The sides who finished first in each UEFA Cup section were drawn against one of the third-ranked teams from another group while the runners-up in each section were paired with one of the eight clubs joining the competition from the UEFA Champions League group stage. The group winners and runners-up will play their second leg at home, while sides from the same association were kept apart in the draw. The format is two-legged knockout ties with the first legs being played on 18/19 February and the second legs on 26 February. No teams were seeded in the draw for the last 16.
First leg : 18 & 19 February 2009 Second leg : 26 February 2009
Round of 32 draw
Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA) v VfL Wolfsburg (GER) FC København (DEN) v Manchester City FC (ENG) NEC Nijmegen (NED) v Hamburger SV (GER) UC Sampdoria (ITA) v FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) SC Braga (POR) v R. Standard de Liège (BEL) Aston Villa FC (ENG) v PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) KKS Lech Poznań (POL) v Udinese Calcio (ITA) Olympiacos CFP (GRE) v AS Saint-Etienne (FRA) ACF Fiorentina (ITA) v AFC Ajax (NED) Aalborg BK (DEN) v RC Deportivo La Coruña (ESP) Werder Bremen (GER) v AC Milan (ITA) FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA) v Galatasaray AŞ (TUR) FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Valencia CF (ESP) FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) v VfB Stuttgart (GER) Olympique de Marseille (FRA) v FC Twente (NED) FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
Real Racing Club's victory was not enough for the Spanish Liga side to reach the UEFA Cup Round of 32 while Manchester City FC won Group A despite the defeat.
Racing were on top for large periods in Santander and were three goals up by the 54th minute thanks to strikes from Jonathan Pereira, Óscar Serrano and Juan Valera. Substitute Felipe Caicedo scored City's consolation goal in added time yet it was events in the French capital, where Paris Saint-Germain FC scored two late goals, which proved Racing's undoing, the Ligue 1 club pipping Racing to third place on goal difference.
The visitors received a let off in the eighth minute when a poor clearance from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel let in Mohamed Tchite but he directed his effort wide. Javier Garrido then sent a free-kick for City way over the crossbar though they were soon behind when Schmeichel failed to deal with a routine cross from Óscar and Pereira finished from close range. Soon after, Pereira tested Schmeichel from distance before City responded when Elano released Pablo Zabaleta, though his effort went high and wide. A minute later, the hosts extended their lead as Óscar started and finished a flowing move. The midfielder found Pereira with a long ball, took the return in his stride and sent a shot beyond Schmeichel.
Racing were cutting City open with ease and Tchite tested Schmeichel with a volley in the 36th minute following a cross from Pedro Munitis. The third arrived ten minutes after the break when City failed to cut out another centre from Munitis, Marcano headed on and Valera scored from close range. Three should have became four soon after but somehow Tchite, allowed to continue after colliding with Schmeichel, put his effort past the post with the goal unguarded. City managed to breach a well-organised Racing backline in added time when Caicedo headed in a cross from Zabaleta.
Sampdoria 1 - 0 Sevilla
Substitute Jonathan Bottinelli struck the only goal of the game as UC Sampdoria beat Sevilla FC in Genoa to book their spot in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup and eliminate the two-time winners.
Bottinelli bundled in Reto Ziegler's free-kick with 15 minutes remaining as Sampdoria, who had started the game two points behind Sevilla, claimed one of the three qualifying places in Group C. With VfB Stuttgart beating group winners R. Standard de Liège, the Spanish side's hopes of claiming a third UEFA Cup title in four years were shattered as they became only the second team in the five-year history of the group stage to be knocked out with six points, Rangers FC having suffered the same fate in 2004/05.
There was nothing to separate the two sides in the first half, although Sevilla's Andrés Palop was the slightly busier of the goalkeepers, making a couple of decent saves. His first came in the ninth minute when he dived full length to turn away Mirko Pieri's effort from the edge of the box and then, just before the break, the 35-year-old was called upon once again to deny Paolo Sammarco after clever passing had cut through the Sevilla defence.
The hosts finally got the breakthrough they had been threatening as Bottinelli managed to force the ball in with his midriff following Ziegler's deflected free-kick. Sevilla laid siege to the Italian side's goal, but Diego Capel spurned their best chance when he shot wide of the far post after breaking free down the left.
Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 2 Spartak Moscow
Tottenham Hotspur FC flirted with disaster at White Hart Lane, but recovered from going 2-0 down against FC Spartak Moskva to ease into the UEFA Cup Round of 32.
Goals from Luka Modrić and Tom Huddlestone helped Tottenham make amends in the second half after Artem Dzyuba struck twice before the interval to revive the Russian side's hopes of progressing. Had Spartak kept a clean sheet, Tottenham would have been out of the competition on goals scored away from home, with NEC Nijmegen winning 2-0 against Udinese Calcio in the evening's other Group D game.
Michael Laudrup's Spartak rocked the hosts in the first half, with huge centre-forward Dzyuba causing endless problems. His backheel allowed Vladislav Ryzhkov to fire at Heurelho Gomes from the edge of the area, and then took advantage after Gilberto misjudged a pass from Gareth Bale, stealing in to put the ball between the goalkeeper's legs and score. Dzyuba's second goal ten minutes later, in the 33rd minute, was also one Tottenham would rather forget as he tapped the ball past Didier Zokora, skipped beyond the Tottenham defence, rounded Gomes and put the ball into an empty net. Things could easily have been worse for the English side, with Gomes then parrying a deflected Dzyuba effort to deny the striker a first-half hat-trick.
Tottenham emerged chastened after the break, with Stipe Pletikosa forced to make a save from Fraizer Campbell's header, but Dzyuba was to have another chance to score – firing straight at Gomes after Zokora's clearance went directly to him – before Modrić beat fellow Croatian international Pletikosa from substitute Aaron Lennon's pull-back. Huddlestone headed the leveller on 74 minutes, with Bale delivering a fine cross after David Bentley had sent the Welshman free down the left. Full results;
Group A Paris S.G. 4 - 0 FC Twente Enschede Racing Santander 3 - 1 Manchester City
Group B Benfica 0 - 1 Metalist Kharkiv Olympiakos Piraeus 4 - 0 Hertha BSC
Group C Sampdoria 1 - 0 Sevilla Stuttgart 3 - 0 Standard Liege
Group D NEC Nijmegen 2 - 0 Udinese Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 2 Spartak Moscow
Group E AC Milan 2 - 2 Wolfsburg Portsmouth 3 - 0 SC Heerenveen
Group F Ajax Amsterdam 2 - 2 Slavia Prague Hamburger SV 3 - 1 Aston Villa
Group G Club Brugge 0 - 1 FC Copenhagen Saint-Etienne 2 - 2 Valencia
Group H Deportivo La Coruna 1 - 0 Nancy Feyenoord Rotterdam 0 - 1 Lech Poznan
VfL Wolfsburg twice came from behind to earn a draw against AC Milan and seal top spot in UEFA Cup Group E. As group's top side, Wolfsburg are now guaranteed a tie against a third-placed side from another group in Friday's last 32 draw while seven-times European champions Milan must face a third-place finisher from the UEFA Champions
The Bundesliga club started the game with three wins from as many matches in the section yet they were soon behind when Massimo Ambrosini headed in a corner from Clarence Seedorf. The teams then traded goals early in the second half as Italian international Cristian Zaccardo levelled, only for Pato to restore the Rossoneri's lead 49 seconds later. Wolfsburg's efforts were rewarded, though, nine minutes from time when a shot from Jacek Krzynówek was deflected in by fellow substitute Mahir Sağlık to consign Milan to second place in the section.
Milan suffered an early setback when the injured Philippe Senderos was replaced by Kakha Kaladze after nine minutes and shortly after, Christian Gentner had a shot blocked by Dida. At the other end, Gianluca Zambrotta's effort was saved by Diego Benaglio though Milan soon forged ahead when Ambrosini headed powerfully in after 17 minutes.
See the highlight;
Portsmouth 3 - 0 SC Heerenveen
Portsmouth FC vented their frustration at missing out on a Round of 32 place on SC Heerenveen, with Peter Crouch striking twice in a comfortable 3-0 home win.
On Wednesday, Portsmouth should have taken the lead after Armand Traoré's storming run from halfway but Crouch stabbed his first-time shot across the goal and wide of the far post. The England striker then contrived to hit the crossbar after Mark Wilson had picked him out in the box with a brilliant cross-field pass. The ball bounced up invitingly for Crouch but he could only poke it onto the woodwork.
Portsmouth were looking slick in attack but the number of wasted chances was beginning to cause concern before Crouch finally reaped the dividends. Arnold Mvuemba cut the ball back to Wilson, who floated another cross towards the far post and this time Crouch connected well with his downward header to put Portsmouth 1-0 up in the 40th minute.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0, with Nwankwo Kanu tricking his way into the box with a mazy run and Crouch pouncing to finish after the Nigerian's shot was saved. The game petered out as a contest in the second half, but Portsmouth added a third at the very end after Nadir Belhadj was fouled and Hreidarsson headed home Glen Little's free-kick.
Hamburger SV 3 - 1 Aston Villa
Hamburger SV guaranteed themselves a tie against one of the third-placed sides from the other UEFA Cup groups in the Round of 32 draw as they took an inexperienced Aston Villa FC side apart, with Ivica Olić on target twice.
Only three of the players who started Villa's 4-2 win against Bolton Wanderers FC on Saturday - Luke Young, Carlos Cuéllar and Steven Sidwell - kicked off in Germany, but while Martin O'Neill's stand-ins defended steadily in numbers, they were undone on the break after 18 minutes. Bastian Reinhardt's long diagonal ball found Petrić, and the Croatian brought the ball down before sending a sweet swerving drive across Bradley Guzan and into the net.
Hamburg were 2-0 up 12 minutes later, Olić squirming past his marker to head in off the post following a fine Dennis Aogo cross, and Piotr Trochowski tested Guzan with another shot four minutes later before Craig Gardner fired just over with Villa's first meaningful effort of the game. However, the English team were relieved to go in just 2-0 down at the break as Marcell Jansen cracked an effort against the bar.
Undeterred, Hamburg made it 3-0 on 57 minutes, with Joris Mathijsen's ball from inside his own area turning Olić loose to scamper beyond the covering defenders and drive brilliantly past Guzan. Villa looked finished, but got a goal in bizarre style late on, with Moustapha Salifou's wildly miscued shot redirected in by Nathan Delfouneso. However, their joy was short-lived, with Sidwell dismissed for a second bookable offence soon after.
Saint-Etienne 2 - 2 Valencia
AS Saint-Etienne held on to top spot in Group G after playing out an exciting 2-2 draw with second-placed Valencia CF in testing conditions at a snow-covered Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Brazilian forward Ilan gave St Etienne the lead twice, with contrasting first-half goals, but Valencia fought back on each occasion thanks to strikes from Fernando Morientes and substitute Nikola Žigić. The result kept the French Ligue 1 strugglers two points clear of their nearest rivals at the group summit, and might have been even better for a home team who created several good chances to win.
Valencia carved out the first opportunity of the night when David Albelda side-footed the ball wide, yet the first goal fell to Alain Perrin's men close to the half-hour. Ilan latched on to Dimitri Payet's pass through the heart of the Valencia back line and raced into the visitors' penalty area before cleverly scooping the ball over goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. The Spanish side took just four minutes to get their retaliation in, however, as the experienced Morientes pounced to turn in a low Joaquín cross from close range.
Unai Emery's charges were not off the hook so easily, though, and Ilan struck again after 44 minutes, by which time he had already had another goal ruled out. The Brazilian finished comfortably after Guaita spilled a harmless-looking centre from Geoffrey Dernis. The keeper made amends for that mistake with crucial saves early in the second half from Dernis and Kevin Mirallas, at a time when St Etienne were rampant. Guaita caught the eye in particular with a one-handed stop from Dernis, shortly after which Payet rounded the keeper but shot against the woodwork. Valencia eventually made the hosts pay for their profligacy with 18 minutes left. Substitute Miguel delivered a deep cross from the right which Asier del Horno headed back into the six-metre box where the lurking Žigić ducked to nod in the second equaliser.
Current results;
Group E AC Milan 2 - 2 Wolfsburg Portsmouth 3 - 0 SC Heerenveen
Group F Ajax Amsterdam 2 - 2 Slavia Prague Hamburger SV 3 - 1 Aston Villa
Group G Club Brugge 0 - 1 FC Copenhagen Saint-Etienne 2 - 2 Valencia
Group H Deportivo La Coruna 1 - 0 Nancy Feyenoord Rotterdam 0 - 1 Lech Poznan
Zvjezdan Misimović took full advantage of a momentary lapse by Portsmouth FC goalkeeper David James as VfL Wolfsburg sealed their place in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 at the English side's expense.
The Bosnia-Herzegovnian international dispossessed the goalkeeper when James attempted to dribble the ball around him near the penalty spot to put Wolfsburg 3-2 up after 74 minutes. Although the custodian made some amends by denying the same player from the penalty spot five minutes later, the die was cast, with Portsmouth's maiden European campaign being brought to a premature end.
Wolfsburg went ahead in the third minute when Christian Gentner showed neat skill on the right and crossed low for Edin Džeko to flick home from close range. The visitors equalised after eleven minutes, however, as Armand Traoré surged down the left and clipped in a cross that goalkeeper Diego Benaglio could palm only to Jermain Defoe, whose scuffed effort crept over the line.
Tony Adams's men took the lead three minutes later when Arnold Mvuemba placed a shot into the corner of the net from 18 metres with the help of a deflection. However, the match was level again in the 23rd minute, with Gentner's low centre from the left evading everybody and going straight into the net, though there was still time for James to save from Misimović before the break.
Niko Kranjčar came close to restoring Portsmouth's advantage as his free-kick thudded into the crossbar, yet James handed Wolfsburg their third goal, and though he kept out Misimović's spot-kick after Sol Campbell's foul on Džeko, SC Braga's win at SC Heerenveen ensured that Pompey's Matchday 5 game against the Dutch club will be a dead rubber.
See the highlight;
Aston Villa 1 - 2 Zilina
MŠK Žilina claimed a famous victory away to Aston Villa FC but it was not enough to keep their UEFA Cup hopes alive, while the home side progressed to the Round of 32 despite the defeat.
Two goals inside four minutes by Vladimír Leitner and Peter Štyvar set the Slovakian team on their way and although 17-year-old Nathan Delfouneso got one back for a largely second-string Villa side, the Premier League club could not draw level despite plenty of second-half pressure. Leitner was even sent off for Žilina who picked up their first win in the section at the fourth attempt.
Villa had won their previous two Group F games and started in confident mood, Zat Knight heading Ashley Young's corner firmly towards goal only for visiting keeper Dušan Perniš to tip over. However, Žilina struck first after 16 minutes when Leitner cut in from the left and curled in a cross that evaded both Knight and home custodian Brad Guzan to nestle in the far corner.
Within three minutes the visitors had doubled their lead. Štyvar was the scorer, side-footing in after a flowing move involving Adauto Da Silva and Peter Pekarík. The home faithful were stunned, but Villa responded and cut their deficit before the half-hour mark. Knight's long ball was chested down by Marlon Harewood and Delfouneso pounced to volley in low from just outside the area.
See the highlight;
Valencia 1 - 1 Club Brugge
Nikola Žigić struck to take Valencia CF through to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup, with his headed effort ensuring Unai Emery's side can finish no lower than third in Group G.
The Serbia forward headed Valencia's equaliser on the hour after a similarly dispatched goal from Antolin Alcaraz had put Club Brugge KV in front at the Mestalla Stadium. The 2003/04 UEFA Cup winners fielded some fringe players, and while they rarely looked comfortable against Jacky Matthijssen's men, the 1-1 draw proved sufficient to secure their place in the next stage of the competition.
Club Brugge took the lead after 18 minutes, with Ronald Vargas dinking a free-kick into the area and Alcaraz, having escaped his marker, beating Valencia goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to the ball to nod into an empty net, before colliding heavily with the on-rushing custodian. The Paraguayan needed treatment, but his goal helped keep his team on top until the interval.
Vargas almost doubled the visitors' advantage ten minutes after the break, getting in behind the Valencia back line to test Guaita with a powerful shot, while the rebound looped over Karel Geraerts's head with the home goal gaping. However, Valencia made the most of their good fortune as the tall Žigić outmuscled two defenders to head home from Hugo Viana's outswinging corner. UEFA
Full results;
Group A FC Twente Enschede 2 - 1 Schalke Manchester City 0 - 0 Paris S.G.
Group B Hertha BSC 0 - 1 Galatasaray Metalist Kharkiv 1 - 0 Olympiakos Piraeus
Group C Sevilla 3 - 0 Partizan Belgrade Standard Liege 3 - 0 Sampdoria
Group D Spartak Moscow 1 - 2 NEC Nijmegen Udinese 2 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb
Group E SC Heerenveen 1 - 2 Braga Wolfsburg 3 - 2 Portsmouth
Group F Aston Villa 1 - 2 Zilina Slavia Prague 0 - 2 Hamburger SV
Group G FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 Rosenborg Valencia 1 - 1 Club Brugge
Group H Lech Poznan 1 - 1 Deportivo La Coruna Nancy 3 - 4 CSKA Moscow
Paris Saint-Germain FC were left with just a point to show for their attacking endeavour in the Rainy City as Manchester City FC were lucky to escape with a goalless draw in their final Group A home fixture.
With City already sure of a last-32 place before kick-off, PSG ended the game pouring forward in search of a winner to leave them in a position where a victory at home to FC Twente on Matchday 5 would guarantee them qualification. However, the ball refused to fall for the Ligue 1 side, and they now need Mark Hughes's men to do them a favour at Real Racing Club if they are to move on.
Without Robinho for the second UEFA Cup match in succession, City roared into the tie and might have been ahead within five minutes as Daniel Sturridge forced a save out of Mickaël Landreau, who got back on his feet to deny Elano Blumer from the loose ball. Darius Vassell then pulled a shot wide when well-placed and was almost relieved to see a flag raised for offside.
PSG regained their composure and began to give City more to worry about as the half wore on, and while Jô and Pablo Zabaleta both had chances as the clock ticked towards half-time, Paul Le Guen's team came closest to an opener. Tal Ben Haim did brilliantly to block at the feet of Mateja Kežman after Péguy Luyindula's ball seemed to have left him with only Joe Hart to beat.
The second half saw pulses race a little faster, but little improvement in terms of finishing. Sturridge, Vassell and Vincent Kompany all saw shots just miss the target, but PSG looked the more dangerous side as the final whistle approached. Hart had to dash off his line to frustrate Luyindula, substitute Guillaume Hoarau nudged the ball narrowly wide, and Jerôme Rothen also had a dangerous long drive kept out.
Sevilla 3 - 0 Partizan Belgrade
Luis Fabiano made up for his and Sevilla FC's weekend disappointment with two goals as the Spanish side beat FK Partizan 3-0 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán to move into second place in Group C.
The Brazilian striker was dismissed on Saturday as Sevilla were swept aside 3-0 at home by FC Barcelona but he quickly set about making amends against Partizan. After three defeats the Serbian visitors' UEFA Cup ambitions were already over and Luis Fabiano put them on course for a fourth loss when he converted from the penalty spot soon after the half-hour. He struck his ninth goal in six games midway through the second period, by which time it was 2-0 thanks to an effort from compatriot Renato.
In truth, Partizan were in trouble from the start. Not long after kick-off Portuguese midfielder Almani Moreira collapsed and was taken off on a stretcher as both sets of players looked on with concern. When the match restarted it was the hosts who took the initiative. They had already tried their luck on a number of occasions before Ivan Stevanović brought down Jesús Navas inside the penalty area on 32 minutes and Luis Fabiano drilled his conversion into the bottom corner.
Within 60 seconds of the second half it was 2-0, as Renato rifled in from outside the box, and another long-range attempt sealed the win 17 minutes from time, as Luis Fabiano notched his second. It delivered the victory that coach Manolo Jiménez had demanded in the wake of the 1-0 defeat by R. Standard de Liège last time out, and left the 2006 and 2007 UEFA Cup winners on six points. A draw against UC Sampdoria in a fortnight will seal progress. For Partizan, the focus switches to domestic competition.
Udinese 2 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb
A 2-1 win against NK Dinamo Zagreb sealed Udinese Calcio's passage to the UEFA Cup Round of 32, but the campaign is all but over for the visitors. Fabio Quagliarella struck in the fifth minute at the Friuli Stadium before Christian Obodo put the game beyond the opposition's reach with eleven minutes remaining to book Udinese's progress from Group D. Igor Bišćan reduced the deficit in added time but it was too little too late for Dinamo.
Udinese could not have asked for a better start with Quagliarella latching on to Antonio Di Natale's cross and firing a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Tomislav Butina. The goal inspired the Italian hosts who almost doubled their lead soon after, Butina making an acrobatic save from Obodo's long-range effort. The Croatian side, playing their final group match, did threaten ten minutes in when Mihael Mikić forced goalkeeper Samir Handanovič to stretch to clear his powerful strike from distance. An unmarked Di Natale should have made it 2-0 shortly afterwards but failed to beat Butina in a one-on-one, his attempt being parried away by the No1.
On the half-hour mark, Dinamo almost pulled level but Mirko Hrgović's stinging drive went centimetres wide of the far post, and the same player tried his luck again after the interval to similar effect. However, Simone Pepe set up Obodo to extend Udinese's advantage and while Bišćan headed a belated reply following confusion in the home area, the die was cast.
Nine points mean that Udinese are sure to qualify, and they will be guaranteed top spot with a draw or better in their final fixture at NEC Nijmegen. Dinamo have completed their Group D programme, but three points could still see them through if NEC and FC Spartak Moskva lose by substantial margins on Matchday 5. UEFA
Other results;
Group A FC Twente Enschede 2 - 1 Schalke Manchester City 0 - 0 Paris S.G.
Group B Hertha BSC 0 - 1 Galatasaray Metalist Kharkiv 1 - 0 Olympiakos Piraeus
Group C Sevilla 3 - 0 Partizan Belgrade Standard Liege 3 - 0 Sampdoria
Group D Spartak Moscow 1 - 2 NEC Nijmegen Udinese 2 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb
Group E SC Heerenveen 1 - 2 Braga Wolfsburg 3 - 2 Portsmouth
Group F Aston Villa 1 - 2 Zilina Slavia Prague 0 - 2 Hamburger SV
Group G FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 Rosenborg Valencia 1 - 1 Club Brugge
Group H Lech Poznan 1 - 1 Deportivo La Coruna Nancy 3 - 4 CSKA Moscow
Filippo Inzaghi scored deep in injury time to complete a stunning late AC Milan comeback at Portsmouth FC and secure a draw which proved enough to qualify the Rossoneri for the last 32 from Group E.
Second-half goals from Younes Kaboul and former FC Internazionale Milano striker Nwankwo Kanu seemed to have earned a famous win for European debutants Portsmouth but Ronaldinho's superb free-kick with six minutes left turned the tide and Inzaghi pounced at the death. VfL Wolfsburg's last-gasp Group E win at SC Braga later made sure of Milan's place in the knockout stages, while Portsmouth now need a good result at the Bundesliga club in a week's time.
Portsmouth are two points further adrift and though SC Heerenveen are not yet off the mark they are still in contention. Wolfsburg will be through with a draw against Portsmouth next Thursday, and if the German side avoid defeat Braga would join them with victory at Heerenveen.
Schalke 0 - 2 Manchester City
Manchester City FC are through to the UEFA Cup Round of 32 with goals from Benjani Mwaruwari and Stephen Ireland capping a well-measured away display.
With Brazilian star Robinho left back in Manchester nursing a minor injury, City put in a controlled performance in Gelsenkirchen. Benjani scored after a quick break in the first half before Ireland gained consolation for an effort ruled offside before the interval with the second goal for Mark Hughes's side, as Schalke were kept well shackled at home.
The 2-2 draw between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Real Racing Club ensured City would at worst finish third in the group; Schalke will aim to join them in qualifying with a win at FC Twente next Wednesday. If Schalke win at Twente next Wednesday they are through while PSG will aim to pick up points in Manchester.
See the highlight;
NEC Nijmegen 0 - 1 Tottenham
Jamie O'Hara's early goal proved all Tottenham Hotspur FC needed for a victory at NEC Nijmegen that puts them in a strong position to go through from UEFA Cup Group D.
O'Hara pounced in the box after 14 minutes to send the two-time competition winners to the top of the group, level on six points with Udinese Calcio. Tottenham know a good result at home to FC Spartak Moskva on 18 December will take them through to their third straight knockout campaign. NEC, yet to earn a point, seek victory in Moscow 15 days before.
Tottenham, revived since Harry Redknapp's appointment as manager last month, kick-started their campaign three weeks ago with a 4-0 win against NK Dinamo Zagreb, who beat NEC in their only previous group game. They wasted little time on Thursday, breaking the deadlock when lively Gareth Bale was sent free on the left and although Fraizer Campbell turned the ball on to the underside of the bar, O'Hara was on hand to head in the rebound.
See the highlight;
Rosenborg 0 - 4 Valencia
Valencia CF look in good shape to progress from UEFA Cup Group G after turning up the heat on Rosenborg BK on a freezing night in Norway.
Juan Mata's fortuitous opener gave the visitors the half-time lead and in the last 14 minutes Pablo Hernández and substitutes Rubén Baraja and Joaquín boosted Valencia's goal difference as well as their points tally. Second-placed Valencia know a home win against Clube Brugge KV next Thursday would send them through while Rosenborg must prevail at FC København and hope other results go their way.
The 2004 UEFA Cup winners had been held at home by København in their opening game but things started to go their way on 21 minutes, albeit in bizarre fashion. Edu's cross was met by the head of Mata and the ball struck the crossbar and then the arm of luckless Rosenborg goalkeeper Rune Jarstein before deflecting in. Mata had another goal disallowed for offside, and it was not until the 76th minute that Valencia struck again. Pablo picked up the ball on the left and burst past two defenders into the box before firing into the top corner.
Rosenborg had struggled to create chances and two further goals in the last three minutes ended any hopes of a comeback. Baraja made it three when he shot in after a corner from Joaquín, who grabbed the fourth himself after being set up by Fernando Morientes. EUFA
Full results;
Group A Schalke 0 - 2 Manchester City Paris S.G 2 - 2 Racing Santander
Group B Galatasaray 0 - 1 Metalist Kharkiv Olympiakos Piraeus 5 - 1 Benfica
Group C Partizan Belgrade 0 - 1 Standard Liege Sampdoria 1 - 1 Stuttgart
Group D NEC Nijmegen 0 - 1 Tottenham Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 1 Spartak Moscow
Group E Portsmouth 2 - 2 AC Milan Braga 2 - 3 Wolfsburg
Group F Zilina 0 - 0 Slavia Prague Hamburger SV 0 - 1 Ajax Amsterdam
Group G Club Brugge 1 - 1 Saint-Etienne Rosenborg 0 - 4 Valencia
Group H CSKA Moscow 2 - 1 Lech Poznan Deportivo La Coruna 3 - 0 Feyenoord Rotterdam
A stunning strike by substitute Ronaldinho saw AC Milan snatch a last-gasp victory against SC Braga to take a three-point lead at the top of UEFA Cup Group E.
Ronaldinho, who had replaced Pato in the 63rd minute, unleashed an unstoppable added-time winner to deny Braga the point their gutsy performance looked to have earned. With the final whistle in sight, a cross from the left was flicked towards the Brazilian by Gennaro Gattuso and Ronaldinho unleashed a stunning shot into the top-left corner from outside the area
See the highlight (Glorious Ronaldinho's goal)
Tottenham 4 - 0 Dinamo Zagreb
Darren Bent registered a hat-trick against NK Dinamo Zagreb as Tottenham Hotspur FC's revival under Harry Redknapp continued with a comprehensive Group D victory at White Hart Lane.
Tom Huddlestone had a hand in all of Bent's goals and added a stunning effort himself, meeting a corner with a glorious first-time volley. The north London side have now earned three wins and a spectacular draw against neighbours Arsenal FC in the four games since Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos as manager, and are firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
Manchester City 3 - 2 FC Twente
Manchester City FC showed brilliance at one end and sloppiness at the other but emerged with a 3-2 victory in their opening UEFA Cup Group A game against an FC Twente side coached by former England manager Steve McClaren.
Shaun Wright-Phillips put City ahead after two minutes, but having handed Eljero Elia a 17th-minute equaliser, the Premier League team looked to have lost their way until Robinho scored their sensational second goal. Substitute Benjani Mwaruwari put them 3-1 up and though the City of Manchester Stadium crowd were kept on their toes as Rob Wielaert responded for Twente, the hosts held on.
Slavia Praha 0 - 1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa FC held off a determined SK Slavia Praha comeback to claim a narrow win that gives them an early three-point advantage atop UEFA Cup Group F.
Karel Jarolím was yesterday named Czech Coach of the Year but celebrations were cut short on a frustrating evening at Eden Stadium. Villa were dominant before the interval, even if their goal midway through the first half owed much to good fortune as Steve Sidwell's shot took a heavy deflection off John Carew, leaving goalkeeper Martin Vaniak helpless as it span into the far corner. Slavia could have been two or three down by the break but the second half was all theirs, possession and chances alike – albeit without an end result. EUFA
Full Results;
Group A Manchester City 3 - 2 FC Twente Enschede Racing Santander 1 - 1 Schalke
Group B Metalist Kharkiv 0 - 0 Hertha BSC Benfica 0 - 2 Galatasaray
Group C Stuttgart 2 - 0 Partizan Belgrade Standard Liege 1 - 0 Sevilla
Group D Spartak Moscow 1 - 2 Udinese Tottenham 4 - 0 Dinamo Zagreb
Group E Wolfsburg 5 - 1 SC Heerenveen AC Milan 1 - 0 Braga
Group F Ajax Amsterdam 1 - 0 Zilina Slavia Prague 0 - 1 Aston Villa
Group G Saint-Etienne 3 - 0 Rosenborg Valencia 1 - 1 FC Copenhagen
Group H Lech Poznan 2 - 2 Nancy Feyenoord Rotterdam 1 - 3 CSKA Moscow
Tottenham boss Juande Ramos was left clinging desperately to his job on Thursday after watching his struggling side crash to a 2-0 UEFA Cup defeat at Udinese. Spurs, rock-bottom of the English Premier League without a win this season, also finished this opening Group D clash with ten men after Jamie O'Hara was red-carded just before the hour mark.
Udinese, second in Serie A behind defending champions Inter Milan, were ahead after 24 minutes when Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes brought down Fabio Quagliarella inside the area. Antonio Di Natale coolly scored from the penalty spot.
O'Hara's dismissal, for successive fouls on Alexis Sanchez, only added to Spurs' problems and they were under the cosh for the remainder of the tie. Udinese substitute Simone Pepe, who had replaced Sanchez in the 79th minute, added the second goal four minutes from the end when he slotted a pass from Quagliarella beyond Gomes.
Tottenham's best chance fell to Darren Bent who had a header well saved by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.But the Londoners' fruitless trip to Italy was best summed up by the pre-match ommission of midfielder David Bentley who was dropped for his criticism of the club.
Harry Redknapp pointed the finger at Sporting Braga's 'divers' after the Portuguese side claimed a 3-0 UEFA Cup win over Portsmouth. Pompey had four players booked and Redknapp admitted he was frustrated by the night's proceedings - especially with the antics of the opposition and the officials.
Slovenian referee Darko Ceferin booked Pompey's Papa Bouba Diop, Noe Pamarot, Jermain Defoe - for shooting into the net when given offside - and Peter Crouch. He also booked Braga goalscorer Wason Renteria for trying to persuade the official to caution Pompey substitute Nadir Belhadj for a foul.
Uruguayan Luis Aguiar fired a fabulous 30-yard free-kick past David James in the eighth minute and Colombian Renteria added a second just after half-time.Portsmouth conceded a third three minutes from time when Sean Davis steered a right-wing cross against his own post and Brazilian Alan pounced to score from the rebound.
Full Results
UEFA Cup - Group B
Schalke 3 - 1 Paris S.G. FC Twente Enschede 1 - 0 Racing Santander
UEFA Cup - Group B Galatasaray 1 - 0 Olympiakos Piraeus Hertha BSC 1 - 1 Benfica
UEFA Cup - Group C Sevilla 2 - 0 Stuttgart Partizan Belgrade 1 - 2 Sampdoria
UEFA Cup - Group D Udinese 2 - 0 Tottenham H. Dinamo Zagreb 3 - 2 NEC Nijmegen
UEFA Cup - Group E SC Heerenveen 1 - 3 AC Milan Braga 3 - 0 Portsmouth
UEFA Cup - Group F Zilina 1 - 2 Hamburger SV Aston Villa 2 - 1 Ajax Amsterdam
UEFA Cup - Group G FC Copenhagen 1 - 3 Saint-Etienne Rosenborg 0 - 0 Club Brugge
UEFA Cup - Group H CSKA Moscow 3 - 0 Deportivo La Coruna Nancy 3 - 0 Feyenoord Rotterdam
The sides who finished first in each UEFA Cup section were drawn against one of the third-ranked teams from another group while the runners-up in each section were paired with one of the eight clubs joining the competition from the UEFA Champions League group stage. The group winners and runners-up will play their second leg at home, while sides from the same association were kept apart in the draw. The format is two-legged knockout ties with the first legs being played on 18/19 February and the second legs on 26 February. No teams were seeded in the draw for the last 16.
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