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UEFA Champions League Wrap [Thu Aug 25th, 2005]
The last UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round second leg matches saw Ajax, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Rangers, Villarreal, Anderlecht, Club Bruges and Werder Bremen make it through to the Group Stage with aggregate victories over Brondby, Debrecen, Shakhtar Donetsk, Anorthosis Famagusta, Everton, Slavia Prague, Valerenga and Basel, respectively.
In Amsterdam, Ajax beat Brondy 3-1 to win 5-2 on aggregate. Brondby took the lead through Johan Elmander just before half-time. But Ajax responded with second-half goals from Ryan Babel (50), and a brace from Wesley Sneijder (80 and 88).
Manchester United were victors in Hungary against Debrecen by 3-0, the same scoreline by which they won at Old Trafford two weeks ago. Gabriel Heinze was the United hero, the Argentine wing-back netting on 20 minutes and again on the hour mark. Kieran Richardson got United’s third in the 65th minute.
However, the Red Devils’ comfortable victory came at a cost: England full-back Gary Neville was stretchered off after 13 minutes with a torn groin muscle that is expected to rule him out of action for five weeks.
Internazionale, forced to play their tie against Shakhtar Donetsk in an empty San Siro stadium in Milan, were held to a draw by the Ukrainians, but progressed 3-1 on aggregate after having won 2-0 in the first leg. Alvaro Recoba increased Inter’s overall lead to 3-0 after 12 minutes, but 13 minutes later Elano Blumer equalised. Inter held out for a 3-1 aggregate win.
In Glasgow, Rangers – who’d won their first leg against Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus 2-1 – followed that with a 2-0 victory. Thomas Buffel (39) and Dado Prso (58) scored the goals that saw the Scottish champions safely into the draw for the Group Stage.
After having lost the away leg 1-2 in Switzerland, Werder Bremen beat Basle 3-0 for a 4-2 aggregate victory. Ivan Klasnic opened the scoring on 65 minutes before Tim Borowski added a second from the penalty spot two minutes later. Klasnic then got his second of the night on 67 minutes.
Miroslav Klose was sent off for Werder for a second bookable offence in the 79th minute, but the Bundesliga side were safely through.
Club Bruges beat Valerenga 1-0 on the night thanks to a Bosko Balaban goal on 79 minutes. That made the aggregate score 1-1, and after extra time, the tie was decided by a penalty shootout, which Brugge won 4-3 to qualify. Valerenga’s Kjetil Waehler was sent off after 84 minutes for deliberate handball.
Villarreal beat Everton 2-1 for the second time in two weeks to clinch a 4-2 aggregate victory. Juan Pablo Sorin opened the scoring on 21 minutes for the Yellow Submarine, before a 69th-minute equaliser from Mikel Arteta gave the Toffees hope. But Diego Forlan got a winner for Villarreal in the 90th minute.
Anderlecht beat Slavia Prague 2-0 for a 4-1 aggregate win. Serhat Akin (72) and Mbo Mpenza (84) scored the goals for the Belgian club.
News headlines from around the world.