2Slick
06-12-2006, 21:04
Arsenal FC and FC Porto duly made their way into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League as winners and runners-up respectively in Group G after a goalless but thrilling encounter in Portugal.
Point required
Both sides knew before kick-off that a point would be enough for them to hold off PFC CSKA Moskva and secure progress but the Portuguese champions constantly pressed for a victory that would have taken them through as group winners, with Ricardo Quaresma twice striking the post early in the second half. The home side were unable to capitalise on their superiority, however, allowing Arsenal to clinch top spot courtesy of their 2-0 home victory in the reverse fixture on Matchday 2.
Quaresma industry
Any cynics who viewed the match as an opportunity for these two proud clubs, each with a UEFA Champions League final appearance in the last two seasons, to relax were confounded by Quaresma. The mercurial winger tormented the Arsenal defence from the outset, making light work of the visitors' five-man midfield and finding the space to produce some of his most thrilling skills. Quaresma started the night on Porto's left wing and in Fucile he found a willing partner, the left-back drifting inside Aleksandr Hleb in the 22nd minute and finding Hélder Postiga with a precise pass but the former Tottenham Hotspur FC striker could only shoot straight at Jens Lehmann.
Porto press
With the suspended Thierry Henry's replacement, Emmanuel Adebayor, notably more static and isolated than the Frenchman tends to be, Arsenal struggled to retain possession. As Wenger emerged from his dugout to vociferously demand more impact from his players Quaresma added to the sense of threat, flighting an outrageous lob from 40 metres out that even the tall Lehmann had to stretch to hold underneath his crossbar. As the Portuguese champions hit their rhythm Quaresma and Lisandro Lopéz swapped wings and the switch almost paid dividends within moments as only a top-class intervention from Kolo Touré prevented Postiga from heading the home side in front, before Paulo Assunção came close with a superb long-distance shot.
Arsenal escapes
Within three minutes of the restart Quaresma came close to finally earning his reward with a goal as Lucho González laid a perfect pass beyond Clichy for the overlapping Lisandro Lopéz, whose cross fell for Quaresma to crack a right-footed shot off the post with Lehmann beaten. Although Fabregas replied with a free-kick into the arms of Helton, Porto were in total command, and just before the hour Quaresma tricked his way past Johan Djourou on the edge of the area and once more his shot beat Lehmann only for the same post to again come to Arsenal's rescue.
Opponents satisfied
However Fabregas worked tirelessly to ensure that Arsenal were not totally overrun and late substitute Robin Van Persie added energy to Arsenal's attempts to push the game towards the Porto penalty box. Ultimately, however, both sides were more than happy with the point, although CSKA's defeat at Hamburger SV meant both teams would have progressed regardless of the result here.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116406/report=RP.html
Point required
Both sides knew before kick-off that a point would be enough for them to hold off PFC CSKA Moskva and secure progress but the Portuguese champions constantly pressed for a victory that would have taken them through as group winners, with Ricardo Quaresma twice striking the post early in the second half. The home side were unable to capitalise on their superiority, however, allowing Arsenal to clinch top spot courtesy of their 2-0 home victory in the reverse fixture on Matchday 2.
Quaresma industry
Any cynics who viewed the match as an opportunity for these two proud clubs, each with a UEFA Champions League final appearance in the last two seasons, to relax were confounded by Quaresma. The mercurial winger tormented the Arsenal defence from the outset, making light work of the visitors' five-man midfield and finding the space to produce some of his most thrilling skills. Quaresma started the night on Porto's left wing and in Fucile he found a willing partner, the left-back drifting inside Aleksandr Hleb in the 22nd minute and finding Hélder Postiga with a precise pass but the former Tottenham Hotspur FC striker could only shoot straight at Jens Lehmann.
Porto press
With the suspended Thierry Henry's replacement, Emmanuel Adebayor, notably more static and isolated than the Frenchman tends to be, Arsenal struggled to retain possession. As Wenger emerged from his dugout to vociferously demand more impact from his players Quaresma added to the sense of threat, flighting an outrageous lob from 40 metres out that even the tall Lehmann had to stretch to hold underneath his crossbar. As the Portuguese champions hit their rhythm Quaresma and Lisandro Lopéz swapped wings and the switch almost paid dividends within moments as only a top-class intervention from Kolo Touré prevented Postiga from heading the home side in front, before Paulo Assunção came close with a superb long-distance shot.
Arsenal escapes
Within three minutes of the restart Quaresma came close to finally earning his reward with a goal as Lucho González laid a perfect pass beyond Clichy for the overlapping Lisandro Lopéz, whose cross fell for Quaresma to crack a right-footed shot off the post with Lehmann beaten. Although Fabregas replied with a free-kick into the arms of Helton, Porto were in total command, and just before the hour Quaresma tricked his way past Johan Djourou on the edge of the area and once more his shot beat Lehmann only for the same post to again come to Arsenal's rescue.
Opponents satisfied
However Fabregas worked tirelessly to ensure that Arsenal were not totally overrun and late substitute Robin Van Persie added energy to Arsenal's attempts to push the game towards the Porto penalty box. Ultimately, however, both sides were more than happy with the point, although CSKA's defeat at Hamburger SV meant both teams would have progressed regardless of the result here.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116406/report=RP.html