Liverpool's Europe dream was handed a heavy blow after a 2-1
defeat at Besiktas while AC Milan were well on course to qualifying
for the Champions League last 16 with a convincing 4-1 home victory
over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
Bobo (3rd L) of Besiktas
celebrates his goal against Liverpool with teammates (L-R) Rodrigo
Tello, Cisse, Gokhan Zan, Koray Avci and Ibrahim Uzulmez during
their Champions League Group A soccer match at Inonu Stadium in
Istanbul, Oct. 24, 2007. Besiktas won 2-1.
The loss in Istanbul left the Reds bottom of Group A with a
single point from three matches and Marseille remained on top
although their 100 percent record came to an end after a 1-1 draw
with Porto.
Holders Milan were tied with Shakhtar in six points atop Group D
while Benfica beat Celtic 1-0 only to level with the Scottish side
in three points.
In Group B, Liverpool's premiership rivals Chelsea upset
Shalke04 2-0 to stay three points clear of second-placed Rosenborg,
who beat Valencia 2-0.
Robinho's double helped Real Madrid earn a 4-2 fight back
against 10-man Olympiakos and take firm control of Group C while
Werder Bremen edged past Lazio 2-1 to move into third place.
Real Madrid's Robinho (R)
celebrates his second goal against Olympiakos with his coach Bernd
Schuster (C) during their Champions League Group C match at
Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium Oct. 24, 2007.
Last season's finalist Liverpool was confronted with an uphill
task to avoid an embarrassing early exit as they almost certainly
need to win their three remaining games to qualify.
Besiktas were gifted their opening goal after 13 minutes in
somewhat comical circumstances as Serdar Ozcan's shot deflected
home off the luckless Sami Hyypia, who had his second own goal in
five days.
Real Madrid's Robinho (C)
celebrates with his team mates Ruud van Nistelrooy (R) and Marcelo
after scoring his second goal against Olympiakos during their
Champions League Group C soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu
stadium in Madrid Oct.24, 2007.
The hosts doubled their lead on 82 minutes when Bobo slid the
ball under Pepe Reina.
Captain Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool hope with a flying header
on 85 minutes but it was just too late for Rafa Benitez's side.
In Milan, two goals apiece from Alberto Gilardino and Clarence
Seedorf handed the reigning champions their second consecutive win
in group stage.
Gilardino provided Milan with the perfect start when heading
home Andrea Pirlo's corner on six minutes and the Italy striker
then nodded in Seedorf's cross on 14 minutes.
Shakhtar pulled a goal back six minutes into the second half
with a Cristiano Lucarelli volley.
But Milan, bouncing back from a shock loss to Empoli at the
weekend, responded with scoring twice in the span of seven minutes
through Seedorf's classy finishes.
(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2007)
