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United remains wary, Real hit
Source: Agencies |
February 18, 2010, Thursday
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MANCHESTER United was disappointed to concede a late goal in its 3-2 Champions League win over AC Milan after a pair of Wayne Rooney headers had given the Red Devils a two-goal lead while Real Madrid's hopes of winning a tenth European Cup in this year's final at the Bernabeu suffered a blow with its 0-1 defeat away to Olympique Lyon.
United, chasing a place in its third successive Champions League final, fell behind early in the round-of-16, first-leg match at the San Siro before a freak goal by Paul Scholes put the visitors back on level terms.
Rooney's second-half double silenced the home crowd before a classy goal by Clarence Seedorf rekindled Milan's slim hopes of overhauling the deficit at Old Trafford in three weeks' time.
"It was really quiet in the dressing room because at 3-1 it would have been very difficult for (Milan) to get back into the tie; this way there is still a chance," Rooney told reporters after Tuesday's absorbing clash.
"We were disappointed to concede a goal towards the end but in the end it's still a great result."
United was fortunate not to fall further behind in the first half after Ronaldinho's opener but tactical adjustments paid off as the English champion gradually took control of the game.
"We showed them too much respect in the first half and sat back a bit too much, we didn't take the game to them or push forward enough and that was the most disappointing thing," Rooney said.
The brace took Rooney's tally for the season to 25 goals in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Real was stunned at the Stade Gerland.
"The Whites' dream is in danger," sports daily Marca wrote yesterday, after a spectacular 59th-minute strike from Jean Makoun gave Lyon a deserved victory in the first leg.
"Real returns from Lyon showing no sign of being a contender for the title," said AS.
Real's big guns of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and late substitute Karim Benzema failed to rise to the occasion and Spanish media criticized coach Manuel Pellegrini's decision to play little-used Malian Mahamadou Diarra as a second holding midfielder, singling out Kaka as one of the most disappointing figures on the night.
"Kaka is still lost," said El Pais. "The Brazilian star missed the chance to prove his relevance to Real."
A one-goal deficit is far from the end for a club with such a talented squad, and players and club officials were united in their belief they could turn the tie around on March 10.
However, after five consecutive seasons of exiting the competition in the first knockout round, Real's director general Jorge Valdano was clearly worried. "It was a bad night. We had ups and downs in our play and we weren't ourselves," the Argentine told Spanish television. "We left a bad impression of our team."
Pellegrini will be without the suspended Marcelo and Xabi Alonso for the second leg.
Tuesday's schedule included one Europa League game in the round of 32, with Everton beating Sporting Club 2-1.
United, chasing a place in its third successive Champions League final, fell behind early in the round-of-16, first-leg match at the San Siro before a freak goal by Paul Scholes put the visitors back on level terms.
Rooney's second-half double silenced the home crowd before a classy goal by Clarence Seedorf rekindled Milan's slim hopes of overhauling the deficit at Old Trafford in three weeks' time.
"It was really quiet in the dressing room because at 3-1 it would have been very difficult for (Milan) to get back into the tie; this way there is still a chance," Rooney told reporters after Tuesday's absorbing clash.
"We were disappointed to concede a goal towards the end but in the end it's still a great result."
United was fortunate not to fall further behind in the first half after Ronaldinho's opener but tactical adjustments paid off as the English champion gradually took control of the game.
"We showed them too much respect in the first half and sat back a bit too much, we didn't take the game to them or push forward enough and that was the most disappointing thing," Rooney said.
The brace took Rooney's tally for the season to 25 goals in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Real was stunned at the Stade Gerland.
"The Whites' dream is in danger," sports daily Marca wrote yesterday, after a spectacular 59th-minute strike from Jean Makoun gave Lyon a deserved victory in the first leg.
"Real returns from Lyon showing no sign of being a contender for the title," said AS.
Real's big guns of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and late substitute Karim Benzema failed to rise to the occasion and Spanish media criticized coach Manuel Pellegrini's decision to play little-used Malian Mahamadou Diarra as a second holding midfielder, singling out Kaka as one of the most disappointing figures on the night.
"Kaka is still lost," said El Pais. "The Brazilian star missed the chance to prove his relevance to Real."
A one-goal deficit is far from the end for a club with such a talented squad, and players and club officials were united in their belief they could turn the tie around on March 10.
However, after five consecutive seasons of exiting the competition in the first knockout round, Real's director general Jorge Valdano was clearly worried. "It was a bad night. We had ups and downs in our play and we weren't ourselves," the Argentine told Spanish television. "We left a bad impression of our team."
Pellegrini will be without the suspended Marcelo and Xabi Alonso for the second leg.
Tuesday's schedule included one Europa League game in the round of 32, with Everton beating Sporting Club 2-1.
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