MADRID, 26 March 2004 — Real Madrid turned on the style in the second half to earn a deserved 4-2 win over Monaco in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg here on Wednesday.
Second-half goals from Sebastien Squillaci - the Monaco defender putting through his own net after opening the scoring at the other end just before half time — and Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo sealed victory.
However the reigning Spanish champions endured some uncomfortable moments before they finally took control midway through the second period.
Zidane hit the post after 30 minutes and the hosts had the better of the first half but Squillaci opened the scoring two minutes before the break, tapping the ball home during a goalmouth scramble.
Real left the field at the break with more than the referee’s whistle ringing in their ears.
Pires Gives Gunners the Edge
In London, Robert Pires denied Chelsea a first win over Arsenal in 17 attempts as the Gunners emerged from their trip across London with a 1-1 draw and a crucial edge to take into the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.
A spirited Chelsea performance had seemed destined to be rewarded with the victory their fans have been waiting on for five and a half years when Eidur Gudjohnsen charged down a Jens Lehmann clearance to give them a deserved lead seven minutes after the break.
But their hopes were dashed six minutes later when Pires rose above the Blues defense to head Ashley Cole’s chip from the left of the box past a helpless Marco Ambrosio.
Chelsea will now travel to Highbury in two weeks’ time knowing they must score if they are to progress and without the reassuring presence of Marcel Desailly, who was sent off seven minutes from time after for a sliding tackle on Patrick Vieira having already been booked for knocking the ball out of Lehmann’s hands.It was supposed to be a sophisticated European production with a multi-national cast. But there was a predictably English robustness to the clattering challenges that punctuated the opening scenes.
Equally predictably, it was the artistry of Henry which first interrupted the frenzied pattern of the early exchanges.
Lurking on the left, the Frenchman’s unrivalled radar enabled him to detect Lauren on the right touchline and then find him with a exquisitely threaded cross-field pass.
The Cameroon right-back in turn found Bergkamp on the edge of the area and the Dutch veteran’s curled shot drew a good save from Ambrosio diving low to his left.
Arsenal soon went close again when Sol Campbell’s far post header from a Bergkamp free-kick slipped the wrong side of Ambrosio’s upright. Carlo Cudicini’s stand-in had it covered but it hardly made for comforting viewing for the home supporters, who had had to content themselves with a solitary Adrian Mutu free-kick that flew straight at Lehmann.
Gradually however the home side began to serve up more appetizing fare.
Saudi Arabia, Oman 1-1 in Athens Qualifiers
In Dammam, Saudi Arabia and Oman drew 1-1 in a qualifying match for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games on Wednesday.
Saleh Bashir put Saudi Arabia ahead after volleying a fine shot into the Oman net in the 18th minute of the first half.
Hashim Saleh equalized in the 90th minute of the game. Saudi Arabia have five points from three matches in the Group C of the Asian qualifiers. Iraq lead with six points while Kuwait prop up the rest, with a point with Oman ahead on goal difference.
