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Champions out but Milan keep eye on the prize
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-09 08:32
LONDON, March 8 (Reuters) - Liverpool's reign as European champions ended on
Wednesday when they lost 2-0 at home to Benfica and tumbled out of the Champions
League.
Steam rises from
the head of Real Madrid's Ronaldo during their Champions League first
knockout round second leg soccer match against Arsenal at Highbury, London
March 8, 2006. [Reuters] | Liverpool, the five-times champions, lost 3-0 on aggregate and were followed
through the exit door by nine-times winners Real Madrid who drew 0-0 at Arsenal
but lost 1-0 over two legs.
Six-times champions AC Milan did reach the quarter-finals after crushing
four-times winners Bayern Munich 4-1 at the San Siro for a 5-2 aggregate win.
The result meant more pain for the Germans at the hands of Italian opposition
after Werder Bremen were knocked out of the competition by Juventus on Tuesday
and the national side were thumped 4-1 by Italy in last week's friendly in
Florence.
Olympique Lyon, managed by former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, remain the
competition's dark horses after an emphatic 4-0 home win over PSV Eindhoven.
The Dutch side played the second half with 10 men after skipper Philip Cocu
was sent off after picking up two yellow cards inside 42 minutes.
Lyon went through 5-0 on aggregate to avenge last season's quarter-final
defeat to PSV with Tiago scoring twice and Sylvain Wiltord and Fred adding the
others.
SIMAO STRIKES
Benfica went to Anfield having lost seven of their eight matches in England
over the years but doubled their 1-0 lead from the first leg after 36 minutes
through Simao Sabrosa.
He was on the verge of joining Liverpool last summer before the move stalled
when they refused to match Benfica's asking price of 11 million pounds ($19.13
million).
The winger showed the Anfield crowd a glimpse of what they were missing when
he curled an unstoppable shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina from 20
metres.
Substitute Fabrizio Miccoli added a second a minute from time with a
close-range bicycle kick that sent the holders crashing out of the competition.
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