Arsenal's European hopes in the balance
Reuters - Wednesday 17 August 2011, 04:01
ZURICH - Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for
the Champions League for the 14th time in a row were in the
balance after a 1-0 win at home to Udinese in the first leg of
the play-offs on Tuesday.
The English Premier League side were unable to add to Theo
Walcott's fourth minute goal, leaving them with a tricky task in
next week's return in Italy.
Benfica, the only former European champions in action, drew
2-2 at Twente Enschede while Olympique Lyon, hoping to qualify
for the 12th time in succession, conceded an early goal before
beating Russian visitors Rubin Kazan 3-1.
Viktoria Plzen have a great chance of qualifying for the
first time after a 3-1 win at FC Copenhagen while Austrian title
holders Sturm Graz held Belarus champions BATE Borisov 1-1 away.
Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger banished from the
touchline and captain Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri also
suspended, got the perfect start against opponents playing their
first competitive game of the season.
Bacary Sagna released Aaron Ramsey on the right and his
pinpoint cross was met first time by Walcott.
Wenger gave instructions by mobile phone from the directors'
box but was ordered to stop at half-time by UEFA officials,
Arsenal said.
Udinese, who sold key players Alexis Sanchez and Gokhan
Inler in the close season, could have collapsed but instead
hauled themselves back into the match and in the end deserved a
draw.
Captain Antonio Di Natale went close twice, hitting the bar
with a free-kick in the first half and also clipping a post with
a shot in the second.
Colombian Pablo Armero should have scored after a 60-metre
run on goal ended with him firing straight at Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenal could also have had a bigger cushion for the second
leg but Samir Handanovic made an outstanding save low to his
left to deny Walcott from close range in the dying minutes.
"The most important thing was the clean sheet," Walcott said
on Sky Sports. "They are a very strong team and we will find it
difficult over there but I believe, if we play the same kind of
football, we can get a result."
Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin told reporters: "I am
disappointed we did not score and conceded a goal.
"But I think the tie is still very open and is there for the
winning next week. However, I am disappointed that we had seven
eight or nine chances and did not score."
RUIZ STRIKES
Benfica, who despite winning the old European Cup twice and
finishing runners-up five times have made only a modest six
Champions League appearances, were denied an away win when Costa
Rican Bryan Ruiz scored an 80th minute goal for Twente.
The Dutch side had taken a sixth-minute lead through Luuk de
Jong before Oscar Cardozo, with a curling shot, and Nolito put
the Portuguese 2-1 ahead at half-time.
Rubin Kazan took a third-minute lead at Lyon through
Vladimir Dyadyun but the French replied within seven minutes
through Bafetimbi Gomis and a Solomon Kverkvelia own goal put
them ahead five minutes before the break.
Jimmy Briand added another midway through the second half.
Solvi Ottesen scored at both ends as Copenhagen, who reached
the last 16 last season, were stunned by the Czech champions.
He turned the ball into his own net to give Plzen the lead
in the 52nd minute and Vaclav Pilar fired home the second seven
minutes later.
Ottesen made amends by heading home for the Danes in the
69th minute but Martin Fillo curled in a superb third for Plzen
10 minutes later.
Sturm Graz, who last qualified in 2000/01, went ahead when
Manuel Weber provided a clinical finish to a counter-attack in
the 12th minute.
They should have scored again before half-time when Milan
Dudic, unmarked and four metres from goal, failed to connect
with Andreas Hoelzl's free-kick.
The hosts, who had much more possession, levelled with a
Marko Simic header just before the hour.
Five more play-off matches are scheduled for Wednesday,
including four-times European champions Bayern Munich against FC
Zurich, with the second legs to be played next week.