SM
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa: 17 hrs 47 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
ZS
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 26, 2013 at 5pm UK
 
AM

1-1

Alderweireld (73' og.)
FT(HT: 0-0)
Lopez (52')

Atletico Madrid's Thibaut Courtois blunder gifts Zenit St Petersberg draw

:Headline: Result: Atletico Madrid's Thibaut Courtois blunder gifts Zenit St Petersberg draw: ID:120409: from db_amp
Atletico Madrid's Thibaut Courtois gifts Zenit St Petersburg a 1-1 draw with a goalkeeping blunder.

Zenit St Petersburg's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League remain alive after a mistake made by Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois gave the side a 1-1 draw in Russia.

Zenit's progress into the knockout rounds of the competition will depend on Porto's result against Austria Vienna as the Russian outfit currently sit two points above them in Group G.

The hosts started off the more attacking side in the first half, while Atletico seemed content to sit back and play on the counter-attack when the opportunity arose.

Following a number of attempts to break the deadlock from Zenit, Hulk came the closest when he retrieved the ball from just behind the strikers and launched a hammering shot towards goal.

Despite the power behind it, Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois managed to get his body in the way to keep the ball away from the back of the net, and they survived once more when Axel Witsel failed to convert the follow-up shot.

The Russian outfit continued to knock on the door, while Atletico, who rested a number of their stars for the encounter, rarely had possession before the half-time interval.

At the start of the second half, Zenit began on the front foot once again and could have taken an early lead through Hulk, who managed to get the ball through a number of red-and-white shirts with a left-footed shot, but it headed straight into the keeper.

After missing his chance, Atletico managed to go on the break and the move eventually ended up in Cristian Rodriguez's feet as he stormed towards the box, but the ball just got stuck under his feet to prevent him from getting the shot away.

Zenit went on the attack once again, but some frantic attempts to take a shot in the box resulted in Aleksandr Kerzhakov's attempt bouncing back into the possession of Atletico, who launched into another counter-attack.

The home side failed to get enough bodies back in time, which allowed Adrian Lopez to find space in the box after a storming run and slide a right-footed shot into the bottom-centre of the net, dampening Zenit's hopes of qualifying for the next round.

The game became more open as the half progressed, with both sides creating chances in front of goal, but a long-range effort from Gabi for Atletico kept their lead slim, while Andrey Arshavin drove towards the box and hit a low shot at goal for the home side, but it drifted wide.

Zenit's fortunes eventually changed following a blunder from Atletico keeper Courtois. The home side were on the attack as a cross came into the box, but after defender Toby Alderweireld deflected the ball towards Courtois, the keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and it bounced off the post and the crossbar into the back of the net.

Both sides tried to push for the winner, but it wasn't to be as the game reached the full-time whistle with one goal apiece.

amp_article__120409 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2013-11-26 21:15:30:
html db last update - 2013-11-26 21:15:30 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .