ACTUALITE |
01.03.2002
UEFA Cup: yesterday`s matches in review
In a night of Uefa Cup shocks, Parma, Lyon and Leeds all found themselves dumped out of the competition in dramatic fashion.
Many expected an easy passage through for Parma after a hard earned 0-0 first-leg draw with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. The reality was anything but. Goals from Milan Osterc and Istvan Pisont put Hapoel 2-0 ahead and the Italians` only reply was an 84th minute consolation goal from Emiliano Bonazzoli.
Hapoel`s staggering achievement simply cannot be understated. They`ve already achieved the feat of being the most successful Israeli team ever to enter the Uefa Cup but to beat Chelsea and Parma on the way to doing it is quite amazing. We are talking about side`s with budgets hundreds of times bigger than Hapoel`s and yet the team from Tel Aviv have continued to upset the form book. It just goes to show that even in this modern age, money isn`t everything.
Lyon were another major casualty of the night as they went out in embarrassing fashion, 4-1, at Slovan Liberec. Goals from Nezmar(2), Stajner and Neumann ensured it was a night to remember for the Czech side, and Lyon could only muster a reply through Patrick Muller.
Lyon are now left to reflect on the possibility of yet another trophy-less season. Following the weekend`s defeat at Sochaux their title hopes have almost faded and they are now left with the prospect of a real fight for a Champions League spot. As for Liberec, it would be no surprise to see a number of their highly talented players popping up in the European leagues in the next year or so.
Leeds United`s last chance of a trophy also went last night as they were beaten 1-0 by PSV Eindhoven in dramatic fashion at Elland Road. It was yet another poor performance from the Yorkshire side and PSV got the goal they`ll feel they deserved when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed a last minute winner. This was a huge result for the Dutch side and served, once again, to demonstrate that a 0-0 away draw is always a risky result.
With Leeds nine points off the Champions League places in the Premiership, it looks increasingly likely that David O`Leary`s side will be playing Uefa Cup football at best next season. There will also be the inevitable talk of a mass exodus at the club although these suggestions are surely premature.
Milan survived a huge scar before booking their passage through to the quarter finals after they were beaten 1-0 by Roda JC at the San Siro. A 71st minute goal from Mark Luijpers stunned the home crowd and sent the match into extra time after that 1-0 first-leg Milan win. Despite missing two penalties, the Rossoneri made it through after Cosmin Contra netted the decisive spot-kick.
Lets not be fooled by Milan`s appearance in the quarter finals though. This is a desperately poor Rossoneri team who`ve so miserably underachieved once again this season. Defensively they look shaky, in midfield they lack invention without Manuel Rui Costa, while up-front, if Andriy Shevchenko doesn`t get the goals, who will?
Their neighbours Inter enjoyed a rather less dramatic passage through to the last eight after drawing 2-2 with AEK Athens in Greece. With the 3-1 first-leg advantage, the Nerazzurri soon made it 4-1 on aggregate when Vratislav Gresko found the net early on. Despite going 2-1 down, Nicola Ventola netted his third goal in three games to make it 2-2 and end any lingering hopes that the Greeks had of causing an upset. Hector Cuper`s side now look favourites for the competition but ironically they may well come up against their toughest opposition in the next round as they meet Valencia.
The Ches made it through after a 2-2 draw with Swiss minnows Servette. After the 3-0 first-leg scoreline the outcome was never really in doubt. Juan Sanchez and Miguel Angulo were the men on target for Rafael Benitez` side to set up that mouth watering quarter final with the Nerazzurri. It will be a terrific tactical battle between two of the meanest defensive sides in Europe. Both currently top their domestic leagues and one senses that it could be a moment of brilliance from say, Christian Vieri or Pablo Aimar, that separates the teams after 180 minutes.
Elsewhere, Feyenoord booked their place in the next round with a 3-2 win over Rangers and in the night`s remaining encounter Borussia Dortmund squeaked through after a 1-1 aggregate draw with Lille. The match ended 0-0 on the night and Matthias Sammer`s side will now face Slovan Liberec in the next round.
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