WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2013 SPORTS19 Barcelona scrape past Celtic GLASGOW: Barcelona needed a second-half goal from Cesc Fabregas to claim a narrow 1-0 Champions League win over 10- man Celtic in Glasgow yesterday that leaves the Catalans top of Group H. The Spanish champions dominated possession but failed to test goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the opening 45 minutes with Celtic’s Georgios Samaras having the best chance of the half. But it was a moment of mad- ness from skipper Scott Brown that cost Celtic dearly as the mid- fielder was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute as he appeared to direct a sly kick at Neymar after tripping the Brazilian superstar. However, Celtic recovered well from Brown’s dismissal and sub- stitute James Forrest forced Victor Valdes into a fine save before Charlie Mulgrew headed just wide. But, moments after creating the best chance of the match, substitute Alexis Sanchez, only on BASEL: Schalke’s Benedikt Hoewedes (left) fights for the ball against Basel’s the pitch for two minutes, Mohamed Salah (right) during an UEFA Champions League Group E soccer crossed for former Arsenal man match. —AP Fabregas to nod home and gain revenge for their defeat at the same venue last season. It means Barca top Group H on Schalke sinks Basel six points after AC Milan and Ajax finished 1-1 and handed Celtic, BASEL: A stunning Julian Draxler strike the finishing touches to match their neat who prop up the group looking gave Schalke 04 a 1-0 Champions League approach. Kevin-Prince Boateng missed for their first point, a rare home win at Basel yesterday, bringing the an early chance for the Germans when defeat in the Champions League. Swiss back down to earth with a bump he dragged his shot wide of the post Barcelona, who were missing after their shock victory at Chelsea last after a mishit clearance by Fabian Schaer. Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano, month. A partially cleared corner fell to Draxler missed the target after getting Jordi Alba and Carles Puyol the 20-year-old 25 metres from goal, and into a good position and a poor first through injury, had opted for although it came to him at an awkward touch from Jefferson Farfan meant Neymar, Fabregas and Pedro height, he delivered a superb rising shot another flowing move came to nothing Rodriguez up front while Celtic into the top corner after 54 minutes. for Schalke just after the half hour. manager Neil Lennon retained Roman Neustaedter hit the crossbar The visitors went close again when faith in the same starting 11 that minutes earlier with a looping 30-metre Neustaedter headed wide from a free were unlucky to lose 2-0 to Milan effort following another brilliant piece of kick just before the break. Basel pushed in the San Siro a fortnight ago. skill by Draxler. forward after the goal and Schaer saw a Even without the injured Messi, The win gave leaders Schalke six dipping shot go narrowly wide from 30 who scored a hat-trick in their GLASGOW: Celtic’s Giorgos Samaras (left) duels for the ball with Barcelona’s Gerard Pique during the points from two games in Group E and metres while a Giovanni Sio effort was opening 4-0 win over Ajax, Champions League Group H soccer match. —AP no goals conceded, a contrast to their parried by keeper Timo Hildebrand. Barcelona showed their class ear- league form where their rearguard is one Draxler nearly added a second after a ly on as their slick possession ping the passes about but it took 59th minute. The Celtic midfield- ping at the resultant corner but of the most unstable in the Bundesliga. mazy run that ended with him shooting football forced two early corners. until the 41st minute for them to er’s sly kick at Neymar on the Mulgrew had his head in his There was little to choose between over the crossbar. Basel have three However, it was a fast break muster up their first real opportu- deck after tripping the Brazilian hands after he nodded wide of the teams although Schalke created points from two matches, the same as from the Hoops that created the nity. Daniel Alves sent an inviting 25 yards out as he raced towards the unprotected goal. more chances while Basel, playing their Chelsea who won 4-0 at bottom club first real opportunity after just ball into the box from the right goal was spotted by French refer- Moments after creating the 18th game of the season, could not find Steaua Bucharest yesterday. —Reuters five minutes. Kris Commons that Neymar prodded narrowly ee Stephane Lannoy, who had no best two chances of the match played in Samaras who, from a wide. hesitation in handing him a Celtic were caught with a sucker tight angle, forced keeper Valdes Xavi Hernandez then tested straight red card. punch when Fabregas put Barca to turn his shot out for a corner Forster with a curling free-kick Moments after coming on, ahead. that Mikael Lustig headed well from wide on the left that the Scottish international Forrest Alexis raced behind the Celtic wide. Andres Iniesta then got ‘keeper made a meal of and was nearly had Celtic in front when defence to latch on to a Neymar sight of the Celtic goal but the relieved to see go out for a corner his fierce half-volley was acrobati- pass and cross for the former influential midfielder saw his after coming off his shoulder. cally turned over by Valdes after Arsenal man to direct a header strike sail over without troubling The game changed when skip- the ‘keeper saw it late. back across Forster and looping Fraser Forster. Barca continued to per Brown was ordered off in the Valdes was then caught nap- into the bottom corner. —AFP Milan snatch point in dramatic finish AMSTERDAM: Mario Balotelli scored a penal- do far better when they take on familiar foes a Lerin Duarte free-kick that was tipped over ty in the fourth minute of added time to earn Barcelona next. by Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal were as AC Milan a 1-1 draw with Ajax at the Both Ajax and Milan can boast a glorious close as they came to taking the lead into Amsterdam Arena in Champions League past, with 11 European Cups between them half-time. Group H yesterday. and two previous meetings in the final of the And predictably, Milan - who beat Dutch Balotelli won the penalty in controversial competition, Milan winning 4-1 in 1969 and opposition in PSV Eindhoven to qualify for the circumstances after grappling with substitute Ajax gaining revenge with a 1-0 victory in the group stage - were much improved after the centre-back Mike Van der Hoorn inside the 1995 showpiece in Vienna. restart. They finally produced an attempt on area and his conversion from 12 yards earned Current Ajax coach Frank de Boer played in goal in the 49th minute, Kevin Constant cut- the Rossoneri a draw that their second-half the latter game but these days he is unable to ting the ball back for captain Riccardo display deserved. keep his best players for long enough to build Montolivo to shoot, but his effort was well The finish was cruel on Ajax, however, as a team that can properly compete on the saved by Jasper Cillessen. they had only taken the lead in the 90th European stage, while Milan are a shadow of Balotelli had a free-kick deflected just over minute of a game that had previously their former selves. moments later before seeing a terrific curling appeared destined to end goalless. The Rossoneri travelled to the Dutch capi- strike tipped onto the woodwork by Cillessen Then, young central defender Stefano tal on the back of a slow start to the Serie A just after the hour mark. PORTUGAL: Atletico’s Filipe Luis (right) fights for the ball with Porto’s Denswil rose unmarked five yards out to head season and without the likes of Kaka and Ajax, whose starting line-up had an aver- Jackson Martinez during the Champions League Group G soccer match home a corner from the right flank to leave Stephan El Shaarawy, although Mario Balotelli age age of just 23.5, visibly tired and spent against Porto. —AP the Dutch champions on the brink of a pre- was able to play as he is serving a domestic the closing stages penned back inside their cious win. suspension. However, Massimiliano Allegri’s own half but they roused themselves and Instead, the draw suits Milan, who are clear men ignored the temptation to push forward almost won it at the very end. Late Arda winner hands in second place on four points behind and look for Balotelli in the first half, instead They had an effort disallowed for offside Barcelona, 1-0 winners away to Celtic in the ceding possession and inviting their hosts to and Siem de Jong was denied by Abbiati Atletico victory at Porto group’s other game. make the play. before Denswil netted what looked like the Ajax now face a vital double-header As a result, Ajax utterly dominated, but a winner, only for Balotelli to rescue Milan, not PORTO: Atletico Madrid came from Atletico were missing their suspended against Celtic while Milan will know they must Viktor Fischer shot that flashed just wide and for the first time. —AFP behind to keep their stunning start to top scorer Diego Costa, but they did the season going with a 2-1 win away to manage to come back into the game Porto in Champions League Group G yes- midway through the half.