Italian Job...

Last night's UEFA Cup games saw Sampdoria sore, Udinese holding their cool on penalties and Milan prosper while Napoli's dreams ended after they fell in Lisbon.

It was arguably the toughest game out of the Italian quartet and for a team with nothing to back them up on but passion due to very little experience there were bound to be some difficulties for Edy Reja's men. After holding their wit for the first 45 minutes and trying to maintain their slender lead, Reyes slotted home the ball to bring the score aggregate even; but the away goals put the Portugese in front. While the ex-Fiorentina man, Nuno Gomes, put the game out of Napoli's reach as he headed home their second in the 83th minute.

It was a sad end to what could have been an exciting European campaign for the Napolitani but no doubt the fans of the Stadio San Paolo will be seeing their team playing in it soon.

While another team that were also left to nearly curse the away goal rule was Udinese. The bianconeri were made to sweat as their impressive 2-0 away win in Germany against Borussia Dortmund was turned around. The Germans fought their way back with two late goals in either half. Tamas Hajnal opened the scoring in the 45th minute, raising the Fruilani's blood-pressure. It looked like the Bianconeri would scrape through but all was destroyed as Hajnal striked again in the 90th minute sending to to extra-time and then penalties.

Ironically it was Borussia's hero Hajnal who missed his penalty as Handanovic saved it, while Domizzi also missed Udinese's opening penalty. Due to
Jakub Blaszcykowosky missing his penalty all was left was for Alekzandar Lukovic to keep calm and place it in the back of the net. And he did so to book Udinese a spot in the Group stages winning

4-3 on penalties. Shevchenko was the man of the evening for the rossoneri as his only goal of the game saw Milan triumph with a 4-1 aggregate of the Swiss side in Zurich. Milan's win in the match day one against Zurich seemed to rekindle their winning spirit and the rossoneri certainly haven't stopped. They will be one of the favourites to go all the way and there will certainly be a close eye kept on them.

In Kuanas it was almost certain that Samp were going to make it through after their 5-0 thrashing in Genoa.But it was the home side that took the lead through Zelmikas in the17th minute. The blucerchiati struggled a bit but found the equaliser through Fornaroli and the lead was later doubled by Bonazzoli rounding up an emphatic 7-1 aggregate win. Walter Mazzarri's men looking impressive in Europe.


Comments

Popular Posts