THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014 SPORTS Monaco held by Zenit SAINT PETERSBURG: Zenit St failed to produce the goal their attacking Petersburg extended their unbeaten play deserved. record to 15 matches in all competitions Former Tottenham and Manchester as they battled to a 0-0 draw against United striker Dimitar Berbatov had a Monaco in Champions League Group C close range shot saved as early as the action yesterday. The French runners-up third minute but Zenit ‘keeper Yuri turned in arguably their best perform- Lodygin made the first of a series of ance of the season as they dominated important interventions. large sections of the match only to come Leonardo Jardim’s side, who had won up short inside the penalty box. only two of their last 16 Champions Both teams move to four points with League matches away from home domi- Zenit holding a one goal advantage on nated midfield thanks to the industry of goal difference with Bayer Leverkusen captain Jeremy Toulalan, Geoffrey set to host Benfica later on Wednesday Kondogbia and Portuguese winger Joao after both teams suffered opening day Moutinho. defeats. Playing a 4-3-3 line-up, the midfield At the Petrovsky Stadium, both sides trio provided plenty of service for had chances to win the match during a Berbatov, Nabil Dirar and Argentine torrid second half with central defender Lucas Ocampos who came closest to Nicolas Lombaerts fluffing a close range opening the scoring when his rasping header for the hosts while Belgian substi- drive from just inside the box, on the tute Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco hit the stroke of half-time, was tipped over by post late on for Monaco. Lodygin. English referee Mark The French side, who are off to a slug- Clattenburg allowed the game to flow gish start in Ligue 1 action, lying 12th in and a bruising first-half saw only former the table ahead of their trip to Paris Nantes and Lyon midfielder Toulalan, the Saint-Germain on Sunday, are enjoying a lone player to be booked. fine return to Champions League action Monaco’s Croatian ‘keeper Danijel after an absence of nine years. Subasic remained largely unemployed LONDON: Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (center) passes the ball as Galatasaray’s Yekta Kurtulus (left) and Veysel Sari (right) try to stop him during Zenit, who top the Russian table by for the first 45 minutes although Zenit the Champions League Group D soccer match. — AP four points after eight wins and a draw in captain Danny sparked a sweeping nine matches, came into the fixture hav- counter-attack that culminated with a ing won 30 of their past 48 European shot from Hulk that flew over the bar. Arsenal thump Galatasaray matches at home. Both teams tightened up their defen- Monaco began the game brightly and sive formations after the break and a LONDON: Danny Welbeck gave Arsene Wenger Welbeck wrapped up his hat-trick in the sec- to be briefly halted as the Turkish team’s captain took the game to their Russian hosts but game of few clear cut chances pre- the perfect anniversary gift as the Arsenal strik- ond half, although Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Wesley Sneijder appealed for calm after several despite their first half dominance, they dictably ended in a draw. — AFP er’s hat-trick inspired a crucial 4-1 win against Szczesny briefly soured Wenger’s anniversary flares landed on the pitch. Galatasaray in the Champions League yesterday. celebrations when he was sent off for a foul on Muslera collected the flares and dropped Wenger celebrated the 18th anniversary of Burak Yilmaz, who converted the resulting them on the sidelines, at which point helmeted his arrival at Arsenal on Wednesday, but the penalty. riot police and stewards filed along the advertis- Gunners’ boss demurred this week when offered ing hoardings. the chance to reflect on his numerous moments SURGICAL PRECISION Wenger’s men showed no signs of being dis- of triumph in north London. With key midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel tracted by the incident and increased their lead Instead Wenger remains focused on ensuring Arteta sidelined for several weeks due to injuries, in the 41st minute. With Galatasaray’s defence in his current crop will one day be recalled as fond- Wenger fielded an attacking line-up including complete meltdown, Mesut Ozil had plenty of ly as some of his previous, more successful, vin- the recalled Sanchez and Santi Cazorla. space to pick out Sanchez, who beat a feeble off- tages. Arsenal had been spluttering through a Chile winger Sanchez is capable of dissecting side trap and checked inside Chedjou to plant a dispiriting run of one win from their last six a defence with surgical precision and he took clinical finish into the far corner for his first matches in all competitions-including a lacklus- the scalpel to Galatasaray’s rearguard to lay on Champions League goal since October 2012. tre 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund that marked Arsenal’s 22nd minute opener. There was no let-up from Arsenal and their first loss in the opening game of the His rapid burst towards the Galatasaray area Welbeck completed his treble when he made a Champions League group stages since 2003. from the left flank was met with little resistance, well-timed run to meet Alex Oxlade- Against that troubling backdrop, Wenger may giving Sanchez time to slip a perfectly-weighted Chamberlain’s pass and clipped his shot over regard this much-needed Group D success as reverse pass behind the ponderous Felipe Melo, Muslera in the 52nd minute. one of his more satisfying victories. who allowed Welbeck to run off him and poke a The only frustration for Wenger came in the As well as kick-starting Arsenal’s European cool finish past Fernando Muslera. 63rd minute when Szczesny rushed off his line campaign, there was vindication for Wenger’s Welbeck left Galatasaray’s defenders trailing and caught Yilmaz as the striker advanced on eye for talent as the first treble of Welbeck’s in his wake again eight minutes later when he goal. career provided the perfect riposte to critics who latched on to Aurelien Chedjou’s misplaced Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi waved a red claim the England international isn’t a natural back-header, card at the Polish goalkeeper and his replace- goalscorer. showing impressive strength to withstand ment David Ospina’s first task was to pick the ST. PETERSBURG: Zenit’s Javi Garcia (left) and Monaco’s Joao Moutinho vie for the Welbeck, who had scored only once since his Melo’s lumbering challenge as he glided clear to ball out of the net as Yilmaz picked himself up to ball during the Champions League Group C soccer match. — AP £16 million ($25 million) move from Manchester steer his shot beyond Muslera. stroke in the penalty. There was never any United in September, struck twice before an With their team in tatters, Galatasaray’s chance of the Turks making a comeback, howev- Dortmund blank Anderlecht Alexis Sanchez goal put the result beyond doubt always volatile fans responded by unleashing an er, and Wenger was able to relax on the bench as before half-time. unscheduled pyrotechnic display, causing play Arsenal cruised home. — AFP BRUSSELS: Substitute Adrian Ramos scored he danced past helpless Anderlecht defend- twice as a weakened Borussia Dortmund ers to slam just inside the far right post. beat Belgian champions Anderlecht 3-0 yes- Anderlecht did have chances, notably when Leverkusen see off Benfica terday to stay top of Champions League attacking midfielder Dennis Praet had the Group D. ball in the net in the ninth minute, only for Dortmund arrived in Brussels missing a Aleksandar Mitrovic, who fed the final pass, LEVERKUSEN: South Korean Son Heung-Min number of players through injury, notably to be adjudged offside. scored a goal and was involved in another to Germany midfielder Marco Reus, and with a Television replays showed he was in line help Bayer Leverkusen breathe life into their single point from their last three Bundesliga with the last defender. Mitrovic also struck Champions League campaign with a 3-1 win matches, but made a flying start. the Dortmund post in the second half. The at home to Portuguese side Benfica yesterday. Their opener came after three minutes, home side, however, struggled to make their It was the perfect antidote to their opening when Shinji Kagawa scooped the ball over possession count against a tight Dortmund 1-0 defeat by French side Monaco a fortnight the top of the home defence for Ciro defence with the midfield pair of Sebastian ago. Zenit St Petersburg and Monaco’s goal- Immobile to beat advancing keeper Silvio Kehl and Sven Bender just in front of them. less draw earlier yesterday means Leverkusen Proto. Substitute Ramos stabbed in the sec- Dortmund top group D on six points from remain third in the Group C table, a point ond in the 69th minute, just four minutes two matches, ahead of Arsenal on three. The adrift of them. Benfica are bottom after a sec- after coming on, after a sublime cross from defeat took Anderlecht’s run without a vic- ond straight defeat following their 2-0 loss to Lukasz Piszczek. tory in the Champions League to 10 match- Zenit in Lisbon. Ramos made it 3-0 10 minutes later when es, dating back to November 2012. — AFP Leverkusen made a bright start with Germany midfielder Lars Bender hitting the post with Benfica’s Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar beaten after a superb cross from Son. The Germans grabbed their first goal when Cesar failed to hold on to Son’s shot from 20 metres out and striker Stefan Kiessling pounced on the loose ball to put Bayer ahead with 25 minutes gone.