A jam-packed football feast greeted this mid-week, with a blend of Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premiership and league action hitting us like an 18-wheeler. First, Liverpool progressed through to the quarter finals of the Champions League by beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the San Siro, taking the score to a comfortable 3-0 aggregate win. Fernando Torres scored the vital goal that complemented the Reds healthy 2-0 advantage, the result meaning a clean sweep in English clubs qualifying for the next stage.
Everton and Tottenham both suffered heartbreaking penalty shoot-out elimination from the UEFA Cup last 16; the Toffees were battling to overcome an unlikely 2-0 deficit but they did just that thanks to goals from Andy Johnson and Mikel Arteta. The home side had their chances but found Sebastian Frey in fantastic form, shutting out the Blues rampaging attacks. Penalties were required, and Yakubu’s effort going against the post and Frey’s save from Phil Jagielka knocking David Moyes’ men out.
Tottenham, also overcoming a shortfall, forced the game into added time through Dimitar Berbatov’s superb volley and could have won had it not been for PSV’s Heurelho Gomes’ inspired display. Spurs gained the upper hand in the spot-kicks when Paul Robinson saved, only for Jermaine Jenas and then decisively Pascal Chimbonda to fluff their efforts. Manager Jaunde Ramos had won the competition two years in a row before his move to White Hart Lane, but silverware eludes the Spaniard this time.
Elsewhere in the UEFA Cup, Anderlecht beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Bavaria but a 6-2 aggregate score in favour of the Germans paints a more realistic picture. Zenit St Petersburg, Getafe and Bayern Leverkusen also went through. Bolton travel to Sporting Lisbon without 12 first teamers tomorrow on the back of a 1-1 home draw, meanwhile Rangers have two goals to play with against Bremen.
In the Premiership, Chelsea kept themselves in the title hunt by dispatching Derby 6-1 at Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard bagged four of the goals to embarrass the sorry Rams, with Solomon Kalou and Joe Cole adding to the visitor’s woes. David Jones - who? - netted a scant consolation for Paul Jewell’s side.
Portsmouth and Birmingham shared six goals in a 4-2 victory for Harry Redknapp’s men; Jermaine Defoe continued his rich vein of goal scoring form with two first goals, one of which from the spot but Pompey didn’t have it all their own way. Fabrice Muamba volleyed in to reduce the arrears and Seb Larsson curled a delightful free-kick to level the scores. Hermann Hreidarsson scored a scruffy goal to put his side back in front and Kanu scored a late header to see of the relegation-threatened Blues.
On the subject of relegation threatened, Middlesborough picked up a useful point at Aston Villa, 1-1 the final score at Villa Park. Stuart Downing scored mid-way through the first half and Boro held onto to the 74th minute when Gareth Barry crashed home a penalty after Luke Young had allegedly handled.
In the Football League, Cardiff beat Hull 1-0 and West Brom tied with Crystal Palace 1-1. Bristol City remain top despite a 0-0 stalemate against Watford whilst Stoke maintained pressure up at the summit by beating Norwich 1-0. Barnsley built on their defeat of Chelsea at the weekend by thumping Ipswich 4-1 at Oakwell.
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