Saudi Arabia and India agree to study feasibility of establishing power grid    Saudi Awwal Bank records SR5.9 billion net profit after Zakat and Income Tax for YTD Q3    Economy minister emphasizes global partnerships to address pressing challenges Private investments in non-oil sector soar 70%    Saudi Arabia's GDP grows 2.8% in Q3, driven by non-oil sectors    PIF, HKMA sign MoU to establish $1 billion investment fund    Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian men to take off clothes as they evacuated war-torn Jabalya    North Korea fires suspected intercontinental missile    India celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights    'It was like a tsunami': Spaniards recount horror of deadly floods    Bahrain Crown Prince receives Saudi Interior Minister    In-person classes will remain suspended in Jeddah, Rabigh and Khulais schools on Thursday    HR Ministry takes penal action against 568 violators of Domestic Workers' Regulation    Derby Week makes its debut in the Roshn Saudi League    Al Nassr eliminated from King's Cup after a defeat to Al Taawoun    Teri Garr, Young Frankenstein and Tootsie star, dies at 79    Othman Al Omeir receives Legacy of Change Medal at the UK Parliament for advocacy in media    Neymar joins Saudi fashion trend, donning traditional attire at Al Hilal match    Indonesia Days event celebrates cultural diversity at Al Suwaidi Park    Saudi Football Federation reappoints Hervé Renard to lead national team    Tarzan star Ron Ely dies aged 86    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    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    







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Newcomers upset Europe
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 17 - 09 - 2008

European heavyweights Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan opened their Champions League campaigns with victories Tuesday.
But the most striking results on the first night of the group stage came from the competition's newcomers on the road, with CFR Cluj upsetting AS Roma 2-1 and Anorthosis Famagusta holding Werder Bremen 0-0.
Chelsea, which lost May's final on penalty kicks, crushed Bordeaux 4-0; five-time champion Liverpool rallied to win 2-1 at Marseille; 2006 winner Barcelona overcame Sporting Lisbon 3-1 and Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan beat Panathinaikos 2-0.
Atletico Madrid ended its 11-year absence with a 3-0 win at 1988 champion PSV Einhoven, while Shakhtar Donetsk won 2-1 despite FC Basel scoring a late goal.
Fernando Torres was back spearheading Liverpool's attack after recovering from injury as Liverpool was given a tougher test than last year's visit to the Stade Velodrome when it left with a 4-0 victory.
Marseille went ahead in the 23rd when Benoit Cheyrou lofted the ball over and Lorik Cana sidefooted past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
The flares were still being launched when Steven Gerrard struck within three minutes with a rasping shot that looped into the net from 25 meters.
“It was amazing. It was a fantastic goal, it shows the quality he has,” Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said.
Gerrard put Liverpool ahead in the 31st from the penalty spot at the second attempt after Ronald Zubar had tripped Ryan Babel. It was Gerrard's 99th career goal. “We played well in the first half, but in the second they pinned us in and put us under a lot of pressure,” Gerrard said.
Atletico hadn't played in the Champions League this century, but Sergio Aguero scored twice and Maniche added another to give the Spaniards a winning start at PSV. Aguero sliced in Luis Garcia's cross in the ninth minute. Substitute Florent Sinama Pongolle set up Aguero for the second goal in the 36th, before Maniche converted Garcia's pass to make it 3-0 in the 54th to ensure a lead over Liverpool over Group D on goal difference.
Chelsea began the new European campaign emphatically, with Frank Lampard scoring and playing provider.
He powered in a header in the 14th on Jose Bosingwa's cross, before his inviting cross allowed Joe Cole to nod in at the near post in the 30th after rising above Alou Diarra.
Florent Malouda put the match beyond doubt in the 82nd when put clear by Lampard's well-timed backheel. Anelka added a fourth in injury time.
But Chelsea's Group A rival, CFR Cluj, stole the headlines by stunning Roma on two goals from Argentine midfielder Juan Culio. A 25-year-old journeyman playing his first Champions League match, Culio scored in the 27th and 49th minutes after Christian Panucci had put Roma in front at Stadio Olimpico, which will host this season's final on May 27.
Panucci headed in a pass from Daniele De Rossi in the 17th minute for his 13th goal in 99 European matches. But Juan Culio equalized six minutes later, splitting two defenders with a diagonal shot from the edge of the area, and Juan Culio struck again in the 47th, volleying in a loose ball from the center of the area.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will hope the win over Sporting has an impact on his team's domestic form. Defender Rafael Marquez headed in Xavi Hernandez's corner in the 21st and Samuel Eto'o doubled the lead on the hour from the penalty spot. Tonel stabbed home a cross in the 72nd to pull a goal back before Xavi scored in the 87th to secure Guardiola's first win of the season.
Shakhtar began its Group C campaign with a win courtesy of two Brazilians scoring – Fernandinho with a free kick in the 25th and Jadson on the stroke of halftime. David Abraham added a consolation goal for the Swiss team.
Inter took an early lead in Group B after Amantino Mancini and Adriano scored in manager Jose Mourinho's first European game with the Italian club.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic beat three defenders to set up Mancini, whose left-footed shot beat goalkeeper Mario Galinovic in the 27th. Ibrahimovic also inspired the second goal, finding Adriano for an easy finish past Galinovic in the 85th.
The other Group B result was more unexpected with Anorthosis Famagusta, the first Cypriot team to enter the Champions League, drawing 0-0 at Werder Bremen. – AP __


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