Not quite gone the ‘real’ way
9 Nov 2012 5:15 AM IST
Mesut Ozil saved Real Madrid with a brilliant late free-kick to earn a Champions League point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Borussia were ahead until the 89th minutes thanks to a Marco Reus strike and an Alvaro Arbeloa own goal in the first period. Pepe had earlier levelled for the home side.
The result means, with two games remaining, the Germans still lead Group D with 8 points, 1 more than Madrid, with Ajax 3 points behind after a 2-2 draw away at Manchester City.
It could have been worse for Madrid as it seemed for long periods the Germans would repeat the 2-1 result from the first game between the sides a fortnight ago in Dortmund.
The German keeper Roman Weidenfaller had to be quick of his line on 2 minutes to deny Higuain after Angel Di Maria had played a long through pass.
However, backed by around 10000 noisy fans the Germans settled quickly into the game. First Lewandowski burst down the left on four minutes and fired over a dangerous cross that had to be expertly dealt with by Madrid’s defence .
On ten minutes Iker Casillas was quick to stop a Marcel Schmelzer effort with his feet and Lewandowski fired over the rebound.
Both sides were now jostling for control of midfield and the opening goal, that eventually fell to the Germans on 28 minutes.
Right-back Lukasz Piszczek was deep in his own half when he played a searching ball that Lewandowski headed into the path of Reus, who powerfully volleyed home first-time.
The Germans seemed momentarily on top and comfortable until Pepe powered home a Mesut Ozil cross with his head on 34 minutes.
Borussia regained the lead right at the death of an exciting half. A desperate lunge from Madrid defender Arbeloa provided the decisive touch, but it was a well-worked goal from the Germans.
Callejon had the ball in the net, but was ruled to be marginally offside before the same player shot just wide on the turn. Callejon again was denied with a block by Weidenfeller on 60 minutes.
An Ozil late escape act a curling free-kick over the wall and just inside the post in the dying moments saved Real the blushes.
EXPENSIVE CITY CAST EXIT, ARSENAL HELD
Manchester City stand on the verge of a second successive group-phase exit from the Champions League after a 2-2 draw at home to Ajax on Tuesday left their hopes hanging by a thread.
Sloppy defending saw City fall 2-0 down to a pair of early goals from Siem de Jong, and although City rallied and drew level through Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero, it was too late.
Hosts Schalke came back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday to leave the Royal Blues top of Group B.
Arsenal shot into an early lead as England’s Theo Walcott and France’s Olivier Giroud netted to leave the Royal Blues stunned at the Veltins Arena. But Klaas-Jan Huntelaar pulled one back for Schalke before Farfan equalised to draw level.
Borussia were ahead until the 89th minutes thanks to a Marco Reus strike and an Alvaro Arbeloa own goal in the first period. Pepe had earlier levelled for the home side.
The result means, with two games remaining, the Germans still lead Group D with 8 points, 1 more than Madrid, with Ajax 3 points behind after a 2-2 draw away at Manchester City.
It could have been worse for Madrid as it seemed for long periods the Germans would repeat the 2-1 result from the first game between the sides a fortnight ago in Dortmund.
The German keeper Roman Weidenfaller had to be quick of his line on 2 minutes to deny Higuain after Angel Di Maria had played a long through pass.
However, backed by around 10000 noisy fans the Germans settled quickly into the game. First Lewandowski burst down the left on four minutes and fired over a dangerous cross that had to be expertly dealt with by Madrid’s defence .
On ten minutes Iker Casillas was quick to stop a Marcel Schmelzer effort with his feet and Lewandowski fired over the rebound.
Both sides were now jostling for control of midfield and the opening goal, that eventually fell to the Germans on 28 minutes.
Right-back Lukasz Piszczek was deep in his own half when he played a searching ball that Lewandowski headed into the path of Reus, who powerfully volleyed home first-time.
The Germans seemed momentarily on top and comfortable until Pepe powered home a Mesut Ozil cross with his head on 34 minutes.
Borussia regained the lead right at the death of an exciting half. A desperate lunge from Madrid defender Arbeloa provided the decisive touch, but it was a well-worked goal from the Germans.
Callejon had the ball in the net, but was ruled to be marginally offside before the same player shot just wide on the turn. Callejon again was denied with a block by Weidenfeller on 60 minutes.
An Ozil late escape act a curling free-kick over the wall and just inside the post in the dying moments saved Real the blushes.
EXPENSIVE CITY CAST EXIT, ARSENAL HELD
Manchester City stand on the verge of a second successive group-phase exit from the Champions League after a 2-2 draw at home to Ajax on Tuesday left their hopes hanging by a thread.
Sloppy defending saw City fall 2-0 down to a pair of early goals from Siem de Jong, and although City rallied and drew level through Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero, it was too late.
Hosts Schalke came back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday to leave the Royal Blues top of Group B.
Arsenal shot into an early lead as England’s Theo Walcott and France’s Olivier Giroud netted to leave the Royal Blues stunned at the Veltins Arena. But Klaas-Jan Huntelaar pulled one back for Schalke before Farfan equalised to draw level.
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