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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2012
Sports
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MANCHESTER: Ajax’s Aras Ozbiliz (second left) beats Manchester United’s Phil Jones (second right) to score a goal during their Europa League round of 32 soccer match at Old Trafford. — AP
Utd, Atletico, PSV book last 16
Europa: United outplayed but still scrape through
ZURICH: Manchester United scraped into the
last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday, narrowly
avoiding a humiliating elimination after
being outplayed and losing 2-1 at home to
Ajax Amsterdam. Not even a sixth minute
opener from Javier Hernandez could inspire
United as Aras Ozbiliz levelled eight minutes
before the break and Toby Aldeweireld’s late
header set up a nerve-wracking finale.
United manager Alex Ferguson took the
blame for fielding too many young defenders
after his side slunk through 3-2 on aggregate
in only the second meeting of two of Europe’s
most successful clubs. They will face Atheltic
Bilbao in the last 16 after the side led by
eccentric former Argentina and Chile coach
Marcelo Bielsa beat Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0,
despite being reduced to 10-man, to qualify
on away goals. Atletico Madrid beat Lazio 1-0
to complete a 4-1 aggregate win and Valencia,
Spain’s other representatives, beat Stoke City
1-0 to complete a 2-0 aggregate win.
Steaua Bucharest’s dream of reaching the
final in their home city ended at Twente
Enschede who were joined in the last sixteen
by fellow Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. “I’m disappointed,
I’m responsible for picking the
team and there were too many young players
in the back four, that was a big problem in
terms of experience,” said Ferguson in a television
interview. “It was a big risk I took.” “Ajax
are a fantastic football team in terms of keeping
the ball, they never looked like scoring (at
first) but they got the goal and it gave them
that encouragement.”
Although Ajax have not won a European
trophy since 1995, they still have a more
impressive tally than United with four
European Cup titles, one Cup Winners’ Cup
and one UEFA Cup.
Missing Wayne Rooney due to a throat
infection, United appeared to be cruising
when Hernandez put them ahead after six
minutes, cutting inside his marker to score
with a clinical finish after being set up by
Dimitr Berbatov.
LOUD FANS
Ajax’s possession was pleasing to witness but
ineffective until the 37th minute when Aras
Ozbiliz thumped home a first-time shot from 20
meters despite a suspected handball by Nicolas
Lodeiro in the build up. Ajax, the first Dutch team
to win at Old Trafford, took control of the game
and sounded a warning just before the hour
when Siem de Jong’s header was brilliantly
turned over the bar by David De Gea. Although
United eased Ajax’s grip, defender Aldeweireld
stole ahead of hesitant defenders to head home
from an inswinging free kick in the 87th minute.
It was hard to fathom how Ajax, whose fans outsang
the home crowd throughout the match,
had been knocked out in the group stages of the
Champions League.
Athletic struggled to claw back a 2-1 first leg
deficit against Lokomotiv and their cause
appeared to be lost when Fernando Amorebieta
was given a second yellow card for a trip of
Roman Shishkin on the hour. Yet, two minutes
later, teenager Iker Muniain scored at the far post
42
to send Athletic through on away goals. Former
European champions Steaua were already trailing
1-0 as they travelled to Twente Enschede and
their hopes ended just before the half hour following
a blunder by Ciprian Tatarusanu, who lost
his footing as he tried to control a back pass.
Luuk de Jong pounced before squaring to Nacer
Chadli, who calmly rolled into the unguarded net
to give Twente another 1-0 win.
Braga, last season’s runners-up, followed fellow
Portuguese and defending champions
Porto out of the tournament as they lost 2-1 on
aggregate to Besiktas, despite winning the second
leg 1-0 away with a Lima goal. Uruguayan
defender Diego Godin headed the winner for
Atletico Madrid, who chalked up their sixth successive
home win in Europe and remained
unbeaten after nine games under coach Diego
Simeone, the former Argentine international.
Metalist Kharkiv chalked up the biggest win,
thumping Salzburg 4-1 for an 8-0 aggregate
win. Porto were eliminated by Manchester City
on Tuesday. — Reuters