Ukraine hit by largest drone attack since war began, says Zelensky    Germany's conservatives celebrate, but far right enjoy record result    British couple in their 70s arrested by Taliban    Syria plans to erase Queen Zenobia from history books    Ronaldo expresses joy celebrating Saudi Founding Day with Crown Prince at Saudi Cup 2025    Volvo returns to Saudi Arabia with Electromin — a bold step toward a sustainable future    Saudi Arabia implements new personal status regulations    Riyadh begins installing nameplates honoring Saudi imams and kings in 15 major squares    Bergwijn, Benzema lead Al-Ittihad to dominant 4-1 Clasico win over Al-Hilal    Saudi U-20 team secures spot in 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup with last-minute winner over China    PIF seeks to expand US investments despite restrictions, says governor Al-Rumayyan Saudi sovereign fund launched 103 companies across 13 sectors, aims to attract more foreign talent to Saudi Arabia    Saudi minister holds high-level talks at FII Miami to boost AI, tech, and space partnerships    Saudi Media Forum concludes with key industry partnerships and award recognitions    Al-Ettifaq stuns Al-Nassr with late winner as Ronaldo protests refereeing decisions    Imam Mohammed bin Saud: The founder of the First Saudi State and architect of stability    'Neighbors' canceled again, two years after revival    Proper diet and healthy eating key to enjoying Ramadan fast    Saudi Media Forum panel highlights Kingdom's vision beyond 2034 World Cup    AlUla Arts Festival 2025 wraps up with a vibrant closing weekend    'Real life Squid Game': Kim Sae-ron's death exposes Korea's celebrity culture    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



London clubs ecstatic
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 11 - 12 - 2015


* Arsenal, Chelsea through to Champs last 16
* Roma, Dynamo Kiev and Gent also advance
PARIS — Olivier Giroud was Arsenal's hero as the Gunners and Chelsea succeeded Wednesday where Manchester United failed a day earlier to advance to the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League.
The London clubs celebrated on the final night of group stage action as Roma, Dynamo Kiev and the Belgian underdogs Gent also secured their places in the knockout phase.
Arsenal had needed to overturn a 3-2 defeat at home to Olympiakos earlier in the season when it faced the Greek champion away in a Group F showdown.
Arsene Wenger's side had lost in Piraeus on three separate occasions in recent seasons but France striker Giroud gave it a first-half lead and crucially doubled its advantage shortly after the restart following superb play by Joel Campbell.
Giroud then netted a penalty in the 69th minute to seal Arsenal's place in the last 16 for the 16th season in a row, although finishing second in its group exposes it to the possibility of being drawn against Real Madrid or Barcelona in the next round.
Group winner Bayern Munich finished with a 2-0 victory at Dinamo Zagreb thanks to a second-half Robert Lewandowski brace as Thomas Mueller missed a late penalty and coach Pep Guardiola claimed his 100th win in charge.
Enduring a difficult season domestically, Chelsea progressed to the last 16 as Group G winner with a 2-0 win at home to Jose Mourinho's old side Porto as Ivan Marcano's early own goal put it ahead and Willian scored in the second half.
Porto started the day on top of the group but finished by tumbling into the Europa League itself after being overtaken by Dynamo Kiev as the Ukrainian champion beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 through a Denys Garmash goal to reach the last 16 for the first time since 1999-2000.
Elsewhere, Roma advanced as runner-up in Group E despite a dreary 0-0 draw at home to BATE Borisov in the Italian capital.
That was because Bayer Leverkusen could only draw 1-1 at home to group winner and defending European champion Barcelona in Germany, unable to find the winner it needed after the in-form Javier Hernandez canceled out Lionel Messi's opener.
Leverkusen goes into the Europa League, and that is the consolation that Valencia has to settle for after it was beaten 2-0 at home by Lyon in Group H in former England defender Gary Neville's first match as head coach of the Spaniards.
Maxwel Cornet and Alexandre Lacazette scored to give already eliminated Lyon a consolation win, although it was all academic for Valencia anyway as Gent's 2-1 victory at home to Zenit St Petersburg took it through.
Laurent Depoitre and Danijel Milicevic netted for Gent either side of a strike by the prolific Artem Dzyuba as the Buffalos became the first Belgian club to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. The draw for the last 16 will take place at UEFA's headquarters in Switzerland Monday.


Clic here to read the story from its source.