Copenhagen clinches last 16 spot
Source: Agencies |
December 9, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
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FC Copenhagen celebrated clinching a place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday but holders Inter Milan will wait for this month's draw in trepidation as a meeting with Barcelona became a possibility.
While Copenhagen was delighted it will continue to mix with the continent's big guns after its 3-1 win over Panathinaikos secured a runner-up spot in Group D, Inter slumped 0-3 at Werder Bremen - a result that means the Italian club finished runner-up behind Tottenham Hotspur in Group A.
As well as Barca, Inter could also be paired with group winner Real Madrid or Manchester United, which topped its section with a 1-1 draw against Valencia at Old Trafford.
Martin Vingaard's strike, a Jesper Gronkjaer penalty and an own goal by Djibril Cisse did the trick for Copenhagen as it snatched one of four remaining places in the knockout stages.
"Towards the end of the group we twice had "match point" and that increased the pressure tonight," a relieved Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken said. "I dare say we have one of the best defences in the Champions League."
Copenhagen, the first Danish club to reach the last 16 in the competition's present format, finished behind Barcelona which ended Russian side Rubin Kazan's hopes of squeezing through with a 2-0 win at the Nou Camp despite fielding a second-string side.
Andreu Fontas and Victor Vazquez were on target for the Catalans, who would probably relish being handed an early chance to gain revenge over Inter for its defeat in last year's final when the draw is made in two weeks.
Defense breached
Manchester United's defense was finally breached after some eight hours of group-stage football when it conceded its first goal in this season's competition at home to Valencia in what was effectively a shootout for first place in Group C.
United's hopes of becoming the first club to go through the group stage without conceding ended in the 32nd minute when Pablo Hernandez fired Valencia in front.
Anderson earned United a 1-1 draw and the point it required to top the group.
Manager Rafael Benitez can expect to come under pressure after Inter finished its group matches in something of a rut in northern Germany - it has now lost seven times in all competitions this season, as many defeats as it suffered in the whole of the last campaign under Jose Mourinho.
Sebastian Proedl, Marko Arnautovic and Claudio Pizarro all scored for already-eliminated Bremen which also struck the woodwork twice against listless opponents.
"This was a match where we had already qualified. For me it is different. The important game was the last one with Twente," Benitez said.
Tottenham will enter the next phase of the tournament buoyant after banging in 18 goals in its six games having qualified for the first time.
The London club's latest goal burst came in a 3-3 draw at Dutch club Twente Enschede with Jermain Defoe scoring twice.
While Copenhagen was delighted it will continue to mix with the continent's big guns after its 3-1 win over Panathinaikos secured a runner-up spot in Group D, Inter slumped 0-3 at Werder Bremen - a result that means the Italian club finished runner-up behind Tottenham Hotspur in Group A.
As well as Barca, Inter could also be paired with group winner Real Madrid or Manchester United, which topped its section with a 1-1 draw against Valencia at Old Trafford.
Martin Vingaard's strike, a Jesper Gronkjaer penalty and an own goal by Djibril Cisse did the trick for Copenhagen as it snatched one of four remaining places in the knockout stages.
"Towards the end of the group we twice had "match point" and that increased the pressure tonight," a relieved Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken said. "I dare say we have one of the best defences in the Champions League."
Copenhagen, the first Danish club to reach the last 16 in the competition's present format, finished behind Barcelona which ended Russian side Rubin Kazan's hopes of squeezing through with a 2-0 win at the Nou Camp despite fielding a second-string side.
Andreu Fontas and Victor Vazquez were on target for the Catalans, who would probably relish being handed an early chance to gain revenge over Inter for its defeat in last year's final when the draw is made in two weeks.
Defense breached
Manchester United's defense was finally breached after some eight hours of group-stage football when it conceded its first goal in this season's competition at home to Valencia in what was effectively a shootout for first place in Group C.
United's hopes of becoming the first club to go through the group stage without conceding ended in the 32nd minute when Pablo Hernandez fired Valencia in front.
Anderson earned United a 1-1 draw and the point it required to top the group.
Manager Rafael Benitez can expect to come under pressure after Inter finished its group matches in something of a rut in northern Germany - it has now lost seven times in all competitions this season, as many defeats as it suffered in the whole of the last campaign under Jose Mourinho.
Sebastian Proedl, Marko Arnautovic and Claudio Pizarro all scored for already-eliminated Bremen which also struck the woodwork twice against listless opponents.
"This was a match where we had already qualified. For me it is different. The important game was the last one with Twente," Benitez said.
Tottenham will enter the next phase of the tournament buoyant after banging in 18 goals in its six games having qualified for the first time.
The London club's latest goal burst came in a 3-3 draw at Dutch club Twente Enschede with Jermain Defoe scoring twice.
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