..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

ow eka thamai machan.
last season eke muladi sanchez ge EPL performance madi dan depay ge wage. first 7 matches walatama goal 1k hari 2k hari score karala thibbe.
eth season eka anthimata baladdi e season eke top performer kenek.
LVG coach unanam sanchaz wath bench karnna thibba.
anna e wage chance dunnoth depay th hodata perform karai.epl kiyanne knockout tournament ekak nemene.
match 38k thienawane.

oya kalin kiwwa wage matath hithenne LVG hariyanne international level ekata .club level ekata nemei.
samnayen international level ekedi match 3k 4k perform kale naththam messi,ronaldo,ibra wage players la arenna onama player kenek drop karanawa.
me LVG karanneth e wage wadak ne.

Ow bro 1ka attha.Sanchez ge last season openning peformance hari naha ath ita passe form 1kata awateam 1ke wadagathma player kenek una Ow bro Wenger Sanchez ta chance 1ka dunna wage digin digatama Depay ta LVG chance denna thiyenne.nathnam wenne mentally down wena 1kaanith 1ka proven player kenek.

Aniwa broLVG hari yanne naha club level 1katamatch 1kak 2kak fail wechcha gamang playersla ainohoma puluwanda manage karanna.anemanda bro mona karanna hadanawada kiyala
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Ow bro 1ka attha.Sanchez ge last season openning peformance hari naha ath ita passe form 1kata awateam 1ke wadagathma player kenek una Ow bro Wenger Sanchez ta chance 1ka dunna wage digin digatama Depay ta LVG chance denna thiyenne.nathnam wenne mentally down wena 1kaanith 1ka proven player kenek.

Aniwa broLVG hari yanne naha club level 1katamatch 1kak 2kak fail wechcha gamang playersla ainohoma puluwanda manage karanna.anemanda bro mona karanna hadanawada kiyala
​

eka thamai LVG players la manage karana widiya awulak thienawa.
habai J Mata wage players la nam LVG ge widiyata kamathi wage.
LVG ge club performance athin gaththath inconsistent. arsenal match eka kawa. everton match eka win kala.
me week eke Manchester derby eka play karana widiyen title ekata fight ekak deida kiyala hithagathahaki.
habai machan title ekata fight ekak dunaththm mama hithenne LVG wa me season eken passe sack karai.


http://www.elakiri.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

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Cech,Bellerin,Ozil,Giroud

dan nam podi chance 1k thiyenawa last 16 yanna...

 

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Rakitic

 

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chicharito leverkusen wala hodata play karanawa

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Gundogan plays down chances of Liverpool Klopp reunion

Ilkay Gundogan has affirmed that he wants to stay at Borussia Dortmund beyond the end of this season.

The Germany midfielder has been consistently linked with a move away from Signal Iduna Park in recent years, with rumours of a reunion with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool emerging since the ex-Dortmund boss' appointment at Anfield.

However, the 24-year-old has denied such suggestions and is happy to remain a Dortmund player for the time being.

"This is an issue that is always floating around," Gundogan said at a sponsor's event in Dortmund.

"I am very happy with BVB and feel very comfortable here. Of course, I can imagine remaining here beyond the end of the season."

Dortmund travel to Azerbaijan to face Qabala in the Europa League on Thursday.

After a draw with PAOK on matchday two, Gundogan is eager to take all three points and hold onto pole position in Group C - with the ultimate aim to reach the final.

"We need to win the game and retain top spot," he added.

"It is realistic to reach the final - we have great potential.

"With the squad we have, we are a team that belongs in the Champions League."

 

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Calderon: Ronaldo could leave Real Madrid next summer

The man who took Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in 2009 thinks it's possible the Portuguese star could leave the club next summer.

Los Blancos play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night and the French club are regularly linked with a move for Ronaldo.

Ramon Calderon says he'd like to see the 30-year-old stay in Madrid, but admits he may decide to leave when the season finishes.

"I have heard rumours that there's strong PSG interest [in Ronaldo]," he told Le Parisien.

"As the former president of Real Madrid, I hope that it never happens. But as someone who knows football, I think it could be possible.

"For now, Cristiano hasn't expressed [a desire to leave]. I think he will take a decision at the end of the season, depending on the titles won and the feelings he has.

 

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Man Utd without Young and Wilson for CSKA clash

Manchester United will be without Ashley Young and James Wilson in Wednesday's Champions League encounter with CSKA Moscow.

Young picked up a calf injury ahead of this weekend's 3-0 win over Everton and has not recovered in time to make the squad for the trip to Russia.

Wilson, meanwhile, is suffering from an illness and will not travel, while long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair are also unavailable.

"It's the same amount of injuries so Luke Shaw, Paddy McNair and Ashley Young are not going with us," Van Gaal told MUTV.

"Willo was a little bit ill – Wilson as he is named but, for us, it is Willo – so he shall not travel with us.

"I'll take 20 players with me. It's a four-hour flight so, if a player gets ill, I have the other player in my environment."

 

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Benitez: Ronaldo guarantees Madrid goals

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez says Cristiano Ronaldo guarantees goals, amid suggestions his side are struggling to click in the final third.

Madrid take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday off the back of a 3-0 victory against Levante in La Liga where they were without the likes of Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez.

Prior to the weekend, which saw Ronaldo become the club's all-time leading goalscorer,

Benitez's men had scored only six goals in five games amid a functional start to his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"We have a guarantee of goals with Cristiano and as a team we know what we need to do on the pitch," the Spaniard explained.

"Despite the injuries our team has some spectacular statistics. Our team is a team that attacks. Our idea is to score goals and to win the match."

 

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Van Gaal: CSKA Moscow? I'd be happy with a point

Louis van Gaal has dismissed suggestions he will prioritise the Manchester derby over Wednesday's Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow, but insisted a draw would be a decent result.

United go into the game at the Arena Khimki on three points from two games - an identical record to the other three sides in Group B - and Van Gaal knows there is little scope for resting players for Sunday's home game against their Premier League title rivals.

"For me, as a manager, the next match is the most important match. I don't think about Man City. I only think about CSKA Moscow and I have to focus on this match," the Dutchman told reporters.

"I demand that also from my players. We have already lost one game against PSV away and we want to gain one point at least. That is why it is a very important match for us."

Van Gaal would be happy to claim a point in Russia and target wins at Old Trafford.

"I said before PSV - one point away from home is good," he added.

"Three points is better but one is good."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bayer Leverkusen 4-4 Roma: Stunning late comeback earns a hosts a point

Bayer Leverkusen scored twice in the last 10 minutes to grab a point after initially squandering a two-goal lead in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Roma in Champions League action on Tuesday.

Goals from Kevin Kampl and Admir Mehmedi saw the hosts rally in the closing stages at BayArena, denying Roma their first away win in the competition since November 2010.

The Italians had led 4-2, with goals from Miralem Pjanic and Iago Falque putting them two clear after Daniele De Rossi's brace had cancelled out Javier Hernandez's early double for Leverkusen.

However, Leverkusen – who had knocked out Roma's city rivals Lazio to qualify for the group stages - finished strongly as a see-saw Group E clash ended all square.

The draw leaves Leverkusen second in the group, three points behind leaders Barcelona while Roma remain propping up the table with two points from three matches.

There was little sign of the drama to come when the German side raced into an early 2-0 advantage, Hernandez getting their first from the penalty spot after just three minutes.

Vasilis Torosidis was adjudged to have blocked Hakan Calhanoglu's left-wing cross with his arm, allowing Hernandez to send Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way from 12 yards.

The former Manchester United forward did not have to wait too long for his second, though he was helped out by some shoddy Roma defending on 19 minutes.

Lucas Digne was guilty of losing the ball near his own goal and, with Antonio Rudiger playing him onside, Hernandez managed to beat Szczesny at the second attempt after his initial shot rebounded kindly.

Roma cut the deficit in half when De Rossi grabbed his first of the night on the half-hour, Kostas Manolas' header to the far post allowing the midfielder to slot the chance underneath Bernd Leno.

Hernandez then wasted a glorious chance to complete a first-half hat-trick, heading over on the stretch after Szczesny had failed to get anywhere near a cross from the left.

And De Rossi punished that miss to level before the break, directing home Pjanic's right-wing cross from close range with his knee.

Having set up the second, Pjanic scored the away side's third himself, his free-kick floating over the wall and into the top right corner in the 54th minute.

When substitute Falque converted Gervinho's square pass after 73 minutes, drawing Leno off his line before lifting the ball over the top of the goalkeeper, the game seemed to be up for Leverkusen.

But Kampl curled home a stunning effort with his left foot to make it 4-3 and, with four minutes remaining, Mehmedi arrived at just the right time at the far post to tap home an equaliser.

 

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Valencia 2-1 Gent: Mitrovic own goal hands Los Che the points

A Stefan Mitrovic own goal denied Gent what would have been a hard-fought point as they suffered a 2-1 Champions League defeat at Valencia on Tuesday.

Sofiane Feghouli put the home side in front after 15 minutes, before Matz Sels produced a string of excellent saves to keep his side in contention.

Thomas Foket then pulled the Belgians level by rifling a shot high into the Valencia net five minutes from the interval.

That equaliser revitalised the visitors and Valencia were second best for much of the second period.

However, a Jose Gaya drive from the left struck Mitrovic in the six-yard box and bounced over the line to spare the hosts' blushes in the 72nd minute.

The result sees Valencia remain three points adrift of Group H leaders Zenit - who beat Lyon 3-1 - while Gent are still without a win in this year's competition.

Valencia dominated the early stages, but wild efforts from Andre Gomes and Santi Mina saw their initial pressure go unrewarded.

Sels arrived at the feet of Mina to deny the hosts a simpler shot at goal from close range after nine minutes, before Shkodran Mustafi - almost completely unmarked in the box - headed narrowly over from a corner.

Valencia eventually made the breakthrough when Feghouli bundled the ball over the line after Paco Alcacer had got a touch to Joao Cancelo's cross from the right.

And the Spanish side would have been further in front had Sels not produced a superb double save - diving to his left to keep out a Gomes strike before recovering to turn Dani Parejo's follow-up behind.

The resulting corner led to a chance for Aderlan Santos in the centre of the box, but Sels was again on hand to make the save from the defender's low drive.

Although Gent did make the occasional foray into the opposition half, their threat was limited.

That was until Foket got on the end of a delightful Renato Neto ball over the top and powered a left-footed effort high beyond home goalkeeper Jaume Domenech.

Alcacer lifted the ball over Sels and the crossbar early in the second period, but Valencia's first-half dominance seemed to have deserted them.

Indeed, Gent had Valencia rattled and looked capable of pulling off an upset against their more fancied La Liga opponents.

But Valencia got lucky. Cancelo's cross from the right bounced off the top of the crossbar and fell to Gaya, whose effort went in off the unfortunate Mitrovic.

Domenech made a strong diving save to deny Thomas Matton as Gent attempted to restore parity and, though they continued to press, Hein Vanhaezebrouck's men were left to reflect on a missed opportunity to claim a memorable point - a dismissed stoppage-time penalty shout for a Danilo challenge on Kenny Saief rubbing salt in the wound.

 

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BATE 0-2 Barcelona: Classy Rakitic moves Catalans clear at the top

Substitute Ivan Rakitic scored twice to earn Barcelona a 2-0 victory over BATE on Tuesday and move the European champions three points clear at the top of Group E.

Rakitic replaced the injured Sergi Roberto midway through the first half and made the difference for Luis Enrique's side in Borisov - scoring from two second-half Neymar passes to give Barca an away win after recent defeats on the road to Celta Vigo and Sevilla.

The visitors dominated much of the game against a side crowned Belarusian champions for the 10th season running on Friday but were made to wait until three minutes into the second half for Rakitic to open the scoring from long range.

Neymar - who scored four times in Saturday's hammering of Rayo Vallecano - was instrumental, cutting in from the left and supplying for Rakitic to power home his first competitive Barca goal since the Champions League final.

And the Brazilian laid on the second shortly after the hour, Rakitic finding space again - this time inside the area - before expertly chipping the ball over Sergey Chernik.

While the visitors made hard work of their win, Barca sit three points clear at the midway point of the group, with Luis Enrique now waiting on the extent of Roberto's injury, with their ranks already limited by a transfer ban and injuries to Rafinha, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.

Following his four-goal haul at the weekend, Neymar tested Chernik three minutes in before the BATE goalkeeper tipped Luis Suarez's header over the crossbar.

Chernik remained busy as Barca applied pressure but Luis Enrique's men were hit by Roberto's injury-enforced withdrawal after 18 minutes.

Rakitic replaced the midfielder as Barca remained on top prior to the half-hour, going close again when Sergio Busquets saw a prodded effort roll across goal, having done well to connect with Neymar's deep delivery.

Rakitic should have done better with an unmarked header inside the area before Neymar's curled strike wide proved the final effort of the half.

Croatia international Rakitic made no mistake with his second opportunity however - finding space on the edge of the area before collecting Neymar's pass and hitting a powerful drive past Chernik.

Neymar almost joined him on the scoresheet with an ambitious volley from the edge of the area that edged just wide of the hosts' goal.

However, intelligence from Rakitic and Neymar's awareness allowed the latter to make sure of the result - pulling wide inside the area to receive the pass before dinking an effort over Chernik.

As well as Barca B midfielder Gumbau, Sandro Ramirez was given a late run-out at the Borisov Arena, as Barca saw out a relatively comfortable win that was soured only by the withdrawal of Roberto.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Porto 2-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv: Hosts soar to top of Group G

Porto kept up their unbeaten start to the Champions League group phase with an accomplished win over Maccabi Tel Aviv, striking in the first half to secure a 2-0 victory at home.

The result leaves the Portuguese giants at the top of Group G, ahead of Premier League champions Chelsea and on course to reach the knock-out stages at the halfway stage.

Vincent Aboubakar opened the scoring for the Dragao 22 minutes in, and Yacine Brahimi doubled the advantage four minutes before half-time to establish an advantage Porto never looked like relinquishing.

Maccabi failed to record a shot on target until the 87th minute and are still waiting for their first goal after three matches in this season's tournament.
Porto had the first decent chance when an unchallenged Aboubakar headed straight at Predrag Rajkovic from Miguel Layun's corner.

The Cameroon international had another opportunity when he latched on to a deft chip from Maxi Pereira but could not fully connect with his shot and it bounced straight to the keeper.

The visitors were off-target with six long-range efforts in the opening half-hour, while Tal Ben Haim II was furious not to have been awarded a penalty by referee Clement Turpin.

The winger brilliantly weaved his way into the box and was felled by Martins Indi as he prepared to shoot from close range, but the official adjudged the Dutchman had got a toe to the ball.

Porto responded when Layun whipped in a cross from the left and Aboubakar's right-footed effort on the stretch looped just past the post.

Aboubakar was a constant threat and he opened the scoring on 37 minutes. Layun’s stunning cross from the left laid it on a plate for the striker, whose diving header from six yards had too much power for Rajkovic.

Aboubakar turned creator four minutes later. He charged forward after turning well on the halfway line and slipped a pass through to Brahimi – who was just onside - allowing the midfielder to calmly slot past the keeper to give the hosts a two-goal half-time cushion.

After the break, substitute Avi Rikan picked up a pass from Dor Micha and had Iker Casillas worried with a quickfire long-range shot that he lashed just wide.

However, Porto almost wrapped up the win when their own substitute Cristian Tello showed great pace down the left and squared towards Aboubakar, causing Tal Ben Haim to hit his own crossbar as he stretched to try to cut out the cross.

Martins Indi then missed a sitter moments later. Ruben Neves, the 18-year-old making Champions League history as the youngest-ever captain in the competition, sent in a delivery from the right but the defender somehow shot over with the goal gaping.

Pereira fired over from a Brahimi cut -back in the closing stages, while Casillas saved comfortably from Eran Zahavi's free-kick as Porto celebrated a straightforward victory.

 

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Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich: Giroud & Ozil end Guardiola’s winning run

Goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil helped Arsenal reignite their Champions League hopes with a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich.

Arsene Wenger's side headed into the Emirates Stadium contest with their Group F campaign in disarray following losses to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos.

But they played a full part in a thrilling opening half, with Manuel Neuer forced into brilliant saves from Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott – the latter from the England man a truly astonishing piece of goalkeeping.

Bayern also threatened, particularly through the effervescent Douglas Costa, and their customary mastery of possession served to make the second half one for Arsenal to endure rather than enjoy.

But stunningly, Neuer undid his earlier heroics by woefully misreading Santi Cazorla's hopeful punt into the box for Giroud – introduced three minutes previously in place of Walcott – to smuggle home a 77th-minute header.

The Bavarians' first defeat after 12 consecutive wins in all competitions was confirmed by a breakaway Ozil goal in stoppage time.

Arsenal remain three points shy of the qualification places following Olympiacos' victory by the same scoreline in Zagreb but taking the spoils from the Bundesliga giants who have ended their past two Champions League campaigns leaves Wenger's men firmly in contention this time around.

Full-back Hector Bellerin made an important challenge to deny in-form striker Robert Lewandowski inside the first minute but Arsenal were soon showing the "animal" intensity that Bayern coach Pep Guardiola anticipated during his pre-match media conference.

A section of Bayern fans who boycotted the first five minutes in protest against Arsenal's ticket prices were welcomed by applause from the home support – and their team almost falling behind.

Alexis Sanchez burst infield to feed Ozil, who drew a sharp stop from Germany international team-mate Neuer before Philipp Lahm blocked Walcott's follow-up.

Neuer's opposite number Petr Cech – controversially rested for Arsenal's opening Champions League defeats – denied Thiago Alcantara following a slick one-two between the Spaniard and Thomas Muller.

Cech also thwarted Costa from a tight angle after the Bayern winger perplexed Bellerin with some audacious footwork.

Bayern appeared to be in control when Cech kept out an Arturo Vidal drive, although they were grateful to see Sanchez blaze over following a partially cleared 31st-minute corner.
Further Arsenal encouragement came as Neuer saved stupendously from Walcott and Aaron Ramsey's shot on the rebound was scrambled clear.

The increased confidence displayed by Wenger's men almost cost them as half-time approached – Sanchez carelessly coughing up possession for Costa to charge into the box and shoot over.

Costa continued to threaten after the restart, sending a rasping left-footed effort just beyond the top corner, while Lewandowski forced Cech to tip over a sweetly struck shot from the edge of the box.

The exertions of chasing Bayern's relentless manipulation of possession took a particular toll on Ramsey, who departed in the 57th minute with a hamstring strain.

Cech underlined his worth once more, prevailing where many keepers have failed of late in a one-on-one against Lewandowski in the 75th minute.

And it was a far less esteemed goalkeeping effort from Cazorla's set-piece a few moments later that allowed Giroud to celebrate joyously.

As Bayern pressed for the share of the spoils they deserved, Arsenal broke clinically. Neuer thought he had denied Ozil from Bellerin's cross but the additional official behind the goal correctly ruled otherwise to crown a famous victory for the Premier League side.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 Olympiacos: Brown Ideye goal makes it back-to-back wins for Greek side

Brown Ideye scored a late goal to give Olympiacos a priceless 1-0 away win at Dinamo Zagreb in Champions League Group F.

The striker chased down a nothing ball from Dimitris Siovas and squeezed the ball home past Eduardo from a tight angle with just 12 minutes left.

Dinamo had missed the game's best chances earlier in the second half with their captain Domagoj Antolic and Marko Rog both hitting the post.

But they could not break the deadlock and succumbed to their first defeat on home soil since a 5-1 reverse to Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League last November.

It was smash and grab for Olympiacos, who were mostly restricted to shots from distance but made their best opening count when Ideye scored for the third match in a row to snatch the points.

The Greeks now look well placed to qualify from Group F with six points from their three fixtures and a home clash with the Croatians to follow.

Dinamo may argue they deserved more, having dominated the opening stages, with Rog particularly threatening. The winger did brilliantly down the left to beat his man but Siovas cleared for Olympiacos with nobody attacking the cross.

El Arbi Soudani then attacked down the opposite wing and cut inside to open up a sight of goal, only to waste the chance and shoot well wide, before the Algerian set up Junior Fernandes, who shot straight at Dinamo goalkeeper Roberto.

Dinamo then put together the finest move of the match but the flowing attack came to a stuttering end when Soudani picked out Armin Hodzic in the box, but the striker was well marshalled by the determined Olympiacos defence and failed to get a shot away.

Olympiacos were being restricted to shots from distance, with Arthur Masuaku forcing Dinamo keeper Eduardo into his first action of the game on the half hour with a swerving strike from distance, but the goalkeeper was alert to the danger.

Both sides opened up after the cagey first half and Dinamo skipper Antolic should have opened the scoring shortly after the break, but with the hosts suddenly four-on-two, his shot hit the outside of the post.

Olympiacos ought to have compounded that error immediately but Ideye could not convert a low cross from Pardo with Eduardo stranded.

Kostas Fortounis slashed wildly off target from distance as the Greeks committed more men forward in their attacks and Ideye atoned for his earlier miss by scoring a fine solo goal, beating Eduardo from near the byline after chasing down a long pass over the top.

Dinamo threw men forward but could not find a late response and their qualification chances now look slim.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Dynamo Kyiv 0-0 Chelsea: Mourinho forced to settle for stalemate

Chelsea remain outside of the top two of their Champions League group as they were held to a 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kyiv at the Olympic Stadium.

Jose Mourinho's men struck the woodwork on two occasions, once either side of the interval, but failed to find the back of the net and sit third in Group G after three games - three points adrift of leaders Porto after their win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.

A brilliant save from Olexandr Shovokskiy turned Eden Hazard's strike onto the post inside the first 10 minutes, while Nemanja Matic fired wide midway through the half following an impressive solo run.

Sergiy Rebrov's Kyiv soon gained composure and saw plenty of the ball, but they struggled to test Asmir Begovic.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper was finally called into action by Derlis Gonzalez after Willian struck the crossbar from a free-kick early in the second half, but the game ended goalless as Chelsea's below-par start to the season continued.

Hazard was left out of Chelsea's 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend with Mourinho calling upon him to do more work defensively.

But the Belgian was restored to the starting line-up in Kyiv and quickly reminded his coach of what he offers in attack, seeing an effort tipped onto the post by the slightest of touches from Shovkovskiy in the ninth minute.

Cesc Fabregas felt he should have had a penalty eight minutes later following contact with Sergiy Rybalka, but nothing was given by the referee.

Chelsea stepped up the pressure, with Diego Costa unable to add the slightest of touches required to divert Willian's in-swinging free-kick into the back of the net.

In the 21st minute Matic pounced on a loose pass from Rybalka and strode into the box, jinking between the Kyiv defence before stabbing a shot wide as Chelsea's frustration mounted.

Rebrov's side then took greater control of possession, and Valeriy Buyalskiy saw his 20-yard drive deflected narrowly off target before the half-hour mark.

Mourinho was visibly unsatisfied with his team's display as they found it difficult to find space in midfield with Kyiv pressing with more intensity.

Chelsea were far more positive after the interval and hit the woodwork again in the 47th minute.

Willian was brought down by Rybalka in a central position 20 yards from goal, but the Brazilian's superb effort from the resulting free-kick crashed down off the underside of the crossbar and away from the goal.

Hazard and Fabregas passed up opportunities before the hour-mark and Chelsea were almost caught on the counter-attack in the 62nd minute, with Begovic forced into a save at his near post by Gonzalez.

Kyiv confidence grew as the game remained goalless, but Domagoj Vida blazed over following a clever cutback from Gonzalez in the 70th minute.

The Paraguayan called Begovic into action once more 10 minutes from time, before Willian curled an effort wide from 20 yards in the last minute as Chelsea were left to settle for a draw.

 

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Zenit 3-1 Lyon: Hulk unplayable in comfortable win

Hulk scored a stunning individual goal as Zenit beat Lyon 3-1 and moved to the brink of the Champions League knockout stages.

The Brazil international picked up the ball on the halfway line before striding forward and rifling a long-range shot into the left-hand corner to put Zenit 2-1 up in Tuesday's contest at the Petrovsky Stadium.

Danny then struck late on as Zenit made it three from three in Group H and another win in the return fixture at the Stade de Gerland will put them into the last 16.

Zenit had deservedly led at the break after Artyom Dzyuba opened the scoring in just the second minute with a cool finish.

A wonderful piece of ingenuity from Alexandre Lacazette early in the second half gave the Ligue 1 side - who are yet to win in the competition - hope of mounting a turnaround.

But Hulk restored Zenit's lead before Danny completed the scoring on the counter-attack, meaning Lyon can be eliminated from the tournament if they are beaten next time out.

It took just two minutes for Zenit to make the breakthrough as Oleg Shatov picked up a loose ball in the left of midfield and played to Dzyuba, who turned sharply on the edge of the box before slotting into the bottom right-hand corner.

At the other end, Zenit goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov made a fine flying save to his right to keep out Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's sweetly struck volley.

In a frantic spell Zenit should have been 2-0 up just shy of the half-hour mark. Hulk showed great feet in the area to find Dzyuba in plenty of space but the striker slipped at the crucial moment and shot high over the crossbar.

Soon afterwards, Hulk forced a brilliant fingertip save from Anthony Lopes with a stinging 25-yard drive.

However, Lyon started the second half well and were level in the 49th minute.

Mathieu Valbuena sprayed a brilliant ball out wide to Christophe Jallet on the right and he volleyed a first-time cross into the penalty area where Lacazette finished with a wonderful backheel flick.

But Lyon were level for just seven minutes as Hulk shrugged off a couple of challenges and burst forward before unleashing a wonderful left-foot shot from 30 yards that swerved into the left-hand corner for his third goal of the competition.

Shortly afterwards, Dzyuba should have put the game beyond doubt when he found a gaping hole in the Lyon defence only to lift his shot over Lopes and wide of the post.

The miss was almost punished when Samuel Umtiti's fierce long-range effort flew narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

But Zenit made sure eight minutes from the end. A swift counter-attack led to Shatov playing in Danny to apply a simple finish in the area, and Ezequiel Garay thought he had added a fourth with a late header but he was flagged for offside.

 

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World-class Cech offers Arsenal Champions League lifeline

If there is one thing that Arsene Wenger has mastered over the last decade, it's the great escape.

So many times, Arsenal have dragged themselves to a top-four finish in the Premier League when it looked beyond them.

Now the Champions League comeback is truly on and it would perhaps be the most remarkable of them all.

Arsenal bounced back from defeats in their first two Champions League group games to beat Bayern Munich 2-0 on Tuesday night and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Wenger described this as a must-win game and his side produced when he needed them.

So too did Petr Cech. While the goals were scored by Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, it was the goalkeeper's name that was on the lips of the jubilant fans in the Clock End after the game.

Just as David Ospina so dearly cost the Gunners against Olympiakos, Cech saved them here with a string of remarkable saves, the best of which denied Robert Lewandowski when the Bayern striker was through on goal 15 minutes from time. It was undoubtedly the turning point of the night as, two minutes later, Arsenal took an unlikely lead.

On a night when Arsenal were always going to need a slice of luck, they got it as Giroud scored with a combination of hand and face in the 77th minute before Ozil's goal in the dying seconds was awarded by the extra official after it just crept over the line.

Giroud's last four goals in all competitions have been as a substitute and he is now pushing to win back his place in Wenger's first-choice starting XI.

Ozil, for his part, has been accused of not stepping up in the big games but scored the clincher against the champions of his home nation.
So too did Petr Cech. While the goals were scored by Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, it was the goalkeeper's name that was on the lips of the jubilant fans in the Clock End after the game.

Just as David Ospina so dearly cost the Gunners against Olympiakos, Cech saved them here with a string of remarkable saves, the best of which denied Robert Lewandowski when the Bayern striker was through on goal 15 minutes from time. It was undoubtedly the turning point of the night as, two minutes later, Arsenal took an unlikely lead.

On a night when Arsenal were always going to need a slice of luck, they got it as Giroud scored with a combination of hand and face in the 77th minute before Ozil's goal in the dying seconds was awarded by the extra official after it just crept over the line.

Giroud's last four goals in all competitions have been as a substitute and he is now pushing to win back his place in Wenger's first-choice starting XI.

Ozil, for his part, has been accused of not stepping up in the big games but scored the clincher against the champions of his home nation.