TURKEY: REACTIONS AFTER GALATASARAY AND LIVERPOOL DRAW 1-1 IN ISTANBUL IN THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND STAGE GROUP B GAME

Record ID: 648871

  • Title: TURKEY: REACTIONS AFTER GALATASARAY AND LIVERPOOL DRAW 1-1 IN ISTANBUL IN THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND STAGE GROUP B GAME
  • Date: 26th February 2002
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (FEBRUARY 26, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. ARRIVAL OF BUSES AT STADIUM 2. POLICE NEAR THE STADIUM 3. LIVERPOOL FANS BEFORE THE GAME OUTSIDE THE STADIUM 4. GALATASARAY FANS CHANTING 5. ARRIVALS AT STADIUM 6. STADIUM BEFORE THE GAME 7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) GALATASARAY COACH MIRCEA LUCESCU SAYING "Anyhow it is an important point, especially with the conditions, we played without many of our players after having lost at the Turkish super league against teams very aggressive towards us. We are missing some points for the qualification for the moment, normally this team should have much more points" 8. NEWS CONFERENCE 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL'S ASSISTANT MANAGER PHIL THOMSON SAYING "We are making it very difficult for ourselves. If anybody has been with Liverpool for the last 18 months, we have not made things easier for ourselves in winning cups. But we've always come through. I still believe in the character of the players. We'll still do it" 10. VARIOUS OF LIVERPOOL PLAYERS LEAVING AFTER THE GAME Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVA9LMTBXXBLNF0EHEKDSQ3UMRMZ
  • Story Text: Galatasaray and Liverpool drew 1-1 in their Champions
    league second stage group B game in Turkey. Radu Niculescu
    scored for Galatasaray in the 70th minute and Emile Heskey got
    the equaliser eight minutes later.


    Liverpool were outplayed for most of the game on
    Tuesday (February 26) by Galatsaray coach Mircea Lucescus'
    depleted squad.

    The Turks have not lost in front of their home fans in
    European competition since a 5-0 hammering by Chelsea in 1999
    and they showed no sign of surrendering that record as they
    presented a constant threat through the middle of the field.

    New Romanian signing Radu Niculescu opened the scoring for
    Galatasaray when he took a Gustavo Victoria cross from the
    left with a bending header.

    Heskey replied with a right-footed strike from just inside
    the box.

    Galatasaray goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, whose fine form
    was crucial in denying Liverpool a goal in England last week,
    made several interceptions and young midfielder Berkant Goktan
    had an impressive game controlling much of the play.

    The result was not enough for either team as AS Roma swept
    to the top of the group on six points with a 3-1 victory at
    home to Barcelona.

    Liverpool stay bottom of the group with three points from
    four games, with Galatasaray one point ahead in third.

    Galatasaray coach Lucescu said afterwards that not having
    all his top players was an important point.

    Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson said: "We are
    making it very difficult for ourselves. If anybody has been
    with Liverpool for the last 18 months, we have not made things
    easier for ourselves in winning cups. But we've always come
    through. I still believe in the character of the players.

    We'll still do it."
    Jamie Carragher played hero and villain in the first half,
    scrambling away a loose ball in front of goal before his badly
    miscued clearance forced his goalkeeper to save a Niculescu
    shot with his feet.

    England international Michael Owen enjoyed some rare space
    for Liverpool just before the interval, but his 22-yard drive
    flew inches wide after some clever footwork out on the left.

    Galatasaray dominated after the break as the Istanbul side
    soaked up Liverpool pressure in the middle before hitting
    decisively on the counter-attack.

    Sebastien Perez nearly made the game safe for the hosts on
    82 minutes with a storng drive and Goktan came close minutes
    later.

    Both teams missed key players on the night.

    While Lucescu was forced to partner veteran forward Arif
    Erdem with the untried Niculescu after the suspension of
    regular marksman Umit Karan, Liverpool clearly missed the
    playmaking skills of injured England midfielder Steven Gerrard.

    Liverpool travel to Barcelona on March 13 while
    Galatasaray play away to AS Roma.



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