Milan and Man. City reach knock-out stage
CSKA Moscow, St Etienne also through
Former winners CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, St Etienne and Italian giants Milan became the first teams to reach the knock-out phase of this season's UEFA Cup last night.
The Russian side, the 2005 champions, made it three wins from three in the group stage yesterday after a 2-1 win at home over Poland's Lech Poznan in Group H to reach the last 32 with a game to spare.
First-half goals from Alan Dzagoev and Russian international Yuri Zhirkov put CSKA, runners-up to unfashionable Rubin Kazan in the Russian championship that ended earlier this month, in control before Semir Stilic pulled one back after the break.
At Fratton Park, Milan fought back from two goals down to grab a dramatic point that also put them through to the next stage.
The Serie A giants were left staring at defeat when with ten minutes to go they were trailing the English club 2-0.
Younes Kaboul put Pompey ahead with a firm header on 62 minutes and Nwankwo Kanu thumped home a second goal 11 minutes later.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti drafted in Brazilian pair Ronaldinho and Pato in a bid to salvage the result and the move reaped the desired dividends.
Six minutes from time Ronaldinho pulled a goal back for the Italians after curling the ball home from a free-kick while Filippo Inzaghi grabbed an injury time equalizer to leave Milan on top of Group E with seven points.
Turkish champions Galatasaray wasted the chance to guarantee their passage from Group B after Brazilian midfielder Edmar's goal nine minutes from time gave Ukraine's Metalist Kharkiv a late win at the Ali Sami Yen stadium.
St Etienne were another qualifier to the knock-out stages. The French side drew at Club Bruges 1-1 to remain on top of Group G with seven points and cannot finish under the top three places.
Manchester City made light of Brazilian striker Robinho's absence through injury to move top of Group A with an impressive 2-0 win over Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen to progress to the next round.
Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari tapped in at the far post on 32 minutes after Daniel Sturridge's low cross across goal had bisected a host of Schalke defenders.
Ireland midfielder Stephen Ireland doubled City's advantage midway through the second half when he poked in from Benjani's deflected flick.
Spurs continued their resurgence under manager Harry Redknapp, making it seven wins from nine matches in all competitions since he took charge with a 1-0 victory away at NEC Nijmegen in Group D.
Jamie O'Hara got the only goal from close range after 14 minutes, following up after Fraizer Campbell had struck the crossbar.