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CHAMPIONS LEAUGE: Ferguson and Wenger share limelight

Manchester United's Gerard Pique, right, scores United's first goal against Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League soccer match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, on Wednesday. PHOTO: EPA

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have very little nice to say to each other and little in common, but for once on Wednesday they shared the headlines for good reasons as both Manchester United and Arsenal became the first clubs to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Their means of qualifying, like their managers, couldn't have been more contrasting, as United whipped once proud Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kiev 4-0 while a second-string Arsenal side drew 0-0 away at Slavia Prague -- a team they trounced 7-0 a fortnight ago.

It was a night of doubles all round as the two Italian sides in action Inter Milan and Roma both came from behind -- doubles by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Esteban Cambiasso inspiring Inter to a 4-2 win over CSKA Moscow while despite a brace from Liedson Sporting Lisbon conceded a late equalizer to Roma to only draw 2-2 at home.

Likewise a double by Mario Gomez was not enough to save VfB Stuttgart from exiting the competition as they went down 4-2 away at Lyon, for whom Hatem Ben Arfa also scored twice as they crept to within a point of second placed Rangers, who lost 2-0 away at Barcelona.

Barcelona's fellow Spaniards Sevilla are all but certain to qualify after Renato scored twice in a 2-0 win -- giving them a five-point advantage over Slavia Prague with two matches remaining -- over Steaua Bucharest and ending any hope Steaua coach Marius Lacatus had of emulating his 1986 European Cup win as a player with the club.

Ferguson, while delighted to have reached the knockout stage, wasn't wholly satisfied with Manchester United's performance against Dynamo Kiev.

"It took time for us to really open up the game," Ferguson said. "We needed a break and we got one for the first goal. The second was an excellent piece of football and in the second half we could have scored more goals, although we could also have lost some."

However, while the fiery Scot is known for his bluntness he would have to go some to match his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleg Luzhny.

"We had no discipline, no organization and we just did not play well and they should have scored more," said the former Soviet and Ukraine international, who is standing in for Josef Szabo after he had a heart attack last weekend.

Wenger, who clashed once again on Tuesday with Ferguson over the amount of foreign players that should be allowed to play, with the latter supporting FIFA president Sepp Blatter's initiative to limit the amount, was also pleased to have progressed.

Instead of being disappointed by Arsenal drawing 0-0 against Slavia Prague, Wenger took heart from the result.

"To win away from home in the Champions League is always difficult, especially against a team who felt humiliated after we beat them 7-0 in the first game," the Frenchman said. "You know you face a tough challenge so on that side it is a good learning process."

Inter coach Roberto Mancini was relieved to see his side once again come from behind to beat the Russian side, though, he admitted to being a little scared of losing at one point.

"We weren't too sure of ourselves at the beginning of the match, but that may have been down to the atmosphere as there weren't many people in the stadium," the former Sampdoria and Italy star said.

"In no way, though, was it because we underestimated our opponents, but the two goals they scored woke us up. We knew it would be difficult because they are strong up front. However, the players knew how to get their way back into the match," he said.

Barcelona's Dutch handler Frank Rijkaard was pleased that his star-studded frontline of Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi had broken down a defensive-minded Rangers side and poured praise on his forwards afterwards.

"It was the best display this season from our forwards," the Dutch coach said.
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