Roma and Riise in ruins but hope springs eternal

Shakhtar Donetsk's Luiz Adriano (L) shoots and scores past AS Roma's Philippe Mexes during their Champions League soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Rome February 16, 2011

Photo: Reuters

"Crisis" and "nightmare" were phrases bandied about by media on Thursday to describe AS Roma's 3-2 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, with John Arne Riise's slip for the third goal seen as symptomatic.

The last-16 first leg loss at home came after three games without a win in Serie A while the likely sale of the indebted club to an American consortium has added to the uncertainty surrounding under-fire coach Claudio Ranieri's future.

Ranieri has vowed not to quit and Riise, whose mistake let in Luiz Adriano for the Ukrainians' third on their knockout stage debut, tried to take the blame as Serie A was left reeling again following AC Milan's loss to Tottenham on Tuesday.

"I feel bad, my error was incredible. The fans are angry with me and I say sorry to everyone, team mates included. I don't think we played badly," Norwegian left back Riise, substituted at the break following the mistake, told Sky.

"I was ready to come back on but Ranieri told me I was coming off, I think for the error. I hope the fans know that I always give everything."

Roma took the lead in the 28th minute through midfielder Simone Perrotta's header but Shakhtar equalized a minute later through Jadson's fortunate deflection before fellow Brazilian Douglas Costa netted on 36 minutes.

Following Riise's aberration, Jeremy Menez picked his spot in the top corner after the break to give Roma some hope for the second leg in Ukraine on March 8.

Ranieri was upbeat about the performance and with a 2-0 win in Donetsk being enough to send the Romans through, the doom-mongers are perhaps a little premature despite Roma's eighth place in the Italian league.

New owners will also add impetus, whatever Ranieri's future, and a club the size of Roma can do little more than aspire to reach the Champions League last eight having surprised every fan in Italy with their stunning revival last season.

Whether Riise will be present in Donetsk remains to be seen.

AS Roma's Francesco Totti (L), Paolo Castellini and Nicolas Burdisso (R) react at the end of their Champions League soccer match against Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic stadium in Rome February 16, 2011. Shakhtar Donetsk won 3-2

Related Articles

• Blue seas and unspoiled beaches
• Investors cast greedy eye on Lao market
• Cyclo Challenge announces bigger better format
• Australia wants stronger cooperation to vocational education
• Young stars raise profile of Vietnam chess

Crouch sinks Milan in bad-tempered clash

Tottenham Hotspur's Peter Crouch (3rd L) celebrates with his team mate Niko Kranjcar at the end of the Champions League soccer match against AC Milan at the San Siro stadium in Milan February 15, 2011

Photo: Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur's debut season in the Champions League continued to gather momentum after a Peter Crouch goal sank below-par AC Milan in a 1-0 last 16 first-leg victory on Tuesday.

England striker Crouch struck 10 minutes from time following a swift counter-attack at a rain-soaked San Siro, extending Milan's poor recent home record in European competition to just one win in 10 games.

Serie A leaders Milan, seven-times European champions, struggled to impose themselves in a niggly encounter that flared up at various stages.

Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini was lucky just to be booked for a crude two-footed lunge that forced Vedran Corluka out of the game and Gennaro Gattuso is likely to face UEFA repercussions after appearing to headbutt Spurs assistant manager Joe Jordan after the final whistle.

Gattuso had to be pulled away from Jordan and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp branded the Italian firebrand "crazy".

"I lost control," Gattuso told reporters. "There is no excuse for what I have done. I take my responsibilities for that. I was nervous. I didn't want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done."

Redknapp also blasted Flamini, calling his challenge on Corluka a "horrendous".

"It was a deliberate tackle. He could have broken his leg. A referee should have red-carded him," an angry Redknapp told a news conference.

Crouch, who finished with aplomb from 10 meters after a lightning break from Aaron Lennon, said Spurs were the better side.

"I thought we deserved to win, we limited them to a few chances... defended magnificently.

"It was a great win, it's a fantastic achievement to beat Milan in the San Siro but the job is not finished."

The Premier League side, who lost 4-3 at the San Siro to Milan's city rivals Inter in the group stage in October, were the better side in the first half before Milan improved after the break.

Spurs had an early shout for a penalty turned down when the fit-again Rafael van der Vaart's effort appeared to strike Alessandro Nesta on the arm.

 

AC Milan's Mathieu Flamini (2nd R) argues with Tottenham Hotspur's Rafael van der Vaart after his tackle on Vedran Corluka (L) during their Champions League soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan February 15, 2011

Head injury

The home side lost goalkeeper Christian Abbiati after 18 minutes with a head injury. Abbiati went to hospital for checks on concussion and his replacement Marco Amelia had to touch a fierce Van der Vaart shot over the bar after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had fired a free kick wide in Milan's first meaningful chance.

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, with several midfielders such as Andrea Pirlo injured and the likes of Antonio Cassano ineligible, sent out a defensive-looking team with centre back Thiago Silva in midfield and in the first half it showed.

He threw on Brazil forward Alexandre Pato at the break and Milan's Mario Yepes had two headers well-saved by Heurelho Gomes.

Robinho had a close-range shot deflected wide and Milan thought they had equalized late in stoppage time but Ibrahimovic's spectacular overhead strike was ruled out for a push.

Related Articles

• Blue seas and unspoiled beaches
• ASEAN role sought to resolve temple conflict