to date. England play just 2 more friendlies before Capello names his World Cup squad. The national side will face Mexico at Wembley in May, before playing Japan in Austria later that week, and Zamora certainly deserves an opportunity on the international stage. But questions still remain over whether Zamora has the consistent ability to shine on the world's biggest stage.
The 29 year old Fulham player put in a mature performance against the most decorated side in Italian football history, scoring The Cottagers' opening goal and sparking the emphatic come-back which saw the West Londoners through to the Europa League quarter final. But the clamour for Zamora to feature in England's squad for South Africa is more an indictment of English attacking depth - beyond the imperious Wayne Rooney - than it is belief that Bobby Zamora is the calibre of player to score the goals that will win the World Cup.
The striker, to his credit, has scored some crucial goals for Fulham this season. Having declined a summer move to Premiership strugglers Hull City, the former Spurs and West Ham player has enjoyed his most consistent top-flight season to date. The 29 year old has netted 16 goals this season, with Premiership strikes against Liverpool and Manchester United. Furthermore, Zamora has weighed in with some important goals in Fulham's European adventure. His strong outing in The Cottagers' crucial 3-2 win at FC Basel's St. Jakob-Park saw him score twice to send his side through to the knockout phase of the Europa League. There, he scored the winner at Craven Cottage over Europa League holders, Ukranian side Shaktar Donetsk before last night's effort against Juventus.
Zamora is undoubtedly a grafter, and typifies the workmanlike foundation upon which the impressive Roy Hodgson has constructed his Fulham side. The English striker has demonstrated a penchant for scoring in important fixtures this season, but it is yet to be seen whether or not he can perform on the biggest stage. Without any international or Champions League appearances in his career, Fabio Capello will struggle to assess Zamora's big-match credentials, save for Fulham's buccaneering European campaign. Furthermore, Zamora does flatter to deceive. The unimpressive form shown prior to this season must be taken into account. In terms of Premiership records, the 29 year old can only be regarded as a failure at both Spurs and West Ham.
Today's news of an hamstring tear suffered by Jermain Defoe, as well as monitoring Carlton Cole's return to fitness, will frustrate Fabio Capello. The England manager unveils his 23-man squad on the 1st of June, and he has been posed several dilemmas by injuries to players on the periphery of his squad for South Africa. The attacking department is just another area where Capello now has crucial decisions to make.
Whilst Zamora's recent performances will not have gone unnoticed by the 63 year old manager - Capello was present at Fulham's Craven Cottage triumph last night - he has not shown much creativity in his attacking selections to date. England play just 2 more friendlies before Capello names his World Cup squad. The national side will face Mexico at Wembley in May, before playing Japan in Austria later that week, and Zamora certainly deserves an opportunity on the international stage. But questions still remain over whether Zamora has the consistent ability to shine on the world's biggest stage.
Thursday 18 March 2010
Europa League Bursts Into Life
The UEFA Europa League tonight stepped out of the colossal shadow cast upon it by European football's premier competition, The Champions League.
And no performance exemplified this more than Fulham's sensational win over Italian giants Juventus. Taking a 3-1 deficit into the second leg, Dickson Etuhu's away goal was the only crumb of comfort for Roy Hodgson's side. But under the watchful eye of Fabio Capello, Bobby Zamora turned in a bravura performance. The English striker lifted his team mates around him and restored parity on the night on 9 minutes following David Trezeguet's early opener for the Bianconeri.
Their task, however, was still a daunting one.
Fulham passed their test of character with flying colours. And it was the colour red that proved significant with just 27 minutes on the clock. Italian national Captain Fabio Cannavaro was shown his marching orders for a dubious professional foul. The Italian centre half's dismissal breathed fresh impetus into The Cottagers, and it was no surprise when Zoltan Gera fired in goals either side of half time to bring the tie back even at 4-4.
Then followed a somewhat attritional period, no doubt exacerbated by the knowledge that the next goal in the tie could likely be a decider. This proved to be the case in the 83rd minute when Clint Dempsey scored an exquisite chip worthy of winning any tie. The American striker's finish will not have escaped the notice of England supremo Capello, with his side due to face USA in this summer's World Cup. Juventus 'keeper Antonio Chimenti was a mere spectator as Dempsey's deft effort sent the West London faithful into raptures and Fulham into the quarter final of the Europa League.
For Liverpool, the only other English side remaining in the competition, the night proved to be somewhat more straight forward. Following a lacklustre first leg performance that saw Rafael Benítez's side lose by a solitary goal in France, Liverpool's ailing season demanded an improved performance. Anfield's famous Kop End once again served as inspiration for the Merseyside club, and it was their favourite son and chief talisman Steven Gerrard who fired them into the lead from the penalty spot within 10 minutes.
A Liverpool victory was secured by a Fernando Torres masterclass. The Spaniard simply oozed quality, taking his 50th minute goal with impeccable ease. The former Atletico Madrid striker's strike left the tie poised at 2-1, and a tense atmosphere developed with Lille needing just a crucial away goal to win the tie. Any concerns were ended in the final minute of normal time when Torres settled the tie after Lille 'keeper Landreau parried a Steven Gerrard effort.
Progression to the quarter final was a welcome distraction for beleaguered reds manager Benítez, whose latest mini-crisis was sparked when out of favour winger Albert Riera criticised the Liverpool bosses' methods. The Anfield side's manager can look forward to the Europa League draw tomorrow morning knowing that his former side Valencia are potential opponents.
Valencia triumphed over Werder Bremen in an enthralling 4-4 (agg. 5-5) draw at Bremen's Weserstadion, featuring a marvellous hattrick from Spanish hitman David Villa. Elsewhere, Hamburg secured a nailbiting victory away at Anderlecht, losing on the night 4-3 but winning 6-5 on aggregate, Wolfsburg needed extra time to overcome Russian champions Rubin Kazan, whilst there were wins for Standard Liege, Atletico Madrid and Benfica, who recorded an impressive 2-1 win at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome.
The line-up of sides who have progressed to the quarter and semi final draw, to be held in Nyon at 11 o' clock on Friday morning, is as follows:
Atletico Madrid
Benfica
Fulham
Hamburg
Liverpool
Standard Liege
Valencia
Wolfsburg
Matthew Caspell
And no performance exemplified this more than Fulham's sensational win over Italian giants Juventus. Taking a 3-1 deficit into the second leg, Dickson Etuhu's away goal was the only crumb of comfort for Roy Hodgson's side. But under the watchful eye of Fabio Capello, Bobby Zamora turned in a bravura performance. The English striker lifted his team mates around him and restored parity on the night on 9 minutes following David Trezeguet's early opener for the Bianconeri.
Their task, however, was still a daunting one.
Fulham passed their test of character with flying colours. And it was the colour red that proved significant with just 27 minutes on the clock. Italian national Captain Fabio Cannavaro was shown his marching orders for a dubious professional foul. The Italian centre half's dismissal breathed fresh impetus into The Cottagers, and it was no surprise when Zoltan Gera fired in goals either side of half time to bring the tie back even at 4-4.
Then followed a somewhat attritional period, no doubt exacerbated by the knowledge that the next goal in the tie could likely be a decider. This proved to be the case in the 83rd minute when Clint Dempsey scored an exquisite chip worthy of winning any tie. The American striker's finish will not have escaped the notice of England supremo Capello, with his side due to face USA in this summer's World Cup. Juventus 'keeper Antonio Chimenti was a mere spectator as Dempsey's deft effort sent the West London faithful into raptures and Fulham into the quarter final of the Europa League.
For Liverpool, the only other English side remaining in the competition, the night proved to be somewhat more straight forward. Following a lacklustre first leg performance that saw Rafael Benítez's side lose by a solitary goal in France, Liverpool's ailing season demanded an improved performance. Anfield's famous Kop End once again served as inspiration for the Merseyside club, and it was their favourite son and chief talisman Steven Gerrard who fired them into the lead from the penalty spot within 10 minutes.
A Liverpool victory was secured by a Fernando Torres masterclass. The Spaniard simply oozed quality, taking his 50th minute goal with impeccable ease. The former Atletico Madrid striker's strike left the tie poised at 2-1, and a tense atmosphere developed with Lille needing just a crucial away goal to win the tie. Any concerns were ended in the final minute of normal time when Torres settled the tie after Lille 'keeper Landreau parried a Steven Gerrard effort.
Progression to the quarter final was a welcome distraction for beleaguered reds manager Benítez, whose latest mini-crisis was sparked when out of favour winger Albert Riera criticised the Liverpool bosses' methods. The Anfield side's manager can look forward to the Europa League draw tomorrow morning knowing that his former side Valencia are potential opponents.
Valencia triumphed over Werder Bremen in an enthralling 4-4 (agg. 5-5) draw at Bremen's Weserstadion, featuring a marvellous hattrick from Spanish hitman David Villa. Elsewhere, Hamburg secured a nailbiting victory away at Anderlecht, losing on the night 4-3 but winning 6-5 on aggregate, Wolfsburg needed extra time to overcome Russian champions Rubin Kazan, whilst there were wins for Standard Liege, Atletico Madrid and Benfica, who recorded an impressive 2-1 win at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome.
The line-up of sides who have progressed to the quarter and semi final draw, to be held in Nyon at 11 o' clock on Friday morning, is as follows:
Atletico Madrid
Benfica
Fulham
Hamburg
Liverpool
Standard Liege
Valencia
Wolfsburg
Matthew Caspell
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