Champions League - Bendtner fires Arsenal to win

Eurosport - Wed, 26 Nov 09:49:00 2008

Arsenal reached the last 16 of the Champions League as sub Nicklas Bendtner scored the only goal of the game against Dynamo Kiev at the Emirates Stadium.

Nicklas Bendtner goal v Kiev, FOOTBALL - 0

Following their 0-0 home draw against Fenerbahce, Arsene Wenger's side again struggled to find the net in Europe but the Dane struck three minutes from time after a raking pass from new skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Porto's 2-1 victory in Istanbul sees the Gunners go through with the Portuguese side and they will contest top spot in Group G in Oporto in a fortnight's time.

There was a hint of controversy to the goal as Kiev did not contest a drop ball and Fabregas picked out Bendtner who fired past visiting keeper Stanislav Bogush at the near post.

Bendtner was booked for removing his shirt in celebration after his first goal since September 23 and an irate Kiev were reduced to ten men shortly after as Olexandr Aliyev was shown a red card for pushing referee Alain Hamer from Luxembourg.

Fabregas led the side out but just as he has been for the past week, William Gallas was the central figure in proceedings for much of the match.

An awful mistake from the deposed skipper late in the first-half gifted Ismael Bangoura possession and Gallas was happy to see the Guinean striker's effort come off the outside of the post.

It was Kiev's only real effort of the first half which ended with Gallas turning the ball home only for the offside flag to correctly go up.

Bogush flapped at a corner and Alexandre Song headed the ball through to Gallas who flicked the ball into the net but Kiev were quick to clear their six-yard box and the goal was ruled out.

Clear cut chances were few and far between with a Robin van Persie shot bouncing off the chest off Bogush and Mikael Silvestre diverting a dangerously whipped free-kick from the Dutchman over the top.

Arsenal came closest to breaking the deadlock three minutes into the second-half when Bogush made a hash of a Fabregas free-kick. Van Persie's initial effort was blocked by Artem Milevskiy and then the rebound was cleared from in front of his own goal by Gallas with the French defender unable get out of the way of the goalbound shot in time.

Kiev had the better of the chances from there on in with Bangoura fizzing a shot wide and Almunia claiming Olexandr Aliyev's 25-yard shot at the second attempt.

And 12 minutes from time Almunia made a vital save to preserve the cleansheet. The Spaniard custodian was quick off his line to deny Milevskiy from close range after Arsenal's high line was exposed.

By that time Jack Wilshere had become Arsenal's youngest ever player in Europe, as the 16-year-old replaced Carlos Vela, and he watched Bendtner break his long barren streak in front of goal as Arsenal reached the knockout phase of Europe's premier competition for the sixth consecutive season.

Fenerbahce 1-2 Porto

Two goals from Lisandro Lopez earned Porto a 2-1 victory against Fenerbahce and a place inn the Champions League last 16, with a late goal from Colin Kazim-Richards not enough to rescue the home side.

Lisandro put the visitors ahead in the 19th minute after Fenerbahce failed to clear a corner, hooking in a shot from close range through the home side's defence.

He doubled the Portuguese side's lead after a throw-in 10 minutes later. Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan blocked his first shot on goal only for Lisandro to score with his second effort, despite claims of handball from Fenerbahce players.

Half-time substitute Kazim-Richards pulled a goal back for Fenerbahce in the 63rd minute with a long-range shot which deflected off Bruno Alves and went beyond the reach of Porto goalkeeper Helton.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 77 - 96 of 96

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  1. can not score with there feet can not score with there­ heads so make it easy carch it and then shot a goal­ everytime. When they go back to Stoke Wenger should get­ a load of the michelin men suits so they won't hurt­ themselves when they dive! sorry fall over.

    From ALAN T, on Wed 26 Nov 2:28PM

  2. Quinn look a the score you idiot!

    From slivatree, on Wed 26 Nov 1:33PM

  3. Quimm = windup merchant, with a distinct hint of­ jealousy. Write us off at your own peril fanny brother

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 12:09PM

  4. quinnbroltd....lol. why do they allow 6 six year old­ girls to comment for?? jeeeez

    From ask me, on Wed 26 Nov 12:05PM

  5. YOUS ARSENAL FANS ARE IDIOTS IF YA THINK THAT THE REST­ OF EUROPE WONT WANA PLAY ARSENAL LETS FACE IT THEY WILL­ A BUNDLE OF YOUNG BOYS WILL NO BALLS OR GUTS TO MATCH­ AND A WOLLY OF A MANAGER WHO MADE A BOY A CAPTAIN WISE­ UP YOUS LOT SO BEN AND TOMMIHEW DREAM ON OR WAKE UP­ EITHER ONE OF THEM WILL DO I AM JUST VEING REALISTIC

    From quinnbrosltd, on Wed 26 Nov 10:51AM

  6. This is a new era of skippo man cesc let us all believe­ that this will continue in this form i see that we are­ luck to get thru but this will give the team a kinda­ moral that will lift their spirit againt a high rated­ chealsea side. GO bring pride back to the team

    From Tayo A, on Wed 26 Nov 9:48AM

  7. arsenal why are u disgracing me
    honestly just one game­ is not enough to celebrate
    we need some serious changes­ done

    From chinenye, on Wed 26 Nov 9:40AM

  8. Quimm ahaha they wont be rubbing their hands by the New­ Year. Thats for sure

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 9:24AM

  9. WAT DID I SAY ABOUT ARSENAL AND NO BACK BONE THEY WERE­ LUCKY AGAINST A @#$% KIEV TEAM WHO DONT TRAVEL ALL THAT­ WELL AND THE HAND OF GOD BENDTNER PLUS THE BALL WAS­ ROLLING FROM THE FREE KICK OTHER TEAMS WILL BE RUBBING­ THEIR HANDS AT THE THOUGHT OF GETTING ARSENAL

    From quinnbrosltd, on Wed 26 Nov 9:17AM

  10. WAT DID I SAY ABOUT ARSENAL AND NO BACK BONE THEY WERE­ LUCKY AGAINST A @#$% KIEV TEAM WHO DONT TRAVEL ALL THAT­ WELL AND THE HAND OF GOD BENDTNER PLUS THE BALL WAS­ ROLLING FROM THE FREE KICK OTHER TEAMS WILL BE RUBBING­ THEIR HANDS AT THE THOUGHT OF GETTING ARSENAL

    From quinnbrosltd, on Wed 26 Nov 9:17AM

  11. Thats a strange win, i thought every1 said arsenal were­ in a crisis.....what crisis?? Is qualifying for the­ next stage of the champions league with a game to go a­ crisis?? No, i thought not!! C'mon You Arsenal!!

    From doubt.it.man, on Wed 26 Nov 9:16AM

  12. The big four, consisting of the big two and other not­ quite big two, will remain unchanged.

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 9:04AM

  13. Ben you wish. But you can keep wishing because the­ magical faires that make wishes come true dont like you­ because you were a cruel child.

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 8:57AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Aresnal win 1 game and everyone thinks their season is­ back on track!!! hahahahahahahahaha dont think they­ will finish in top 4! sorry gunners fans but its time­ to face the music!!!!

    From Ben, on Wed 26 Nov 8:31AM

  15. The results are better but there's alot that Wenger­ must do in defence as well as the striking force.­ Atleast we have smiled!!!!!!!!!!

    From Gerald, on Wed 26 Nov 8:25AM

  16. What was that Silvestre played? Diverting an obvious­ goal bound ball. I think Arsene rather think twice­ about playing this guy. He either scores against­ Arsenal or stops Arsenal goals against opponents. He­ must be playing with different sets of rules but­ I'm sure it's not football rule we al know­ about. There might just be a different kind of footbal­ game he's trying to invent; a game where you either­ score your self or stop your team from scoring your­ opponent. I thing he is better off playing for Arsenal­ opponents. This dude is hilarious!

    From Austyn, on Wed 26 Nov 8:18AM

  17. Im happy with this result. It still wasnt the Arsenal­ us fans know and love but its a step in the right­ direction and surely we can only move forward from­ here. Well done to Bendtner, Im still not happy with­ him though, he needs to be Mr back up or just get­ packing his bags. Fibreglass doing his bit with the­ armband, very nice to see and seeing the youth being­ given such a big chance on the biggest stage in­ European football is brilliant. Fibreglass is the only­ man able to lead this team at the current time and all­ power to him. Well done Gooners now lets just get our­ heads down and make sure we hold on to a European spot­ and try win the Carling cup. :):)

    From Tom, on Wed 26 Nov 7:37AM

  18. well well well good job to young gunners cesc and­ wenger we areene looking up to you guys to bring out­ the best in the team just like we have seen in spurs,we­ know and trust that you are more than capable to this­ done

    From bolaji A, on Wed 26 Nov 7:03AM

  19. bendtner scores one goal after 1 million really bad­ misses and thinks hes all good. still h8 him. hes a­ disgrace, he should be in league 2 not almighty­ arsenal.

    From scumyspurs, on Wed 26 Nov 6:52AM

  20. people look in the picture it seems van persie has­ three arms
    whose arm is it any ways cant be of bentners­ cuz hes got no shirt may be ramsey or wilshere

    From chicken salad, on Wed 26 Nov 4:11AM
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