The Hindu : Sport / Football : Inter Milan, Ajax advance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 26, 2005

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Sport - Football

Inter Milan, Ajax advance

LONDON: Former European champion Manchester United, Ajax and Inter Milan qualified for the group stage of the Champions League on Wednesday.

United advanced 6-0 on aggregate over Hungarian champion Debrecen, Ajax beat Danish club Brondby 5-3 overall, and Inter Milan overcame Shakhtar Donestsk 3-1 after two legs in the third round of qualifying. Werder Bremen, Anderlecht, Rangers, FC Brugge and Villarreal also qualified.

Inter drew 1-1 with Shakhtar in an empty San Siro stadium, the first of a four-match spectator ban in European matches. The punishment stemmed from last season's quarterfinal against city rival AC Milan, which was abandoned when Milan goalkeeper Dida was hit by a flare thrown from the stands.

"You can't play football like this. It's unbelievable," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said.

"The team was very tense having to play without fans. It's really absurd."

Defending champion Liverpool qualified on Tuesday despite losing 1-0 to visiting CSKA Sofia. Other clubs advancing were Panathinaikos, Rapid Vienna, Real Betis, Rosenborg and Udinese.

Among the 16 teams already in Thursday's group stage draw in Monte Carlo are Real Madrid, AC Milan, FC Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea, Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

In Milan, Uruguay striker Alvaro Recoba put Inter ahead in the 13th minute with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Brazilian midfielder Elano equalised for Shakhtar in the 24th.

In all, there were less than 500 people allowed in the 80,000-seat stadium, including the teams, referees, management, stadium workers, police, journalists and photographers.

United has it easy

In Budapest, Hungary, Gabriel Heinze scored two goals and Kieran Richardson added another for Manchester United.

Heinze headed in goals in the 20th and 61st minutes. Richardson made it 3-0 in the 65th with a strong shot from outside the penalty area. Early in the match, United defender Gary Neville left the field with a groin tear and could be out for five weeks.

Werder Bremen scored three goals in eight minutes to beat FC Basel 3-0 and erase a 2-1 loss in the first leg.

Johan Michoud missed a penalty, but Tim Borowski converted another spot kick minutes later.

Ivan Klasnic scored in the 64th and the 72nd minutes.

The results: Qualifying: Third round: Second leg: Ajax 3 bt Brondby 1; FC Brugge 1 bt Valerenga 0; Debrecen 0 lost to Manchester United 3; Inter Milan 1 drew with Shakhtar Donetsk 1; Rangers 2 bt Anorthosis 0; Slavia Prague 0 lost to Anderlecht 2; Villarreal 2 bt Everton 1; Werder Bremen 3 bt FC Basel 0. — AP

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