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Liverpool's Steven Gerrard holds off
Debrecen's Norbert Meszaros (R) during their Champions League soccer match
at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, September 16, 2009.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>> |
LONDON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Dirk Kuyt's goal helped
Liverpool sealed a 1-0 victory home in their first Champions League Group E
match on Wednesday while Da Silva Eduardo grabbed a late winner for Arsenal to
pocket three points in a thrilling Group H opener.
As the first Hungarian team in the group stage of the
Champions League for 14 years, Debrecen played amazingly at Anfield with Peter
Czvitkovics forcing goalkeeper Jose Reina to make a fine one-hand save.
It was until the last 10 minutes before the break
that the Reds found their pace and launched a series of attacks under the
maneuver of captain Steven Gerrard and Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
Albert Riera's two shots were both saved by Poleksic
and Gerrard fired wide again and again. But Dutch Kuyt hit it at the stoppage
time of the first half when Poleksic could not hold Fernando Torres's low shot
after Benayoun's pass.
Lyon also won by a single goal
in Group E as they edged out Italian side Fiorentina with Miralem Pjanic's goal
with 14 minutes remaining.
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Arsenal's Niklas Bendtner reacts after
scoring against Standard Liege's during a Champions League soccer match at
Sclessin stadium in Liege September 16, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
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Arsenal suffered an early two goals down as their
Belgian counterpart Standard Liege stunningly scored twice within five minutes.
Eliaquim Mangala shot home at the edge of the box
only after two minutes and Milan Jovanovic scored from the penalty spot three
minutes later after William Gallas's foul.
Struggling to regain composure, the Gunners were
given chances to rebound in the second half as Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner
slot home his first goal of the season just before the break.
The equalizer finally came in the 78th minute as
defender Thomas Vermaelen scored for the premier league club in his home
country. Three minutes later, Eduardo shot in at close range to complete the
comeback.
Defending champions Barcelona and the hosts Inter
Milan both failed to score in their heavyweight clash while Dynamo Kiev came
from behind to beat Rubin Kazan from Russia 3-1 in Group F.
In Group G, Sevilla saw off Romania's Unirea Urziceni
2-1 and Stuttgart were forced a 1-1 draw by visitors Rangers.
Olympiakos defeated Dutch side AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at home
in Group H.