Kroos stars in Bayern’s Emirates rout
22 Feb 2014 5:06 AM IST
Pep Guardiola’s side rode their luck in a dramatic last 16 first leg clash at the Emirates Stadium, but their class eventually told as Kroos produced his moment of magic and Thomas Mueller bagged the killer second goal in the closing stages.
Bayern survived an early penalty miss from Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and a squandered spot-kick of their own by David Alaba. But Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had been sent off in the incident that led to Bayern’s penalty and the visitors eventually capitalised on their numerical superiority through Germany midfielders Kroos and Muller.
Bayern will be expected to finish the job in the second leg on March 11, but Arsenal can take heart from their 2-0 win in Munich at the same stage last season, even if that result wasn’t enough to stop Arsene Wenger’s team bowing out on away goals.
Wenger, who sprang a selection shock when he opted to pick raw French striker Yaya Sanogo ahead of experienced France international Olivier Giroud. Arsenal tore into Bayern with a relish that seemed to shock the Germans and quickly carved out two decent chances, with first Sanogo and then Santi Cazorla denied by Manuel Neuer. Arsenal’s frenzied start had clearly rattled the visitors and they should have been ahead in the ninth minute.
Jack Wilshere slipped a perfectly-weighted pass behind the Bayern defence and Ozil took a touch before cleverly clipping the ball inside Jerome Boateng, wrong-footing the centre-back who responded by clumsily stretching out his leg and sending the Germany midfielder crashing to the turf.
Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded the penalty, but Ozil has been in poor form of late and he appeared hesitant before sending a tame effort straight down the middle which his childhood friend Neuer kept out with a fine one-handed save.
Bayern’s Austrian left-back Alaba, perhaps put off by the stoppage, hit a poor penalty which clipped a post and bounced wide. The Germans broke the deadlock in the 54th minute.
With Arsenal defending too deep, Lahm was under no pressure as he teed up Kroos and the midfielder, in space on the edge of the penalty area, curled a sumptuous first-time shot into the roof of the net. Substitute Mueller appealed in vain for another penalty following Laurent Koscielny’s trip, but he picked himself up to deliver the knockout blow in the 88th minute.
Atletico clinch crucial away win at San Siro
MILAN: Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa headed home late on to seal a 1-0 win over AC Milan on Wednesday and give a huge boost to the Spaniards’ hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Milan had kept Diego Simeone’s side on a tight leash throughout a thrilling encounter at the San Siro, but after missing three golden chances to take a first-half lead, the hosts were stunned in the 83rd minute when Costa rose to head inside Christian Abbiati’s near post following a corner.
Atletico, currently joint top of the Spanish top flight, will now fancy their chances of qualifying for the last eight of the competition for the first time since 1997 when the sides meet at the Vicente Calderon in a fortnight.
Wenger angry with Szczesny red card
LONDON: Arsene Wenger cut a frustrated figure after Arsenal suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich at Emirates. Both sides missed penalties in an explosive first half in which Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off for wiping out Arjen Robben in the box. ‘The referee made a decision that basically killed the game. I think these rules are different in every country. In Italy, they are sent off for these kind of fouls. I think our keeper went in for the ball and he touched Robben, who certainly made more of it. We are not used to these things in England,’ said the coach.
Bayern survived an early penalty miss from Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and a squandered spot-kick of their own by David Alaba. But Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had been sent off in the incident that led to Bayern’s penalty and the visitors eventually capitalised on their numerical superiority through Germany midfielders Kroos and Muller.
Bayern will be expected to finish the job in the second leg on March 11, but Arsenal can take heart from their 2-0 win in Munich at the same stage last season, even if that result wasn’t enough to stop Arsene Wenger’s team bowing out on away goals.
Wenger, who sprang a selection shock when he opted to pick raw French striker Yaya Sanogo ahead of experienced France international Olivier Giroud. Arsenal tore into Bayern with a relish that seemed to shock the Germans and quickly carved out two decent chances, with first Sanogo and then Santi Cazorla denied by Manuel Neuer. Arsenal’s frenzied start had clearly rattled the visitors and they should have been ahead in the ninth minute.
Jack Wilshere slipped a perfectly-weighted pass behind the Bayern defence and Ozil took a touch before cleverly clipping the ball inside Jerome Boateng, wrong-footing the centre-back who responded by clumsily stretching out his leg and sending the Germany midfielder crashing to the turf.
Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded the penalty, but Ozil has been in poor form of late and he appeared hesitant before sending a tame effort straight down the middle which his childhood friend Neuer kept out with a fine one-handed save.
Bayern’s Austrian left-back Alaba, perhaps put off by the stoppage, hit a poor penalty which clipped a post and bounced wide. The Germans broke the deadlock in the 54th minute.
With Arsenal defending too deep, Lahm was under no pressure as he teed up Kroos and the midfielder, in space on the edge of the penalty area, curled a sumptuous first-time shot into the roof of the net. Substitute Mueller appealed in vain for another penalty following Laurent Koscielny’s trip, but he picked himself up to deliver the knockout blow in the 88th minute.
Atletico clinch crucial away win at San Siro
MILAN: Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa headed home late on to seal a 1-0 win over AC Milan on Wednesday and give a huge boost to the Spaniards’ hopes of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Milan had kept Diego Simeone’s side on a tight leash throughout a thrilling encounter at the San Siro, but after missing three golden chances to take a first-half lead, the hosts were stunned in the 83rd minute when Costa rose to head inside Christian Abbiati’s near post following a corner.
Atletico, currently joint top of the Spanish top flight, will now fancy their chances of qualifying for the last eight of the competition for the first time since 1997 when the sides meet at the Vicente Calderon in a fortnight.
Wenger angry with Szczesny red card
LONDON: Arsene Wenger cut a frustrated figure after Arsenal suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich at Emirates. Both sides missed penalties in an explosive first half in which Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off for wiping out Arjen Robben in the box. ‘The referee made a decision that basically killed the game. I think these rules are different in every country. In Italy, they are sent off for these kind of fouls. I think our keeper went in for the ball and he touched Robben, who certainly made more of it. We are not used to these things in England,’ said the coach.
Next Story
