Liverpool drew 1-1 with Porto at the Estadio de Dragao in Portugal, ending the game with only 10 men. Jermaine Pennant was sent off in the 58th minute after receiving a second yellow card.
Liverpool conceded after only 8 minutes when Jose Reina was adjudged to have taken down a Porto player. Lucho Gonzalez converted the penalty kick, sending a hopeless Reina in the wrong direction. Liverpool were lucky to equalize only 9 minutes later when Sami Hyypia headed a ball to Dirk Kuyt who's head directed the ball to the back of the net.
If they were lucky to convert, they were even luckier to have escaped with a point. Porto threatened to overrun Liverpool from the beginning, and the statistics speak for themselves: Liverpool managed only 2 shots throughout the entire game as compared to Porto's 14. The Possession was 57% to 43% in Porto's favor. The Anfielders will need to do better next month if they hope to advance to the finals (yet alone the knockout stages) again.
Chelsea's game was more in their favor, but once again, the Premiership side failed to score goals. Without the injured Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, the Londoners had difficulty finding the back of the net despite enjoying 70% of the possession against unfavored Rosenborg.
Andriy Shevchenko scored the equalizer after Miika Koppinen gave the Norwegian club a surprise lead in the 24th minute. The Nordic minnows will be pleased with their performance, after the general consensus was that they would be run over by Jose Morinhou's expensive team of internationals. As with Liverpool, Chelsea will have to play far better if they hope to reach the knockout stages.
Tomorrow two more Premier League sides play: Arsenal and Manchester United. Arsenal take on Sevilla in what is sure to be a good match, while Alex Ferguson's side take on Sporting Lisbon. Match updates will be here soon after the games end.
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