2008 Woodie Awards
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAME-DAY TWO ROUND UP
KEYUR DESAI,OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Sports
Game-day two of the UEFA Champions League went under way on Tuesday and saw most of Europe's traditional powerhouses make steady progress towards the second round. Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid strolled through their matches without much ado, but this wasn't the case for two other giants.
Vincenzo Iaquinta scored twice to drag former champions Juventus across the finishing line against minnows BATE Borisov while four-time winners Bayern Munich held Lyon at the Allianz Arena courtesy of Ze Roberto's equalizer.
In what was arguably the game of the day, Arsenal thrashed Portuguese champions Porto 4-0 at the Emirates stadium with both Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor bagging a brace each. Arsenal, roared on by a partisan home crowd, quickly found their feet and were unlucky not to go ahead when Van Persie's shot was well saved by keeper Helton.
Midfield dynamo Cesc Fabregas was allowed to fire on all cylinders by Porto and his excellent pass distribution coupled with Theo Walcott's energetic runs created most of the openings for Arsenal. But for all the promise, it was Porto who had the best of the opening salvos.
Arsenal's defensive frailties were once again put into perspective when Rodriguez hit the upright with his downward header and Porto came even closer when Lisandro Lopez's shot was dramatically cleared of the line by Gael Clichy. Arsenal's jingling nerves were finally settled when Fabregas picked out Adebayor with a sublime pass and the Togolese striker easily centered for Van persie to finish.
It was looking ominous for Porto and on 41 minutes, Van Persie turned provider for Adebayor to head in off the underside of the crossbar and double Arsenal's lead. Jesualdo Ferreira's half time tongue lashing had little effect on Porto as they gifted Arsenal a third minute after the restart. A defensive mixup allowed Van Persie to sneak in and smash home his second and Arsenal's third.
Arsenal had their tails up by now and it looked like Porto would be on the wrong end of a basketball type score before long. Walcott, Fabregas and Adebayor all scuffed easy chances in rapid succession but Arsenal wrapped up an emphatic performance when Adebayor scored a penalty after Nicklas Bendtner was brought down in the box. Not even the introduction of Porto super sub "THE HULK'" could derail the Gunner's bandwagon.
Vincenzo Iaquinta scored twice to drag former champions Juventus across the finishing line against minnows BATE Borisov while four-time winners Bayern Munich held Lyon at the Allianz Arena courtesy of Ze Roberto's equalizer.
In what was arguably the game of the day, Arsenal thrashed Portuguese champions Porto 4-0 at the Emirates stadium with both Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor bagging a brace each. Arsenal, roared on by a partisan home crowd, quickly found their feet and were unlucky not to go ahead when Van Persie's shot was well saved by keeper Helton.
Midfield dynamo Cesc Fabregas was allowed to fire on all cylinders by Porto and his excellent pass distribution coupled with Theo Walcott's energetic runs created most of the openings for Arsenal. But for all the promise, it was Porto who had the best of the opening salvos.
Arsenal's defensive frailties were once again put into perspective when Rodriguez hit the upright with his downward header and Porto came even closer when Lisandro Lopez's shot was dramatically cleared of the line by Gael Clichy. Arsenal's jingling nerves were finally settled when Fabregas picked out Adebayor with a sublime pass and the Togolese striker easily centered for Van persie to finish.
It was looking ominous for Porto and on 41 minutes, Van Persie turned provider for Adebayor to head in off the underside of the crossbar and double Arsenal's lead. Jesualdo Ferreira's half time tongue lashing had little effect on Porto as they gifted Arsenal a third minute after the restart. A defensive mixup allowed Van Persie to sneak in and smash home his second and Arsenal's third.
Arsenal had their tails up by now and it looked like Porto would be on the wrong end of a basketball type score before long. Walcott, Fabregas and Adebayor all scuffed easy chances in rapid succession but Arsenal wrapped up an emphatic performance when Adebayor scored a penalty after Nicklas Bendtner was brought down in the box. Not even the introduction of Porto super sub "THE HULK'" could derail the Gunner's bandwagon.
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