Holders Barca Pass Kiev Test; 10-Man Inter Held By Russian Debutants Rubin Kazan
Milan: Shaggy-haired Stevan Jovetic lit up a largely predictable Champions League night with both goals in Fiorentina’s surprise 2-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday. The Montenegro striker, only playing in the Group E clash because Alberto Gilardino was suspended, beat the offside trap to net the 28th minute opener and then touched in a cross at the near post nine minutes later to stun the five-times champs.
“I am very happy, to score two goals against Liverpool is a big thing,” he told Italian television after ending a tough period for Viola, who lost their group opener. While Jovetic was bursting onto the scene in Florence, Lionel Messi was reaffirming his position at the very top of the world game with a typically stylish strike in Barcelona’s 2-0 home win over Dynamo Kiev.
B’day boy Sheva blasts over
Dynamo had their chances, with Andriy Shevchenko blasting over on his 33rd birthday, but Pedro sealed Barca’s win with some more nifty footwork on 76 minutes. The holders top Group F with four points from two games after debutants Rubin Kazan were unlucky to only draw 1-1 with 10-man Inter Milan in Russia. Argentine forward Alejandro Dominguez put the hosts ahead and although Dejan Stankovic pegged them back, Mario Balotelli’s secondhalf dismissal left the Italian champs clinging on.
Arsenal made to wait
Arsenal had to wait until the last 12 minutes to seal a 2-0 home win over Olympiakos Piraeus in Group H with forwards Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin on the scoresheet while AZ Alkmaar drew 1-1 with Standard Liege in a Benelux battle. Standard substitute Moussa Traore scrambled in the equaliser in stoppage time to leave both sides on one point.
Big wins for Lyon, Sevilla
Group E leaders Olympique Lyon plundered a 4-0 victory at Hungary’s Debrecen after Kim Kallstrom had slammed in from the edge of the area on three minutes to start the rout. Sevilla were also in goals, notching up a 4-1 win at Rangers in Group G.
Unirea draw with Stuttgart
Romania’s Unirea Urziceni, making their home debut in CL like Rubin, Debrecen and Alkmaar, had a Dacian Varga equaliser to thank for their 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart. REUTERS
MERRY BAND: Barcelona’s Pedro Rodriguez (second from right) celebrates his goal with teammates Ibrahimovic (third from right), Xavi (right), Messi and Keita in Barcelona. Barca beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0
TWO FOR JOY:
Fiorentina forward Jovetic celebrates after scoring against Liverpool in Florence
Fiorentina forward Jovetic celebrates after scoring against Liverpool in Florence
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