Sun Xiang into Champions League quarterfinals
(CRIENGLISH.com)Updated: 2007-03-08 10:48 Soccer star Sun Xiang from the Dutch champion team PSV Eindhoven is set to be the first Chinese athlete to compete in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious football event in the world.
 Sun Xiang (L) stretches his leg to intercept the ball before a "gunner" reaches the right position to take the pass. PSV Eindhoven breaks through to the quarterfinals at the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday with an aggregate victory 2-1 over Arsenal. [sina.com]  |
The win is the first victory the Netherlanders have chalked up in London. Arsenal edged them out of the UEFA Champions League in 2004.
Sun Xiang replaced Jan Kromkamp in the right back position, while Arsenal's talisman Thierry Henry started on the bench.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger put Fredrik Ljungberg in the frontline and the home side worked hard for the goal that would ensure their survival in the league from the minute the game started. But the stalemate remained until the 57th minute when Eindhoven defender Rodrigo Alex shot an own goal.
The Gunners continued to launch an offensive in front of the Netherland's box in hope of the second goal that would guarantee their place in the next round.
But Ronald Koeman's players successfully warded off the attack. Sun Xiang gained a free kick in the 83rd minute that Alex converted into a goal, allowing them to gain an aggregate 2-1 victory and proceed to the next round.
On the same day, Italy's AC Milan and England's Manchester United went through to the quarterfinals after scoring wins over Scotland's Celtics and Lille from France.
Bayern Munich tied Spain's Real Madrid 4-4 on aggregate, but the German champions advanced thanks to more goals at Bernabeu.
The other teams in the last eight are Valencia from Spain and Roma of Italy,
as well as Premiership big names Liverpool and
Chelsea.
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