Champions' League: Juventus Through But Rangers & Red Star Crash
Juventus survived a nervy second leg in Sweden to qualify for the Champions League group stages on a night that saw Scottish side Rangers and 1991 European Champions Red Star Belgrade eliminated.
Juventus, rocked by the concession of two away goals in Turin a fortnight ago, proved too strong for Djurgardens this time and ran out 4-1 winners in Sweden. Alessandro Del Piero settled Italian nerves with a tenth minute opener, but Djurgardens went back in front on the away goals rule with a 19th minute equaliser from Johan Arneng. However, the Italians responded in style with a David Trezeguet double (34, 86) sandwiching a Pavel Nedved strike on 54 that effectively killed the tie.
Meanwhile, Rangers bowed out in front of their own fans with a 1-1 draw against CSKA Moscow. The Russians, dismissed by some myopic sections of the British media before the first leg, held a 2-1 advantage from the first tie, and added to it through Silva Vagner Love on 61. Rangers equalised on the night through Steve Thompson on 88, but could not find the vital second that would have forced extra time despite laying seige to the Russian goal.
Red Star Belgrade were crushed 5-0 in Eindhoven by a rampant PSV. Two goals from Mark van Bommel, and strikes from Damarcus Beasley, John de Jong, and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink destroyed the Serbians and assured PSV of group stage involvement once again.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United eased past Dinamo Bucharest thanks to three second half goals from Alan Smith (47, 50) and David Bellion (70). Dinamo Kiev also progressed after a 2-0 win in Trabzon against Trabzonspor of Turkey. 2002 finalists Bayer Leverkusen qualified despite a 2-1 loss in Ostrava against Banik. The German side had already won the tie at the BayArena and held a 5-0 advantage. Sparta Prague needed extra time to oust Ferencvaros, but completed a 2-0 win to progress. Shaktar Dontesk eliminated Club Brugge 6-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw in Belgium. Finally, Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv became the first Israeli side to make the group stages with a 1-0 win over PAOK Salonika giving them a 4-0 aggregate success.
In the evening's late game, two goals from Ronaldo sealed Real Madrid's place in the group stage at the expence of Wisla Krakow.