Reds, Magpies win in Europa as Spurs held again
Source: AFP |
October 27, 2012, Saturday
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A SECOND-HALF goal from Stewart Downing ensured Liverpool avoided an unwanted record on Thursday as the English Premier League outfit edged Russia's Anzhi Makhachkala 1-0 at Anfield to bolster its Europa League hopes.
Downing's well-taken 53rd-minute strike means Liverpool avoided two straight European home losses for the first time in its history after its recent hiccup against Italy's Udinese and it now leads Group A with six points from three matches.
Better still for the Merseysiders, who now lead the Russians and the Italians by two points, Udinese went down to a shock 1-3 loss at unheralded Swiss side Young Boys, throwing away a chance to go top of the group.
Anzhi came to Liverpool boasting former Barcelona and Inter Milan Champions League winner and Cameroon international star Samuel Eto'o in its ranks but he had a quiet night.
"Stewart Downing scored a brilliant goal. He has had a rough ride here, it's been a tough time, but he is a good guy," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
"He's an important member of our team and he got a good reception from the Kop."
Also flying the flag for England is Newcastle United, which got a goal from French winger Gabriel Obertan just after the restart for a second straight home win which keeps the Magpies in charge of Group D.
Alan Pardew's men now lead Bordeaux, already dismissed emphatically at Saint James' Park, by three points after the Girondins - Obertan's former club - could only draw 1-1 at Portugal's Maritimo.
But there was frustration for another English side, Tottenham Hotspur, which had to settle for a third straight draw in Group J, held 1-1 at Slovenia's Maribor. Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson rescued a point to keep the Londoners in touch with Group J leader Lazio, which produced the same scoreline at Panathinaikos.
Spurs trail the Italians by two points after a poor showing at the Stadion Ljudski, where last season Maribor was not good enough to see off second-tier English Championship side Birmingham City.
Of some consolation to Spurs was Jose Verdu Nicolas's last-gasp leveler for Panathinaikos which denied Lazio a win that looked likely after Georgios Seitaridis had put through his own goal in the first half.
Elsewhere, holder Atletico Madrid got goals from Diego Costa and Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu in a third straight Group B triumph, this time 2-1 over Portugal's Coimbra
Turkey's Fenerbache tops Group C after a 1-0 success at Cypriot side Limassol while Germany's Borussia Moenchengladbach moved level second with Marseille after defeating the French team 2-0.
A surprise in Group F saw Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk beat Serie A's Napoli 3-1 for a third win while the Italians are now third behind PSV Eindhoven after the Dutch drew 1-1 at home to AIK Solna of Sweden.
Former European champion Inter Milan leads Group H after Rodrigo Palacio netted the only goal against Partizan Belgrade but Russia's Rubin Kazan edged Neftci of Azerbaijan by the same score to stay level on points with seven from three games.
Jimmy Briand fired French side Lyon to a third straight success --- 2-1 over Group I tailender Athletic Bilbao. Sparta Prague is second after a 3-1 win over Israel's Hapoel Kiryat Shmona.
Downing's well-taken 53rd-minute strike means Liverpool avoided two straight European home losses for the first time in its history after its recent hiccup against Italy's Udinese and it now leads Group A with six points from three matches.
Better still for the Merseysiders, who now lead the Russians and the Italians by two points, Udinese went down to a shock 1-3 loss at unheralded Swiss side Young Boys, throwing away a chance to go top of the group.
Anzhi came to Liverpool boasting former Barcelona and Inter Milan Champions League winner and Cameroon international star Samuel Eto'o in its ranks but he had a quiet night.
"Stewart Downing scored a brilliant goal. He has had a rough ride here, it's been a tough time, but he is a good guy," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
"He's an important member of our team and he got a good reception from the Kop."
Also flying the flag for England is Newcastle United, which got a goal from French winger Gabriel Obertan just after the restart for a second straight home win which keeps the Magpies in charge of Group D.
Alan Pardew's men now lead Bordeaux, already dismissed emphatically at Saint James' Park, by three points after the Girondins - Obertan's former club - could only draw 1-1 at Portugal's Maritimo.
But there was frustration for another English side, Tottenham Hotspur, which had to settle for a third straight draw in Group J, held 1-1 at Slovenia's Maribor. Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson rescued a point to keep the Londoners in touch with Group J leader Lazio, which produced the same scoreline at Panathinaikos.
Spurs trail the Italians by two points after a poor showing at the Stadion Ljudski, where last season Maribor was not good enough to see off second-tier English Championship side Birmingham City.
Of some consolation to Spurs was Jose Verdu Nicolas's last-gasp leveler for Panathinaikos which denied Lazio a win that looked likely after Georgios Seitaridis had put through his own goal in the first half.
Elsewhere, holder Atletico Madrid got goals from Diego Costa and Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu in a third straight Group B triumph, this time 2-1 over Portugal's Coimbra
Turkey's Fenerbache tops Group C after a 1-0 success at Cypriot side Limassol while Germany's Borussia Moenchengladbach moved level second with Marseille after defeating the French team 2-0.
A surprise in Group F saw Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk beat Serie A's Napoli 3-1 for a third win while the Italians are now third behind PSV Eindhoven after the Dutch drew 1-1 at home to AIK Solna of Sweden.
Former European champion Inter Milan leads Group H after Rodrigo Palacio netted the only goal against Partizan Belgrade but Russia's Rubin Kazan edged Neftci of Azerbaijan by the same score to stay level on points with seven from three games.
Jimmy Briand fired French side Lyon to a third straight success --- 2-1 over Group I tailender Athletic Bilbao. Sparta Prague is second after a 3-1 win over Israel's Hapoel Kiryat Shmona.
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