Lens kicks Arsenal out
Late Debeve goal leaves English club at bottom of Group E
Posted: Wednesday November 25, 1998 06:03 PM
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Cryille Maynier (front) of Lens beats out Arsenal's Nicholas Anelka for the ball AP |
WEMBLEY, England (AP) -- Lens knocked English titlist Arsenal out
of the Champions League with a 1-0 victory at Wembley Wednesday.
Mikel Debeve scored in the 72nd minute and the French club will
face Dynamo Kiev in two weeks time to decide who wins Group E and
makes it to the last eight.
Arsenal was missing suspended Emmanuel Petit and injured Patrick
Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp and was generally outplayed by the
French team after making most of the early running.
Lens defenders Cyrille Magnier and Erik Sikora made important
blocks to prevent Christophe Wreh and Nicolas Anelka firing the
Gunners ahead early in the game.
Wreh also fired over the top from a good position before Lens
began to move menacingly forward and Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman
did well to a block a powerful shot from Vladimir Smicer.
The only goal of the game came 18 minutes from the end when
Smicer crossed from the corner and Debeve fired the ball home from
what looked to be an offside position.
Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour was sent off in the final minute
for striking out at Cyril Rool and he was followed a minute later
by Tony Vairelles for a foul challenge on Lee Dixon.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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