World Cup Corner

It’s time for Matchday 2 in UEFA Champions League and for some great soccer action in Europe.

September 27, 2005:
Juventus - Rapid 3:0
Bayern - Club Brugge 1:0
Ajax - Arsenal 1:2
Thun - Sparta 1:0
Panathinaikos - Bremen 1:0
Barcelona - Udinese 4:1
Man. United - Benfica 2:1
Lille - Villarreal 0:0

September 28, 2005:
Fenerbahçe - PSV 3:0
Schalke - Milan 2:2
Real Madrid - Olympiacos 2:1
Rosenborg - Lyon 0:1
Anderlecht - Betis 0:1
Liverpool - Chelsea 0:0
Porto - Artmedia 2:3
Internazionale - Rangers 1:0

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Iaquinta gives Udinese dream debut. A hat-trick gave Udinese Calcio a perfect start to their debut UEFA Champions League campaign with a convincing win against Panathinaikos FC at the Friuli stadium.

The Italian international scored once in the first half and twice in the second to put Serse Cosmi’s side top of Group C after one game. Cosmi made one change from the team that overcame AS Roma in Serie A on Sunday, reverting from the three-pronged attack deployed at the Stadio Olimpico to a 4-4-2 formation with midfielder Vidigal included at the expense of forward Davide Di Michele.

Other results from Wednesday September 14, 2005:

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Olympique Lyonnais started their UEFA Champions League campaign in superb fashion as an impressive first-half display earned a 3-0 Group F success against Real Madrid CF.

Three first-half goals in quick succession helped Lyon sink the nine-times European champions and strongly suggest they could make an impact in Europe after leaving the showcase club competition in the quarter-finals the last two seasons.

Other results from Tuesday September 13, 2005:

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UEFA Champions League group stage kicks off tomorrow night, with five sides making their debuts in the competition proper and 12 former European Champion Clubs’ Cup winners also in action.

The group stage runs until early December, with the top two in each section progressing to the knockout phase and the third-placed team entering the UEFA Cup Round of 32. The Champions League final takes place at the Stade de France, Paris on 17 May 2006.

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Reuters - England striker Michael Owen believes his troubled year at Real Madrid will help him make a major impact on his return to the Premier League with Newcastle United.

“I have no regrets at all about joining Real Madrid a year ago,” the 25-year-old told a news conference at St James’ Park on Wednesday, following his 15 million pounds move on a four-year deal.

“I’m quite an inquisitive person so when I knew of Real Madrid’s interest I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life without playing in another European country. And to get the opportunity to play for one of the most famous clubs in the world was a fantastic opportunity.

“You might like it, you might not, but whatever happens at least now I have no doubts in my mind and I can live the rest of my life knowing what it was like.

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MONACO (AFP) - Champions Liverpool were drawn in the same group as last season’s English league winners Chelsea in the group stages of the Champions League.

Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in the semi-finals in last season’s competition, were without country protection in the draw after UEFA granted them special dispensation to defend the trophy.
Belgian club Anderlecht and Real Betis of Spain make up the group.

“There was a lot of speculation and now we have to play them again,” said Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, Liverpool’s hero as they beat AC Milan on penalties to win last season’s Champions League trophy.

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