Juventus joined Real Madrid on Wednesday in the second round of the Champions League, and Monaco hammered Spain's Deportivo 8-3 in the highest scoring game in the competition's history.
Juventus, the runners-up last season, got through to the knockout round of 16 with a scoreless draw at Real Sociedad. Nine-time champion Real Madrid advanced on Tuesday by the same score against Partizan Belgrade.
"We fought and we suffered. It was a very even match," Juventus coach Marcello Lippi said. "Psychologically, it's certainly better to play these next two matches having mathematically qualified than if they were live matches.
PHOTO: AFP
"This was our objective. We realized a very, very important objective tonight. I'm very satisfied," Lippi said.
On a night that featured 26 goals, the most lopsided result came as Monaco routed Spain's Deportivo 8-3. Croatian Dado Prso scored four.
It was the first time 11 goals have been scored in a Champions League game and only the third time a player has netted four in Europe's top club competition.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"We'll have to come back down to earth at some point," Monaco coach Didier Deschamps said. "We'll try to stay concentrated on the next games and not get carried away."
Deportivo coach Javier Irureta had a different view.
"It was the strangest match I've ever had on my hands," he said. "The result is what it is, but in the end it's only three points."
English Premier League leader Arsenal kept its hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev on an 88th-minute goal by Ashley Cole The victory broke the Gunners' eight-match winless string in the Champions League.
Brazilian striker Giovane Elber came back to sting his old club, netting the deciding goal in the second half as Lyon upset Bayern Munich 2-1.
Group A
Bayern Munich 1, Lyon 2
At Munich, Germany, Elber made a triumphant return and scored the winner. The Brazilian striker's goal put Lyon in control of the group with seven points. Bayern has five points. Juninho opened the scoring for Lyon and Roy Makaay got Bayern's goal before Elber's secured Lyon's win. Elber spent six seasons in Munich before leaving over the summer following the arrival of Makaay. He received a standing ovation when he left the field in the 79th.
Celtic 3, Anderlecht 1
At Glasgow, Scotland, Celtic routed the Belgians on goals by Henrik Larsson, Liam Miller and Chris Sutton to move into contention for a place in the second stage. The victory at Parkhead improved Celtic to six points in the group and left Anderlecht with only four. Aruna Dindane scored in the 77th for Anderlecht's only goal.
Group B
Arsenal 1, Dynamo Kiev 0
At London, Ashley Cole scored in the 88th to give Arsenal a well-deserved victory. The win improved Arsenal to four points in four games and keeps its hopes alive of reaching the second round. Dynamo has six points in four games. Arsenal dominated but was unable to break through until Cole -- who rarely finds the net -- got the decider on a header two minutes from the end.
Inter Milan 1, Lokomotiv 1
At Milan, Italy, Inter suffered its second consecutive disappointing result in two weeks against Lokomotiv Moscow. The draw still moved the Italians into sole possession of first place in the group. Inter went ahead at the San Siro on Alvaro Recoba's 14th-minute goal, then failed to hold onto the lead when Dmitry Loskov equalized in the 54th. Inter moved to seven points. Lokomotiv has five.
Group C
Monaco 8, Deportivo 3
At Monte Carlo, Monaco -- Croatian striker Dado Prso tied the Champions League goalscoring record with four. It was the highest scoring match in the competition's history. Monaco's win moved it into first place with nine points. It marked the most goals scored by one side and the highest aggregate score.
The previous record was by Paris Saint-Germain in 2000 when it beat Rosenborg 7-2. Prso's four goals tied the previous mark shared by former AC Milan striker Marco Van Basten and Lazio forward Simone Inzaghi.
PSV Eindhoven 2, AEK Athens 0
At Eindhoven, Netherlands, Wilfred Bouma and Arjen Robben scored as PSV Eindhoven strengthened its hold on third place in the group. PSV has six points to AEK's one in a group led by AS Monaco.
Bouma scored in the 51st and Robben got his 12 minutes later.
Group D
Olympiakos 3, Galatasaray 0
At Athens, Greece, Dimitrios Mavrogenidis and Neri Alberto Castillo scored in the first half and Silva Giovanni added the final goal in second-half injury time. Olympiakos and Galatasaray each have three points in the group.
Real Sociedad 0, Juventus 0
At San Sebastian, Spain, the scoreless draw was enough to get the Italians into the second round. The two-time European champion, lacking four key players, achieved its objective despite producing an unimpressive display and dropping its first points of the group.
The draw gave Sociedad an excellent chance of reaching the second round in its first season in Europe's top club competition since 1982-1983.
Juventus has 10 points and Sociedad has seven.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely