Fulham has edge but Reds pay the penalty
Source: Agencies |
April 3, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
RAFAEL Benitez was disappointed with the manner of Liverpool's 1-2 defeat to Portugal's Benfica in the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday, but was confident his side would turn the tie around at Anfield.
Liverpool took the lead through Daniel Agger after nine minutes at the Estadio da Luz but had Ryan Babel harshly sent off before the interval and then conceded two penalties after the break, both converted by Oscar Cardozo.
Captain Steven Gerrard squared a clever free kick along the ground into the penalty area, where the unmarked Agger sent a clever backheel into the corner of the net.
"To concede two goals to two penalties and have one goal disallowed is disappointing, but still it is a good result," Benitez told the club's Website.
"I have confidence we can do well and it will be totally different at Anfield. With the fans behind us, we can score goals and progress."
Benitez was surprised by referee Jonas Eriksson's decision to send off Babel, who appeared to do little more than put his hand on the face of Benfica defender Luisao in a melee after he had brought down Fernando Torres.
"I was surprised because a foul from behind is more serious for me," Benitez said. "It's difficult to understand and impossible to change so we have to move forward and think about Anfield and our fans behind the team."
Elsewhere, Fulham stunned German champion Wolfsburg by the same scoreline. Fellow German rival Hamburg enjoyed a better night, beating Standard Liege 2-1 at home as it chases a spot in the May final at its own stadium.
In the all-Spanish contest, Atletico Madrid scored two vital away goals in a 2-2 draw at Valencia.
Liverpool's fortunes took a further turn for the worse after the break when Emiliano Insua, whose first-half booking for pulling back Di Maria rules him out of the second leg, brought down Aimar in the penalty area.
Cardozo buried the spotkick into the bottom right of the net -- as he did 20 minutes later following Jamie Carragher's handball.
"We could have scored more but it was not an easy game," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. "It was easy after the sending-off but we played well, we were more offensive after that and the two best teams in this competition were playing against each other."
In London, Bobby Zamora's curling strike in the 59th minute put Fulham ahead in its first ever European quarterfinal. And Zamora set up Damien Duff for the second four minutes later.
But Alexander Madlung headed in a cross in the 89th to raise Wolfsburg's hopes of a second-leg fightback in its own backyard.
In the Hamburg stadium where the May final will be contested, Standard stunned the hosts in the 31st when Dieudonne Mbokani headed home a corner.
But Mladen Petric equalized 11 minutes later for Hamburg from the penalty spot after Marcos Camozzato fouled Jonathan Pitroipa. And the German side went ahead just before the break when Ruud van Nistelrooy struck from 10 meters.
In the 41st all-Spanish matchup in Europe, Valencia twice came from behind to deny Atletico an away win.
Sergio Aguero raced clear on Valencia goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez and fed Diego Forlan, who tapped the opener into an open goal just before the hour mark.
Manuel Fernandes equalized for Valencia with a powerful shot from outside the area eight minutes later, then Atletico went back ahead in the 72nd when Antonio Lopez headed home Alvaro Dominguez's flicked-on corner kick.
David Villa had a handful of opportunities saved before scoring his 24th of the season to even it for good in the 82nd.
Liverpool took the lead through Daniel Agger after nine minutes at the Estadio da Luz but had Ryan Babel harshly sent off before the interval and then conceded two penalties after the break, both converted by Oscar Cardozo.
Captain Steven Gerrard squared a clever free kick along the ground into the penalty area, where the unmarked Agger sent a clever backheel into the corner of the net.
"To concede two goals to two penalties and have one goal disallowed is disappointing, but still it is a good result," Benitez told the club's Website.
"I have confidence we can do well and it will be totally different at Anfield. With the fans behind us, we can score goals and progress."
Benitez was surprised by referee Jonas Eriksson's decision to send off Babel, who appeared to do little more than put his hand on the face of Benfica defender Luisao in a melee after he had brought down Fernando Torres.
"I was surprised because a foul from behind is more serious for me," Benitez said. "It's difficult to understand and impossible to change so we have to move forward and think about Anfield and our fans behind the team."
Elsewhere, Fulham stunned German champion Wolfsburg by the same scoreline. Fellow German rival Hamburg enjoyed a better night, beating Standard Liege 2-1 at home as it chases a spot in the May final at its own stadium.
In the all-Spanish contest, Atletico Madrid scored two vital away goals in a 2-2 draw at Valencia.
Liverpool's fortunes took a further turn for the worse after the break when Emiliano Insua, whose first-half booking for pulling back Di Maria rules him out of the second leg, brought down Aimar in the penalty area.
Cardozo buried the spotkick into the bottom right of the net -- as he did 20 minutes later following Jamie Carragher's handball.
"We could have scored more but it was not an easy game," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. "It was easy after the sending-off but we played well, we were more offensive after that and the two best teams in this competition were playing against each other."
In London, Bobby Zamora's curling strike in the 59th minute put Fulham ahead in its first ever European quarterfinal. And Zamora set up Damien Duff for the second four minutes later.
But Alexander Madlung headed in a cross in the 89th to raise Wolfsburg's hopes of a second-leg fightback in its own backyard.
In the Hamburg stadium where the May final will be contested, Standard stunned the hosts in the 31st when Dieudonne Mbokani headed home a corner.
But Mladen Petric equalized 11 minutes later for Hamburg from the penalty spot after Marcos Camozzato fouled Jonathan Pitroipa. And the German side went ahead just before the break when Ruud van Nistelrooy struck from 10 meters.
In the 41st all-Spanish matchup in Europe, Valencia twice came from behind to deny Atletico an away win.
Sergio Aguero raced clear on Valencia goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez and fed Diego Forlan, who tapped the opener into an open goal just before the hour mark.
Manuel Fernandes equalized for Valencia with a powerful shot from outside the area eight minutes later, then Atletico went back ahead in the 72nd when Antonio Lopez headed home Alvaro Dominguez's flicked-on corner kick.
David Villa had a handful of opportunities saved before scoring his 24th of the season to even it for good in the 82nd.
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