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| Barcelona's players celebrate with the UEFA
Champion's League trophy after winning the final football match against
Arsenal, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, northern Paris. Barcelona
won 2 to 1.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
PARIS, May 17
(Xinhua) -- The best defence succumbed to best attack in the European Champions
League final as Barcelona scored two late goals to beat 10-man Arsenal 2-1 on
Wednesday.
When Arsenal were only 14 minutes away from their
first ever European champions, their defence which conceded only two goals on
their way to the final this season fell apart to Barcelona's ferocious attacks.
Sol Campbell's thumping header gave Arsenal a 37th
minute lead - after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been sent off for a foul on
Samuel Eto'o.
Thierry Henry missed a crucial chance to give Arsenal
a two-goal lead before Eto'o fired home with 14 minutes left.
Henrik Larsson then set up fellow substitute Juliano
Belletti to win it four minutes later to sink Arsenal.
Henry opened in sensational fashion and could have
twice given Arsenal the lead in the first three minutes.
He turned brilliantly in the Barcelona box, only to
be denied by the diving Victor Valdes from point-blank range.
And from the resulting short corner, he fired in an
angled drive which was pushed to safety by Valdes.
Lehmann had already shown his quality with two stops
from Ludovic Giuly and Deco - but was shown the red card in a moment of drama
after 18 minutes.
Ronaldinho played in Eto'o, who was upended by
Lehmann as he rounded the keeper.
Giuly tapped in the loose ball, but Arsenal were at
least reprieved from going behind because referee Terje Hauge had already blown
for the foul.
Lehmann was sent off for his foul on Eto'o with
Manuel Almunia coming on for the unlucky Robert Pires, in possibly his last game
for the club.
Barcelona were starting to take control when Arsenal
stunned the favourites by going ahead after 37 minutes.
Arsenal were fortunate to be given a free-kick when
Emmanuel Eboue tumbled threatrically under a challenge from Carles Puyol.
And Barcelona were punished for referee Hauge's
generosity as Campbell powered Henry's free-kick past Valdes.
Arsenal hung on desperately for the remainder of the
first-half, with Almunia brilliantly turning Eto'o's shot on to the post after
he turned Campbell inside the box.
Barcelona made a half-time change, Andres Iniesta
coming on for the injured Edmilson.
Iniesta tested Almunia after 51 minutes, and with a
downpour descending on the Stade de France, the keeper did well to clutch a
skidding shot.
Barcelona were piling on the pressure, and Almunia
again distinguished himself by pushing away Ronaldinho's cross as he raced into
the area.
Arsenal were still dangerous on the break. Henry and
Cesc Fabregas combined to set up Aleksander Hleb, but he pulled his shot wide.
Ljungberg was denied by a brilliant save from Valdes
as he took advantage of poor defending by Oleguer.
Henry then had a glorious chance to double Arsenal's
advantage after 69 minutes when he raced clear on goal, but Valdes saved lowdown
to keep Barcelona's hopes alive.
It was to prove the pivotal moment of an enthralling
final.
Former Celtic star Larsson had been introduced as a
substitute, and he was instrumental when Arsenal's superb resistance was broken
with 16 minutes left.
He delivered a deft touch into the path of Eto'o, who
tucked a neat finish past Almunia.
The Swede was the provider again as substitute
Belletti gave Barcelona the lead with 10 minutes to go.
Larsson's clever pass released Belletti, and he
scored via a deflection from Almunia.
It was a killer blow from which Arsenal never looked
likely to recover. Enditem
More Photos:
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| Barcelona's Brazilian forward Ronaldinho holds the trophy after winning the UEFA Champion's League final football match against Arsenal, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, northern Paris. Barcelona won 2 to 1. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
