Shatskih scores, Kiev side wins over the Gunners of England

[Muhlis off]

Maxim Shatskikh inspires Dynamo to victory over Arsenal
22.10.2003 02:22



Dynamo Kiev took a giant stride towards the knockout stages of the Champions League and edged Arsenal towards elimination when they beat the visiting English league leaders 2-1 in their Group B match on Tuesday. Earlier, Lokomotiv Moscow trounced rudderless Inter 3-0 to stun Europe´s supposed big names.

Goals from Maxim Shatskikh (27) and Valentin Belkevich (63) gave Kiev victory after poor Arsenal defending and took them on to six points from their three matches, the same as Inter Milan. Lokomotiv Moscow have four points and Arsenal one.

Kiev sealed the victory when they took advantage of a mistake by Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, Eurosport reported.

He came out of his area to chest the ball down but only cleared it into the path of Belkevich, who ran on to the loose ball and turned it into the empty net from 20 metres.

Shatskikh had volleyed home from 10 metres in the 27th minute to open the scoring after a mix-up between Edu and Gilberto Silva in the Arsenal defence.

Thierry Henry pulled one back for Arsenal with a close-range shot 10 minutes from time -- their first goal in this season´s competition -- but it was too late to save the Gunners from their second defeat in three Group B matches.

Kolo Toure hit the bar in the third minute of stoppage time but Kiev held on to take the three points.

Lokomotiv Moscow shattered the 100 percent record of Inter Milan in this season´s Champions League on Tuesday with a shock 3-0 victory over the Italians in the Russian capital.

It was hardly the performance that owner Massimo Moratti was looking for in Inter´s first match since the sacking of coach Hector Cuper.

Lokomotiv, who had not scored a goal in their opening two Group B matches, produced a superb display against an Inter team still reeling after the sacking of their Argentine coach Hector Cuper on Sunday.

Less than two minutes into the match Lokomotiv captain Dmitry Loskov surprised the visitors when he converted Maxim Buznikin´s cross from the right wing to make it 1-0.

Georgia striker Mikheil Ashvetia and Russian international Dmitry Khokhlov, with an imperious header, completed the rout with two goals seven minutes apart shortly after the interval.
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Cool!!!! 8)

Belkevich breaks Arsenal hearts
Tuesday, 21 October 2003
FC Dynamo Kyiv moved joint top of Group B after they held on to beat Arsenal FC 2-1 following a frantic finale at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium.



Ashley Cole (right) of Arsenal FC challenges FC Dynamo Kyiv's Oleg Gusev


Miserable run
The result means that Arsenal's miserable run in Europe continues: they have now gone five games without a win in the former Soviet Union and, of more concern, eight games since their last victory in this competition. Until Thierry Henry’s late consolation, they were the only team still in the UEFA Champions League yet to score.

Moment of madness
The London side are three points adrift at the bottom of Group B. Their European fortunes were summed up by the crucial second goal from Valentin Belkevich which came after a moment of madness from goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Belkevich winner
There looked to be no danger when the German rushed out of his area to block a Kyiv through-ball. But his clearance went straight to the opposition and put him back under pressure. As Oleg Gusev challenged with Lehmann for the return pass, the ball broke to Belkevich who rolled it into an empty net from 30 metres out.

Right-sided danger
Dynamo's most incisive forward play had originated down the right flank, where Belarussian midfield player Belkevich was impressive. He frequently left Robert Pires chasing him as he burst towards an isolated Ashley Cole.

Pires goes close
It could have been a different story for Pires if his header from an early Henry corner had been centimetres lower. The Frenchman winced in frustration as the ball struck the crossbar. Just before the break, Edu had a free header but directed the ball into the ground which made it comfortable for Oleksandr Shovkovskiy to save.

Shatskikh threatens
Despite that, Dynamo had the better of the first period, crafting two excellent opportunities before the opening goal. Lehmann had dived sharply to his right to keep out a low Maksim Shatskikh drive after ten minutes and soon after, was relieved to see the same player’s overhead effort go wide.
Opening goal
Dynamo eventually broke the deadlock after 26 minutes, when Arsenal's midfield duo Gilberto and Edu both stood off Jerko Leko as he burst through on goal. The Croatian's shot cannoned off the heel of Shatskikh and against Kolo Touré to allow the Uzbekistan striker time to volley home from 14 metres.

Parlour driving force
Dynamo defended deeper in the second half and almost paid for it when a neat step-over from Sylvain Wiltord left Cole in space on the edge of the area. However, the England international defender slipped as he shot and sliced the ball wide. Spurred on by Ray Parlour, the only player from the Arsenal lineup that lost to the same opposition when they last played five years ago, the visitors kept pushing forward.

Vieira introduced
Pires was next to go close when he toed the ball just wide of the goal after jinking round two defenders. Patrick Vieira came off the bench after that but just when the visitors looked like clawing their way back into the game, Lehmann stormed out of his area and lost his cool.

Henry scores again
The late introductions of substitutes Fredrik Ljungberg and Nwankwo Kanu helped Arsenal drag themselves back into the game. After 78 minutes, Kanu cut the ball back to Pires, whose cross was side-footed home from close range by Henry, the only Arsenal player to score away from home in the last 12 months in Europe.

Late drama
In the dying minutes, Lehmann came up for corners as Arsenal looked to sneak a draw, and they came so close. After a long-range snapshot from Wiltord, Shovkovskiy did well to stop a point-blank Kanu effort. And then came the cruellest moment: Touré shot against the crossbar with one minute left to play. It was destined to be Dynamo's night.

[turkestan]

Duo dazzle in Group B
Wednesday, 22 October 2003
FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Lokomotiv Moskva recorded convincing Group B victories yesterday on a night where Juventus FC, Galatasaray SK, RSC Anderlecht and RC Deportivo La Coruña also savoured success.

Superb performance
Dynamo defeated Arsenal FC 2-1 in the Ukrainian capital to move to the top of Group B alongside Internazionale FC, who were beaten 3-0 by a Lokomotiv side who arguably produced the performance of the first round of Matchday 3 matches with a majestic display in the Russian capital.

Dynamo hold on
Maksim Shatskikh opened the scoring for Dynamo against an Arsenal side yet to win in the section. The English team's chances of getting back into the game were dashed when Valentin Belkevich capitalised on some errant goalkeeping from Jens Lehmann and although Thierry Henry reduced arrears, Dynamo held on.

No scare
There was no such scare in Moscow as Lokomotiv breezed past an Inter side coached for the first, and last, time by Corrado Verdelli before Alberto Zaccheroni takes over permanently from the sacked Héctor Cúper. Dmitri Loskov, influential throughout, Mikheil Ashvetia and Dmitri Khokhlov were Lokomotiv's scorers.

Goals aplenty in Turin
Group D was the place to be for goals as Juventus defeated Real Sociedad de Fútbol 4-2 in Turin to move three points clear of the Spanish contenders. David Trezeguet and Marco Di Vaio both scored twice for last season's beaten finalists, who conceded late goals when Igor Tudor put through his own net and Javier De Pedro struck. Cihan Haspolatli scored the only goal of the section's other game as Galatasaray overcame Olympiacos CFP to secure their first points.

Bayern denied
Group A leaders FC Bayern München were denied a victory when Olympique Lyonnais striker Péguy Luyindula scored with two minutes remaining at the Stade Gerland. The prolific Dutchman Roy Makaay beat the offside trap and Grégory Coupet to move Bayern ahead, only for Lyon to level and climb to four points, one behind the German champions. Lyon are joined on their tally by Anderlecht after their defeat of Celtic FC, Aruna Dindane scoring after Glen De Boeck had been sent off.

Depor leave it late
AEK Athens FC also had a man dismissed, Kofi Amponsah in the 65th minute, as they lost 1-0 to PSV Eindhoven, Theo Lucius securing maximum points for the Dutch champions who moved above the Greek side in Group C. RC Deportivo La Coruña top the group after Diego Tristán scored with five minutes remaining against AS Monaco FC, who are second. Matchday 3 concludes with Wednesday's eight matches.