Barcelona striker Leo Messi scored an incredible four times as his side beat Arsenal 4-1 to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Argentinean showed why he is the best player in the world with a first half hat-trick after the visitors had taken a surprise first half lead.
Both sides went into the game with numerous players missing: Barcelona was without suspended duo of Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, while Zlatan Ibrahimovich was missing with a calf strain, allowing Bojan to start in attack.
The young striker had scored two goals at the weekend and got the nod ahead of former Arsenal hero Thierry Henry.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts after scoring a goal against Arsenal during their Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 6, 2010. Messi scored four times as Barcelona beat Arsenal 4-1 to reach the Champions League semifinals for the third straight year.
The visitors meanwhile had a host of injuries, including Cesc Fabrigas, William Gallas, Alex Song, Andrey Arshavin and young midfielder Alex Ramsey, limiting the options of coach Arsene Wenger, who opted to use Mikael Silvestre in central defense while leaving veteran Sol Campbell on the substitutes' bench.
The 2-2 draw from the first leg meant that Arsenal had to score to have any chance of qualifying for the last four and although Barcelona began by controlling the play Arsenal did indeed score the first goal.
Abu Diaby robbed possession in midfield, fed Theo Walcott and the winger's pace allowed him to cross the ball for Nicklas Bendtnaar to score at the second attempt after 19 minutes.
That goal threatened to upset Barcelona, but Messi got them back on level terms just two minutes later. The ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the Arsenal area and he produced an unstoppable left foot shot.
Barca continued to dominate and took the lead after 37 minutes. Eric Abidal cut in from the left and his ball into the area was knocked down by Pedro for Messi to control and beat Manuel Almunia from close range.
There was still time in the half for Messi to complete his hat-trick. As the Arsenal defense pushed forward, he ran onto a smart header from Keita before clipping the ball over a stranded Almunia.
With the tie under control, Barcelona looked to control the game in the second half and reserve energy for next Saturday's visit to play Real Madrid.
Toure Yaya came into the game to close down space and with Arsenal unable to create chances and Barcelona content to let the clock tick down it made for a dull spectacle.
Three minutes from time, however, Messi made it all worthwhile. Again he found space in the Arsenal half and although Almunia stopped his first shot, Messi slotted the rebound through the keeper's legs.
Barcelona won 4-1 on the night, 6-3 on aggregate and Messi now has 25 goals in 41 Champions League appearances, making him the club's record scorer in the competition along with Rivaldo
浪漫英文情书精选:To Be Close To You Again再次靠近你
浪漫英文情书精选:To Prince Perfect献给心中的王子
双语美文欣赏:孤独人生
浪漫英文情书精选:I'll Be Waiting我会等你
精选英语散文欣赏:平等的爱
浪漫英文情书精选:True Love Of My Life我的真爱
浪漫英文情书精选:The Best Surprise最好的惊喜
精选英文情诗:请允许我成为你的夏季
精选英语美文阅读:在你的镜头前,我总是很美
双语散文: Optimism and Pessimistic
精美散文:27岁的人生
精选英语散文欣赏:微笑挽救生命
英文《小王子》温情语录
精选英语美文阅读:朋友的祈祷
精美散文:爱你所做 做你所爱
精美散文:抬起头来 希望就在眼前
献给女性:如果生命可以重来
啊,我讨厌英语 Gullia Oops Jaime Pas Langlais 这首歌是不是也唱出你的心声了
浪漫英文情书精选:Starting Over Again重新来过
精选英语美文阅读:无雨的梅雨天 (双语)
精选英语美文阅读:木鱼声声
如果生命可以重来(双语)
诗歌:永远向前(双语)
双语美文:I Wish I Could believe
美文阅读:青春物语
2011年商务英语BEC初级口语词汇详解(29)
双语美文:在思考中成长
精美散文:我就是我
精选英语美文阅读:爱他就把他留下来 (双语)
精选英语散文欣赏:爱的限度就是无限度地去爱
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |