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Mixed results Valencia, Leeds make Champions League semis
Updated: Wednesday May 16, 2001 1:27 PM
VALENCIA, Spain (AP) -- Valencia defeated Arsenal 1-0 on John Carew's header in the 75th minute on Tuesday to advance for the second straight year to the semifinals of the European Champions League. Valencia will face England's Leeds in the semifinals May 1-2 and 8-9. Leeds advanced over Spain's Deportivo on Tuesday 3-2 on aggregate. Arsenal won the first-leg quarterfinal two weeks ago 2-1 in London, but Valencia advanced on the away goal rule in the second leg. Thierry Henry and Ray Parlour scored for Arsenal in London with Roberto Ayala getting Valencia's goal. Carew scored the deciding goal off a long cross from his right, which the 6-foot-5 (1.94 cm) Norwegian headed off the finger tips of Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman diving to his right. Valencia, which lost in last year's European Champions Cup final to fellow Spanish side Real Madrid, is unbeaten at home in 17 games in the Champions League. Arsenal has never won in Spain and also lost a bitter final to Valencia in the 1980 Cup Winner Cup. Valencia had most of the play in the first half, particularly in the first 30 minutes with Seaman making a half dozen key saves. In the 10th, Seaman stopped Gaizka Mendieta's bouncing, swerving shot. Seconds later, Vicente Rodriguez had a chance on a free kick. Norwegian striker Carew moved in clear but shot wide in the 17th. In the 25th, Seaman had to make a diving save as the tall Swede hit a shot from 8 meters (yards) that nearly deflected into the net to Seaman's right. Seaman also stopped Juan Sanchez in the 39th from point-blank range on a one-touch shot from close in. French internationals Sylvain Wiltord and Henry had Arsenal's only chances in the half. Wiltord forced a diving save by Santiago Canizares in the 33rd and Henry struck a bounding shot from 20 meters (yards) that Canizares handled easily. Ayala was injured in the first minute of the second half with Miroslav Djukic coming in. Arsneal, which began to control play early in the second half, may have had its best chance in the 57th when Henry broke in down the left but was forced to shoot wide by defender Mauricio Pellegrino. Valencia's Mendieta broke into the box in the 66th and was brought down, with fans calling for a penalty kick. But referee Kim Milton Nielsen didn't call it and television replays showed he was right. Henry came close again when he broke in down the left side in the 69th and shot just wide across the box, setting the stage for Carew's decider. Cuper thanks fans for English-style supportValencia coach Hector Cuper praised the club's fans for cooking up an English-style atmosphere during Tuesday's victory. John Carew's twisting header 15 minutes from time shocked an Arsenal side that had looked on course to see out the goalless draw they needed after their 2-1 win in the opening leg at Highbury. Cuper was delighted with the fervor shown by the 40,000 Mestalla crowd -- and by the way his players dealt with the pressure. "I was trying to whip up an English atmosphere in the stadium," said Cuper, who jumped up off the bench every time his side threatened the Arsenal goal. "I'd give 10 out of 10 to our fans as well as to the players. The support was fantastic and helped us a lot. "We were anxious out there at times but anxiety and nervousness are things footballers have to be able to cope with and we never lost our spirit in a complicated game against a dangerous rival." Looking ahead to the semifinals, Cuper said he was pleased to be paired with Leeds United rather than fellow La Liga outfit Deportivo Coruna after the Spanish side won 2-0 on the night but went out 3-2 on aggregate. "We know all about Depor so we're happy to be facing Leeds," he said. "That's not to see we wanted Depor to go out, though, and we're aware that Leeds will be a very difficult rival." Cuper's opposite number Arsene Wenger was frustrated at the result after watching his side keep the dangerous Valencia forwards at bay only to concede what he described as a stupid goal. "One lapse in concentration cost us the tie," said Wenger. "We didn't set out to play a defensive game. We wanted to come forward and we tried but Valencia didn't allow us to do that. "Maybe we defended a bit too deeply in the first half but we played further forward after the break and we looked comfortable." He added: "It meant a lot to us but now we have to face the reality -- we are out. "Our next challenge is now at home to Everton and we're looking forward to it. We have to make sure we qualify for the Champions League next season." SummaryScorer: John Carew 75 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 40,000 Teams: Valencia: 1-Santiago Canizares; 20-Jocelyn Angloma, 12-Fabian Ayala (5-Miroslav Djukic 49), 2-Mauricio Pellegrino, 15-Amedeo Carboni; 6-Gaizka Mendieta, 19-Ruben Baraja, 14-Vicente, 10-Miguel Angel Angulo (35-Pablo Aimar 67); 7-John Carew, 17-Juan Sanchez (8-Zlatko Zahovic 73) Arsenal: 1-David Seaman; 2-Lee Dixon, 5-Martin Keown, 6-Tony Adams, 29-Ashley Cole, 12-Lauren, 4-Patrick Vieira, 15-Ray Parlour (8-Fredrik Ljunberg 46), 7-Robert Pires (25-Nwankwo Kanu 77), 14-Thierry Henry, 11-Sylvain Wiltord Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
Reuters contributed to this report.
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