Simao is Atletico’s star

Published : Nov 01, 2008 00:00 IST

LiverpoolÙs defence self-destructed just seven minutes from the finish when they appeared headed for a deserving victory. Andy Hunter reports.

First it was UEFA and now Liverpool have become the second European power to threaten Atletico Madrid with serious punishment only to grant them a reprieve at the last. A 100% start and a stranglehold on Group D were seven minutes away for Rafael Benitez’s team at Vicente Calderon when their defence self-destructed and Simao returned to haunt them in the Champions League once again.

Fortunately for Atletico and Liverpool’s travelling support, though not for those who missed Robbie Keane’s 14th-minute opener due to problems entering the stadium before kick-off, this eagerly anticipated affair proved a test only of their team’s suitability for the European spotlight. For the supporters and security staff who provoked a two-match stadium ban and £120,000 fine from UEFA last week, a ban postponed until after Liverpool’s visit, they were merely subdued by the visitors’ early superiority, then enthused by Atletico’s stirring second-half response. With seven points apiece, the early pacesetters in the group remain firm favourites to advance to the knock-out phase.

Liverpool impressed for large periods of this match and but for wastefulness in front of goal from Keane, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel, plus an ignored penalty claim from Albert Riera, they would have given their manager a triumphant homecoming to the Spanish capital.

Then tiredness visibly set in, evidenced by Steven Gerrard’s withdrawal on the hour, and it took everything the Liverpool defence had left to prevent themselves becoming a victim of the sort of comebacks that have shaped their season. Perhaps too many relentless chases to the line took their toll here. It certainly looked that way as Jamie Carragher erred in the build-up to Simao’s 83rd-minute equaliser and Jose Reina prevented the unmarked Miguel from giving Atletico a famous victory moments later.

The occasion was ultimately more satisfying than the contest thanks to the evident appreciation for a Liverpool side managed by a Madrileno and containing four Spaniards in the starting XI, though not the injured Fernando Torres, whose name still adorned the shirts of many in the home crowd 15 months after his departure for Anfield. It was reciprocated too, with Luis Garcia and Florent Sinama-Pongolle facing their former club for the first time since leaving Liverpool. All told, this was never going to be a litmus test of the Atletico support after their censure by UEFA and enraged response to it.

Liverpool began with the efficiency that has been their hallmark in Europe rather than the Premier League this season. Atletico’s hesitant, weak defence swiftly became of more concern to the majority in the Calderon than UEFA’s slight on their reputation and they were prised apart with devastating results after only 14 minutes. Xabi Alonso instigated the move with a ball to Gerrard, who threaded a perfectly weighted pass between Alvaro Dominguez and Antonio Lopez and Keane collected the delivery in his stride and drove a fine finish low under Leo Franco. It was simple yet superb and the passionate home supporters were silenced.

The Atletico response was initially fitful until they were transformed in the second half and became rampant against Alvaro Arbeloa on the Liverpool right. Maniche was deprived a legitimate equaliser when he curled a right-foot finish beyond Reina but was wrongly adjudged offside as he collected Diego Forlan’s pass into the area. Seconds later, the Liverpool goalkeeper made an outstanding save to tip a low drive from Simao on to the far post.

Liverpool’s accuracy in possession removed the sting from Atletico’s recovery and Benayoun squandered a glorious opening when Alonso and Javier Mascherano fashioned a carbon-copy of Keane’s goal only for the Israeli to delay his shot far too long. It proved a costly lapse.

With Liverpool under increasing pressure, Carragher misread a hopeful punt forwards and Forlan seized on the slip to release Simao wide on the left. The Portuguese international, who scored when Benfica ended Liverpool’s defence of the Champions League in 2006, would not be denied by Reina this time, finding the far corner with an inch-perfect finish.

THE RESULTS

October 22: Atletico Madrid 1 (Simao 83) drew with Liverpool 1 (Keane 14). Half-time: 0-1; Basle 0 lost to Barcelona 5 (Messi 4, Busquets 15, Bojan 22 & 46, Xavi 48). Half-time: 0-3; Bordeaux 1 (Cadu o.g. 54) bt CFR Cluj-Napoca 0. Half-time: 0-0; Chelsea 1 (Terry 78) bt Roma 0. Half-time: 0-0; Inter Milan 1 (Adriano 44) bt Anorthosis Famagusta 0. Half-time: 1-0; PSV Eindhoven 2 (Koevermans 71 & 85) bt Marseille 0. Half-time: 0-0; Panathinaikos 2 (Mantzios 36 & 68) drew with Werder Bremen 2 (Mertesacker 29, Hugo Almeida 83). Half-time: 1-1; Shakhtar Donetsk 0 lost to Sporting Lisbon 1 (Liedson 76). Half-time: 0-0.

October 21: Bayern Munich 3 (Klose 4, Schweinsteiger 25, Ze Roberto 90) bt Fiorentina 0. Half-time: 2-0; FC Porto 0 lost to Dynamo Kiev 1 (Aliev 27). Half-time: 0-1; Fenerbahce 2 (Silvestre o.g. 19, Guiza 78) lost to Arsenal 5 (Adebayor 10, Walcott 11, Diaby 21, Song Billong 49, Ramsey 90+4). Half-time: 1-3; Juventus 2 (Del Piero 5, Amauri 49) bt Real Madrid 1 (van Nistelrooy 66). Half-time: 1-0; Manchester United 3 (Berbatov 30 & 51, Rooney 76) bt Celtic 0. Half-time: 1-0; Steaua Bucharest 3 (Arthuro 8, Goian 11, Petre 45) lost to Lyon 5 (Keita 23, Benzema 33 & 72, Fred 69 & 90+2). Half-time: 3-2; Villarreal 6 (Rossi 28, Capdevila 33, Llorente 67, 70 & 84, Pires 79) bt AaB Aalborg 3 (Saganowski 20, Enevoldsen 36, Johansson 77). Half-time: 2-2; Zenit St Petersburg 1 (Tekke 80) drew with BATE Borisov 1 (Nekhaychik 52). Half-time: 0-0.

©Guardian Newspapers Limited 2008

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