Saudi Crown Prince, Italian PM Meloni discuss regional security in phone call    Musaned tops 2024 Beneficiary Satisfaction Index among 39 platforms with a rate of 96%    Saudi Arabia launches loan guarantees for SMEs to stimulate investment in environmental projects    Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah is among top three 5-star hospitals in Middle East and North Africa    Antenna: Saudi artist Ahmed Mater opens first solo exhibition in China    79 hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah face penalties for closure order violations    S&P upgrades Saudi Arabia's credit rating to A+    Trump orders 'decisive' military action against Houthis in Yemen    US Senate passes Republican spending bill to avert government shutdown    Zelenskyy says territorial control key to peace talks, rejects recognition of occupied regions    Pakistan says train hijacking death toll rises to 30, accuses India and Afghanistan of supporting militants    Al Nassr climbs to third with dominant win over Al Khaleej, Al Qadsiah slips after loss to Damac    CEDA reviews role of reforms in diversification of economy and surge in non-oil revenues    Crown Prince receives Yazeed Al-Rajhi after historic Dakar Rally 2025 victory    Saleh Al-Shehri's late penalty rescues Al Ittihad against Al Riyadh    SR17 million fines slapped on 16 individuals and companies convicted of violating Capital Market Law    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    Argentinian court begins trial of seven healthcare professionals over Maradona's death    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    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.



Barca, United secure wins
steve douglas
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 08 - 04 - 2011

LONDON: Barcelona closed in on a likely Champions League semifinal with Spanish rival Real Madrid by routing Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1, while Wayne Rooney's goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 win at Chelsea in Wednesday's other quarterfinal match.
Goals by Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Xavi Hernandez in the first leg put Barcelona on the brink of qualification, with Yaroslav Rakitskiy scoring an away goal at Camp Nou stadium for the Ukrainian underdog. Chelsea was looking to gain revenge for a penalty shootout defeat to United in the 2008 final in Moscow, but a superb team goal converted by Rooney in the 24th minute put Alex Ferguson's side in the driving seat ahead of Tuesday's second leg. “We have an advantage now but the biggest advantage is going back to Old Trafford,” Ferguson said. “But it's only one goal. We will need a good performance Tuesday.”
After high-scoring matches in Tuesday's quarterfinals, with Real Madrid thrashing Tottenham 4-0 and Schalke upsetting defending champion Inter Milan 5-2, Barcelona carried on the theme to show why the team is most people's favorite to win the competition for a fourth time. Iniesta scored in the second minute, running onto Lionel Messi's blocked pass and slotting a finish into the corner, before setting up right back Dani Alves to make it 2-0 in the 34th.
Shakhtar had chances before halftime, with Willian's close-range shot being tipped over and Luiz Adriano sidefooting wide when clean through.
But the visitors always looked likely to concede at the other end and Barcelona's third goal from Pique, which took a deflection off Rakitskiy, sealed the win.
Rakitskiy made amends by connecting with a free kick using his knee to turn the ball past Victor Valdes for what looked at the time like a precious away goal, but late goals from Keita and Xavi have surely given the host an unassailable lead.
If Madrid and Barcelona do go through as expected, they would meet four times over the next month as they also play in the Spanish league and the Copa del Rey final.
United manager Alex Ferguson said on the eve of the match that scoring an away goal would be the key to the first leg, and Rooney obliged with a wonderful strike.
Michael Carrick's raking diagonal pass was taken superbly by Ryan Giggs, who glided past Jose Bosingwa thanks to a sublime first touch and cut the ball back for Rooney to slot in off the far post from 10 meters. Up to the goal, Chelsea had edged proceedings but lacked a killer touch, with Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba again failing to gel up front. United also looked the more composed, especially in midfield where the evergreen Giggs showed his class. The host came close to equalizing in first-half injury time when Drogba's cross was missed by Torres and ended up hitting the post. Frank Lampard, making his 500th appearance for Chelsea, pounced on the rebound but his shot was cleared off the line by Patrice Evra. Chelsea threatened to equalize, with Torres' header in the 74th forcing a fine save out of Edwin van der Sar and Michael Essien also going close.


Clic here to read the story from its source.