Thursday, April 3, 2008
Arsenal and Liverpool drew 1-1 in an end-to-end Champions League quarter-final first leg match at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor initiated Arsenal in facade after 23 minutes when he rose unchallenged to power the ball past keeper Pepe Reina from close range.
Arsenal's happiness did not last for long, as Liverpool equalised in the 26th minute when captain Steven Gerrard gushed past three defenders wide on the left and crossed for Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt to slide home.Gerrard, who had an impressive game, provided a swift response with the cross for Kuyt who took a drop in between Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy to equalise.
The match developed into an absorbing clash for midfield superiority with both teams looking to drive forward although Arsenal created the better chances. Walcott went close with a searing 54th minute shot that went wide and two minutes later Arsenal appeared to have legitimate claims for a penalty denied when Kuyt seemed to pull back Aleksandr Hleb's left shoulder inside the box.
The game had all the power, speed and high pace play typical of the Premier League and while Arsenal created the better chances, Liverpool guarded fabulously. Their only slip was to leave Adebayor free to score his 24th goal of the season and his second in successive games in the Champions League.
Wednesday's match was the first of three between the teams inside seven days as they face each other again in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday before the return leg at Anfield next Tuesday.
Arsenal and Liverpool drew 1-1 in an end-to-end Champions League quarter-final first leg match at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor initiated Arsenal in facade after 23 minutes when he rose unchallenged to power the ball past keeper Pepe Reina from close range.
Arsenal's happiness did not last for long, as Liverpool equalised in the 26th minute when captain Steven Gerrard gushed past three defenders wide on the left and crossed for Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt to slide home.Gerrard, who had an impressive game, provided a swift response with the cross for Kuyt who took a drop in between Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy to equalise.
The match developed into an absorbing clash for midfield superiority with both teams looking to drive forward although Arsenal created the better chances. Walcott went close with a searing 54th minute shot that went wide and two minutes later Arsenal appeared to have legitimate claims for a penalty denied when Kuyt seemed to pull back Aleksandr Hleb's left shoulder inside the box.
The game had all the power, speed and high pace play typical of the Premier League and while Arsenal created the better chances, Liverpool guarded fabulously. Their only slip was to leave Adebayor free to score his 24th goal of the season and his second in successive games in the Champions League.
Wednesday's match was the first of three between the teams inside seven days as they face each other again in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday before the return leg at Anfield next Tuesday.
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