Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Chelsea, Arsenal notch up wins

Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge, left, jumps over a tackle by Marseille's Andre Ayew. Photo / AP

English sides Chelsea and Arsenal both bounced back from Premier League loses to continue perfect starts to the Champions League.


Chelsea eased by French side Marseille 2-0 at Stamford Bridge while Arsenal needed two late goals to win 3-1 away at Partizan Belgrade.


First-half goals by John Terry and Nicolas Anelka were enough to secure a second win for Chelsea.


Terry flicked in a corner in the seventh minute and Anelka added the second with a disputed penalty in the 28th.


The English champions, who had lost two matches in a row coming into the game, were poor after the break but still hit the post twice, through Alex and Michael Essien.


It was Chelsea's second successive group win - after a 4-1 win at Zilina - and it stays top on goal difference from Spartak Moscow, which also has six points from six.


Marseille remains without a point after two games, having lost to Spartak 1-0 two weeks ago.


Marouane Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci scored two late goals to help Arsenal beat 10-man Partizan Belgrade.


Arsenal converted its first chance in the match with Jack Wilshere surging ahead and delivering a backheel pass to Andrey Arshavin, who drilled the ball home past Partizan goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic in the 15th minute.


But Cleo tied the score in the 33rd from the penalty spot after Arsenal defender Denilson handled the ball inside the penalty area. Arshavin then missed a penalty for Arsenal, before Chamakh made it 2-1 in the 71st by slotting in his own rebound after hitting the bar with a header. Squillaci sealed the victory on a close-range header in the 82nd.


In other matches nine-time winner Real Madrid took control of its group with a 1-0 victory over Auxerre as AC Milan was held to a 1-1 draw at Ajax.


Substitute Angel Di Maria scored in the 81st minute to clinch Madrid's second straight win, giving the Spanish side a two-point lead over Milan in Group G.


In Group E, leader Bayern Munich rallied to beat Basel 2-1.


First Round


Group E
FC Basel (Switzerland) 1, Bayern Munich (Germany) 2
AS Roma (Italy) 2, Cluj (Romania) 1


Group F
Spartak Moscow (Russia) 3, Zilina (Slovakia) 0
Chelsea (England) 2, Marseille (France) 0


Group G
Ajax (Netherlands) 1, AC Milan (Italy) 1
Auxerre (France) 0, Real Madrid (Spain) 1


Group H
Braga (Portugal) 0, Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 3
Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) 1, Arsenal (England) 3


-AP


 

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