Fulham holds Hamburg, Atletico wins
Source: Agencies |
April 24, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LIVERPOOL manager Rafa Benitez complained about a disallowed goal after Thursday's 1-0 Europa League semifinal first leg defeat at Atletico Madrid.
"We had two or three occasions to score, two in the first half when I think the referee cancelled a goal which should have stood," the Spaniard told reporters, referring to an effort by midfielder Yossi Benayoun that was ruled out for offside.
Benitez, though, said the intimidating atmosphere of Liverpool's home ground would be a big help in the second leg next Thursday.
"Anfield is our trump card. The game is only halfway through and in the second half we will be at Anfield with our fans behind us," said Benitez.
Liverpool looked jaded at Atletico's Calderon stadium after a gruelling 24-hour journey to the Spanish capital, with only a few hundred away supporters beating airspace restrictions to cheer on the team.
About 300 visiting fans made it to Madrid after flights had been cancelled for days by the cloud of ash spewing out of a volcano in Iceland.
Liverpool was forced to take a train to London on Tuesday and the Eurostar to Paris before catching another train to Bordeaux early on Wednesday morning and then a flight to Madrid.
Asked why his team was so sluggish in a competition to which he had attached much importance, Benitez said it was hampered by the loss of star striker Fernando Torres.
The Spain international and former Atletico player had knee surgery on Sunday and will be out for around six weeks.
"We had several chances to score but they managed it," said Benitez. "It was a tough match against a good side.
"I would like to have been more aggressive but I couldn't bring Torres. I'm not leaving happy but neither am I unhappy.
"It could have been worse, it could have been better."
Diego Forlan scrambled an early goal to give Atletico the lead. The Uruguay striker fluffed an attempted header in the ninth minute at a boisterous Calderon stadium but his follow-up effort evaded goalkeeper Pepe Reina and defender Jamie Carragher and squeezed just inside the post.
Reflex stop
Reina twice saved the visitors from falling further behind in the second half. The Spaniard pulled off a fine reflex stop to deny Simao Sabrosa and later flung himself to his right to block a powerful Tomas Ujfalusi strike as dominant Atletico pressed for a second goal.
"We are happy but we know that we have to play another 90 minutes and it's going to be difficult," Forlan said in a television interview.
"It's going to be hard. They play well at Anfield and they are a very strong side," added Forlan, who scored two goals for his former club Manchester United to win a Premier League match at Liverpool's home ground in 2002.
In Hamburg, Fulham shrugged off the effects of 17 hours travelling on a coach to hold Hamburg SV to a 0-0 draw in the other semifinal.
Hamburg did almost all of the attacking but was denied by visiting goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who was in inspired form, denying Jonathan Pitroipa, Piotr Trochowski and David Jarolim in quick succession midway through the second half.
Hamburg, which will host the final on May 12, began the tie without striker Mladen Petric who was recovering from a groin injury.
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