Cardozo pens sink 10-man Liverpool
Reuters - Thursday 01 April 2010, 23:42
BERNE - Benfica's Paraguay forward Oscar
Cardozo converted two second-half penalties to help them come
from behind and beat 10-man Liverpool 2-1 as the Europa League
dished up more drama in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
The other three first-leg ties also produced plenty of
twists and turns on another exciting night in a competition
often derided as the poor relation of European club football.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's winner gave Hamburg SV a 2-1 success
at home to Standard Liege, the Germans also coming from behind,
while David Villa scored a late equaliser to help Valencia draw
2-2 at home to Atletico Madrid in an all-Spanish clash.
Fulham - who thumped Juventus 4-1 at home in the last round
to reach their first European quarter-final - continued their
fine run with a 2-1 victory over German champions VfL Wolfsburg
whose late goal took the gloss off the home side's performance.
"We have got to be happy that the European adventure is very
much alive here at Craven Cottage and we have taken another very
famous scalp along the way," said Fulham manager Roy Hodgson.
GREAT START
The match was billed as one of the west London club's
biggest but Liverpool felt very differently about their trip to
the Estadio da Luz to face Benfica in a clash of two former
European champions.
Rafael Benitez's team, in real danger of missing out on
qualifying for next year's Champions League, are looking on the
Europa League as a mere consolation in a miserable season.
Liverpool were given a great start when Daniel Agger's
skilful flick silenced the home crowd after nine minutes.
But their evening began to unravel after half an hour when
their Netherlands forward Ryan Babel was sent off for a shove in
the face of Benfica defender Luisao.
The hosts, starting with seven South Americans, equalised in
the 59th minute when Cardozo buried a harshly-awarded penalty
after Emiliano Insua tangled with Pablo Aimar.
Cardozo produced a repeat 20 minutes later, again finding
the bottom right corner of Pepe Reina's goal after Jamie
Carragher had blocked an Angel di Maria cross with his arm.
Benitez told reporters: "Always when decisions are against a
team you don´t like it but because you cannot change them now
the only way is to try be positive and... think about our fans
behind the team and to play with all the players at Anfield."
Several firecrackers were thrown onto the pitch and the
referee threatened to stop play after one had left a large hole
in the turf near the touchline.
FORLAN STRIKES
Hamburg, whose stadium will host the final, fell behind when
Democratic Republic of Congo striker Dieudonne Mbokani was left
free at a corner and scored with a powerful header in the 31st.
Ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Van Nistelrooy
hit the post and then shot wide from 12 metres before Croatia
forward Mladen Petric levelled with a 42nd minute penalty.
Three minutes later, Van Nistelrooy got in front of his
marker to guide Dennis Aogo's cross home from six metres.
"We thought they would stay back in defence but they played
good football," said the Dutch striker. "I think we played well
and got a good result which leaves everything open."
Valencia and Atletico Madrid produced a thriller for the
55,000 crowd at the Mestalla.
Uruguay forward Diego Forlan broke the deadlock in the 59th
minute for Atletico, tapping in after Sergio Aguero had done the
hard work.
Manuel Fernandes quickly replied for Valencia with a
long-range effort in the 67th but Atletico captain Antonio Lopez
headed the visitors back in front five minutes later.
Villa, set to lead Spain's attack at the World Cup and
scorer of a brilliant hat-trick in the previous round at Werder
Bremen, swept home Vicente's cross in the 82nd to equalise.
Striker Bobby Zamora belted Fulham in front after 59 minutes
at Craven Cottage and Ireland winger Damien Duff struck again
soon afterwards following further good work by Zamora.
Alexander Madlung headed Wolfsburg's reply in the 89th
minute.
"It gives them a bit more of a chance because it's an away
goal, having said that we still won the game and I thought we
were fully deserving of the victory," said Hodgson. "It was a
bit of a dampener coming so late in the game."
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