2. EUROPE: Celtic stuns United to reach final 16
- by Soccer America , Nov 21, 2006
The Scottish club came out ahead in a thrilling ending at Celtic Park. Japanese Shunsuke Nakamura scored with a free kick eight minutes from time, then Celtic's 26-year-old Polish international goalkeeper, Artur Boruc, saved Louis Saha's weakly taken penalty in the 90th minute.
United now must get a point at home against Benfica in its final game on Dec. 6 to advance. Last year, it lost at Benfica in its final group game and failed to reach the knockout phase.
Arsenal also goes into its final game on Dec. 6 without having assured itself of a berth in the final 16. The Gunners beat Hamburg, 3-1, to move into a first-place tie with Porto, two points ahead of CSKA Moscow. They will have to play at Oporto without star Thierry Henry, who was carded against Hamburg and now faces a one-game ban for his third caution of the competition.
AC Milan lost, 1-0, at AEK Athens but clinched a berth in the next round when Lille and Anderlecht tied, 2-2, in France. Julio Cesar's goal from a free kick after 32 minutes gave AEK its second straight win after establishing an unenviable record of 21 games without a victory in the competition.
Goalie Gregory Coupet saved a penalty by Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 89th minute to preserve Lyon's 2-2 tie with Real Madrid and clinch first place in Group E ahead of Real Madrid.
SCOREBOARD
Group E
Real Madrid 2 (Diarra 39, van Nistelrooy 83) Lyon 2 (Carew 11, Malouda 31).
Steaua Bucharest 1 (Dica 69) Dynamo Kiev 1 (Cernat 29).
Group F
Benfica 3 (Leo 14, Miccoli 16, 37) FC Copenhagen 1 (Allbaeck 89).
Celtic 1 (Nakamura 81) Man. Utd. 0.
Group G
Arsenal 3 (van Persie 52, Eboue 83, Baptista 88) Hamburg 1 (van der Vaart 4).
CSKA Moscow 0 Porto 2 (Quaresma 2, Gonzalez 61).
Group H
AEK Athens 1 (Julio Cesar 32) AC Milan 0.
Lille 2 (Odemwingie 28, Fauvergue 47) Anderlecht 2 (Mpenza 38, 49).
Click here for TV schedule of Wednesday's Champions League games.
