Malaga's Euro dream run continues
Source: Agencies |
March 15, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MALAGA'S remarkable Champions League campaign continued on Wednesday when it beat Porto 2-0 to progress to the quarterfinals 2-1 on aggregate.
Trailing 0-1 after the first leg in Portugal, Malaga levelled the tie on aggregate when Isco scored with a stunning strike just before half-time.
If that gave the Spanish club confidence, it was left in an even stronger position when Porto had Steven Defour sent off for a second booking shortly after the restart.
And substitute Roque Santa Cruz scored the crucial goal, heading home with 13 minutes left, as Malaga, making its first appearance in the competition, became the third club from La Liga in the quarterfinal draw, along with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
"It really has been a strange year for us," said Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini, with the Spanish club having made just as many headlines for its off-field financial problems as for its European success.
"What characterizes the players is their desire to stay focused on their sporting ambitions.
"I always said that Malaga were not in the Champions League just to make up the numbers," added the Chilean, who took Villarreal to the semifinals in 2006.
Trailing 0-1 after the first leg in Portugal, Malaga levelled the tie on aggregate when Isco scored with a stunning strike just before half-time.
If that gave the Spanish club confidence, it was left in an even stronger position when Porto had Steven Defour sent off for a second booking shortly after the restart.
And substitute Roque Santa Cruz scored the crucial goal, heading home with 13 minutes left, as Malaga, making its first appearance in the competition, became the third club from La Liga in the quarterfinal draw, along with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
"It really has been a strange year for us," said Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini, with the Spanish club having made just as many headlines for its off-field financial problems as for its European success.
"What characterizes the players is their desire to stay focused on their sporting ambitions.
"I always said that Malaga were not in the Champions League just to make up the numbers," added the Chilean, who took Villarreal to the semifinals in 2006.
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