Champions League Matchday 5: Nakamura Knocks One

By: Bob | November 21st, 2006

The Champions League was back in full action today with a number of teams on the verge of clinching a spot in the knockout round. Only one team actually managed to accomplish that feat and that one team was none other than Celtic who stunned Manchester United on a beautiful set piece goal by Shunsuke Nakamura. For teams like Arsenal, Benfica, Porto and Lille, their Champions League lives hang in the balance with it all coming down to the final matchday in a couple of weeks. Here’s a recap of the day’s exciting action.

Real Madrid 2 Lyon 2
Ruud van Nistelrooy continued his good recent form by netting a second half equalizer in a match involving two teams already through to the next round. Van Nistelrooy then proceeded to miss a penalty kick that would have won the game. Credit Gregory Coupet for a wonderful save. I’m not sure how Lyon can handle playing in the Champions League considering how dominant they are in the French league and how boring it must be for them to kick ass week in and week out, but they have acquitted themselves nicely thus far and with the tie today they claim the top spot in the group.

Steaua Bucharest 1 Dynamo Kiev 1
Both these teams were eliminated from the Champions League last round so this game was all about jockeying position for third place in the group and the right to get thrown into the UEFA Cup mix. The point puts Steaua into the UEFA Cup and adds further misery to the Ukrainian side, which is facing turmoil at home and probably couldn’t win my men’s league these days.

Benfica 3 Copenhagen 1
Benfica has the most registered fans of any team in the world and today all 160,000 of them are celebrating the ass spanking they gave Copenhagen. The Danish team was officially eliminated by the loss, while Benfica will have to get a win on the road against Manchester United in Matchday 6 to advance to the next round.

Celtic 1 Manchester United 0
This is a painful loss for Manchester United fans. The Red Devils needed just a tie to advance to the next round, but now must get at least a draw against Benfica on Matchday 6 to assure their survival. Celtic fans, on the other hand, are feeling pretty damn good at this very second thanks to an 81st minute free kick goal by the always dangerous Shunsuke Nakamura. The Scottish club is through to the next round for the first time ever. The Manchester United Offside will have more on this one.

Arsenal 3 Hamburg 1
Arsenal fell behind early at home in this match against the already eliminated Hamburg side, but a second half tidal wave put the Gunners even with Porto on top of their group. Arsenal will travel to Portugal on December 6 to play Porto with both side assured of a spot in the knockout stage if they draw. Hamburg has as many points in the competition as you and I do – zero. The Arsenal Offside will have more on this one.

CSKA Moscow 0-2 Porto
Porto showed that a visit to Moscow in the end of November doesn’t have to be a cold and unpleasant experience. The Portuguese side was paced by a second minute goal from Ricardo Quaresma and a second half goal by Lucho Gonzalez to leapfrog CSKA in the Group G standings. CSKA will need to beat Hamburg on a Matchday 6 and hope that there isn’t a draw in the Arsenal-Porto match.

AEK 1 AC Milan 0
Julio Cesar is the man of the hour for AEK, scoring the game’s lone goal on a free kick in the 32nd minute. Even with the loss Milan is through to the next round, while AEK jumped ahead of Lille for second place in the Group H standings. AEK still will need a result next matchday against Anderlecht or hope that Milan can wake up enough to beat Lille. Milan keeper Dida was hurt in this one.

Lille 2 Anderlecht 2
The French side is kicking themselves for giving up points at home and now will need some help on the final day to advance. Anderlecht showed some cajones in the tie and the wonderfully named Mbo Mpenza scored a brace, but their Champions League run has lasted about as long as Kevin Federline’s singing career.

Teams that have Advanced
Real Madrid
Lyon
Bayern Munich
Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven
Valencia
Celtic
AC Milan

Teams that have been eliminated
Dynamo Kiev
Steaua Bucharest
Sofia
Spartak
Bordeaux
Galatasaray
Hamburg
Copenhagen
Anderlicht

Wednesday, November 22 Matches
Bremen vs. Chelsea
Levski vs, Barcelona
Internazionale vs, Sporting
Spartak Moscow vs. Bayern Munich
Bordeaux vs. Galatasaray
Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven
Shakhtar vs. Roma
Valencia vs. Olympiacos