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Group A Roundup Barca downs Magpies; Inter beats Leverkusen to advancePosted: Wednesday March 19, 2003 5:28 PMUpdated: Wednesday March 19, 2003 11:47 PM
NEWCASTLE, England (Reuters) -- Newcastle United's Champions League adventure was finally ended on Wednesday when they were defeated 2-0 by Barcelona at St James's Park. Patrick Kluivert struck the first goal when he capitalized on a dreadful error by central defender Titus Bramble in the 60th minute of their Group A game. Thiago Motta scored Barcelona's second in the 74th minute to effectively end Newcastle's already slim hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Newcastle were unable to capitalize on a series of good chances as Barcelona, already established as the Group A winners, preserved their unbeaten record in this season's Champions League campaign with ruthless efficiency. The result and Inter Milan's victory over Bayer Leverkusen mean Barcelona ended the second phase with 16 points followed by the Italians on 11, Newcastle on seven and the pointless Germans. The English premier league side began the game at a furious pace but Craig Bellamy wasted three chances inside the first 20 minutes on a night when both luck and a finishing touch were missing for the Wales striker. Bellamy was put through on goal twice by fellow striker Alan Shearer within five minutes of the start but slid his first shot just wide of Victor Valdes's far post before wildly miscuing two minutes later. His best chance came in the 18th minute when the Barcelona defense was split wide open after Kieron Dyer cleverly won possession in midfield. He charged forward before finding Shearer whose pass set up Bellamy seven meters out but his shot was diverted just wide by Valdes. At bay Newcastle consistently looked menacing in attack thanks to Bellamy's pace and Dyer's trickery but were kept at bay by the impressive Frank de Boer. They also remained vulnerable at the back with Kluivert usually the focus of Barcelona's best work. The Spanish side's first opening fell to Fabio Rochemback in the 17th minute. The midfielder shrugged off Olivier Bernard's challenge down the right but was badly off target with just goalkeeper Shay Given to beat. Having taken the sting out of Newcastle's attack, Barcelona enjoyed an increasing amount of possession but rarely threatened Given's goal and Rochemback's 25-meter shot in the 27th minute was their only first-half effort on target until the goal. Kluivert struck the decisive blow for Barcelona, punishing Bramble when he attempted to guide a through ball back to Given but badly miscontrolled on the edge of the box. The Dutch international seized upon his error to steer the ball beneath Given. Bellamy, who missed a total of nine chances, twice went close to equalizing with a header and then a 20-meter volley that flashed just over the bar. Kluivert received a warm ovation from Newcastle's supporters when he was substituted in the 70th minute but his withdrawal did not adversely affect Barcelona's play. Motta doubled their lead four minutes later when he touched in a Juan Roman Riquelme free kick from six meters and an eerie silence descended on the Tyneside stadium. Summary: Newcastle United 0 Barcelona 2 -- result Champions League second phase, Group A Scorers: Patrick Kluivert 60, Thiago Motta 74 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 51,883 Teams: Newcastle United: 1-Shay Given; 12-Andy Griffin, 19-Titus Bramble, 5-Andy O'Brien, 35-Olivier Bernard; 4-Nolberto Solano (23-Shola Ameobi 67), 8-Kieron Dyer, 8-Jermaine Jenas, 32-Laurent Robert (45-Hugo Viana 67); 9-Alan Shearer, 10-Craig Bellamy. Barcelona: 26-Victor Valdes; 18-Gabri, 4-Patrik Andersson, 3-Frank de Boer, 2-Michael Reiziger; 15-Fabio Rochemback, 6-Xavi (14-Gerard 46), 31-Thiago Motta, 17-Gaizka Mendieta (34-Andres Iniesta 67); 9-Patrick Kluivert (39-Sergio 70), 10-Juan Roman Riquelme. Referee: Jan Wegereef (Netherlands) Teen Martins helps Inter through to last eightLEVERKUSEN, Germany (Reuters) -- Reserve striker Obafemi Martins led Inter Milan to a 2-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday to secure their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The 18-year-old Nigerian exploited a blunder by the Leverkusen defense to race into the box and open the scoring after 36 minutes. Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu doubled the advantage with a last-minute effort from a counter-attack, sealing a victory that made sure the Italian side finished second in Group A behind Barcelona. "All the group wanted to win this game and I am delighted with this win and that we got through to the next stage," said Emre, who was forced to play as a makeshift striker due to injuries and suspensions. "We had few options with all the absentees and a player has to play where he has to play, it doesn't matter to me," he added. Martins, starting a game in Europe for the first time and dangerous throughout, was brought down by Thomas Kleine shortly before the break but Leverkusen goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt saved the resulting penalty from Domenico Morfeo. Last season's beaten finalists Leverkusen, who were already eliminated, bowed out with their sixth straight Champions League defeat to become the first team in the competition's history to lose all their second phase matches and only the third ever. Inter were without first-choice strikers Gabriel Batistuta, Christian Vieri and Hernan Crespo but Martins, who had previously made only two appearances in the showcase event as a substitute, proved a suitable replacement. Came close The quicksilver forward provided most of the highlights in a relatively dull game and came close to scoring more goals. "Together with Martins I think we did what we had to do," said Emre. Leverkusen, who collapsed after narrowly missing out on three titles last season, improved on their last few European outings and had some chances, notably a header from a corner by Brazilian striker Franca that went just wide on 53 minutes. But the German side, who can now concentrate on their battle against relegation from the Bundesliga, were too nervous in defense and too clumsy in attack to trouble their visitors. It was not a great performance from Inter, who needed a victory to advance whatever the outcome of the other final Group A game, in which Barcelona ended Newcastle United's dream with a 2-0 win at St James' Park. The Italians did just enough to overcome a Leverkusen side who were a pale shadow of the exciting team that went all the way to last year's final. "It was our best game in the second phase," said Leverkusen commercial manager Reiner Calmund. "We lost but I think our performance was quite all right, especially given the fact that we have so many players injured." Borussia Dortmund's exit on Tuesday meant there will be no German representative -- including the old West and Eastern separated countries -- in the last eight of European competition for the first time since the 1956-57 season. Cuper proud of Inter spirit and 'fantastic' MartinsLEVERKUSEN, Germany (Reuters) -- Inter Milan coach Hector Cuper praised his team for their battling spirit after a 2-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The Argentine coach was full of praise for 18-year-old Nigerian youth team striker Obafemi Martins, who scored the opening goal as he started his first ever game in Europe. Turkish midfielder Emre Belozoglu got the second Inter goal to ensure they took second spot in group A behind Barcelona. "Martins is a little star who can only get better," said Cuper. "He was simply fantastic tonight. I couldn't have asked more from him. "I have a lot of faith in him. He is still a kid and he needs to do a lot of work yet but he is not just a player for the future. "Having been pushed into the side early he has taken a big step forward." Inter were without five first team strikers -- Christian Vieri and Alvaro Recoba were suspended, Argentine Hernan Crespo and Sierra Leone forward Mohammed Kallon were injured while Gabriel Batistuta was cup-tied. But Martins, who has begun just one Serie A game, caused problems for the German defense throughout, supported well by Emre and Domenico Morfeo. The Inter coach was forced to play midfielders Luigi Di Biagio and Morfeo when they were less than 100 percent fit and said he was delighted with the spirit his side had shown. "They did incredible work for each other and were fantastic from the point of view of team solidarity. They deserved that win and what it brings us. "They really worked as a group and did everything that I asked of them. They pushed on, they closed down, they attacked and they tracked back," said Cuper. "I always ask my players to put their egos on one side and to work for each other. That is what I like to see." Friday's draw for the quarterfinals will see Inter, as a second placed team, able to face either city rivals AC Milan, Cuper's old club Valencia or Manchester United. Cuper said his team would face a stern test whoever they were drawn against. "Mamma Mia, how can you choose from them? At this stage whoever you are going to be drawn against are going to be great teams." Summary: Bayer Leverkusen 0 Inter Milan 2 -- result Champions League second phase, Group A Scorer: Obafemi Martins 36, Emre Belozoglu 90 Halftime: 0-1; Attendance: 22,500 Teams: Bayer Leverkusen: 1-Hans-Joerg Butt; 35-Diego Placente 47-Thomas Kleine, 28-Carsten Ramelow, 17-Pascal Ojigwe; 21-Radoslav Kaluzny, 10-Yildiray Basturk (25-Bernd Schneider 46), 8-Jan Simak (7-Cris 63), 13-Daniel Bierofka; 11-Franca, 23-Thomas Brdaric (27-Oliver Neuville 46). Inter Milan: 1-Francesco Toldo; 4-Javier Zanetti, 2-Ivan Cordoba, 13-Fabio Cannavaro, 77-Francesco Coco; 7-Sergio Conceicao (11-Andres Guly 83), 14-Luigi Di Biagio, 22-Buruk Okan (6-Cristiano Zanetti 19), 5-Emre Belozoglu; 10-Domenico Morfeo (26-Giovanni Pasquale 75), 30-Obafemi Martins. Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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