SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2013 Mandzukic sends Bayern past Pilsen, into last 16

PRAGUE: A second-half goal from Mario Mandzukic handed Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over die-hard Czech champions Viktoria Pilsen that granted the holders a spot in the Champions League knockout phase here yesterday. The Croatian striker capitalised on a cross from Philipp Lahm, sending a powerful header past a diving Pilsen keeper Matus Kozacik in the 65th minute, only six minutes after coming onto the pitch. Bayern have made it to the last-16 for the sixth time in a row, accompanied by Group D runners-up Manchester City who beat CSKA Moscow 5-2. Bayern sit at the top of Group D with 12 points from four games, leading City by three points and CSKA Moscow by nine, with Pilsen stuck at the bot- ATHENS: Benfica’s Serbian forward Lazar Markovic (center) vies for the ball with tom with no points. Olympiacos’ Greek midfielder Andreas Samaris (left) and Greek defender Dimitris Bayern dominated the early minutes of the Siovas (right) during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match. — AFP game as David Alaba forced a diving save from Pilsenís Slovak keeper Matus Kozacik from a free kick. Bastian Schweinsteiger hit the post with a low Manolas and Roberto curling shot in the 16th minutes and Kozacik stopped several good shots that got past the solid Pilsen defence. inspire Olympiakos Outshot 35-0 by Bayern in a 5-0 trashing in ATHENS: A first-half header from Kostas defender Manolas rose unchallenged to Munich two weeks ago, Pilsen vowed a braver per- Manolas and an inspired performance by power home a header from Jose Holebas’s formance in the home game and made good on goalkeeper Roberto lifted Olympiakos inch-perfect set-piece. the pledge as they put the Bundesliga leaders Piraeus to a 1-0 win over Benfica in a tight The goal did not deter the visitors, who under some pressure half an hour into the game. Champions League Group C match yester- continued to enjoy the lion’s share of pos- But Milan Petrzela sent a powerful left-footer day. session, but Luisao’s header which flashed just over the bar and Daniel Kolar followed suit The Greek champions rode their luck over the crossbar from a corner was their with a header. The hosts seemed to lose steam as against their Portuguese opponents after only attacking threat heading into halftime. Bayern almost scored three minutes after halftime taking a 13th-minute lead against the run The second half began in the same fash- but Lahmís shot was cleared by Pilsen defender of play, but despite enjoying plenty of pos- ion as the first, with Benfica on top and Marian Cisovsky off the goal line. session, Benfica could not find a way past Roberto keeping the lead intact. Daniel Van Buyten sent his header past the Roberto who made several crucial saves. The Spanish keeper produced a brilliant Pilsen goal and Kozacik denied Franck Riberyís shot Oympiakos moved up to second in the save to deny Markovic, blocking the from close range before clearing another effort by group on seven points, three clear of Benfica man’s acrobatic volley with his legs Lahm a minute before the end. Benfica in third and three behind leaders when a goal looked certain. But Pilsen did not give up and with 15 minutes Paris St Germain. Saviola was replaced at halftime by left, striker Stanislav Tecl first forced a dive from Despite their recent run of good form at Alejandro Dominquez as Michel looked to Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer and then missed a home and in Europe, Olympiakos looked improve the supply line to lone striker perfect pass a few feet from a gaping net. nervy in the opening exchanges and it was Mitroglou. Bayern started with Mario Goetze on the right the visitors looked more fluid. But it was Roberto who continued to wing replacing an injured Arjen Robben while They could have been two goals ahead play a starring role for the home side, deny- Diego Contento replaced Dante in the Bayern in the first eight minutes but for the reflex- ing Benfica left-back SÌlvio with yet another backline. Pep Guardiola sent Mandzukic and Javi es of Roberto. The Spaniard first denied a fine save when he was put clean through Martinez into the game with an hour gone to boost the Bayern offence, and the move made all the dif- PILSEN: Bayern’s Franck Ribery (right) challenges for the ball with Viktoria Plzen’s Frantisek Oscar Cardozo with a diving save before on goal. Rajtoral (left) during their Champions League Group D soccer match. — AP scampering off his line to block Lazar There was still time for more heroics ference. —AFP Markovic’s goal-bound effort. from Roberto when he palmed away a Benfica’s promising start was ruined snapshot from Benfica substitute Filip after 13 minutes, however, when Greece Djuricic with 12 minutes left. — Reuters Copenhagen win over Galatasaray

COPENHAGEN: Daniel Braaten’s deft flick gave fashion an equaliser. Copenhagen are now third straight at the goalkeeper from close range. FC Copenhagen a 1-0 win over Galatasaray yes- in Group B, a point ahead of Juventus and level Moments later Didier Drogba blazed a volley terday as the Danish champions stayed in the on four with second-placed Galatasaray who trail high over the crossbar at the other end. hunt for a place in the Champions League knock- leaders Real Madrid on 10. The Danes are unbeat- The Danes spent much of the second half out stages. Braaten got the hosts off to a flying en at home in the Champions League group defending deeply, inviting the Turkish champi- start, applying a glancing touch to Rurik stage during their three campaigns. ons to attack and content to clear their lines Gislason’s precise centre to turn the ball home six Galatasaray had the ball in the Copenhagen when they had the chance. When their rearguard minutes into the Group B match. net after 21 minutes when Johan Wiland made a was breached, goalkeeper Johan Wiland showed Galatasaray clawed their way back into the brilliant save from a Burak Yilmaz header, but himself to be up to the task. Their tactics paid off game, hitting a post and having a goal disal- Bruma was adjudged to be offside when he fired and their remarkable unbeaten home record in lowed for offside, but despite going close several home the rebound. Braaten missed great chance the Champions League group stages remained times in a pulsating second half they could not to put his side two up just before halftime, firing intact at the final whistle. — Reuters Shakhtar 0-0 draw edges Bayer closer to qualifying

DONETSK: Shakhtar Donetsk and Bayer Leverkusen shared the points in a scrappy Champions League goalless draw in Ukraine yes- terday to edge the Germans towards a place in the knockout stages. Germany Under-21 goal- PARIS: PSG’s Alex (left) clears the ball with a header as Anderlecht’s Alexandar keeper Bernd Leno played a major role in Bayer Mitrovic looks on during the Champions League Group C soccer match. — AP leaving Donetsk with a point after pulling off a string of impressive saves to frustrate the hosts. The draw leaves Leverkusen second in Group PSG made to wait by A behind Manchester United, with Shakhtar third, but the game had stalemate written all over it from the start with chances few and far obstinate Anderlecht between. Play often got bogged down in the middle of PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain will have to possession, and early efforts from the park and Bayer’s fancy footwork failed to wait to seal their place in the last 16 of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic that find a way through the rugged Shakhtar the Champions League after being held both missed the target were as close as defence. to a 1-1 draw by Anderlecht yesterday. they came in the opening period. Bayer, who had rested a string of first-team On a frustrating night at the Parc des Having initially been prepared to regulars for the weekend defeat to Bundesliga Princes, PSG had most of the possession utilise Dennis Praet, their most likely cre- bottom club Eintracht Brunswick, pushed for an and no shortage of chances, but they fell ative spark, as an auxiliary right-back, away win, but were a long way from repeating behind to a Demy De Zeeuw goal mid- Anderlecht slowly grew into the contest their remarkable 4-0 win in Germany in the pre- way through the second half and needed and their teenage Serbian striker vious fixture. a Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike moments lat- Aleksandar Mitrovic flashed a shot just For Shakhtar it continued a dismal run er just to earn them a point against a vis- over Salvatore Sirigu’s goal. against German opposition, as they have not iting side that had Sacha Kljestan sent off PSG fans that have become used to beaten a Bundesliga side on home soil for 32 late on. seeing much better from their team years when Eintracht Frankfurt were the victims The nature of this encounter in the greeted the half-time whistle with jeers, in a UEFA Cup tie. But at least they did what coach Mircea DONETSK: Shakhtar’s Darijo Srna (right) and Olexandr Kucher (left) vie with Son Heung-Min of French capital contrasted starkly with the but there was worse to come after the Lucescu demanded, and “put things right” after Bayer Leverkusen (center) during their UEFA Champions League Group A football match. —AFP last meeting of the clubs in Brussels two restart. their unfortunate drubbing in Germany. weeks ago, when PSG recorded their Ibrahimovic headed just wide from a Shakhtar had the lion’s share of possession biggest ever away victory in continental Thiago Motta corner before teeing up and forced six first-half corners to Bayer’s none, Champions League tables competition, trouncing Anderlecht 5-0. Lucas to volley wastefully off target from but it was the Germans who carved out the Laurent Blanc’s men might have an excellent position, and instead it was half’s best chance after 24 minutes. Champions League tables after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals clinched top spot in the section with two the visitors who drew first blood in the Burly Shakhtar defender Viacheslav Shavchuk against, points): games to spare in the event of a win, but 68th minute to the disbelief of the entire upended Son Heung-Min outside the area and instead they will need a draw at home to stadium. from the resultant free kick, Gonzalo Castro Group A Olympiakos later this month to be sure Praet found Kljestan on the edge of brought an acrobatic save from the Ukrainian Man United 4 2 2 0 6 3 8 of their last-16 berth. the box to the left, and the American ‘keeper Andriy Piatov, diving smartly to his right Leverkusen 4 2 1 1 8 5 7 Anderlecht, meanwhile, will be midfielder cut the ball back for to hold the ball cleanly. Shakhtar 4 1 2 1 3 5 5 pleased to have recovered some pride Dutchman De Zeeuw, who beat Sirigu Shortly afterwards, Bayer’s Germany midfield- Sociedad 4 0 1 3 1 5 1 and registered their first point of the with a low first-time effort to finally break er Sidney Sam broke through the Shakhtar campaign. his team’s goalscoring duck in this sea- defence but put his shot from the edge of the Group B Blanc was without Edinson Cavani due son’s competition. area tamely wide. Real Madrid 4 3 1 0 14 4 10 to a thigh injury, but he was able to wel- But they say a team is at its most vul- In reply, Shakhtar’s Croatian captain Darijo Galatasaray 4 1 1 2 6 104 come back Ibrahimovic after a nagging nerable just after they have scored a Srna rattled the woodwork on the half hour, his Copenhagen 4 1 1 2 3 8 4 knee problem forced him to miss last goal, and that proved to be the case on mighty shot from far out on the right striking the Juventus 4 0 3 1 6 7 3 Friday’s 4-0 demolition of Lorient in Ligue this occasion as PSG needed just two far post and rebounding back into play. Leverkusen came out of the blocks fighting at 1, as skipper Thiago Silva started on the minutes to draw level, Blaise Matuidi Group C the start of the second half but for all their pres- bench on his return to the squad after finding Ibrahimovic, and the Swede pok- Paris SG 4 3 1 0 13 2 10 sure, they failed to break the resolve of Piatov, Olympiakos 4 2 1 1 6 5 7 over a month on the sidelines. The Belgian ing the ball over the line after his initial who was equal to everything the Germans bom- Benfica 4 1 1 2 3 5 4 champions had hinted that they would effort had hit the post to make it five in barded him with. But in the end it was a satisfac- Anderlecht 4 0 1 3 1 11 1 settle for any kind of improvement on the two games against Anderlecht. tory result for Bayer, whose coach Sami Hyypia thrashing they suffered in the last meet- Blanc’s side poured forward in search had predicted the game would leave them “very Group D ing of the clubs, and they predictably of the goal that would have won them close to qualifying for the knockout stages”. Bayern 4 4 0 0 12 1 12 Q adopted a cautious approach in an the game and taken them through to the After the game, he beamed: “You play to win, Man City 4 3 0 1 11 6 9 Q attempt to frustrate their hosts this time. last 16, but they couldn’t find it, even but tonight a point is OK. “Bernd played well, all CSKA 4 1 0 3 6 12 3 It worked in the first half, with PSG after the energetic Kljestan had been in all, we fought well and had a few good oppor- Pilsen 4 0 0 4 2 12 0 unable to break down a defence com- sent off for a second yellow card for han- tunities to score. The second half was much bet- Q - qualified for Last 16 prising six men when the home side had dling nine minutes from the end. —AFP ter for us than the first.” — AFP