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Arsenal beat Hamburg 2-1
Arsenal won its Champions League opener in a similar way it lost last season's final, beating 10-man Hamburg 2-1 in Group G on Wednesday.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:36 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Munich, Germany:
Arsenal won its Champions League opener in a similar way it lost last season's final, beating 10-man Hamburg 2-1 in Group G on Wednesday. Hamburg goalkeeper Sascha Kirschstein gave away a penalty and was sent off - like Arsenal No. 1 Jens Lehmann when the Gunners lost 2-1 to FC Barcelona in the May final. Gilberto Silva converted the 12th-minute penalty and Tomas Rosicky doubled Arsenal's lead with a 20-meter shot in the 53rd minute. Boubacar Sanogo pulled a goal back for Hamburg in injury time. Arsenal captain Thierry Henry was missing with a foot injury, while Hamburg playmaker Rafael van der Vaart was also injured. A long goal kick by Lehmann found Emmanuel Adebayor on the left and he passed to Robin van Persie, who was tripped by Kirschstein's hand as he tried to round him. Swedish referee Fredrik Nilsson pointed to the spot and sent Kirschstein off, while Hamburg coach Thomas Doll took off midfielder Raphael Vicky to bring in reserve No. 1 Stefan Waechter. Waechter dived the right way, but Gilberto's spot kick was too accurate. In the 35th, Emmanuel Eboue shot wide from the edge of the area after being left unmarked. Playmaker Rosicky scored the second goal with a right-footed shot into the upper right corner. Waechter did well to stop a free kick by van Persie in the 67th, while Hamburg's Piotr Trochowski hit the crossbar in the 89th for the home team's only chance until Sanogo's late strike. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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