10 APRIL 2002
MAN UNITED 3-2 DEPORTIVO
Solskjaer 23, 56 Blanc 44 (og)
Giggs 69 Djlaminha 90
Fortune and Van Nistelrooy went close before Beckham left the field on a
strecher after a horrendous two footed murder attempt by Duscher. Solskjaer
came on in his place vollyed Man United into the lead from Veron's excellent
whipped free kick. Blanc turned Romero's centre past his own 'keeper to give
Depor an ill deserved equaliser.
Van Nistelrooy wasted two great chances before Solskjaer restored
Man United's lead thanks largely to a terrible mistake by Molina and a terrific
through pass from Veron. Bastard Duscher should have been sent off for
going through the back of Giggs. Scaloni earned his second booking for
protesting, probably for an off the ball incident as he left the pitch with
tricking down his face. Veron completed a hat-trick of assists by finding
on the right. He slalomed past two Depor players before blasting the ball
into the bottom corner. Van Nistelrooy hit the woodword. Butt got bastard
Duscher a second yellow with a dive. Now I'm not in favour of diving but
if the ref isn't going to give a player a red for a criminal tackle then players
should do whatever it takes to get cheating pieces of shit off the pitch.
Man United took their foot of the gas and Djalminha scored a consolation
goal with a deflected free kick.
Beckham has a broken foot and could miss the start of the World Cup. Depor
are a ******* disgrace.
Man United win 5-2 on aggregate.
Assists : Veron (fk), Veron (x2)
Red Cards : Scaloni 60 (Deportivo), Duscher 75 (Deportivo)
REAL MADRID 2-0 BAYERN MUNICH
Helguera 68
Guti 84
Solari barged his way past Jeremies and Lizarazu on the edge of the box
before sending the ball across the face of goal, Raul completely missed.
Bobby Carlos gave Salihamidzic a bloody nose with a cynically placed elbow.
Bayern blew two great chances late in the first half. Salihamidzic volleyed
straight at Cesar following a defensive mix-up between Hierro and Roberto
Carlos. Elber shot wide from six yards after a tremendous run by Kuffour
and lay-off from Salihamidzic.
Helguera bundled in Roberto Carlos' cross at the far post to give Real the lead
on away goals. Raul smashed his elbow in Linke's face as they challenged for
a ball, Linke lay on the floor with the Bayern players understandably waiting
for the ref's whistle but he didn't blow, Raul centred and Guti made it 2-0.
Scolari got Salihamidzic sent off with a total over-reaction to a body check.
Cesar made a superb save from Elber. Bayern didn't trouble Real with
desperate long balls.
Stefano Braschi is as corrupt a referee as you will see in Europe. UEFA
themselves are an utter disgrace. There was no mention whatsoever of either
elbowing incident in their match reports.
Real Madrid win 3-2 on aggregate
Assist : Raul
Red Card : Salihamidzic 90 (Bayern Munich)
9 APRIL 2002
LEVERKUSEN 4-2 LIVERPOOL
Ballack 15, 63 Xavier 41
Berbatov 68 Litmanen 79
Lucio 84
A glorious chance for Liverpool inside the first minute. Riise found Heskey with
a cross field pass but a trademark Sunday league first touch took him wide and
his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Ballack received the ball 25yds from
goal, feigned to shoot, making Gerrard slide tackle fresh air then ripped a left
foot shot into the top corner. Dudek possibly should have saved. Owen made
the first of his shocking misses minutes later. Xavier equalised just before
half time with a header from Murphy's corner.
Owen bottled two more one on ones with Butt, shooting against the post the
first time and wide the second. Hamann was substituted on the hour mark and
Liverpool's midfield fell apart. Ballack headed Leverkusen into the lead from
Schneider's cross and Berbatov seemed to put them out of sight five minutes
later. Ballack's miss-hit shot was rolled out wide to Neuville by Bradaric,
Neuville hit a blistering first time shot at goal, Henchoz handled on the line
but Berbatov stabbed home. Xavier was booked for going through Berbatov
with a nasty sliding tackle and saved from earning a red by being substituted.
Litmanen put Liverpool back in the tie with an excellent goal. Murphy passed
to him out wide on the left of the box, he slalomed past three players before
pacing the ball into the bottom corner. Lucio 'the stud' was lurking with intent
in the box, Basturk played him in as Carragher appealed for offside and he
lashed the ball under Dudek's legs. Neuville missed a sitter minutes later but
it was academic.
As good a match as you're likely to see this or any other season. Vitor Manuel
is the best referee in Europe. Not especially because of this match but for his
consistency. I've noticed him several times but never remember his name.
are going to give their semi-final opponents nightmares.
Leverkusen win 4:3 on aggregate
Assists : Basturk, Murphy (corner), Schneider, Murphy, Basturk
BARCELONA 3-1 PANATHINAIKOS
Luis Enrique 22, 49 Konstantinou 7
Saviola 61
A superb opening goal. Bassinas picked out Konstantinou with a long pass, he
held off De Boer before blasting a low shot inside Bonano's post. Brilliant shot.
Pana were stood in a line around their penalty area with Saviola in possession,
Luis Enrique raised a hand and gave him a shout, Saviola stuck the ball over
the top, Luis Enrique controlled it on his chest and volleyed past Nikopolidis.
Luis Enrique gave Barca a killer early second half goal from Rivaldo's free kick
and the Panathinaikos defence stood admiring Xavi's slow but accurate pass
as Saviola jogged into the box and fired past Nikopolidis. Bonano took out
Olisadebe when going for a cross, it should have been a penalty. As they lay
on the floor, Vlaovic centred the ball to Konstantinou but his volley was
brilliantly cleared off the line by Puyol, who had his hands behind his back to
avoid any chance of handball. Smart lad. Saviola chipped the ball against the
post. Olisadebe missed an open goal after substitute goalkeeper Reina made
a complete mess of a cross. Both teams wasted chances in injury time.
Rivaldo shot straight at Nikopolidis after making space for himself with a
clever dummy and in the sixth minute of injury time Karagounis sent a half
volley inches wide of the post.
Barcelona win 3-2 on aggregate
Assists : Bassinas, Saviola, Rivaldo (free kick), Xavi
3 APRIL 2002
PANATHINAIKOS 1-0 BARCELONA
Basinas 79 (Pen)
Kluivert took a pass from Overmars and took out a defender by jinking left
then hit a shot which curled wide of the post. Rochemback brilliantly evaded
a challenge on the edge of the box and hit a rising shot with just sailed
wide, he really should have scored. Konstantinou wasted Pana's best
chance, heading wide Basinas' cross. Abelardo headed wide from a corner.
Abelardo made a brilliant tackle on Kolkka in the box so the ref awarded
a penalty. Basinas sent the ball to Bonano's left, he dived right.
Panathinaikos were dreadful. The bad news is that Barca have learned how
to defend. I say it's bad because there is no longer any comedy value in the
team. Actually speaking of comedy the music Panathinaikos play at the end
of their matches is hilarious!
Assist : Kolkka (pen)
LIVERPOOL 1-0 LEVERKUSEN
Hyppia 44
Even in highlight form this match seemed to last 3 hours. The only goal
came from a corner. Riise swung the ball into the box, Owen controlled it
on his chest and squared for Hyppia who was standing on the goal-line,
1-0. Murphy picked out Heskey with an excellent long pass on the counter
but predictably a shocking first touch took him wide and Placente cleared.
Owen sent Riise away down on the left but he shot straight at Butt. Ballack
an open goal when he shot wide from the impressive Ze Roberto's cross.
Litmanen came off for Owen, who has stunk in recent weeks, and promptly
kicked fresh air when Murphy, easily Liverpool's best player on the night,
laid a goal on plate.
Leverkusen had a fair amount of possession but did nothing with the ball.
Assist : Owen
2 APRIL 2002
DEPORTIVO 0-2 MAN UNITED
Beckham 15
Van Nistelrooy 41
Man United started well but took the lead totally out of the blue with an
outstanding 35yd strike from Beckham, from wide on the right he sent the
ball dipping and curling into the top corner. Van Nistelrooy finished off an
excellent passing move between Scholes, Giggs, Johnsen and Silvestre with
a deft half volley. Keane was stretchered off just before half time with a
hamstring injury after a clumsy challenge by Sergio.
Giggs blew two gilt edged chances within a minute mid-way through the
second half and Van Nistelrooy stupidly went to ground in the box when
in an excellent scoring position. Solskjaer hit a post. Tristan should have
been sent off for a heinous foul on Beckham late in the second half but
escaped with a yellow. The England captain followed Ireland captain Roy
Keane out on a stretcher.
Man United should have won by three to four goals. Deportivo were pathetic
and their frustration boiled over with two shameful challenges on Keane and
Beckham respectively. Man United will be without Scholes, Beckham and
Keane for the return leg.
Assists : Keane, Silvestre
BAYERN MUNICH 2-1 REAL MADRID
Effenberg 82 Geremi 11
Pizarro 88
Geremi tried his luck from the edge of the box and even though Kahn had the
angle covered he misjudged the flight of the ball and it bounced into the net.
Terrible mistake by Kahn. Elber headed against the crossbar. Pavon stuck out
a leg in the box, Salihamidzic made sure he ran into it, penalty. Cesar made a
comfortable save from Effenberg's poor spot kick. Effenberg made up for his
earlier mistake with a close range strike following good work by Elber. Cesar
made a fantastic one handed save from another Elber header. Pizarro headed
on a Salihamidzic long ball, Elber headed it back and Pizzaro shot into the
ground and the ball bounced over a helpless Cesar.
Assists : Makelele, Elber (x2)
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