posted on Nov, 3 2004 @ 04:49 PM
Juventus and Lyon secured their passage into the knockout phase of the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Juve, the Italian champions, and Lyon, last season's Ligue 1 winners, join Internazionale and Chelsea as the only teams to have advanced with two
rounds of games still to go.
Juventus won 1-0 against Bayern Munich at the Olympiastadion thanks to Alessandro Del Piero's last-minute strike although a draw would have been
enough as Ajax went down 2-1 at Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the other Group C encounter. Barukh Dego got both goals for the Israelis, whose win keeps them in
contention, with Daniel De Ridder replaying for Ronald Koeman's men.
Lyon needed two late goals from Honorato Nilmar to help them edge past Fenerbahce 4-2. The Turks seemed to have got themselves a point when they were
level as the game entered injury time. But Brazilian Nilmar, on as a substitute, deflected home a Juninho free-kick before heading home a cross from
his countryman in the 96th-minute to seal the win in front of an ecstatic Stade Gerland crowd.
Group B remains wide open although Bayer Leverkusen missed the chance to take control of the section after conceding a last-gasp equaliser to Roma. A
tight game in front of an empty Stadio Olimpico - Roma must play their remaining Group home games behind closed doors after referee Anders Frisk was
hit by an object thrown from the crowd during the match with Dynamo Kiev - looked as though it was going to be settled by a wonderful goal from
Dimitar Berbatov eight minutes from time. But Vincenzo Montella levelled deep into injury time to deny the Germans and keep Roma's hopes alive
although it remains highly unlikely that Luigi Del Neri's men will advance.
Leverkusen have seven points from four games, as do Dynamo Kiev and Real Madrid, who drew 2-2 in the Ukraine. The hosts seemed well set for a surprise
win when goals from Ayila Yussuf and Maris Verpakovskis gave them a 2-0 lead midway through the first half. But Raul pulled one back and Luis Figo
equalised from the penalty spot in the 44th minute.
Olympiacos moved to the top of Group A thanks to Gabriel Schurrer's 84th-minute goal against Monaco in Athens.
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