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Rediff.com  » Sports » Monaco into last 16

Monaco into last 16

November 26, 2003 12:11 IST
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Monaco, down to nine men by the end of their Group C game, reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven.

PSV, whose qualification hopes are still alive after their 85th minute equaliser, also had a player sent off by Croatian referee Zlejko Siric early in a bizarre second period.

Spanish striker Fernando Morientes scored with a fine header to put Monaco ahead after 34 minutes and the home side, who beat Deportivo Coruna 8-3 in their previous match, appeared to be cruising to their fourth win in five Champions League matches.

But PSV substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink equalised with a header from a free kick given against Monaco's Andreas Zikos. He was sent off for a second yellow card for apparently picking the ball up because a team mate was injured.

Monaco captain Ludovic Giuly was then given a red card in the 88th minute for complaining about a bad tackle on a team mate and PSV could have stolen all three points but for a point blank save by Flavio Roma early in the six minutes of injury time.

Monaco have 10 points from five games, their only defeat coming last month at Deportivo, who beat AEK Athens 3-0 on Tuesday and also have 10 points.

PSV, who have seven points, must beat Deportivo 2-0 next month to become the other team to qualify from group C.

BLISTERING SHOT

PSV started the brighter side and Roma punched a blistering shot by Arjen Robben over the bar in the seventh minute.

The home defence was stretched by Robben down the right and Park Ji-sung through the middle, but Monaco settled after 20 minutes and began to put together the sort of football that has taken them to the top of the French league.

Midfielder Jerome Rothen was at the heart of most of their best moves and his free kick in the 33rd minute caused panic in the PSV penalty area before the danger was cleared.

Within a minute Monaco went ahead when defender Julien Rodriguez crossed from the right and Morientes rose to head the ball just inside Ronald Waterreus's left hand post.

The PSV defence was under pressure for the rest of the half in the face of Monaco's swift passing and darting runs from midfield.

They appeared to have little chance of a comeback when midfielder Theo Lucius was sent off in the 50th minute for a second yellow card.

His offence was taking a free kick too quickly. When it was finally taken Mateja Kezman's shot deflected off the Monaco wall and ricocheted narrowly wide with Roma stranded.

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Source: REUTERS
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