2Slick
06-12-2006, 21:05
AEK Athens FC must content themselves with a place in the UEFA Cup after being held to a 2-2 draw at UEFA Champions League Group H bottom club RSC Anderlecht.
Late rally
With fellow hopefuls LOSC Lille Métropole winning at AC Milan, Lorenzo Serra Ferrer’s men needed to record their first ever away victory in the competition to be assured of a coveted place in the last 16, and their dreams started to unravel when Anthony Vanden Borre and Nicolas Frutos netted either side of half-time. Vassilios Lakis and Bruno Cirillo drew the visitors level, however their spirited late rally was simply not enough.
Deschacht tackle
Lorenzo Serra Ferrer Serra explained yesterday that his only fear was a lack of self-confidence from his players so close to meeting their objective, so he would have been delighted to see them carve out the game’s opening chance, when Dániel Tözsér released in-form forward Júlio César on the edge of the area. Olivier Deschacht put in a crucial challenge before the Brazilian could pull the trigger, but the Greeks soon threatened again, this time through Martin Pautasso, who fired too high from the right.
Constant threat
They appeared livelier than their hosts as well, although Anderlecht finally created an opportunity of their own on 22 minutes, Mohamed Tchite sending his volley narrowly over. Bruno Cirillo in particular was doing a sterling job of keeping the Belgian champions at bay, while at the other end Júlio César was proving a constant nuisance, and the No 99 forced Daniel ZÃÂ*tka to make the first save with an ambitious effort from a tight angle.
Vanden Borre strike
Despite a Biglia drive well clear of the left post soon after, it was against the run of play that Franky Vercauteren’s men eventually broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. It was a comedy of errors too, with Frutos causing panic in the AEK ranks as he surged into the box. At least three defenders in yellow had chances to end the danger, but after a series of deflected efforts to clear, Vanden Borre bundled the ball over the line.
Tözsér chances
Les Mauves then almost doubled their lead straight after the break, only for an acrobatic Stefano Sorrentino dive to keep out Bigla’s curling free-kick. Tözsér responded by blasting Gustavo Manduca’s chipped cross behind the goal, and the Hungarian came even closer to equalising with a vicious half-volley that ZÃÂ*tka was just about equal to. Serra Ferrer sent on Vassilios Lakis, Andrija DelibaÅ¡ić and Perparim Hetemaj to try and make the difference – notably withdrawing Júlio César in the process – but the match slipped even further from his side’s grasp just after the hour mark.
Frutos goal
Sorrentino did brilliantly to deny Tchite as the Congolese striker swivelled and struck from point-blank range on the left, yet the ball fell kindly to Frutos, who capped a busy display by rifling in.
Final flourish
The Argentinian nearly contributed a second when he just failed to reach substitute Mbark Boussoufa’s cross, and that let-off started to look costly when Lakis reduced the deficit with a superbly-placed header beyond ZÃÂ*tka. Cirillo’s expert 81st-minute volley low into the corner then made a miraculous comeback appear possible, but they had left their charge too late.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116408/report=RP.html
Late rally
With fellow hopefuls LOSC Lille Métropole winning at AC Milan, Lorenzo Serra Ferrer’s men needed to record their first ever away victory in the competition to be assured of a coveted place in the last 16, and their dreams started to unravel when Anthony Vanden Borre and Nicolas Frutos netted either side of half-time. Vassilios Lakis and Bruno Cirillo drew the visitors level, however their spirited late rally was simply not enough.
Deschacht tackle
Lorenzo Serra Ferrer Serra explained yesterday that his only fear was a lack of self-confidence from his players so close to meeting their objective, so he would have been delighted to see them carve out the game’s opening chance, when Dániel Tözsér released in-form forward Júlio César on the edge of the area. Olivier Deschacht put in a crucial challenge before the Brazilian could pull the trigger, but the Greeks soon threatened again, this time through Martin Pautasso, who fired too high from the right.
Constant threat
They appeared livelier than their hosts as well, although Anderlecht finally created an opportunity of their own on 22 minutes, Mohamed Tchite sending his volley narrowly over. Bruno Cirillo in particular was doing a sterling job of keeping the Belgian champions at bay, while at the other end Júlio César was proving a constant nuisance, and the No 99 forced Daniel ZÃÂ*tka to make the first save with an ambitious effort from a tight angle.
Vanden Borre strike
Despite a Biglia drive well clear of the left post soon after, it was against the run of play that Franky Vercauteren’s men eventually broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. It was a comedy of errors too, with Frutos causing panic in the AEK ranks as he surged into the box. At least three defenders in yellow had chances to end the danger, but after a series of deflected efforts to clear, Vanden Borre bundled the ball over the line.
Tözsér chances
Les Mauves then almost doubled their lead straight after the break, only for an acrobatic Stefano Sorrentino dive to keep out Bigla’s curling free-kick. Tözsér responded by blasting Gustavo Manduca’s chipped cross behind the goal, and the Hungarian came even closer to equalising with a vicious half-volley that ZÃÂ*tka was just about equal to. Serra Ferrer sent on Vassilios Lakis, Andrija DelibaÅ¡ić and Perparim Hetemaj to try and make the difference – notably withdrawing Júlio César in the process – but the match slipped even further from his side’s grasp just after the hour mark.
Frutos goal
Sorrentino did brilliantly to deny Tchite as the Congolese striker swivelled and struck from point-blank range on the left, yet the ball fell kindly to Frutos, who capped a busy display by rifling in.
Final flourish
The Argentinian nearly contributed a second when he just failed to reach substitute Mbark Boussoufa’s cross, and that let-off started to look costly when Lakis reduced the deficit with a superbly-placed header beyond ZÃÂ*tka. Cirillo’s expert 81st-minute volley low into the corner then made a miraculous comeback appear possible, but they had left their charge too late.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116408/report=RP.html