Loading...UEFA Cup Result: First Round 1st Leg, Thursday, September 20, 2007
UEFA Cup: First Round 1st Leg
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Friday, September 21, 2007
UC: Everton 1-1 Metalist Kharkiv: Spot drama
Group A
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| 1 | 1 |
Andrew Johnson has not scored since March 18, and on a night of high European drama the England striker missed two penalties - one twice taken - to give Everton a mountain to climb when they go to the Ukraine for the second-leg of this UEFA Cup tie in a fortnight as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Metalist Kharkiv.
Metalist had two men sent-off in a crazy ending to this first-round clash, Oleksandr Babych and Seweryn Gancarczyk, but even with nine men against them, Everton could not clinch this game.
They went ahead in the first half through Joleon Lescott, and with mayhem going on at the other end they conceded a late equaliser to Brazilian midfielder Venans Zeze.
Everton suffered heart-ache in the Champions League and UEFA Cup two seasons ago and could now be facing more European anguish in the second leg.
Their 50th match in European competition this may have been, but nobody at Goodison Park needed telling there have been few such occasions over recent years.
Moyes saw his side slump out of the Champions League and UEFA Cup two years ago, and desperately wants to have a genuine European run on the club's CV this time around.
He has had to do without star play-maker - and regular penalty taker - Mikel Arteta with a neck injury, while goalkeeper Stefan Wessels continues to deputise for broken-finger victim Tim Howard.
Lee Carsley returned in place of Phil Jagielka while Johnson was passed fit following a groin problem.
A 30-minute delay at the start due to traffic and turnstile problems took the edge off the occasion somewhat, and it was soon clear that Kharkiv were a fit, strong and hugely committed outfit.
Their tackling bordered on the wild at times, and twice early on they broke quickly to see Sergiy Valyayev and then Oleksandr Rykun send 20-yarders flying just over.
Phil Neville created a close-range effort for Leon Osman to hook goalwards, only for Oleksandr Goryainov to hold, but Everton were tentative and nervous.
Watched by their countryman, Liverpool's Andriy Voronin, in the directors' box, the Ukrainians more than matched the Toffees.
They had Milan Obradovic booked for a 22nd-minute tackle on Johnson, with Everton struggling to find openings.
But on 23 minutes Everton got their breakthrough. James McFadden's hard running won a corner on the right and the Scot took it himself, lifting the ball into the box for Lescott to power away from his marker Valentyn Sliusar and head home from six yards for his third goal of the season.
Everton were more relaxed now, competing all over the pitch and producing movement that worried the visitors.
But Kharkiv gathered themselves after the blow of conceding and it took a brave save from Wessels at Marco Devic's feet four minutes from the break to keep Everton ahead.
Clearly Everton needed more than one goal to take to the Ukraine in a fortnight, but their front pairing of Johnson and Ayegbeni Yakubu was hardly firing on all cylinders.
McFadden produced a cross that Osman headed just over, but two attempts by the £11m striker Yakubu failed to trouble Goryainov.
And on 64 minutes it was the ineffective Yakubu who was taken off to allow teenager Victor Anichebe into the fray.
Kharkiv sent on Olexiy Antonov and the Brazilian Zeze for Onyekachi Nwoha and Rykun.
But after Vitalie Bordian had been booked for kicking the ball away from a free-kick, the Ukrainians had a man sent-off and survived a twice-taken penalty.
The spot-kick was given on 68 minutes when Oleksandr Babych was penalised for pulling down Lescott in the box. Kharkiv were furious and Seweryn Gancarczyk was sent-off for arguing.
Johnson then fired the penalty home, only to be made to take it again because of encroachment. Second time around he saw his second effort saved by Goryainov.
Worse was to follow for Everton. Metalist took off substitute Antonov and replaced him with Hicham Mahdoufi on 76 minutes.
And with the new man's first touch, he flicked the ball through Lescott's legs to allow Zeze to fire home the equaliser.
Everton were desperate now, Phil Jagielka came on for Carsley and with seven minutes left Anichebe was booked after being hauled to the ground in the box by Papa Gueye.
Two minutes from time Johnson amazingly wasted another spot-kick, firing high over after Babych had pulled down Anichebe.
The Metalist defender, booked for the first penalty he conceded, was shown another yellow and then red for this offence.
But even when Johnson did net in injury-time, the goal was disallowed for a foul on Goryainov by Anichebe.
Full Report: Soccernet.com
UC: Aberdeen 0-0 Dnipro
Group A
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| 0 | 0 |
Two great saves denied Aberdeen victory as the opening leg of their UEFA Cup first round, first leg clash against Dnipro at Pittodrie finished 0-0.
Andrew Considine and Chris Clark saw shots beaten away by Vyacheslav Kernozenko early in either half of the clash.
The Ukrainian side had their moments, mostly from long range, and the Dons failed to capitalise on a period of sustained pressure after the interval.
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood sprung a surprise before the game by recalling goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.
Langfield lost the number one jersey to Derek Soutar following a row with manager Jimmy Calderwood on his stag night, but found himself back in favour after the Dons won just once in six games in his absence.
But it was his opposite number who proved the key man in Aberdeen's first appearance in Europe for five years, and he took just four minutes to produce a stunning stop.
Jamie Smith, who started up front, headed down Scott Severin's free-kick and Considine's close-range strike was brilliantly beaten away.
The visitors soon settled in possession and Sergey Samodin pulled a shot wide after a flick-on by Andriy Vorobey.
Their key man, Sergiy Nazarenko, was booked for a late tackle on McNamara before the Dons threatened from another set-piece.
Smith curled his left-wing corner beyond the far post but Zander Diamond could not direct his header back on target after a late run.
Considine saved the Dons with a brilliant penalty-box challenge on Samodin after Kostyantyn Kravchenko had lifted a superb ball over the top. And the visitors came close when Nazarenko twice curled inches over from 20 yards.
Both sides were looking to attack when they had the ball and Severin fed Barry Nicholson's forward run with a superb ball with the outside of his foot - but the midfielder was forced a fraction too wide and his shot was easily saved.
Langfield had his first serious test seconds after the restart when he pushed over Kravchenko's powerful long-range strike.
Moments later, Chris Clark came so close to breaking the deadlock with a brilliant piece of play that was matched by Kernozenko's save.
The left midfielder cut inside two defenders and curled a shot towards the far corner from 20 yards - but the Dnipro keeper pushed his effort on to the post.
Aberdeen had the impetus and Diamond won the ball from Severin's free-kick but could not direct his header towards goal.
Kravchenko was booked by Norwegian referee Espen Berntsen for initially refusing to move a yard off the pitch for treatment and, seconds after coming back on, he slowly limped off for substitute Dmytro L'opa.
The episode suggested the Ukrainians would have been happy with a goalless draw, and they were certainly sitting deeper than the opening half.
Aberdeen were looking to get the ball into the box at every opportunity and Derek Young had a shot deflected wide before Diamond headed over from the corner.
Clark had a great chance after Denys Andriyenko slipped in possession on the edge of his box but the wide man's shot flashed well wide with the aid of a deflection.
Striker Steve Lovell came on for Young and Smith moved wide right while Richard Foster replaced McNamara at left-back.
It was Dnipro sub Jaba Kankava who threatened next though after Nazarenko's cut-back, but Langfield dived low to his right to divert the measured shot past the post.
And a final push by Aberdeen failed to materialise as Dnipro kept the ball in their opponents' half for most of the final 15 minutes.
L'opa even threatened to sneak an away goal when he worked space in the box but he shot a yard wide, and Langfield saved from Sergey Kornilenko in injury-time.
But the Dons will still have their work cut out to make the group stages against a side that beat Hibernian 5-1 after a goalless draw at Easter Road two years ago.
Source: Soccernet.com
UC: Rabotnicki Kometal 1-1 Bolton
Group A
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| 1 | 1 |
Bolton rode their luck in their UEFA Cup first-round, first-leg clash with Macedonian side Rabotnicki and secured a 1-1 draw thanks to Abdoulaye Meite's first goal of the season.
It came seven minutes from time and may just act as a catalyst to kick-start their troubled season.
Bolton were heading for their sixth defeat in seven games when Meite toe-poked the ball home after goalkeeper Filip Madzovski had fumbled a free-kick from Nicolas Anelka.
Manager Sammy Lee reverted to 4-4-2 in a bid to change things around with Kevin Davies returning to partner Anelka.
But it was Nemanja Milisavlevic who sent the hosts into raptures with his goal in the 53rd minute.
Bolton, the bottom club in the Premier League, struggled to assert their authority.
Not for the first time this season the defence looked vulnerable when Rabotnicki went on the counter-attack.
They almost opened the scoring in the 24th minute when goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen spilled a shot from Nderim Nedzipi but Ivan Trickovski was unable to take advantage.
Bolton had plenty of possession but created only half-chances in front of 500 travelling supporters.
Davies got clear of his marker in the 27th minute but failed to test the goalkeeper with his header following a corner from El-Hadji Diouf.
The Senegal international squandered a good chance five minutes later when he got on the end of Kevin Nolan's mis-hit shot.
Diouf was clear on goal but seemed startled and sent his effort high over the crossbar.
Bolton were stepping up the pressure and Davies got on the end of a free-kick from Nicky Hunt in the 35th minute but Madzovski was equal to his header.
Anelka should have put Bolton ahead on the stroke of half-time when he latched onto a pass from Gary Speed. He rounded the goalkeeper but sent his effort into the side-netting.
Trickovski then got clear a minute into the second half but he failed to put enough weight on his effort and Jaaskelainen made a comfortable save.
Bolton responded but Speed's header following a flick-on from Davies was easily fielded by Madzovski.
Anelka wriggled clear in the area in the 52nd minute only for Lazar Stanisic to make a crucial block and Bolton were stunned a minute later when Milisavlevic opened the scoring.
He showed a cool head to rifle a shot into the corner after Trickovski had lofted the ball over a flat-footed Gerald Cid.
Speed headed wide of the post five minutes later following a free-kick from Diouf.
However, Rabotnicki almost grabbed a second in the 59th minute after a long ball from the back by Ertan Demiri.
Trickovski got a good touch but clipped his effort narrowly over the crossbar after Jaaskelainen had raced off his line.
Bolton were stung and Diouf raced forward in the 64th minute only to see his effort deflected to safety.
Meite then should have done better when Diouf delivered a precise cross but cleared the crossbar with his header.
Nolan sent a volley wide for Bolton and Anelka headed over as they went in search of an equaliser.
It finally came in the 83rd minute through Meite. He could hardly hide his delight as his last and only goal last season came in February.
Bolton pressed for the winner but had to settle for a share of the spoils on the night. However, they should go into the second leg with confidence.
Full Report: Soccernet.com
UC: Larissa 2-0 Blackburn
Group A
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| 2 | 0 |
Larissa 2-0 Blackburn, Goals + Highlights
Former Everton flop Ibrahima Bakayoko helped bring Blackburn's 15-match unbeaten run crashing to an end and leave them on the brink of UEFA Cup elimination at the first hurdle as they lost 2-0 to Larissa.
Bakayoko and Brazilian Cleyton scored two goals in the space of 90 disastrous first-half seconds as the Greek Cup winners pulled off a shock first-round, first-leg result.
The defeat, Rovers' first since April 15, leaves manager Mark Hughes' side facing an uphill task in the second leg at Ewood Park in a fortnight if they are to reach the group stages.
Hughes and his players had talked promisingly before the match of potentially going all the way in the competition this season, but that now appears a forlorn hope following this result.
Yet for half an hour Rovers appeared comfortable as Larissa barely posed a threat, but then Hughes' side hardly put their opponents under any intense pressure either.
Their initial ease was aided by the fact there was no 30 degree Celsius heat to put them in a sweat, as had been prevalent earlier in the day, due to cloud cover and a strong breeze.
The game was also being stage away from their home turf in Larissa at the Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos - 40 miles away from their own Alkazar Stadium as it does not meet UEFA standards.
Given the apparent advantages, Blackburn were unable to make them count, with their best opportunity of a wretched match arriving in the 19th minute.
A long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen was taken on the chest by Benni McCarthy on the edge of the six-yard area.
In one swift movement McCarthy swivelled onto the ball, striking a volley goalwards that smacked into the face of German defender Marco Foerster.
Then came those 90 miserable seconds as Rovers found themselves two goals adrift and staring at an unlikely early exit from the competition.
Walter Smith spent £4.5million on Bakayoko when he signed the Ivory Coast striker from Montpellier in October 1998.
It is fair to say Bakayoko failed to inspire during his time at Goodison Park, scoring just four goals in 23 appearances before being shipped on to Marseille for £4million.
However, two of those goals came in a 2-1 win for Everton at Ewood Park in March 1999, a result that helped send Blackburn crashing out of the Premier League.
His strike on this occasion was a touch fortunate as the 30-year-old let fly from 30 yards, only for his shot to take a slight deflection off Ryan Nelsen.
That was enough to help beat Brad Friedel, who was standing on the edge of his six-yard box, as he could do nothing but paw at thin air as the ball flew over him and into the roof of the net.
Moments later and further travesty followed, this time courtesy of Blackburn's own making, and in particular a woeful back pass from just inside his own half from Brett Emerton.
Seizing onto the underhit ball, Nektarios Alexandrou was initially denied by a spread-eagled Friedel, while Andre Ooijer then blocked Bakayoko on the rebound.
The loose ball, though, ran to Giorgos Fotakis who teed up Cleyton and the Brazilian delightfully curled home a fine second from 12 yards.
A clawing save from Friedel from Fotakis' 20-yard free-kick denied Blackburn further embarrassment at the start of a second half in which they were distinctly second best.
The loss of captain Nelsen just before the hour added to Rovers' woes, forcing them onto the backfoot as last-ditch defending on occasions became the order of the day.
Nelsen's replacement Zurab Khizanishvili, David Dunn and Ooijer were all forced to block shots inside their own area as Larissa looked to kill the tie.
That should have been accomplished in the 70th minute when the lively Bakayoko teed up Cleyton from eight yards for a sidefoot shot Friedel brilliantly blocked.
Despite four minutes of injury time, Rovers failed to conjure an away goal that could have aided their cause, and now it is all or nothing in two weeks' time in the return leg.
Full Report: Soccernet.com
Satisfied Jose settles up and waves goodbye
Jose Mourinho settled a massive compensation package with Chelsea and then declared he was proud of his achievements with the Premier League side.
Mourinho finally agreed on a financial settlement late this evening after agreeing to leave the club by mutual consent earlier in the day.
Chelsea have since appointed their director of football Avram Grant as his replacement.
Mourinho's decision to step down as manager was due to a breakdown in his relationship with the Chelsea hierarchy.
But he is set to land a reported £20million pay-off as compensation for the remaining three years of his contract - worth around £6m a year.
Mourinho said: 'I am very proud of my work in Chelsea Football Club and I think my decision in May 2004 to come to England was an excellent one.
'It was a beautiful and rich period of my career. I want to thank all Chelsea FC supporters for what I believe is a never-ending love story.
'I wish great success to the club, a club that will be forever connected to me for some historical moments.
'I wish the players happiness in football and in their family life. Finally on my wife's and children' s behalf we thank the great professionalism of their school teachers and the beauty of so many friends.'
After a night of negotiations at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea finally released a statement confirming that all contractual arrangements had been sorted out with their former coach.
The statement read: 'Chelsea Football Club has reached agreement on all contractual arrangements with Jose Mourinho.'
Source: Soccernet.com
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