Europa League 2012/13

Yep he scored home and away.

I dont think away goals should count at all. What right does UEFA have in trying to intefere in what tactics a team has to setup, just incase they bore spectators or fans. Fans do not give a damn if your team bores you to death as long as you win games. Its preferable to play nice football, but not at the expense of winning.

Untill 1980, in The Copa Libertadores, if the matches ended in draw (on win per side, whatever the score, or 2 ties) wed had a 3rd match on neutral ground. In fact, my team has 5 Libertadores, winning 3 of them in 3rd matches on neutral ground. And the other 2 abroad! So I never could see my team win it in our own turf. Its not like in Europe, where you select a final stadium beforehand and play 1 game

Newcastle beat Anzhi thanks to a 93rd minute goal from Cisse, they are in the Quarters with Chelsea and Spurs

Cardozo scored twice for Benfica off the bench. He only took two shots

Cardozo scored twice for Benfica off the bench. He only took two shots

Good player he is, good goal scorer!

Happy to see all three teams go through. Chelsea and Spurs because it will help to disrupt their Premier League games.. and Newcastle, well.. they're so far down it doesn't matter at all.

Would have been nice though for Spurs to lose on the basis that Bale was not playing, and that would have proven a point and taught them a lesson - with AVB saying he was 'happy' that Bale got a yellow in the last game.

More than 6 000 Benfica supporters!
France was our again!

Cardozo scored twice for Benfica off the bench. He only took two shots

Top finishing!

If you lose 4-1 you don't deserve to go through! Spurs got extremely lucky! Cambiasso should have put them through at the end of the 2nd.

The ties are decided over 3 hours. Inter were crap last week, Spurs were crap this week. Inter lost it last week.

There is no better system currently available than the away goals rule to settle aggregate ties. It's used in all UEFA and FIFA competitions, and domestic competitions in most leagues. It's better than the toss of a coin that was used before the 70's.

I didn't hear too many people complaining about it when we beat Bayern Munich in 81, and Barcelona more recently from it. It works for you sometimes, and other times it doesn't.

The away goals rule has served its purpose. Time to move on from it now. If the game is 4-4 after 2 games then nobody is winning.

Top finishing!

Quality.  Chequebooks will be out this summer.

The away goals rule has served its purpose. Time to move on from it now.

And what do we move it on to?

Inter know what the rules are, Arsenal know what the rules are before they start. Away goals count double in the event of a tie at every stage of European competition, including the group stages. As yet nobody can suggest a fairer, alternative solution. Replays are not an option.

And what do we move it on to?

Inter know what the rules are, Arsenal know what the rules are before they start. Away goals count double in the event of a tie at every stage of European competition, including the group stages. As yet nobody can suggest a fairer, alternative solution. Replays are not an option.

End of the second game, if the scores are tied over the two legs, straight to penalties.  No extra-time until the final.

It's an alternative solution, but it's not necessarily fairer. Most people don't want a year's work decided by the ability to score a few penalties or not. Most want it decided on the pitch. They tried the Golden Goal, then complained when it was used. They tried the Silver Goal, then complained when it was used. Most people complain how unlucky they are to lose on penalties.

As it stands, the home side has half an hour extra with their home crowd and pitch to win it, the away side has half an hour to get an away goal. It is currently, the fairest option available.

It's an alternative solution, but it's not necessarily fairer. Most people don't want a year's work decided by the ability to score a few penalties or not. Most want it decided on the pitch. They tried the Golden Goal, then complained when it was used. They tried the Silver Goal, then complained when it was used. Most people complain how unlucky they are to lose on penalties.

As it stands, the home side has half an hour extra with their home crowd and pitch to win it, the away side has half an hour to get an away goal. It is currently, the fairest option available.

Never said it is fairest, but the away goal is as unfair.  A lot of my view is based on the dislike of extra-time, late on Thursday nights.

End of the second game, if the scores are tied over the two legs, straight to penalties.  No extra-time until the final.

I'd be happy with that.
Extra time normally falls flat anyway.

Chelsea   2-1 Rubin Kazan
Tottenham 1-2 Basel
Fenerbahce 0-0   Lazio
Benfica 1-1 Newcastle United

HT scores. Newcastle looking good for their home return leg.

Chelsea   2-1 Rubin Kazan
Tottenham 1-2 Basel
Fenerbahce 0-0   Lazio
Benfica 1-1 Newcastle United

HT scores. Newcastle looking good for their home return leg.

Newcastle getting beat 3-1 now!

Spurs equalised with very good goal by Gylfi Sigurdsson

Bales ankle. Could it be broken, bad news for Wales' Euro campaign if it is!

I never ever would wish any player bad luck, so I really hope that that injury to Bale isn't too serious.

But if he's out for a while, that could be bad news for Spurs.

Cheeky late run for 4th on the cards? 

 

That's spurs fu**ed if Bale's done his ankle.

You'd have to fancy Basel for the second leg if Bale is going to miss it.

Spurs haven't won a game that Bale hasn't scored in since the turn of Christmas. Unfortunately their next game is against Everton.

Dirk Kuyt scored in the 2-0 win over Lazio!