Epl Thread
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snuffleupagus
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shite i could not wake up in time for the match...anybody with any youtube links? 
Seems to not be up yet 
Seems to not be up yet 
fgl
Well-known member
Match Report
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tuesday, November 21, 2006, 7.45pm
Arsenal3Van Persie 52, Eboue 83, Baptista 88
Hamburg1van der Vaart 4
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal only need to avoid defeat in Porto on Matchday Six in order to reach the Knockout Stages of the Champions League.
For much of tonight’s game with Hamburg, last season’s finalists seemed likely to leave themselves no margin for error in Portugal on December 6.
They trailed to Raphael van der Vaart’s dipping long-distance strike after only four minutes and, despite constant pressure, the home side’s only response came from Robin van Persie immediately after the break.
But, with only seven minutes remaining, Emmanuel Eboue strode up the right and fired in a low shot from an acute angle. Hamburg keeper Stefan Wachter could only help the ball into the net. Then, in the final minute of normal time, Theo Walcott found Julio Baptista nodded home his first goal in Arsenal colours.
This result, combined with Porto’s 2-0 win in Moscow, means Arsenal now top Group G. A victory from Arsène Wenger’s side in the final round of matches will mean they stay there but a draw will be sufficient to put them through.
However they must travel to Portgual without Thierry Henry. The Arsenal striker was booked just afterVan Persie’s equaliser. It was his third yellow card of the Champions League campaign and therefore he is suspended
Before kick-off, Wenger chose to restore Freddie Ljungberg to his line-up for the first time in seven weeks. The Swede had been hampered by a calf injury and then sickness since his last appearance at Charlton on September 30. Baptista made way. At the back, Philippe Senderos replaced William Gallas, who had picked up a thigh injury in the final seconds of training on Monday.
Gilberto was back in the squad after returning to Brazil for family reasons. However he only made the bench as Mathieu Flamini retained his place. Henry came back into the side in place of Emmanuel Adebayor.
Porto’s victory in Moscow had placed even greater emphasis on this game - if that were possible. The last thing Arsenal needed to do was concede an early goal and invite another visiting side to sit back and defend a lead.
However that is precisely what happened.
After four minutes, Arsenal failed to clear the ball in midfield and it eventually fell to Van der Vaart 25 yards out. He looked up and arrowed a curling right-foot shot into the top corner of the net. It was reminiscent of the super effort Tomas Rosicky had scored at the AOL Arena when the teams had met on Matchday One.
The Arsenal reaction was swift. Stung by the early goal, they swarmed forward. Eboue started to ping in crosses from the right, Fabregas looked to pull the midfield strings.
As ever, possession and creating chances were no problem. Putting them in was a different matter. Sometimes it was an issue of millimetres.
For example, in the 14th minute, Hleb and Fabregas combined for the Belarus midfielder to conjure some space in a crowded area. His rising shot was firm but bounced down off the bar and the ball was cleared. It could so nearly have come down over the line or to an Arsenal player. Given the trend in recent home games you feared it might be one of those nights.
Five minutes later the craning Henry just failed to reach a precise cross to the far post by Fabregas. By now Arsenal were pushing back Hamburg with the consistency.
The German side's main outlet was quick breaks through Medhi Mahdavikia. After Van Persie had nodded wide from Clichy’s deep cross, the Iranian made a typical forage forward and worried Lehmann with a shot from distance.
In the 35th minute Wachter flapped at a corner from Fabregas and the ball fell to Van Persie at the far post. His goalbound shot was blocked by the mess of the bodies in the area. Penalty area pinball ensued for a few seconds before the chance was cleared.
A couple of minutes later the Dutchman shaved the angle of post and bar with a rocket of a free-kick from 30 yards. Again Arsenal were on top at home, again they looked like scoring but again, as half time approached, they were trailing,
On the whistle, the dangerous Mahdavikia was substituted. It came a few minutes after he had been fouled by Hleb.
Just after the restart, Henry bent a free-kick high into the sidenetting. Then, in the 51st minute, Arsenal finally broke through the heart of the Hamburg defence for the first time. And they converted the chance.
Fabregas sent Van Persie clear in the right-hand channel and the Dutchman slotted the ball low past Wachter. In the pandemonium that followed Henry was booked.
Hamburg might have restored their lead almost immediately when Thimothee Atouba broke down the left and his cross was knocked back to Mario Fillinger just outside the area. He drilled his shot wide. It was a waste.
Adebayor replaced Van Persie with 21 minutes left then, after Henry’s snapshot had been saved, Walcott came on for Ljungberg. Wenger was rotating his attackers to keep fresh up front in the final stages.
A long-range shot from Fabregas touched Van der Vaart on route and bounced off the bar. At the other end, Senderos got enough on a shot from Danijel Ljuboja to divert the ball wide.
Desperation had just about turned to resignation by the time Eboue found space up the right and fired in an optimistic effort. Wachter will be disappointed with his part in the goal.
In the final minute of normal time, Walcott’s incisive run down the right stretched the Hamburg defence and his pinpoint cross picked out Baptista at the far post. The Brazilian powered home a header into the unguarded net.
The comeback was complete.
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tuesday, November 21, 2006, 7.45pm
Arsenal3Van Persie 52, Eboue 83, Baptista 88
Hamburg1van der Vaart 4
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal only need to avoid defeat in Porto on Matchday Six in order to reach the Knockout Stages of the Champions League.
For much of tonight’s game with Hamburg, last season’s finalists seemed likely to leave themselves no margin for error in Portugal on December 6.
They trailed to Raphael van der Vaart’s dipping long-distance strike after only four minutes and, despite constant pressure, the home side’s only response came from Robin van Persie immediately after the break.
But, with only seven minutes remaining, Emmanuel Eboue strode up the right and fired in a low shot from an acute angle. Hamburg keeper Stefan Wachter could only help the ball into the net. Then, in the final minute of normal time, Theo Walcott found Julio Baptista nodded home his first goal in Arsenal colours.
This result, combined with Porto’s 2-0 win in Moscow, means Arsenal now top Group G. A victory from Arsène Wenger’s side in the final round of matches will mean they stay there but a draw will be sufficient to put them through.
However they must travel to Portgual without Thierry Henry. The Arsenal striker was booked just afterVan Persie’s equaliser. It was his third yellow card of the Champions League campaign and therefore he is suspended
Before kick-off, Wenger chose to restore Freddie Ljungberg to his line-up for the first time in seven weeks. The Swede had been hampered by a calf injury and then sickness since his last appearance at Charlton on September 30. Baptista made way. At the back, Philippe Senderos replaced William Gallas, who had picked up a thigh injury in the final seconds of training on Monday.
Gilberto was back in the squad after returning to Brazil for family reasons. However he only made the bench as Mathieu Flamini retained his place. Henry came back into the side in place of Emmanuel Adebayor.
Porto’s victory in Moscow had placed even greater emphasis on this game - if that were possible. The last thing Arsenal needed to do was concede an early goal and invite another visiting side to sit back and defend a lead.
However that is precisely what happened.
After four minutes, Arsenal failed to clear the ball in midfield and it eventually fell to Van der Vaart 25 yards out. He looked up and arrowed a curling right-foot shot into the top corner of the net. It was reminiscent of the super effort Tomas Rosicky had scored at the AOL Arena when the teams had met on Matchday One.
The Arsenal reaction was swift. Stung by the early goal, they swarmed forward. Eboue started to ping in crosses from the right, Fabregas looked to pull the midfield strings.
As ever, possession and creating chances were no problem. Putting them in was a different matter. Sometimes it was an issue of millimetres.
For example, in the 14th minute, Hleb and Fabregas combined for the Belarus midfielder to conjure some space in a crowded area. His rising shot was firm but bounced down off the bar and the ball was cleared. It could so nearly have come down over the line or to an Arsenal player. Given the trend in recent home games you feared it might be one of those nights.
Five minutes later the craning Henry just failed to reach a precise cross to the far post by Fabregas. By now Arsenal were pushing back Hamburg with the consistency.
The German side's main outlet was quick breaks through Medhi Mahdavikia. After Van Persie had nodded wide from Clichy’s deep cross, the Iranian made a typical forage forward and worried Lehmann with a shot from distance.
In the 35th minute Wachter flapped at a corner from Fabregas and the ball fell to Van Persie at the far post. His goalbound shot was blocked by the mess of the bodies in the area. Penalty area pinball ensued for a few seconds before the chance was cleared.
A couple of minutes later the Dutchman shaved the angle of post and bar with a rocket of a free-kick from 30 yards. Again Arsenal were on top at home, again they looked like scoring but again, as half time approached, they were trailing,
On the whistle, the dangerous Mahdavikia was substituted. It came a few minutes after he had been fouled by Hleb.
Just after the restart, Henry bent a free-kick high into the sidenetting. Then, in the 51st minute, Arsenal finally broke through the heart of the Hamburg defence for the first time. And they converted the chance.
Fabregas sent Van Persie clear in the right-hand channel and the Dutchman slotted the ball low past Wachter. In the pandemonium that followed Henry was booked.
Hamburg might have restored their lead almost immediately when Thimothee Atouba broke down the left and his cross was knocked back to Mario Fillinger just outside the area. He drilled his shot wide. It was a waste.
Adebayor replaced Van Persie with 21 minutes left then, after Henry’s snapshot had been saved, Walcott came on for Ljungberg. Wenger was rotating his attackers to keep fresh up front in the final stages.
A long-range shot from Fabregas touched Van der Vaart on route and bounced off the bar. At the other end, Senderos got enough on a shot from Danijel Ljuboja to divert the ball wide.
Desperation had just about turned to resignation by the time Eboue found space up the right and fired in an optimistic effort. Wachter will be disappointed with his part in the goal.
In the final minute of normal time, Walcott’s incisive run down the right stretched the Hamburg defence and his pinpoint cross picked out Baptista at the far post. The Brazilian powered home a header into the unguarded net.
The comeback was complete.
fgl
Well-known member
Wenger's View
Arsene Wenger
Champions League: Arsenal 3-1 Hamburg - Match Report
Arsenal v Hamburg - Online programme
Arsenal v Hamburg - visit our Match MenuWenger: 'I could see that my team refused to lose'
Arsenal 3-1 Hamburg
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tue, Nov 21, 2006, 7.45pm
on the victory...
"Well, I felt we played a good game against a good team. We kept the pressure, we became stronger and stronger and we kept going. I'm very happy because the team refused to lose the game tonight. Despite being 1-0 down we did fight hard and kept up the pressure. We didn't feel sorry for ourselves when we hit the bar, the post, and just in the end we got a result against a good side. My scout told me that Hamburg is much better than their position in the League. This team in the first half, you feel, they played well, and we needed to be really strong tonight to finally win it."
on second half tactics...
"I felt that we tried really hard in the first half but our game was a little bit too much sideways and not enough forward. Our game in the second half was more direct, more forward. We played with two centre strikers and our game became more direct."
on Henry's booking...
"I didn't speak to him yet. He looked frustrated. I don't know what happened there. It is a blow because we want to go to Porto with Thierry, but we'll do it without him. This team want to do it so much that I'm confident we'll do it without him. "
on Theo Walcott...
"Theo at the moment is in a kind of mental state where he knows he can affect the game when he comes on, and you know he has the physical ingredients when the game needs some pace. I started him first on the left, then I felt that he did not really get in the game. Baptista was comfortable on the left with Theo on the right. You could see straight away that when he went to the right it made a big difference."
on the home fans...
"I must say the supporters, the fans, played a big part tonight because we were 1-0 down. They really supported the team and at that moment, psychologically, it was important for the players tonight."
on the comeback...
"It will convince my players not to make an obsession of conceding the first goal and thinking 'oh, here we go again'. Once you know you can come back and win the game it makes a big difference. I was quite confident because I saw that the team refused to lose the game, you know, and I see a lot of character in the side, even in the first half. I was confident we could take over physically in the second half, and that Hamburg would not maintain that level physically."
Arsene Wenger
Champions League: Arsenal 3-1 Hamburg - Match Report
Arsenal v Hamburg - Online programme
Arsenal v Hamburg - visit our Match MenuWenger: 'I could see that my team refused to lose'
Arsenal 3-1 Hamburg
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Tue, Nov 21, 2006, 7.45pm
on the victory...
"Well, I felt we played a good game against a good team. We kept the pressure, we became stronger and stronger and we kept going. I'm very happy because the team refused to lose the game tonight. Despite being 1-0 down we did fight hard and kept up the pressure. We didn't feel sorry for ourselves when we hit the bar, the post, and just in the end we got a result against a good side. My scout told me that Hamburg is much better than their position in the League. This team in the first half, you feel, they played well, and we needed to be really strong tonight to finally win it."
on second half tactics...
"I felt that we tried really hard in the first half but our game was a little bit too much sideways and not enough forward. Our game in the second half was more direct, more forward. We played with two centre strikers and our game became more direct."
on Henry's booking...
"I didn't speak to him yet. He looked frustrated. I don't know what happened there. It is a blow because we want to go to Porto with Thierry, but we'll do it without him. This team want to do it so much that I'm confident we'll do it without him. "
on Theo Walcott...
"Theo at the moment is in a kind of mental state where he knows he can affect the game when he comes on, and you know he has the physical ingredients when the game needs some pace. I started him first on the left, then I felt that he did not really get in the game. Baptista was comfortable on the left with Theo on the right. You could see straight away that when he went to the right it made a big difference."
on the home fans...
"I must say the supporters, the fans, played a big part tonight because we were 1-0 down. They really supported the team and at that moment, psychologically, it was important for the players tonight."
on the comeback...
"It will convince my players not to make an obsession of conceding the first goal and thinking 'oh, here we go again'. Once you know you can come back and win the game it makes a big difference. I was quite confident because I saw that the team refused to lose the game, you know, and I see a lot of character in the side, even in the first half. I was confident we could take over physically in the second half, and that Hamburg would not maintain that level physically."
fgl
Well-known member
Celtic 1-0 Manchester United
Louis Saha missed a last-minute penalty as Celtic beat Manchester United at Parkhead to reach the Champions League knockout stage and leave the Red Devils to face a do-or-die meeting with Benfica for the second season running.
JeffJMitchell/GettyImages
Stephen McManus of Celtic tackles Louis Saha of Manchester United
Despite dominating for long periods, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were unable to break through Celtic's solid wall of green shirts and the Hoops fans were sent into orbit when Shunsuke Nakamura curled home a magnificent free-kick 10 minutes from time.
United were stunned by the sucker punch but, with seconds remaining, were given the perfect opportunity to level when Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez ruled Shaun Maloney had handled Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick.
But Saha's nerve failed him when it mattered most and Artur Boruc flung himself to the right to turn away the Frenchman's spot-kick.
The result has booked Celtic a place in the last 16 no matter what happens in Copenhagen in a fortnight's time.
But, for United, following quickly on from their equally unexpected defeat in the Danish capital, the nightmare scenario now looms.
Twelve months ago, they tackled Benfica in the Stadium of Light needing a win to go through and lost.
Two weeks from now, they will entertain the Portuguese giants knowing a similar result will turf them out of the competition at the group stage for the second season running.
Such an outcome could not have been predicted at the start as United, having emerged to a cacophony of noise proceeded to produce a measured, precise passing game that strangled the cries of the Celtic support.
With Ryan Giggs finding room across the pitch, Paul Scholes spraying the ball to all parts and even Rio Ferdinand pushing forward, the Red Devils assumed total control.
All United's performance lacked during those opening 45 minutes was a goal.
They should probably have had at least one, when Scholes floated a crossfield pass into the box which Giggs, having got beyond the Hoops defence, inexplicably failed to control.
Wayne Rooney, without a goal in 12 Champions League games, belted a volley just wide and Giggs turned away in disbelief as his goalbound free-kick flicked off the Celtic wall.
Back-pedalling for long periods in that one-sided opening half, Celtic carved out a single opportunity for themselves, which Thomas Gravesen nodded across goal after being picked out at the far post by Maciej Zurawski.
The Poland international was one of two players withdrawn by Gordon Strachan at half-time as the Celtic boss desperately tried to stem the follow of attacks on the home goal.
Strachan asserted before the game that the English Premiership is not all its cracked up to be.
He may well be right but, 15 points clear they may be at the Scottish Premier League summit but evidently the likes of Falkirk, Motherwell and Dunfermline do not offer Celtic same type of test as United and the visiting fans' taunts of 'Are you Rangers in disguise' emphasised their superiority.
Strachan's decision to introduce Jiri Jarosik and Shaun Maloney started to work immediately as Gravesen tested Edwin van der Sar after the Dutch keeper had made a rare mistake.
It took some time for the move to pay off completely though as United's keep-ball exhibition resumed.
The hosts emerged from their bunker long enough for Nakamura to force Van der Sar into his second meaningful save before Ferdinand and Rooney both fired over at the other end, the latter effort coming much closer to breaking the deadlock.
A Ronaldo shot skidded wide off the underneath of Neil Lennon's boot, then Nemanja Vidic headed Giggs' corner wide.
They were only half chances but the missed opportunities were mounting and 10 minutes from time Ferguson saw his side caught by the ultimate sucker punch as Nakamura strode up to curl a magnificent free-kick beyond Van der Sar after Vidic had fouled Jarosik.
United should have levelled immediately when Rooney fed Saha. The Frenchman appeared to be offside. Saha clearly thought so given the relaxed manner in which he tried - and failed - to beat Boruc, turning away aghast when he released the whistle had not blown.
There was one more twist to come. But Saha, who has performed so well this season following the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy, could not find the finish Ferguson and his team so desperately desired.
Louis Saha missed a last-minute penalty as Celtic beat Manchester United at Parkhead to reach the Champions League knockout stage and leave the Red Devils to face a do-or-die meeting with Benfica for the second season running.
JeffJMitchell/GettyImages
Stephen McManus of Celtic tackles Louis Saha of Manchester United
Despite dominating for long periods, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were unable to break through Celtic's solid wall of green shirts and the Hoops fans were sent into orbit when Shunsuke Nakamura curled home a magnificent free-kick 10 minutes from time.
United were stunned by the sucker punch but, with seconds remaining, were given the perfect opportunity to level when Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez ruled Shaun Maloney had handled Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick.
But Saha's nerve failed him when it mattered most and Artur Boruc flung himself to the right to turn away the Frenchman's spot-kick.
The result has booked Celtic a place in the last 16 no matter what happens in Copenhagen in a fortnight's time.
But, for United, following quickly on from their equally unexpected defeat in the Danish capital, the nightmare scenario now looms.
Twelve months ago, they tackled Benfica in the Stadium of Light needing a win to go through and lost.
Two weeks from now, they will entertain the Portuguese giants knowing a similar result will turf them out of the competition at the group stage for the second season running.
Such an outcome could not have been predicted at the start as United, having emerged to a cacophony of noise proceeded to produce a measured, precise passing game that strangled the cries of the Celtic support.
With Ryan Giggs finding room across the pitch, Paul Scholes spraying the ball to all parts and even Rio Ferdinand pushing forward, the Red Devils assumed total control.
All United's performance lacked during those opening 45 minutes was a goal.
They should probably have had at least one, when Scholes floated a crossfield pass into the box which Giggs, having got beyond the Hoops defence, inexplicably failed to control.
Wayne Rooney, without a goal in 12 Champions League games, belted a volley just wide and Giggs turned away in disbelief as his goalbound free-kick flicked off the Celtic wall.
Back-pedalling for long periods in that one-sided opening half, Celtic carved out a single opportunity for themselves, which Thomas Gravesen nodded across goal after being picked out at the far post by Maciej Zurawski.
The Poland international was one of two players withdrawn by Gordon Strachan at half-time as the Celtic boss desperately tried to stem the follow of attacks on the home goal.
Strachan asserted before the game that the English Premiership is not all its cracked up to be.
He may well be right but, 15 points clear they may be at the Scottish Premier League summit but evidently the likes of Falkirk, Motherwell and Dunfermline do not offer Celtic same type of test as United and the visiting fans' taunts of 'Are you Rangers in disguise' emphasised their superiority.
Strachan's decision to introduce Jiri Jarosik and Shaun Maloney started to work immediately as Gravesen tested Edwin van der Sar after the Dutch keeper had made a rare mistake.
It took some time for the move to pay off completely though as United's keep-ball exhibition resumed.
The hosts emerged from their bunker long enough for Nakamura to force Van der Sar into his second meaningful save before Ferdinand and Rooney both fired over at the other end, the latter effort coming much closer to breaking the deadlock.
A Ronaldo shot skidded wide off the underneath of Neil Lennon's boot, then Nemanja Vidic headed Giggs' corner wide.
They were only half chances but the missed opportunities were mounting and 10 minutes from time Ferguson saw his side caught by the ultimate sucker punch as Nakamura strode up to curl a magnificent free-kick beyond Van der Sar after Vidic had fouled Jarosik.
United should have levelled immediately when Rooney fed Saha. The Frenchman appeared to be offside. Saha clearly thought so given the relaxed manner in which he tried - and failed - to beat Boruc, turning away aghast when he released the whistle had not blown.
There was one more twist to come. But Saha, who has performed so well this season following the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy, could not find the finish Ferguson and his team so desperately desired.
Indigo_blues
New member
woohoo :lol:
reckless-sham
New member
any fellow magpies out there?? :supz:
Juno
New member
liverpool welcomes celtic & arsenal to the next round of CL as part of the british empire... 
so far we hv 3 brit teams,1 italian (Milan),1 german (Bayern Munich),1 french (Lyon),2 spanish (Real Madrid & Valencia) & 1 dutch(PSV Eindhoven)..
of all the teams that hv qualified so far,only celtic,lyon & PSV are leading their league...
7 more slots to go....
let's see if man u cn make it to the nxt round or will they just be another case of "hero kampung"
hehehehe
so far we hv 3 brit teams,1 italian (Milan),1 german (Bayern Munich),1 french (Lyon),2 spanish (Real Madrid & Valencia) & 1 dutch(PSV Eindhoven)..
of all the teams that hv qualified so far,only celtic,lyon & PSV are leading their league...
7 more slots to go....
let's see if man u cn make it to the nxt round or will they just be another case of "hero kampung"
hehehehe
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