Pro Eleven Headline News

Champions League round-up

Manchester United equalled a UEFA Champions League record, but Arsenal slumped to defeat at Porto and Celtic gained a first win.

Holders United were given a scare at home to AaB Aalborg as Sir Alex Ferguson's side did just enough to stretch their unbeaten record in the competition to 19 games.

Celtic ended their European adventure for the season on a winning note as the SPL champions put on an impressive display against Villarreal at Parkhead.

But Arsenal missed out on top spot in Group G after defeat at Porto allowed the 2004 winners to nick first place.

Danish side Aalborg threatened to pull off a shock result at Old Trafford before reigning champions United came back to draw 2-2 and take top spot in Group E.

United enjoyed a dream start by taking the lead after just three minutes as Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney combined for the Welsh veteran to lift the ball into the path of Carlos Tevez, who clipped a fine shot past Karim Zaza.

But the rhythm slowly went out of United's play and Aalborg grabbed a shock equaliser on 32 minutes when Anders Due's free-kick was glanced past stand-in keeper Tomasz Kuszczak by the unmarked Michael Jakobsen.

The Danes silenced Old Trafford again in first-half injury-time as Due's cross-field pass picked out the unmarked Jeppe Curth and his superb header arced inside the far post.

The Red Devils were quick to draw level early in the second half as Anderson's excellent pass fed Rooney and he drilled a fierce shot past Zaza.

Celtic may have to settle for bottom spot, but at least finished the group phase on a positive note after a 2-0 win over Villarreal.

There was a suspicion of offside about Celtic's opening goal on 14 minutes as Mark Wilson got to the by-line and dug out a cross which was headed home at the back post by Shaun Maloney.

Villarreal were reduced to 10 men on 35 minutes when striker Guille Franco was sent off for appearing to elbow Gary Caldwell in the stomach, with the decision made on the advice of the linesman.

Celtic headed in at half-time in an even chirpier mood as Aiden McGeady strode forward from the centre circle before firing home a low left-footed shot from the edge of the area.

A much-changed Arsenal team marked Arsene Wenger's 700th game at the helm with a 2-0 away defeat at the hands of Porto.

Porto were in front six minutes before half-time when Bruno Alves rose powerfully to head Raul Meireles' corner beyond Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal's woes increased on 54 minutes when Lisandro Lopez escaped a shoddy offside trap to race clear on goal and place his shot past Almunia.

Dynamo Kiev clinched Uefa Cup football in the spring after a battling 1-0 home success over last season's quarter-finalists Fenerbahce.

Kiev capitalised on poor goalkeeping to take a 20th minute lead as Roman Eremenko latched on to Artem Milevskiy's pass and slotted the ball through Volkan Demirel's legs, with the Fenerbahce No.1 rashly having come off his line.

Fenerbahce finished the game with 10 men when Claudio Maldonado was sent off for fighting deep into injury-time.

Claudio Ranieri's Juventus took top spot in Group H after finishing the stage with a 0-0 draw at home to BATE Borisov.

Juventus wasted the best chance to score on 53 minutes when highly-rated midfielder Sebastian Giovinco smacked a penalty over the bar after Mikhail Sivakov was penalised for handball.

Real Madrid finished level on points with Juventus after a 3-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg in Juande Ramos' first match in charge.

Vyacheslav Malafeev was at fault for Real's goal on 25 minutes as he failed to gather in a cross and the Zenit keeper was unable to claim possession of the loose ball before Raul reacted to score from close range.

Raul was the architect of Real's second goal on 50 minutes when his pass split the Zenit defence and Arjen Robben produced a wonderfully nonchalant finish over Malafeev.

The roles were reversed on 57 minutes when Robben's magnificent pass picked out Raul on the edge of the box and the skipper dinked a delightful chip into the corner of the goal.

Bayern Munich took pole position in Group F after a thrilling 3-2 victory at closest rivals Lyon.

Bayern ripped into Lyon in the first half and were ahead on 11 minutes when Miroslav Klose produced a cool finish after the hosts fluffed several opportunities to clear.

Franck Ribery increased the lead on 34 minutes when the France international raced on to a clever reverse pass from Luca Toni to guide a shot past Hugo Lloris.

And, just three minutes later, Ribery whipped in a cross from the left to the far post where Klose was waiting to place high into the net.

Lyon were an improved team after the break and pulled a goal back on 53 minutes when Sidney Govou pounced from close range after Ederson's shot had been parried.

The French champions then grabbed another on 68 minutes as the ball broke for Karim Benzema on the edge of the area, and he glided into the area and past keeper Michael Rensing before slotting into the net.

Fiorentina will be playing Uefa Cup football in the spring after edging a 1-0 triumph away to Steaua Bucharest.

A dour game was enlivened on 66 minutes when Alberto Gilardino deftly guided Juan Vargas' corner inside the far post.

Steaua's chances of getting back into the match were dealt a blow six minutes later when Pawel Golanski was sent off for a second bookable offence after a foul on Vargas. SkySports


Flamengo fans outraged by Ronaldo's choice to train with rival team

"Phenomenal Traitor". The headline summed up the emotion felt by the Flamengo faithful following news three-time FIFA player of the year Ronaldo - who has been training with his hometown club for the past four months - is going to archrival Corinthians.

The headline was splashed across the Rio de Janeiro sports daily Lance on Wednesday, a day after the player nicknamed "The Phenomenon" and scorer of more World Cup goals than any other man decided to join Corinthians.

Ronaldo's decision to join a Sao Paulo club was a slap in the face, compounded by the fact that he has been recuperating and training with the Flamengo squad and using their facilities for four months since a major knee injury whilst playing for AC Milan in February put him out of action.

Each day Ronaldo trained at Flamengo - Brazil's most popular club - fans would line the chain-link fence surrounding the practice pitch, many wearing shirts with "Stay Ronaldo" emblazoned upon them.

On Tuesday, when news broke the 32-year-old striker had chosen Corinthians, those shirts and Ronaldo jerseys from various teams he has played for were burned by angry fans outside the club's headquarters.

Ronaldo said he understood the anger, but that only Corinthians had offered him a contract.

"I understand perfectly - I'm openly a Flamengo fan," he told the SporTV television channel. "But I was training with Flamengo for four months and didn't receive any offer. Corinthians made an offer that will let me continue my career."

Flamengo officials said they were the last to know.

"I was surprised by the news," said Marcio Braga, president of Flamengo. "It was a disappointment. He said he wanted to stay here, he was training here. Flamengo did not receive even one 'thank you."'

Braga acknowledged that Flamengo had not offered up a contract, but said they didn't want to extend one to an injured player, as it could be "bad for him, he would be too anxious to play" before fully recovering.

Ronaldo has battled serious injuries throughout his career, including a right knee injury that kept him sidelined for nearly a year in 2000. He recovered in time to lead Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, scoring eight goals in the tournament, including two in the final against Germany. Canadian Press


Quaresma Wins 'Golden Bin' Award

Quaresma has been awarded the Golden Bin for his football, which can only be described as rubbish so far this season...

Inter striker Ricardo Quaresma has always stated his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or award but he will have to settled for the 'Golden Bin' accolade this season.

The award is given to the worst player of the season by Italian radio station Radio 2.

The disappointed loser this year with 17 percent of the votes is Quaresma, who even beat old war-horse Christian Vieri.

Adriano, who received the bin - and Roberto Mancini's boot - last year, finished third, in front of former Milan striker Ronaldo and Rossoneri stars Nelson Dida and Andriy Shevchenko.

Juventus flop Tiago Mendes finished in ninth place.

The 'Golden Bin' is not the prize everyone wants for Christmas, but it's what the former Porto midifielder deserves as his form so far has not justified the €18.6 million spent on him in the summer. Goal