Wednesday 3 October 2007

CL Matchday 2: Wednesday Review

Nelson Dida was at the centre of AC Milan's shock 2-1 defeat at Celtic, as he was at fault with both goals and stretchered off after he was attacked by a fan, and Goran Pandev bagged a splendid brace as Lazio held Real Madrid to a draw in Rome.

GROUP D: Celtic 2-1 AC Milan / Benfica 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
A dramatic last-minute strike by Scott McDonald gave Celtic their first win over AC Milan in the Champions League on a fiery night in Glasgow. Stephen McManus gave the Scottish champions the lead in the 62nd minute but six minutes later referee Markus Merk adjudged Lee Naylor to have grappled too enthusiastically with Milan skipper Massimo Ambrosini inside the penalty area and Kaka stroked home the spot-kick. But with seconds remaining, McDonald pounced when Milan keeper Dida had parried a Gary Caldwell drive from the edge of the box and the three points were secure.


But Celtic "will carry out a full investigation" after Milan 'keeper Dida was substituted following an altercation with a fan seconds after McDonald fired in the last-minute winner. A supporter rushed on and appeared to brush his hand against Dida who, after initially chasing the invader, then collapsed to the ground. After attention, the Brazilian keeper was replaced by Zeljko Kalac seconds before the final whistle blew.

The European champions host Shakhtar Donetsk on Matchday 3 on October 24. The Ukrainian side kept up their 100% start to the group with a surprise 1-0 win at Benfica thanks to a first-half goal by Jadson.


GROUP C: Lazio 2-2 Real Madrid / Werder Bremen 1-3 Olympiakos
Goran Pandev and Ruud van Nistelrooy both helped themselves to a brace as Lazio twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in Rome.

Madrid were quickly into their stride in the Italian capital and took the lead with just eight minutes on the clock through Van Nistelrooy. Pandev atoned for an earlier error with a crisp finish, the Macedonian making no mistake with a thundering left-footed volley into the top-left of Iker Casillas' goal after he had been teed up by Guglielmo Stendardo's neat header. On 57 minutes Lazio's top scorer last season Tommaso Rocchi spurned a glorious chance to put the hosts in front. And just four minutes later the home side were made to pay for that miss as Van Nistelrooy found the net for the second time in the match. But the Italians showed their fighting spirit once more on 74 minutes, and again it was Pandev doing the damage.

The result was enough to see Madrid lose top spot in Group C on goal difference to Olympiakos, who won their first Champions League away match at the 32nd attempt. They even came from behind to do it, going 1-0 down a Hugo Almeida goal at Bremen before hitting back to win 3-1 thanks to Ieroklis Stoltidis, Christos Patsatzoglou and Darko Kovacevic. Lazio, third, face Werder Bremen next.

GROUP A: Besiktas 0-1 FC Porto / Liverpool 0-1 Olympique Marseille

GROUP B: Rosenborg 0-2 Schalke / Valencia 1-2 Chelsea

CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE REVIEW:
[Tuesday 2 Oct] - [Wednesday 3 Oct]

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