|
Henry magic gives Arsenal 1-0 win over Real
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-22 08:48
MADRID, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Arsenal made a sensational return to form when a
virtuoso solo goal from Thierry Henry earned them a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in
the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie at the Bernabeu on
Tuesday.
Arsenal's Thierry
Henry fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos during their
Champions League first knockout first leg soccer match at Santiago
Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, February 21, 2006.
[Reuters] | The French striker brushed off three
challenges as he weaved his way into the area from close to the halfway line and
steered a shot low past Iker Casillas two minutes after halftime to give Arsenal
victory in the first ever European meeting between the two sides.
The goal was just reward for the way a largely depleted Arsenal side carried
the game to Real in the first half, when they created three scoring chances in
the opening 15 minutes, and then defended superbly against an uninspired Real
strike force.
It was Real's first home defeat in the competition since they lost 1-0 to AS
Roma in the group stage in October 2002 and the first time in 19 home European
games that they have not managed to find the back of the net.
For Arsenal the victory made them the first ever English side to win at the
Bernabeu and was their fourth successive away win in the competition, and their
fifth without conceding a goal home or away.
More importantly perhaps it left them on the verge of booking their place in
the quarter-finals in the second leg at Highbury in two weeks time.
CONFIDENT MOOD
The Londoners, who have experienced a worrying slump in form since their
impressive qualification for the knockout stage at the start of December, looked
to be in confident mood on their return to European competition.
Henry sliced through the Real midfield with barely a minute on the clock
before slipping a neat pass to Jose Antonio Reyes on the left.
The Spaniard fired off a sharp shot after darting into the area, but Casillas
got a hand to it to beat the ball away for a corner.
Six minutes later Henry threaded another great ball past the static Real back
four, but this time Freddie Ljunberg was unable to take advantage.
|
