Related News
Bayern to face Lyon in Champions League semifinals
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2010, Thursday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
THE final four of the Champions League won't feature an English team for the first time since 2003 after Bayern Munich ousted Manchester United yesterday, while Lyon reached its first semifinal by eliminating Bordeaux.
Bayern trailed 3-0 before losing 3-2 at United to draw 4-4 on aggregate and advance on away goals, becoming the first German team to make the final four since 2002. Lyon also lost the return leg, going down 1-0 at Bordeaux but heading through 3-2 winners overall.
"It was an incredible comeback from three goals down," Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said. "In the first 20 minutes, Manchester United played us off the park, then we got back into the game with a great goal from Ivica Olic.
"At halftime, I was confident we could get back into the game and get the result."
Four-time champion Bayern hosts Lyon in the first leg of the semifinals on April 21, with the return six days later in France. The winner will play either holder Barcelona or Inter Milan in the May 22 final at Madrid.
Inter Milan, which is in the semifinals for the first time in seven years, hosts Barcelona on April 20 and plays in Spain eight days later.
At Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney made a surprise return for United after injuring his ankle in last week's first leg, and was involved in both goals as the hosts wiped out Bayern's 2-1 advantage inside seven minutes after goals from Darron Gibson and Nani.
Nani gave United - last season's beaten finalists - a 3-0 lead when he scored in the 41st. But Ivica Olic began Bayern's comeback two minutes later when he left Michael Carrick flat-footed and slid a low, angled shot past goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Three-time champion United played with 10 men after Rafael da Silva was sent off in the 50th for fouling Franck Ribery to receive a second yellow card. The Brazilian defender had already been booked for a petulant kick after being fouled by Mark Van Bommel.
With Rooney replaced after bursting a blood vessel below his right ankle, Bayern took control and Arjen Robben scored from a volley in the 74th to send the German team through.
Lyon had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank after he leaped high to palm away a powerful header from Bordeaux midfielder Geraldo Wendel in the 87th minute that could have taken the hosts through on away goals.
When the referee blew for the final whistle, Lyon's players jumped on Lloris in jubilation, forming a mass scrum on the field.
Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh scored right on halftime, sliding home a cross from Benoit Tremoulinas that was diverted by teammate Jaroslav Plasil. But despite ending a three-game losing run in all competitions, Bordeaux was out of the competition.
"It was a match that was not easy," Lyon coach Claude Puel said. "Even though we told ourselves that we should play as it was 0-0 in the first leg, we felt a bit of pressure. We were too much on the back foot in the first half. We handled better the second half because Bordeaux played at a slower tempo."
There have been three English teams in the semifinals of the competition for the past three seasons.
Liverpool was the first team to be eliminated this year, bowing out in the group stage, while Chelsea was knocked out by Inter Milan in the round-of-16 and Arsenal was beaten by Barcelona on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
"All the English teams were expected to get to the semifinals as we have been doing in the last five years," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "But I don't think it has cast a shadow over the game - I still think it's the best league in Europe and the most competitive league. You don't always get what you want and we're all suffering."
Bayern trailed 3-0 before losing 3-2 at United to draw 4-4 on aggregate and advance on away goals, becoming the first German team to make the final four since 2002. Lyon also lost the return leg, going down 1-0 at Bordeaux but heading through 3-2 winners overall.
"It was an incredible comeback from three goals down," Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said. "In the first 20 minutes, Manchester United played us off the park, then we got back into the game with a great goal from Ivica Olic.
"At halftime, I was confident we could get back into the game and get the result."
Four-time champion Bayern hosts Lyon in the first leg of the semifinals on April 21, with the return six days later in France. The winner will play either holder Barcelona or Inter Milan in the May 22 final at Madrid.
Inter Milan, which is in the semifinals for the first time in seven years, hosts Barcelona on April 20 and plays in Spain eight days later.
At Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney made a surprise return for United after injuring his ankle in last week's first leg, and was involved in both goals as the hosts wiped out Bayern's 2-1 advantage inside seven minutes after goals from Darron Gibson and Nani.
Nani gave United - last season's beaten finalists - a 3-0 lead when he scored in the 41st. But Ivica Olic began Bayern's comeback two minutes later when he left Michael Carrick flat-footed and slid a low, angled shot past goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Three-time champion United played with 10 men after Rafael da Silva was sent off in the 50th for fouling Franck Ribery to receive a second yellow card. The Brazilian defender had already been booked for a petulant kick after being fouled by Mark Van Bommel.
With Rooney replaced after bursting a blood vessel below his right ankle, Bayern took control and Arjen Robben scored from a volley in the 74th to send the German team through.
Lyon had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank after he leaped high to palm away a powerful header from Bordeaux midfielder Geraldo Wendel in the 87th minute that could have taken the hosts through on away goals.
When the referee blew for the final whistle, Lyon's players jumped on Lloris in jubilation, forming a mass scrum on the field.
Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh scored right on halftime, sliding home a cross from Benoit Tremoulinas that was diverted by teammate Jaroslav Plasil. But despite ending a three-game losing run in all competitions, Bordeaux was out of the competition.
"It was a match that was not easy," Lyon coach Claude Puel said. "Even though we told ourselves that we should play as it was 0-0 in the first leg, we felt a bit of pressure. We were too much on the back foot in the first half. We handled better the second half because Bordeaux played at a slower tempo."
There have been three English teams in the semifinals of the competition for the past three seasons.
Liverpool was the first team to be eliminated this year, bowing out in the group stage, while Chelsea was knocked out by Inter Milan in the round-of-16 and Arsenal was beaten by Barcelona on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
"All the English teams were expected to get to the semifinals as we have been doing in the last five years," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "But I don't think it has cast a shadow over the game - I still think it's the best league in Europe and the most competitive league. You don't always get what you want and we're all suffering."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
