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Milan rallies to hold Barca, Chelsea beats Leverkusen
Source: Agencies |
September 15, 2011, Thursday
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BARCELONA conceded a goal after 24 seconds and another in stoppage time as its Champions League title defense opened with a 2-2 draw against AC Milan on Tuesday, while Arsenal was also left stunned by Borussia Dortmund's late equalizer.
Alexandre Pato opened the scoring for Milan and, after goals from Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa looked to have put Barcelona in control, Thiago Silva's header secured a point in Group H.
Dortmund leveled in the 88th minute, with Ivan Perisic's volley canceling out Robin van Persie's first-half goal for Arsenal in the 1-1 draw in Group F.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas oversaw a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Group E in his first Champions League match, while his former club Porto recovered to beat nine-man Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in Group G.
While Porto won the Europa League in May, Barcelona lifted the European Cup for the second time in three years.
At the Nou Camp on Tuesday, defending champion Barcelona took on a Milan side missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho through injuries. Just 24 seconds had elapsed when Pato coolly slid the ball under goalkeeper Victor Valdes after dashing through Barcelona's half.
A determined Lionel Messi led the Spanish champion's response as the Argentina forward created Pedro Rodriguez's 36th-minute equalizer before David Villa curled a long-range freekick into the net five minutes into the second half.
"We could have played better after Barcelona took the lead," AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "But I'm happy because the team did not collapse until we found the late equalizer."
That came deep into stoppage time when Thiago leapt high to meet Clarence Seedorf's corner to secure a point for Milan.
All four teams in Group H are on one point after BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen drew 1-1.
In Germany, Arsenal went in front just before halftime when Van Persie won possession from Sebastian Kehl and played a one-two with Theo Walcott before beating Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller with his shot. But after Marcel Schmelzer's freekick was only half-cleared by Kieran Gibbs toward the end, Ivan Perisic volleyed in a late equalizer. The draw enabled Marseille to go top of the group after Lucho Gonzalez secured a 1-0 victory over Olympiakos.
The Argentine exploited a lapse in the Greek defense, meeting Jeremy Morel's cross before beating former River Plate teammate Franco Costanzo in the Olympiakos goal.
At Stamford Bridge, Fernando Torres continued his goal drought for Chelsea this season but set up both goals.
David Luiz ran onto Torres' layoff before bending a sublime strike into the bottom corner of the net midway through the second half. And after Torres broke down the left flank, Juan Mata tapped home the second with almost the last kick of the game.
Chelsea is top of Group E after Racing Genk draw 0-0 with Valencia in the other match.
Alexandre Pato opened the scoring for Milan and, after goals from Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa looked to have put Barcelona in control, Thiago Silva's header secured a point in Group H.
Dortmund leveled in the 88th minute, with Ivan Perisic's volley canceling out Robin van Persie's first-half goal for Arsenal in the 1-1 draw in Group F.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas oversaw a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Group E in his first Champions League match, while his former club Porto recovered to beat nine-man Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in Group G.
While Porto won the Europa League in May, Barcelona lifted the European Cup for the second time in three years.
At the Nou Camp on Tuesday, defending champion Barcelona took on a Milan side missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho through injuries. Just 24 seconds had elapsed when Pato coolly slid the ball under goalkeeper Victor Valdes after dashing through Barcelona's half.
A determined Lionel Messi led the Spanish champion's response as the Argentina forward created Pedro Rodriguez's 36th-minute equalizer before David Villa curled a long-range freekick into the net five minutes into the second half.
"We could have played better after Barcelona took the lead," AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "But I'm happy because the team did not collapse until we found the late equalizer."
That came deep into stoppage time when Thiago leapt high to meet Clarence Seedorf's corner to secure a point for Milan.
All four teams in Group H are on one point after BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen drew 1-1.
In Germany, Arsenal went in front just before halftime when Van Persie won possession from Sebastian Kehl and played a one-two with Theo Walcott before beating Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller with his shot. But after Marcel Schmelzer's freekick was only half-cleared by Kieran Gibbs toward the end, Ivan Perisic volleyed in a late equalizer. The draw enabled Marseille to go top of the group after Lucho Gonzalez secured a 1-0 victory over Olympiakos.
The Argentine exploited a lapse in the Greek defense, meeting Jeremy Morel's cross before beating former River Plate teammate Franco Costanzo in the Olympiakos goal.
At Stamford Bridge, Fernando Torres continued his goal drought for Chelsea this season but set up both goals.
David Luiz ran onto Torres' layoff before bending a sublime strike into the bottom corner of the net midway through the second half. And after Torres broke down the left flank, Juan Mata tapped home the second with almost the last kick of the game.
Chelsea is top of Group E after Racing Genk draw 0-0 with Valencia in the other match.
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