The Hindu : Sport / Football : Real Betis downs Chelsea

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 03, 2005

Sport

Sport - Football

Real Betis downs Chelsea

REAL UPSET: Real Betis's Dani Martin, who stunned the high-flying Chelsea with a goal, celebrates with his teammates. — Photo: AP

PARIS: Chelsea's Champions League campaign suffered its first real jolt on Tuesday when Jose Mourinho's Premiership titleholder was stunned 1-0 by Real Betis. As Lyon and Real Madrid became the first sides to seal their places in the last 16 with wins over Olympiakos and Rosenborg, Chelsea's loss in Seville means it still has unfinished business to ensure its safe passage from Group G.

Substitute Dani Martin's goal left Mourinho frustrated and his Premiership champion without an away win in Europe for over a year. "We have nothing to argue with, we have no defence because the performance in the first half was too bad," said Mourinho.

"Betis deserved the victory because of its attitude in the first half and how it defended in the second half. We have to look at ourselves, to what didn't work, and try to sort it. We are a great team. We weren't a great team tonight but if we are a great team we have to return to our standards," added the Portuguese coach who guided Porto to the Champions League title two years ago.

In second spot

Chelsea is now lying second on seven points, one ahead of Betis but three adrift of leader Liverpool after the European champions coasted to a 3-0 win over Anderlecht.

That Anfield result, achieved by goals from Fernando Morientes, Luis Garcia and Djibril Cisse, put Rafael Benitez' men on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Nine-time king of Europe, Real Madrid, guaranteed its presence in the next phase with a 2-0 win over Rosenborg, an unfortunate own goal by defender Mikael Dorsin and a strike from Guti inflicting the damage on the Norwegians.

Real is second in Group F on nine points, three shy of Lyon which maintained its perfect record with a 4-1 thrashing of Olympiakos in Greece. The highflying French champion found itself on the backfoot after Nigerian attacker Haruna Babangida's third minute goal.

But two goals in three minutes just before the break from Juninho and Norwegian striker John Carew set the tone for Gerard Houllier's side, with Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra and a second from Carew sealing the tie.

Houllier proud

"We've qualified and I'm very proud of what my players have achieved," said the former Liverpool boss Houllier. "This game is a reference marker for Lyon because we had to face a very enterprising and attacking Olympiakos side at the start. We knew to keep our calm, settle the game and develop the football we know how to play," said Houllier. "I wasn't worried because I knew we'd have more opportunities."

The results (home teams listed first): first round: Group E: Schalke (Germany) 2 bt Fenerbahce (Turkey) 0, PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) 1 bt AC Milan (Italy) 0. Group F: Rosenborg (Norway) 0 lost to Real Madrid (Spain) 2, Olympiakos (Greece) 1 lost to Lyon (France) 4. Group G: Liverpool (England) 3 bt Anderlecht (Belgium) 0, Real Betis (Spain) 1 bt Chelsea (England) 0. Group H: Inter Milan (Italy) 2 bt FC Porto (Portugal) 1, Artmedia Bratislava (Slovakia) 2 drew with Rangers (Scotland) 2. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport