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Houllier eyes league success Liverpool beats Porto 2-0, makes UEFA Cup semifinals
Updated: Thursday March 15, 2001 7:06 PM
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- First half goals by Danny Murphy and Michael Owen fired Liverpool into the semifinal of the UEFA Cup on Thursday in a 2-0 victory over FC Porto at Anfield. Murphy and Owen struck within five minutes of each other as Gerard Houllier's team, which gained a 0-0 tie in the away leg, took early control of the game and Liverpool, a four-time Champions Cup titlist in the 1970s and early '80s, maintained its bid to win a European title for the first time since 1984. Porto 'keeper Pedro Manuel Espinha tipped a long range shot over the bar from Steven Gerrard as Liverpool created the better chances. Porto defender Carlos Secretario was the center of a curious incident when he tripped Owen on the left side of his own area and was shown the yellow card as he lay on the floor clutching his shoulder. Liverpool went ahead in the 28th minute when Gerrard's well-struck, volleyed cross from the right found the unmarked Murphy. The Liverpool midfielder appeared to control the ball with his left arm before he fired a shot that crept inside the far post despite the efforts of Ricardo Silva to scramble the ball away. Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Gerrard drove in another cross from the right and Owen, the smallest player on the field, managed to get in a long range, downward header. Espinha was far too slow to react and the ball bounced past him inside the post. Westerveld smothered a shot from former Aston Villa defender Fernando Nelson and blocked a shot from Clayton Ferreira as Porto threatened on the break in the second half. But Liverpool continued to enjoy plenty of possession and never looked in danger of allowing the Portuguese team back into the game. Houllier wants league, not just cup, successLiverpool manager Gerard Houllier, while pleased with his side's 2-0 UEFA Cup victory over Porto on Thursday, admitted he would be disappointed if his side missed out on a Champions League place. The victory with goals from Danny Murphy and Michael Owen ensured a UEFA Cup semifinal place. However, Liverpool is currently fourth in the Premier League -- one position away from an automatic Champions League place next season. "The most important game of the month for me will be the Premier League game with Derby on Sunday when we must get the points," he said. "I would be very disappointed if we win three cups and don't qualify for the Champions League." Liverpool has already won the League Cup, on penalties against Birmingham City in February, and has qualified for the semifinals of the FA Cup. Houllier said his side had controlled most of the game against Porto. "We made them look less of a team than we expected. In the second half they were anonymous and pale," Houllier said. "It's not because they are a bad side, it's because we were on top of them and the players deserve credit for that." Porto coach Fernando Costa was angry that Liverpool's opening goal was not ruled out for a handball. "There were several decisive moments and the first was Liverpool's first goal," he said. "I have seen it on television and it was definitely a handball before he shot at goal." "The second was when Clayton had a shot saved a few minutes later and after that Liverpool scored and the game was finished." The Porto chief defended his decision to drop six players and change the system as he looked for his first away win since November 19. "I decided it was important for us to have speed in this game so I opted for the players who could give us that." "I brought in Clayton and Candido Costa. I decided to take the risk and assume the responsibility for the defeat. But it's easy to analyze the game after the final whistle."
SummaryLiverpool wins 2-0 on aggregate Scorers: Danny Murphy 33, Michael Owen 38 Halftime: 2-0; Attendance: 40,502 Teams: Liverpool: 1-Sander Westerveld; 2-Stephane Henchoz, 3-Markus Babbel, 12-Sammi Hyypia, 23-Jamie Carragher, 7-Vladimir Smicer (37-Jari Litmanen 74), 13-Danny Murphy (3-Christian Ziege 89), 16-Dietmer Hamann, 17-Steven Gerrard; 10-Michael Owen, 9-Robbie Fowler (8-Emile Heskey 74) Porto: 44-Pedro Esphina; 3-Fernando Alves, 5-Carlos Paredes, 7-Carlos Secretario (10-Deco Sousa 46), 13-Jorge Andrade, 15-Dimitri Alentichev, 20-Paulinho Santos (23-Silvio Maric 80), 25-Candido Costa (21-Nuno Capucho 46), 28-Clayton Cruz, 31-Jesus Pena, 33-Ricardo Silva Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
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