07 April 2006
Soccer: Barcelona advances to Champions League semifinals - Sports - International Herald Tribune
Soccer: Barcelona advances to Champions League semifinals
By Peter Berlin International Herald Tribune
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2006
BARCELONA Barcelona stretched the drama to the very last minute on Wednesday before beating Benfica, to advance to the semifinals of the Champions League.
Ronaldinho put Barcelona into a deserved lead after 19 minutes. But although outplayed, Benfica remained just one moment of inspiration away from an upset until Samuel Eto'o finally added Barcelona's second in the 89th minute. Barcelona won, 2-0, on the night and also, 2-0, on aggregate.
It will face AC Milan in one semifinal.
In the other semifinal, Arsenal will face Villarreal of Spain. Arsenal, from London, drew 0-0 against Juventus in Turin in the other game on Wednesday, to advance 2-0 overall. Arsenal, a club that in recent years had shed its reputation for winning with defense, has not conceded a goal in eight straight Champions League games, breaking a record set last season by Milan. Juventus played the last 13 minutes with 10 men after Pavel Nedved, its Czech midfielder, was sent off following his second yellow card.
Soccer may be in an era of unprecedented player movement, but at some clubs the DNA is so strong that even a complete change of blo"
By Peter Berlin International Herald Tribune
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2006
BARCELONA Barcelona stretched the drama to the very last minute on Wednesday before beating Benfica, to advance to the semifinals of the Champions League.
Ronaldinho put Barcelona into a deserved lead after 19 minutes. But although outplayed, Benfica remained just one moment of inspiration away from an upset until Samuel Eto'o finally added Barcelona's second in the 89th minute. Barcelona won, 2-0, on the night and also, 2-0, on aggregate.
It will face AC Milan in one semifinal.
In the other semifinal, Arsenal will face Villarreal of Spain. Arsenal, from London, drew 0-0 against Juventus in Turin in the other game on Wednesday, to advance 2-0 overall. Arsenal, a club that in recent years had shed its reputation for winning with defense, has not conceded a goal in eight straight Champions League games, breaking a record set last season by Milan. Juventus played the last 13 minutes with 10 men after Pavel Nedved, its Czech midfielder, was sent off following his second yellow card.
Soccer may be in an era of unprecedented player movement, but at some clubs the DNA is so strong that even a complete change of blo"
