UCL : Super Captain Terry

Chelsea 1 - 0 Roma (Group A)

John Terry shattered Roma's spirited resistance as the Chelsea captain's late goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were frustrated for three quarters of a tense encounter, but Terry finally broke the deadlock with 13 minutes to play at Stamford Bridge. Terry's first goal of the season couldn't have come at a more timely moment. Just as it seemed Chelsea would have to settle for a second successive goalless draw in Europe, the England defender intervened to keep the Blues top of Group A and firmly on course for a place in the second round.

The Blues started brightly enough and when Wayne Bridge's cross was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area, Frank Lampard drove in a half-volley that forced a fine save from Doni. But Roma were clearly determined to restore some pride after their recent struggles and gave as good as they got.

John Obi Mikel tried to wrestle back the initiative for Chelsea with a surging run that Philippe Mexes ended with a cynical trip. Lampard almost made Mexes pay from the free-kick as his fierce strike grazed the crossbar. That was as good as it got for Chelsea in the first half. Although Salomon Kalou tested Doni with a low strike, for once Scolari's side weren't getting it all their own way.


Barcelona 5 - 0 Basel (Group C)

Teen sensation Bojan Krkic scored twice as Barcelona cruised past Basel 5-0 Wednesday to keep their 100-per cent record in the UEFA Champions League Group C. Coach Josep Guardiola left Andres Iniesta, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry out of the starting lineup, but the French striker came on for Xavi Hernandez in the middle of the second half. That left 18-year-old Krkic to lead the attack.

It was Argentine winger Lionel Messi who opened the scoring in the fourth minute, beating the Basel offside trap and picking up a superb cross from Daniel Alves to knock the ball past his compatriot Franco Costanzo in the Swiss goal. Barely 10 minutes later, Xavi Hernandez lobbed a ball across the Basel defence to Sergi Busquets at the far post and the Spanish under-21 international slotted it home. Messi played a ball to the feet of Krkic, who sent it to the corner of the net of the net from the edge of the penalty area in the 22nd minute.

Krkic, whose Serbian father, also named Bojan Krkic, played for Red Star Belgrade, doubled his tally at the start of the second half when Barcelona launch a counter-attack after a rare Basel foray into Spanish territory. Xavi Hernandez made it five for the Catalan side just two minutes later. Barcelona now have a perfect nine points from three games in Group C, which also includes Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk and Sporting Lisbon.

See the highlight (Messi goal)

Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Liverpool (Group D)

A late slip cost Liverpool dear in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League group match at Atletico Madrid as Portuguese winger Simao struck an 83rd minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Irish international Robbie Keane, yet to score in the English Premier League, had put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute for his second Champions League goal at the Vicente Calderon stadium.

The 83rd minute goal for Simao, whom the Merseysiders tried to sign two years ago, was a blow for Liverpool although both they and Atletico have seven points from nine in Group D. Atletico and Liverpool, who both lost their 100 per cent European records, face off again in the next group match at Anfield on 4 November.

It is a big week for Liverpool who have a title tussle with co-leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

With Atletico old boy Torres, who captained the club at the tender age of 19, missing with a hamstring injury, Benitez started with a 4-5-1 formation with Keane as the target man. Surprisingly Dirk Kuyt - the match winner in a 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday - was left on the substitutes' bench with Javier Mascherano taking his place.

Atletico, reeling from their weekend derby defeat to Real Madrid, handed a debut to 19-year-old defender Alvaro Dominguez with Tomas Ujfalusi out injured. Sergio 'Kun' Aguero was on the bench with coach Javier Aguirre claiming the Argentine was tired and former Liverpool man Florent Sinama Pongolle started in attack.


Other Results

Group A
Bordeaux 1 - 0 CFR Cluj
Chelsea 1 - 0 AS Roma

Group B
Inter Milan 1 - 0 Anorthosis
Panathinaikos 2 - 2 Werder Bremen

Group C
Basel 0 - 5 Barcelona
Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - 1 Sporting Lisbon

Group D
Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven 2 - 0 Marseille

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