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 37 - 56 of 96

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. slivatree - don't be so bloody stupid. Make intelligent observations by all means but leave off all this arsenal are great etc its not true and makes you look stupid.

    From Mike S, on Tue 25 Nov 7:57PM

  2. natalieannauk,- but you still won't win anything you silly @#$% THATS the whole point of playing

    From Mike S, on Tue 25 Nov 7:52PM

  3. You said it Natasha drama queen city - just wait until we get back on track it will put the fear of God in every team that face us. Arsenal will always be the cream of London, UK and Europe. It is only luck in the main that is always against us that hold us back.

    From slivatree, on Tue 25 Nov 7:50PM

  4. in arsen we trust

    From Araw, on Tue 25 Nov 7:25PM

  5. i think ur all drama queens! stop getting out of ur prams weel b back on track 2nite.
    every team whos had gr8 sucsess like the arsenal has patches like this its only because
    weve had good times and gr8 succsess that mugs like u lot get ur knickers in a twist
    when we lose a few games

    From Natalie, on Tue 25 Nov 6:48PM

  6. The biggest problem we all have is MR Platini trying to destroy our game/league. Ithink he is a RACIST! What do you think?

    From orr790, on Tue 25 Nov 6:37PM

  7. I would rather talk about the other frenchman- Mr Platini. He is trying to destroy our game/league, I think he is a RACIST! what do you think?

    From orr790, on Tue 25 Nov 6:33PM

  8. French ecentric WENGER, Never buy wingers, All french back four, loose three midfielders in the summer, bought one as a replacement, Nasri who is mmmmm(french), Want Denilson to play 48 games..... see diaby and eboue as world beaters..... No back Up plan.... negotiate player's funds with agent. Wenger is too confortable at arsenal... No pressure at all.... He does what he likes regardless of how you and i feel, winning trophies is not is goal, but plying good football and making champioons league is......... Arsenal supporters are all in deep @#$% believe me..... I just cant take no more...

    From laizebhone2, on Tue 25 Nov 5:42PM

  9. gallas should go and play with old boys.he never was or will be a leader of a team.wenger did great work for arsenal and will do so in the future.besides saints there is no manager who goes with youth.all other clubs run around with moneybags who don,t give a damn about pride and loyalty to their club.

    From H, on Tue 25 Nov 4:49PM

  10. l dont understand why wenger buys these rejects and appoint them captain. look now they are rocking our boat, gallas was never a captain material.

    From clement, on Tue 25 Nov 4:45PM

  11. The problem is all these people who are hammering Arsenal/Wenger are the same who have and will once again say Wenger is a the best manager in the World once we start winning!

    Strange intelligence!!

    From Richard, on Tue 25 Nov 3:43PM

  12. I love football..I read articles about Arsenal because they Brill football, however Gallas should be sold..for the reasons Sir Alex would have sold him..Morale, Fiscal. "who is Boss"...Shape..Control......Mike (Man U)

    From mike, on Tue 25 Nov 3:25PM

  13. I think its quite funny, how there is quite a few comments from fans who don't support Arsenal. Now y r u wasting your time on reading articles about a team u supposedly despise, I suppose us Arsenal fans should feel privledged that u r takin the time to do so. Support u're own teams and don't watch what we're doin!!!!!

    From ciesha2001, on Tue 25 Nov 3:04PM

  14. Is it a coincidence that most of the people making ridiculous, negative comments about Arsenal on this site are also illiterate AND stupid? I think not!

    This whole media frenzy will blow over in a couple of weeks once Arsenal get their injured players back and start picking up wins. My only worry is that Wenger won't strengthen our central defence and midfield positions in January!

    From Mark, on Tue 25 Nov 3:03PM

  15. Gallas should b made to resign,but Arsen shud learn hw to buy big players.BIG fan

    From patrick, on Tue 25 Nov 2:58PM

  16. Arsenal big Guns are only intrested in profit,the fans mean little or nothing,cos de fans seems to be satisfied with fancy game wining does not seem to be on their agend. If I am wrong why are the fans not making peaceful protest at the emirates against wenger the bank manger and the rest of them. Profit mafias. A beg wenger make you go small holiday for three years or self ten years.

    From harrybantu, on Tue 25 Nov 2:06PM

  17. Make una live the bobo alone. Tell wenger say him experiment done begin back fire. Learn from chealsea or Man U and stop breaking peoples heart by buying player in department that is required. Your mind field is a flop.

    From emma, on Tue 25 Nov 1:44PM

  18. gallas my role model from now on.

    crash yo own teammates. arsenal going no where

    From Absalom, on Tue 25 Nov 1:41PM

  19. Make una live the bobo alone. Tell wenger say him experiment done begin back fire. Learn from chealsea or Man U and stop breaking peoples heart by buying player in department that is required. Your mind field is a flop.

    From emma, on Tue 25 Nov 1:38PM

  20. Arsenal are winning todays match,and the is also hope for the premiership race if the team can put more effort to win their games.

    From donnyrich30, on Tue 25 Nov 1:33PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account