LONDON, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Premiership side Arsenal produced an scintillating performance to slaughter Slavia Prague 7-0, equaling the biggest ever victory margin in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
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Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner (L) scores to
make it 7-0 against Slavia Prague as Prague's Daniel Pudil (C) and Marek
Suchy (R) look on during their Champions League Group H soccer match at
Emirates Stadium in London, Oct. 23, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters
Photo)
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Manchester United also clinched an overwhelming 4-2
victory at Dynamo Kiev, joining Gunners to maintain their 100 percent records,
while Rangers held Barcelona in a goalless draw.
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Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (top)
fights for the ball with Dynamo Kiev's Olexandr Shovkovskiy during their
Champions League Group F soccer match in Kiev Oct. 23,
2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Elsewhere across Europe, Inter Milan had to fight
from behind for a 2-1 win at CSKA Moscow while Lyon picked up their first win of
the group phase, beating Stuttgart 2-0.
Roma and Sevilla boosted their hopes of reaching the
next round with wins at home over Sporting Lisbon and Steaua Bucharest
respectively.
Arsenal stole the spotlight of the night as they were
marching into the knockout stage of the competition with a record-tying victory
at Emirates Stadium.
They top the group on nine points, three more than
Sevilla, who picked up second after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Steaua.
Cesc Fabregas' stunning strike put the Gunners ahead
after five minutes and Arsenal were gifted the second goal on 24 minutes when
David Hubacek diverted Hleb's shot into his own net.
Four minutes before half-time, Theo Walcott got his
first Champions League goal after a goalkeeping error.
Arsenal continued to run riot in the second half and
Alexander Hleb got his name on the scoresheet six minutes after the break before
setting up Walcott for his second.
Fabregas finished a fabulous move just before the
hour mark and substitute Nicklas Bendtner wrapped up Arsenal's best ever home
win in Europe a minute from time.
In Ukraine, a dominant Manchester United eased to a
comfortable victory, putting Dynamo Kiev on the brink of the knock-out stages.
Rio Ferdinand opened the scoring before Wayne Rooney
tapped in Wes Brown's low cross.
Diogo Rincon reduced the deficit for the hosts with a
header but Cristian Ronaldo then made it double, including a penalty, before
Ismael Bangoura fired in late for Kiev.
In the other game in Group F, Roma beat Sporting
Lisbon 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico to stay second, three points clear of United.
Rangers produced a battling performance to earn a valuable point against Barcelona at Ibrox.
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Rangers' goalkeeper Alan McGregor celebrates at the final whistle after their Champions League group E soccer match against Barcelona at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland Oct. 23, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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The visitors threatened throughout and the Scottish
side rode their luck at times as Ronaldinho hit the crossbar, Lionel Messi had a
shot cleared off the line and Thierry Henry headed over.
But Rangers improved in the second half and Daniel
Cousin missed a great chance to grab a winner ten minutes from time when he
blazed his shot over the top.
The point keeps both sides locked on seven points at
the top of Group E.
In Group G, CSKA Moscow stunned the Italians by going in front on 32 minutes, with Jo turning Ivan Cordoba inside the box and curling a
superb shot over Julio Cesar.
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Barcelona's Lillian Thuram (R) tackles Rangers' Daniel Cousin to clear the ball during their Champions League group E soccer match at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland Oct. 23, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Inter drew level on 52 minutes with Hernan Crespo
finding the net and a terrible blunder by Veniamin Mandrykin gifted
Internazionale the points as he somehow let Walter Samuel's headerslip through
his grasp 10 minutes from the whistle.
Inter moved on top after the win with Fenerbahce
sinking into second with a 0-0 draw at PSV.
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