BEIJING, Nov. 28 -- Five-time winner Liverpool,
Italian champion Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid joined 10 other qualifiers for
the last knockout phase of the Champions League on Wednesday but Chelsea still
has work to do in the final round of games.
Steven Gerrard headed Liverpool's winner in a 1-0
victory over Marseille and Atletico Madrid edged PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in the other
Group D game.
Liverpool had to withstand strong Marseille pressure
in the second half at Anfield but held on to record home and away victories over
the French team.
"It was a nervy match but still a job well done,"
said Gerrard, who was hit by an object from the Marseille fans while taking a
corner at the end of the first half. "We wanted all three points and a clean
sheet and we got both of those.
"It was a frustrating second half for us. We lost
control a bit and there are a few things that need looking at."
Simao Sabrosa and Maxi Rodriguez scored in the first
28 minutes for Atletico in a game played behind closed doors because of crowd
violence when the Spanish team played Marseille on October 1.
Inter was beaten 0-1 at home by Panathinaikos but
still qualified despite winning only one of its three home games. Its two
nearest rivals, Panathinaikos and Anorthosis Famagusta, face each other on
December 9 and only of the teams can finish above the Serie A leader.
"Panathinaikos deserves this win and we deserved to
lose," said Inter coach Jose Mourinho. "We played a terrible game. In the first
half we basically didn't create anything, we didn't fight for the lose balls. I
think the players were tired, that's the explanation I prefer."
Josu Sarriegi revived Panathinaikos' chances with the
only goal at San Siro in the 69th.
"The players fought like lions and we had a bit of
luck, you need that as well," Panathinaikos coach Henk Ten Cate said. "I think
all in all we deserved this. What I tell my players: play with your heart and
believe that you can beat anyone."
One of the surprise teams of the competition on its
debut, Cypriot team Anorthosis squandered a two-goal lead and was held 2-2 by
Werder Bremen to slip from second to third.
Chelsea appeared on course to join the other three
qualifiers after Nicolas Anelka fired the Blues ahead at Bordeaux. But Alou
Diarra turned home a corner to equalize in the 83rd and Chelsea's Frank Lampard
was sent off for two yellow cards.
Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said it was
uncharacteristic of his team to concede goals from corners.
"It is a bad goal, because we are training hard every
time with this," he said. "We are strong when we attack and we have freekicks
for us. I think it is the first time since I coach Chelsea that we received a
goal from a corner."
AS Roma went top of Group A after winning 3-1 at CFR
Cluj helped by two goals by Matteo Brighi. The Italian team has nine points,
Chelsea eight and Bordeaux seven going into the final round of games when Roma
hosts the French team and Premier League leader Chelsea is at home to Romania's
Cluj.
"After Cluj's goal (for 2-1) we proved we are a team
with personality," said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "Our passes were
fluid and we showed our willingness for a good fight. We will continue to fight
to get points in the game with Bordeaux."
The last 16 already includes eight teams who have won
European football's biggest club competition with three more spots still to
fill.
Ten teams had already qualified - Barcelona and
Sporting Lisbon from Group C, Manchester United and Villarreal from Group E,
Lyon and Bayern Munich from Group F, Arsenal and FC Porto from Group G and
Juventus and Real Madrid from Group H.
Barcelona won 5-2 at Sporting. Shakhtar Donetsk beat
FC Basel 5-0 helped by a hat-trick by Jadson.
(Source: Shanghai Daily)
