KAI HAVERTZ CAME off the bench to score a last-gasp equaliser against the club where he began his career to earn Arsenal a draw at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Gunners, who had topped the league phase having won all eight games, were trailing to Robert Andrich’s goal – from a corner, of all things – with a minute of normal time remaining.
But Havertz kept his nerve after fellow substitute Noni Madueke was brought down in the area to snatch a draw and leave Arsenal as favourites to reach a third-consecutive quarter-final.
Andrich was arguably lucky to have still been on the pitch, earning a booking in the opening seconds for pulling down Viktor Gyokeres after the Sweden international had rolled him on the edge of the box.
Moments later Andrich body-checked Gyokeres near the touchline but escaped a second yellow from referee Halil Umut Meler.
Arsenal were missing the creative spark of injured captain Martin Odegaard and it showed, especially around the edge of the Leverkusen penalty area. But they almost took a 20th-minute lead with a lovely move when Eberechi Eze let the ball run across him. Gyokeres laid it off to Gabriel Martinelli, who took a touch before crashing his left-footed shot against the crossbar.
Leverkusen’s chief threat was Cameroon forward Christian Kofane, who tested David Raya with an early effort from long range.
The teenager then threatened to race through on goal after robbing an uncharacteristically shaky Gabriel Magalhaes, only to be thwarted by the irrepressible Declan Rice.
Arsenal were caught cold straight from the kick-off in the second half, first when Martin Terrier header’s had to be spectacularly tipped over by Raya. From the corner, Andrich gave Eze the slip at the far post to head the hosts in front.
Boss Mikel Arteta responded by sending on Madueke for Bukayo Saka – who looked off the pace – and then replaced Gyokeres with Havertz.
Gabriel celebrates the 1-1 draw during the Champions League match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Arsenal. ANP / ANP
ANP / ANP / ANP
The equaliser came when Madueke got past Malik Tillman into the area and was tripped by the defender.
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Havertz coolly converted the spot-kick to deny his old club a famous win and leave quadruple-chasing Arsenal in decent shape ahead of next week’s home leg.
*****
Bodo/Glimt 3-0 Sporting CP
Bodo/Glimt continued their dream debut Champions League campaign by swatting aside Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday to take a big step towards the quarter-finals.
The Norwegians racked up a remarkable fifth consecutive win in the competition in the last-16 first leg at Aspmyra Stadion.
Sondre Brunstad Fet put Bodo ahead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark and Ole Didrik Blomberg made it two in first-half injury time. Kasper Hogh scored his fifth Champions League goal in as many games with 19 minutes remaining to spark wild celebrations.
Bodo claimed shock wins over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to progress from the league phase and then beat Inter Milan home and away in the knockout play-off round.
The Champions League debutants are now in pole position to reach the last eight, where Bayer Leverkusen or Arsenal await, ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg in Portugal.
Bodo were rewarded for their pressure in the 29th minute as they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Georgios Vagiannidis on Sondre Fet, who stepped up to score himself by sending Silva the wrong way.
Bodo/Glimt's Ole Didrik Blomberg celebrates after scoring their side's second goal. Fredrik Varfjell / Associated Press
Fredrik Varfjell / Associated Press / Associated Press
Bodo grabbed a second goal in added time, Blomberg slipping the ball into the corner and producing a back-flip in celebration.
Sporting enjoyed more of the ball after the interval but struggled to create chances.
Bodo always looked dangerous and Hogh, who also scored against Man City, Atletico and Inter, steered in Blomberg’s low cross from close range to cap off another magnificent night for the Norwegian underdogs.
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Last-gasp penalty earns Arsenal a draw, Bodo's Champions League dream continues
LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago
Arsenal 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen
KAI HAVERTZ CAME off the bench to score a last-gasp equaliser against the club where he began his career to earn Arsenal a draw at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Gunners, who had topped the league phase having won all eight games, were trailing to Robert Andrich’s goal – from a corner, of all things – with a minute of normal time remaining.
But Havertz kept his nerve after fellow substitute Noni Madueke was brought down in the area to snatch a draw and leave Arsenal as favourites to reach a third-consecutive quarter-final.
Andrich was arguably lucky to have still been on the pitch, earning a booking in the opening seconds for pulling down Viktor Gyokeres after the Sweden international had rolled him on the edge of the box.
Moments later Andrich body-checked Gyokeres near the touchline but escaped a second yellow from referee Halil Umut Meler.
Arsenal were missing the creative spark of injured captain Martin Odegaard and it showed, especially around the edge of the Leverkusen penalty area. But they almost took a 20th-minute lead with a lovely move when Eberechi Eze let the ball run across him. Gyokeres laid it off to Gabriel Martinelli, who took a touch before crashing his left-footed shot against the crossbar.
Leverkusen’s chief threat was Cameroon forward Christian Kofane, who tested David Raya with an early effort from long range.
The teenager then threatened to race through on goal after robbing an uncharacteristically shaky Gabriel Magalhaes, only to be thwarted by the irrepressible Declan Rice.
Arsenal were caught cold straight from the kick-off in the second half, first when Martin Terrier header’s had to be spectacularly tipped over by Raya. From the corner, Andrich gave Eze the slip at the far post to head the hosts in front.
Boss Mikel Arteta responded by sending on Madueke for Bukayo Saka – who looked off the pace – and then replaced Gyokeres with Havertz.
The equaliser came when Madueke got past Malik Tillman into the area and was tripped by the defender.
Havertz coolly converted the spot-kick to deny his old club a famous win and leave quadruple-chasing Arsenal in decent shape ahead of next week’s home leg.
*****
Bodo/Glimt 3-0 Sporting CP
Bodo/Glimt continued their dream debut Champions League campaign by swatting aside Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday to take a big step towards the quarter-finals.
The Norwegians racked up a remarkable fifth consecutive win in the competition in the last-16 first leg at Aspmyra Stadion.
Sondre Brunstad Fet put Bodo ahead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark and Ole Didrik Blomberg made it two in first-half injury time. Kasper Hogh scored his fifth Champions League goal in as many games with 19 minutes remaining to spark wild celebrations.
Bodo claimed shock wins over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to progress from the league phase and then beat Inter Milan home and away in the knockout play-off round.
The Champions League debutants are now in pole position to reach the last eight, where Bayer Leverkusen or Arsenal await, ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg in Portugal.
Bodo were rewarded for their pressure in the 29th minute as they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Georgios Vagiannidis on Sondre Fet, who stepped up to score himself by sending Silva the wrong way.
Bodo grabbed a second goal in added time, Blomberg slipping the ball into the corner and producing a back-flip in celebration.
Sporting enjoyed more of the ball after the interval but struggled to create chances.
Bodo always looked dangerous and Hogh, who also scored against Man City, Atletico and Inter, steered in Blomberg’s low cross from close range to cap off another magnificent night for the Norwegian underdogs.
- Additional reporting by AFP
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