PORTSMOUTH, 7 March 2004 — Holders Arsenal turned on the style to win 5-1 at Portsmouth in their FA Cup quarterfinal yesterday. Thierry Henry opened the scoring on 25 minutes, latching on to a deflected pass from Freddie Ljungberg and shooting home from 12 meters.
Ljungberg made it 2-0 after a brilliant Arsenal passing move and Kolo Toure scrambled home a third just before halftime. Henry struck again five minutes into the second half with a well-hit shot from 18 meters and Ljungberg grabbed his second with a deflection from a defender.
Veteran Teddy Sheringham, who came on as a late substitute, grabbed a last-gasp consolation goal for the home side.
In an earlier quarterfinal, Manchester United came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Old Trafford. Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy struck twice to give Manchester United victory in a full-blooded quarterfinal. The champions overcame the concession of an early penalty to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1999 by finally beating Fulham at the third attempt this season.
Struggling Modena Foiled by Parma’s Ferrari
A Matteo Ferrari equalizer three minutes from time gave Parma a 2-2 draw in the local derby with Modena in Serie A yesterday. The Italy international rose to head home a free kick from Romanian Ianis Zicu and forced struggling Modena to settle for a point.
Modena, coached by former Parma boss Alberto Malesani, took the lead in the 42nd minute when Matteo Pivotto hooked home a Maurizio Domizzi free kick.
But just before the break Parma’s Italy Under-21 striker Alberto Gilardino, who had an earlier effort ruled out, pulled his side level from the penalty spot. Domizzi restored Modena’s lead on the hour with a firm finish after a determined run into the area only for Ferrari to restore parity in the 87th minute.
Moussilou Gives Lille Win Over Auxerre
A second half goal by Matt Moussilou earned Lille a deserved 1-0 home win over AJ Auxerre in a Ligue 1 match yesterday. The Lille striker presented the home side with victory after he was set up by Slovenian international Milenko Acimovic eight minutes after the interval to fire the ball past Auxerre goalkeeper Fabien Cool.
A couple of fine saves by his Lille counterpart Gregory Wimbee denied Djibil Cisse and Bonaventure Kalou the equalizer.
On Friday, Fernando Morientes scored twice as Monaco beat En Avant Guingamp 3-1 to stay on top four points above Olympique Lyon, who thrashed AC Ajaccio 4-0.
Makaay Helps Bayern to Morale-Boosting Win
Two goals from Roy Makaay helped Bayern Munich to a 3-1 Bundesliga win at Bayer Leverkusen yesterday in their last game before facing Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The Dutch striker headed home twice for the second-placed champions, now four points behind leaders Werder Bremen, who visit TSV 1860 Munich today. Midfielder Michael Ballack also contributed to a convincing win that gave Bayern a morale boost before they meet Real in the return leg of their Champions League first knockout round tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Third-placed VfB Stuttgart also warmed up for the Champions League in style with a 2-0 win at troubled Borussia Dortmund.
The southerners, who will visit Chelsea on Tuesday after losing 1-0 to the London club in the first leg, silenced 83,000 Dortmund fans with an early goal from Belarus playmaker Alexander Gleb followed by a late penalty from midfielder Horst Heldt.
Dortmund, facing financial difficulties and needing to secure a UEFA Cup berth to save their season, drop a spot to seventh in the 18-strong league. “I’m satisfied with the outcome but also with the way we fought for it,” said Stuttgart coach Felix Magath, whose team resisted under sustained pressure and made the most of few scoring chances.
