FC København rounded off their UEFA Champions League campaign in style, defeating already qualified Celtic FC to maintain their unbeaten home record in Group F.
Atiba Hutchinson and Jesper Grønkjær scored inside the opening half-hour for the Danish champions, who further extended their lead through Marcus Allbäck in the 57th minute.
Jiří Jarosík pulled one back for Celtic, who dropped from first place to second in the section as Manchester United FC leapfrogged them with a 3-1 home success against SL Benfica, who finished third.
Much of the pre-match spotlight had been on Thomas Gravesen and the former Denmark midfielder was greeted with ironic cheers as he made his first appearance at the Parken Stadium since retiring from international football.
The 30-year-old was involved straight from the kick-off, slotting in Kenny Miller's pass but the Celtic forward had already carried the ball over the København by-line. There was no disputing Hutchinson's effort in the second minute, though, as the Canadian combined with Allbäck and slipped a left-footed shot past Artur Boruc.
Celtic had not won away from home in four UEFA Champions League seasons and København were determined to ensure there was no change to that statistic. Allbäck wriggled free six metres from goal and crashed a shot against the upright after the visiting defence had failed to clear Tobias Linderoth's free-kick.
Miller then headed Lee Naylor's perfect cross from the right over the bar and miscontrolled in a promising position before the hosts showed no such profligacy; Grønkjær, making only his second Group F start, doubled the advantage by reacting quickest to sweep Brede Hangeland's knockdown into the net from close range.
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan restructured his midfield at half-time with Jarosík switching with Aiden McGeady, hitherto stranded on the left, and Gravesen reverting to a more familiar central role - a reshuffle that almost paid dividends on 54 minutes when the Czech created an opening for Maciej Żurawski.
The striker found the target but his shot was smothered by Jesper Christiansen and the keeper was alert to Miller's follow-up. København still looked the more likely scorers, however, and just before the hour Allbäck made it 3-0. Michael Gravgaard won the aerial duel following another Linderoth free-kick and the Sweden forward pounced to drill in his third goal of the campaign.
Shunsuke Nakamura was introduced from the bench with 21 minutes remaining and the Celtic midfielder forced a fine one-handed stop from Christiansen with a shot from the edge of the area.
Celtic finally found the net soon after as Jarosík stuck out a boot to divert in Nakamura's free-kick, but it was too little too late from the Glasgow club who are left searching for that elusive first away victory.
07 December 2006
Manchester United FC exorcised the ghost of their early elimination from Europe 12 months ago as they fought back to claim their place in the last 16 with an ultimately convincing 3-1 victory over SL Benfica.
This UEFA Champions League Group F decider was a repeat of last season's Matchday 6 showdown between these sides but it could not have ended more differently as United avenged their 2-1 defeat in Lisbon a year ago tomorrow.
Stirred into action by Nélson's spectacular 27th-minute strike, there was only going to be one winner once Nemanja Vidić had headed the hosts level on the stroke of half-time, Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha confirming the inevitable in the second period. To ice the cake for United, Celtic FC's loss at FC København ensured them top spot in the section - and a tie against a group runner-up in February, when Benfica will go into the UEFA Cup.
Unlike Benfica, United needed only a point to progress and they reined in their attacking instincts in a cautious start. With Wayne Rooney operating on the left of a five-man midfield and Giggs dropping into the centre alongside Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, Benfica, faced a wall of red shirts whenever they gained possession.
The Portuguese team had scored early goals in beating both Celtic and København but here it was United who threatened first, Quim forced into the game's first save from Rio Ferdinand.
The match burst into life with Nélson's opener midway through the first half. Simão - deployed alongside Fabrizio Miccoli in the visitors' attack with Nuno Gomes in a withdrawn role - ran at Patrice Evra down the right but rather than cross, chose to lay the ball back to Nélson and the full-back unleashed an unstoppable shot high to Edwin van der Sar's right.
Moments later Quim tipped Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick over the crossbar and suddenly we had a cup tie. From the ensuing corner Vidić flicked on to Saha whose far-post header was blocked by Quim, the ball bouncing on to the arm of Nélson on its way to safety. United came again, Gary Neville crossing low to Saha who stabbed wide of the near post.
Benfica had a glimpse of a second goal when Nuno Gomes supplied Miccoli but the Italian failed to make a clean connection, otherwise it was one-way traffic. Half-chances came and went, but just when Benfica looked poised to reach half-time in front, the impressive Vidić rose highest to meet Giggs's free-kick and bullet a header into the net.
The second half brought more of the same, with United driving at the Benfica back line - and cutting through it with some irresistible wing play, notably from Ronaldo. Although Petit flashed a free-kick over Van der Sar's crossbar, a second United strike seemed inevitable and after Saha had blazed over, it came on 61 minutes via the head of Giggs.
For once Ronaldo stopped in his tracks out on the right, looked up and delivered the perfect cross to the Welshman who powered in his first UEFA Champions League goal since this corresponding fixture last season.
On 75 minutes it was three - and a third header - as substitute Darren Fletcher swung over a corner and Saha buried his fourth goal of the group stage. For the Premiership leaders the job was done. After last year's slip-up, Sir Alex Ferguson's men are back in the knockout stage.
29 November 2006
Celtic FC striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will miss next week's trip to FC København after being ruled out for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury.
The 28-year-old Netherlands forward has only played two UEFA Champions League fixtures following his summer transfer from PSV Eindhoven due to successive ankle knocks and his injury curse struck again before Sunday's 2-2 draw against Hibernian FC when he picked up the problem in training.
However, midfielder Thomas Gravesen is back after shaking off a thigh injury and looks set to travel to his homeland.
Celtic have already qualified for the knockout stage but will want a win to confirm top spot in Group F.
27 November 2006
SL Benfica forward Fabrizio Miccoli is a doubt for Friday's derby against Sporting Clube de Portugal and the crucial UEFA Champions League visit to Manchester United FC after sustaining a thigh muscle injury during Saturday's 2-1 home win against CS Marítimo.
The 27-year-old Italian, who scored twice in last week's 3-1 defeat of FC København, was substituted 49 minutes into the Liga encounter and subsequently underwent tests which confirmed damage to his left thigh.
Having missed two months earlier this season with a similar problem in his right thigh, Miccoli has now begun a course of treatment.
Benfica need three points at Old Trafford if they are to again pip the English side to the knockout rounds while victory against Sporting is vital if they are to maintain contact with their neighbours and leaders FC Porto.
Konstantinos Karagounis looks set to be fit for both matches despite suffering a slight knock to his right leg which forced him off on Saturday while defender Luisão is close to fitness after a overcoming an injury to his left knee.
17 November 2006
SL Benfica defender Luisão is a doubt for the UEFA Champions League home game against FC København on Tuesday after picking up a knee injury on international duty.
The 25-year-old Brazil centre-back twisted his left knee towards the end of Brazil's 2-1 friendly win against UEFA EURO 2008 co-hosts Switzerland in Basle on Wednesday night. He had opened the scoring with a header in the 23rd minute, and despite the injury completed the 90 minutes.
Luisão will miss Saturday's Portuguese Liga match at SC Braga, with a question mark also against his availability for the Group F visit of the Danish champions to Lisbon. The good news for Benfica is that full-back Léo, 31, who was also sidelined with a knee complaint, is back in contention for Braga.
14 November 2006
Fredrik Ljungberg has picked up the Guldbollen as Sweden's Footballer of the Year for 2006.
The 29-year-old Arsenal FC midfielder was honoured for his contributions for both club and country over the last 12 months. As well as helping Arsenal to the UEFA Champions League final last May, Ljungberg also represented Sweden at the FIFA World Cup in Germany before taking over the international captain's armband from Olof Mellberg.
"I am proud and pleased to be standing here tonight," he said, "but I couldn't have done it without my team-mates from either Sweden or Arsenal."
Ljungberg's fellow Swedish internationals Tobias Linderoth and Marcus Allbäck, who are playing in the UEFA Champions League with Danish side FC København, were named as best midfielder and best striker, with the defensive and goalkeeping awards going to Petter Hansson of SC Heerenveen and Rami Shaaban from Fredrikstad FK respectively.
IF Elfsborg's title-winning coach Magnus Haglund was Manager of the Year, while the best young player prize was collected by Örgryte IS's 20-year-old midfielder Ola Toivonen.
06 November 2006
FC København concluded a week to remember with a 3-1 victory in the Danish capital derby against Brøndby IF last night. Fresh from their 1-0 defeat of Manchester United FC last Wednesday, their first victory in the UEFA Champions League, Ståle Solbakken's men were in commanding form against their old rivals.
Swedish international Marcus Allbäck, the match-winner against United, scored twice before substitute Martin Bergvold wrapped things up. Henrik Kildentoft hit a late consolation but it was to be København's night again.
Allbäck said: "Tonight we proved that we can come back after [UEFA] Champions League matches and still give a consistent performance, I think we controlled this match all the way, and in fact we should probably have 'killed' the game by adding a third and even a fourth earlier." København sit top of the table, three points ahead of FC Midtjylland, with a game in hand. Brøndby are 15 points adrift of the leaders in seventh place.
10 October 2006
Brøndby IF goalkeeper Casper Ankergren has been called up to the Denmark squad that travels to Liechtenstein for their UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier on Wednesday following the withdrawal through injury of Thomas Sørensen.
Sørensen suffered a shoulder injury midway through the second half of Saturday's goalless Group F draw against Northern Ireland and will be replaced between the posts by Jesper Christiansen of FC København, who came on for the Aston Villa FC custodian on Saturday. The 26-year-old Ankergren will serve as back-up.
In addition to Sørensen, Denmark must also do without another England-based player after Nicklas Bendtner, the Arsenal FC forward on loan at Birmingham City FC, picked up a knee injury. Jesper Bech of Esbjerg fB replaces the 18-year-old. On a brighter note, coach Morten Olsen hopes to have Charlton Athletic FC winger Dennis Rommedahl fit and available. Denmark are in joint-second place in Group F alongside Northern Ireland and five points behind Sweden, who have played a game more.
08 October 2006
Northern Ireland showed last month's 3-2 win against Spain was no fluke as they dealt with all Denmark could throw at them in Copenhagen in UEFA EURO 2008 Group F. Denmark had opened their campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory in Iceland, the team who had started their own programme with a 3-0 success in Northern Ireland. The home side began brightly again tonight as Peter Løvenkrands threatened early on, before Martin Jørgensen forced Maik Taylor to save on eight minutes. Jon Dahl Tomasson sent a header just wide, while the visitors' first real chance did not come until Kyle Lafferty's speculative effort on the half-hour. Jørgensen then had the best opportunity of the half, but his attempt was deflected narrowly off target and not long after Jonny Evans cleared off the line.
Northern Ireland took confidence from holding out for the first period and emerged for the restart in determined mood. David Healy, their hat-trick hero against Spain, made goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen save after pouncing on a Daniel Agger slip, though the defender made up for that eleven minutes later with a timely tackle on the striker. Sørensen was substituted with 22 minutes left with a shoulder injury, FC København's Jesper Christiansen taking over on his club ground.
Yet Denmark's concerns were at the other end, with Northern Ireland resisting comfortably and continuing to press on occasions. Thomas Kahlenberg did threaten as his shot beat Taylor but also the post, while Christian Poulsen's effort was touched wide. Agger curled a tremendous strike on to the bar but time ran out on the hosts. The draw leaves Denmark and Northern Ireland level on four points, five behind leaders Sweden. Lawrie Sanchez's men, whose nightmare against Iceland is fading fast, welcome Latvia on Wednesday when Morten Olsen's Denmark go to Liechtenstein.
05 October 2006
Sweden defender Olof Mellberg has added to coach Lars Lagerbäck's concerns ahead of his side's UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier against Spain on Saturday after injuring his knee in a collision with Kim Källström during training today.
Lagerbäck was already waiting to hear if key pair Marcus Allbäck and Tobias Linderoth would be available for selection and could now be forced to change his defensive lineup as well after the Aston Villa FC centre-half limped out of training. "It looked like a very nasty hit so we had to take him off and cool down the injury. It's too early to say how severe it is," Sweden physio Anders Vallentin said.
Experienced striker Allbäck is undergoing treatment for a muscle problem in his abdomen, while defensive midfielder Linderoth could also miss out as he anticipates the birth of his child on 10 October, just a day before next week's qualifer in Iceland. With Henrik Larsson retired and Zlatan Ibrahimović having made himself unavailable for the time being, the Group F leaders will take on Spain with an inexperienced front line.
"Well, let's not discuss Zlatan as he's not here," Lagerback said. "Allbäck is having problems with his abdomen so there's a risk he won't play, but we've got a good set of players here, we can cope." AFC Ajax's Markus Rosenberg is expected to start up front alongside Toulouse FC's Johan Elmander should Allbäck not recover.
Linderoth is considered by many to be the cornerstone of the Sweden team. Lagerbäck, though, believes he has the strength in depth to cover for the energetic 27-year-old. "We can play Daniel Andersson or Niclas Alexandersson in that position, so it shouldn't pose a problem, even though Tobias is a great player. We'll have to wait and see what happens. If his child has not arrived ahead of the game against Iceland, Linderoth might opt to stay at home." The FC København captain added: "Yes, we'll have to discuss it. If I'm in Iceland and something happens I must be able to get home as quickly as possible."
Lagerbäck is wary of a backlash from Spain following their surprise 3-2 defeat by Northern Ireland, but believes his side can get a result after opening their campaign with wins against Latvia and Liechtenstein. "Spain are probably one of Europe's best teams going forward, and even without Raúl [González] they have a very strong set of strikers," he said. "However, they try to defend quite high up the pitch and that is something we will try to use to our advantage." Sweden are also shorn of first-choice goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, of Manchester City FC, who is overcoming a knee injury. Rami Shaaban should deputise.
