Rockets cool Dortmund rout Heat as,Trail Galatasaray Blazers18 triumph 19 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 Australia eye Olympic-size World Cup boost Page 16 MADRID: Liverpool’s Javi Manquillo (left) and Real Madrid’s Isco battle for the ball during a Group B Champions League soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. — AP Real cruise into CL last 16 MADRID: Real Madrid cruised into the Champions League performance,” said Rodgers, who dismissed criticism of his trating night as he was denied on several occasions by Ronaldo’s search for the record-equalling goal contin- last 16 as Karim Benzema’s solitary goal continued their team selection. Liverpool ‘keeper Simon Mignolet. ued after the break, but the man who has 22 goals to his 100 percent record in Group B with a 1-0 win over an “We defended very well when we had to against the The Belgian international was called into action as early name this season ws suffering an uncharacteristic off-night under-strength Liverpool. best team in the world at the minute, who have been scor- as the third minute as he flew to his left to deny James as he fired another decent opening straight at Mignolet. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had sprung a sur- ing five and six goals a game. Rodriguez before turning a fierce drive from Ronaldo over Liverpool then posed their first serious threat when prise by naming a side missing a host of first-team regulars, “I thought we were very unfortunate not to get some- for a corner. Adam Lallana spun on the edge of the Madrid box and including captain Steven Gerrard and Mario Balotelli, who thing from the game. You see many teams come here and Even without the presence of Gerrard, Jordan sent a low left-footed effort inches beyond the far post were left on the bench ahead of a crucial Premier League the game is over after 20 minutes. For our attitude and Henderson and Raheem Sterling, Liverpool were still enjoy- before Fabio Borini’s deflected free-kick also drifted just clash with Chelsea on Saturday. courage to play I thought we could have got at least a ing plenty of possession in the early stages, but lacked wide. Gareth Bale made his return after five games out And despite a more spirited showing than in their 3-0 draw.” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, was hap- penetration as a couple of promising breaks from Lazar with a pelvic muscle injury as he replaced Rodriguez on defeat to Madrid at Anfield two weeks ago, Benzema’s first- py to see his side seal their passage into the last 16 despite Markovic were easily snuffed out. the hour mark, while Rodgers played his trump cards as half winner condemned them to a third consecutive not sparkling as they have done recently on a 12-game Madrid eventually found a way through on 27 minutes Gerrard and Sterling were introduced at the expense of European defeat. winning streak. when Isco fed Marcelo down the left and the Brazilian’s Lucas Leiva and Markovic. Basel’s 4-0 thrashing of Ludogorets Razgrad leaves them “I think we played well, albeit the tempo wasn’t that inviting low cross was turned in at the far post by the slid- It was Bale who made the most significant impact, in pole position to join Madrid in the last 16. Liverpool and high,” he said. “We scored in the first half and then we con- ing Benzema. though, when he turned another fine cross from Marcelo Ludogorets trail the Swiss champions by three points and trolled the game without taking too many risks.” Mignolet was called into action again to limit the dam- onto the bar 19 minutes from time. will face off in Bulgaria next time out while Basel host Cristino Ronaldo was looking for his 71st Champions age for Rodgers’s men before half-time as he palmed away The Welshman’s next opportunity came from a free-kick Madrid in Switzerland. League goal to match the all-time competition record held a swerving Ronaldo free-kick and a volleyed effort from after he had been chopped down by Alberto Moreno, but “We’re disappointed with the result after an excellent by Real legend Raul, but the Portuguese endured a frus- Marcelo. again Mignolet was equal to his dipping effort. — AFP Anderlecht frustrate Arsenal Talisca revives Benfica’s knockout stage hopes LONDON: Arsenal squandered a golden opportunity to ened again, with Sacha Kljestan skipping through the hosts’ book their place in the Champions League last 16 as defence to force Szczesny into a good save. Anderlecht stormed back from three goals down to rescue a But the Belgians’ gung-ho approach also exposed their LISBON: A goal by impressive young Brazilian Talisca revived stunning 3-3 draw on Tuesday. leaky defence to more pressure than was wise. And Wenger’s Portuguese champions Benfica’s hopes of reaching the Champions Arsene Wenger’s side were on course to qualify for the side exploited the holes in the Anderlecht rearguard to take League knock-out stages for the first time in three seasons as it secured knockout stage of Europe’s elite club competition for the the lead in the 25th minute. a 1-0 win over Monaco. 15th successive season after Mikel Arteta’s penalty and fine Sanchez, in imperious form, slipped a perfectly-weighted Talisca, 20, struck eight minutes from time in an entertaining match strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pass through to Danny Welbeck and the Arsenal striker’s run which saw the French side slip to their first defeat in seven matches and put them in complete control by the 58th minute. was impeded by Chancel Mbemba, who fell backwards into saw Benfica record their first win of this season’s competition to move But the Gunners’ creaky defence was brutally exposed by his opponent and knocked him to the turf. on to four points, still bottom of the table but just one point off second- Anderlecht in a remarkable finale that saw the Belgians score There was little malice in Mbemba’s challenge but French placed Monaco. three times in the last 29 minutes to stun the Emirates referee Clement Turpin felt it was worthy of a penalty and Leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 earlier Stadium into silence. Arsenal captain Arteta stepped up to calmly chip the spot- on Tuesday, are four points clear of Monaco with two games remaining. Anthony Vanden Borre sparked the incredible revival with kick into the roof of the net. With Monaco’s former Bulgarian international striker Dimitar a tap-in from an offside position and he then netted a penal- With the momentum now firmly in their favour, Arsenal Berbatov out with the groin injury he suffered in the first match ty before Aleksandar Mitrovic’s stoppage-time header com- swept forward again and doubled their advantage four min- between the two sides a fortnight ago, Lacina Traore came in for his first pleted the heroic comeback. utes later. start in the competition. “We had some bad luck, the first goal (for Anderlecht) was When Sanchez’s free-kick cannoned into the Anderlecht Benfica had the first opening of the game, which failed to attract a offside but we had a lack of concentration and thought the wall, it seemed the chance had been squandered, but the packed house, but Eduardo Salvio, superbly set up by Talisca, scuffed game was won,” Wenger said. Chile winger’s response to his initial miscue was thrilling as his shot wide of the far post with Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic “Overall we were poor defensively from the first to the last he seized on the looping rebound to smash a blistering vol- beaten. While the hosts had the majority of possession, they found it minute. “Am I angry or disappointed? Both.” Anderlecht boss ley through the now splintered wall and past goalkeeper difficult to fashion chances and had to wait till the final minute of the Besnik Hasi added: “We come from a small league but we Silvio Proto. It was a fitting way to mark Arsenal’s 500th goal half for their best opportunity as Nicolas Gaitan worked some space have shown for the second time against Arsenal that we can since moving to the Emirates and Oxlade-Chamberlain only for his goalbound effort to be deflected for a corner by the out- compete against these big teams.” The north Londoners-now capped his vibrant display with the 501st in the 58th minute. stretched boot of Andre Raggi. Monaco started the second-half brightly five points behind Group D leaders Borussia Dortmund-are The England winger took possession from Sanchez’s but Layvin Kurzawa should have done better with a free header while likely to have to settle for second place and a tougher draw in tenacious tackle and accelerated into the penalty area to down the other end Subasic produced an excellent save to turn away the last 16, assuming they can guarantee qualification in plant a fine finish into the far corner. Talisca’s fierce effort from outside the area. their final two matches against Dortmund and Galatasaray. Yet Vanden Borre reduced the deficit three minutes later Benfica’s Brazilian international goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved his side Hasi’s side must have feared it wouldn’t be their night when his tap in from Andy Kawaya’s cross was allowed to on the hour mark as he got down to stop Argentinian Lucas Carrasco’s when they arrived at the stadium less than an hour before stand even though the defender was clearly offside.