Saudi crown prince and US secretary of state discuss over phone ways to enhance cooperation    NMC: Most Saudi regions to witness rain of varying intensity until Monday    Alkhorayef meets global executives at WEF to boost Saudi industrial growth    Advancing Saudi Vision 2030: Technology as a Cornerstone for Growth    WEF 2025: Saudi delegation calls for global cooperation, climate action, and AI-driven innovation    GASTAT: Non-oil exports surge 19.7% in November 2024    Saudi Arabia strongly condemns Israeli attack on Jenin in West Bank    Why do athletes earn such high incomes?    Ukrainian soldiers on Donetsk frontlines call for more weapons    Flights canceled for refugees who were slated to travel to US    1.4 billion people traveled internationally in 2024 as tourism returns to pre-pandemic highs    Julian Quinones' brace secures Al Qadsiah's 2-0 win over Al Orobah    Al Ittihad defeats Al Shabab 2-1 to stay in title race with Al Hilal    Tina Turner's lost Private Dancer song rediscovered    Comeback queens, blockbusters and Succession stars: The Oscar nominations previewed    Thousands evacuated as new fast-growing fire ignites near Los Angeles    Hans Zimmer to reimagine Saudi national anthem and collaborate on future projects    Dangerous drug-resistant bacteria are spreading in Ukraine    France issues health warning as tons 'aphrodisiac honey' seized    Al Hilal solidifies Saudi Pro League lead with a 4-1 victory over Al Wahda    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.



Big guns, debutants in Champs League proper
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 28 - 08 - 2008

time winner Liverpool reached the Champions League proper after a Dirk Kuyt goal deep into extra time gave them a 1-0 aggregate win over plucky Belgian rivals Standard Liege on Wednesday.
The Dutch striker scored in the 118th minute to the relief of the Anfield faithful as Liverpool, who last won the trophy in 2005, struggled to find a way through.
Former winner Olympique Marseille also looked below par against Brann Bergen but two goals from Mamadou Niang sealed a 2-1 home win for a 3-1 aggregate victory over the Norwegians.
In contrast, Arsenal romped to a 6-0 rout of Dutch side Twente Enschede, coached by former England manager Steve McClaren, after Samir Nasri, William Gallas, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner handed them a 4-0 second-leg win at home.
It was joined by other big guns and three teams that qualified for the lucrative group stage of the competition for the first time.
Atletico Madrid beat Germany's Schalke 04 4-1 on aggregate after crushing them 4-0 at home, Dynamo Kiev steamrolled to an 8-2 overall demolition of Spartak Moscow and Fiorentina eased to goalless draw at Slavia Prague after a 2-0 first-leg win.
Sergio Aguero, back from helping Argentina win the Olympic gold medal, cancelled out Schalke's 1-0 lead from the first leg before goals by Diego Forlan, Luis Garcia and Maxi Rodriguez sealed Atletico's passage at their Vicente Calderon stadium.
Danish champion Aalborg, Cypriots Anorthosis Famagusta and Belarus surprise package BATE Borisov enjoyed the unprecedented success of advancing past the preliminary rounds into Thursday's group stage draw in Monaco.
Anorthosis went down 1-0 away to Olympiakos Piraeus but upset the Greek side 3-1 on aggregate after a stunning 3-0 win in the first leg.
Aalborg brushed aside Kaunas 4-0 after a Kasper Risgard double gave it a 2-0 away win over its nine-man Lithuanian rival, who had Mindaugas Grigalevicius sent off after half an hour and Linas Pilibatis shown the red card in the 67th minute.
BATE held on for a 1-1 draw at home to Levski Sofia after upsetting the Bulgarians 1-0 a fortnight ago.
There was mixed success for Turkish teams as Fenerbahce squeezed past Partizan Belgrade 4-3 on aggregate while bitter Istanbul rivals Galatasaray bowed out with a 3-2 overall defeat by 1986 European champions Steaua Bucharest.
Headers by Semih Senturk and Brazilian forward Alex gave Fenerbahce a 2-0 lead in front of their vociferous fans before Zoran Tosic set up a nervy finish with a superb free kick.
Banel Nicolita struck in the 57th minute to send Steaua through and give Romanian fans plenty to cheer about after the country's champions CFR Cluj qualified automatically. – Reuters __


Clic here to read the story from its source.