Nov 04 2008
A Poor Night for English Football in the UEFA Champions League
Tonight saw two English teams take to the field in this year’s UEFA Champions League tournament. Liverpool hosted Athletico Madrid, Chelsea meanwhile travelled to Rome to face Roma. Neither team managed a win, with Chelsea suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Roma, and Liverpool just about able to scramble a draw after a 95th minute penalty strike from Steven Gerard.
Chelsea were outplayed and outclassed, and just to add insult to injury; Deco was sent off in the 81st minute after receiving a second yellow card for trying to take a quick free-kick. Liverpool meanwhile enjoyed a much more even game, and although it was left until the 95th minute for the equaliser to come about; Liverpool could have had a penalty much earlier on in the game and were unlucky not to equalise prior to this. With neither team having managed a win their respective groups now remain wide open.
It’s a disappointing night for English football clubs in Europe, and with Manchester United facing Celtic away in Glasgow tomorrow, and Arsenal hosting Fenerbahce; there’ll be high hopes that tomorrow’s fixtures won’t also end in disappointment. Wins for Arsenal and Manchester United tomorrow would be two absolutely excellent results to see, and after last year’s all English Champions League final involving Man United and Chelsea; the whole country will surely be hoping that English football teams can once more rule supreme.
