Dynamo Kiev vs Arsenal Highlights: Champions League Highlights

Posted on September 17, 2008
Filed Under Arsenal, UEFA Champions League

Arsenal captain William Gallas was the hero as he bundled in a late equaliser to rescue a point for the Gunner’s in the opening Champions League Group G game against Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine.

Adebayor, van Persie, twice, and Cesc Fabregas all had many first-half chances for the north London club, who are yet to win a European tie in the former Soviet Union.

Kiev looked to have made them pay a heavy price when, on 64 minutes, Bacary Sagna was fouled to have pushed over Ognjen Vukojevic and Ismael Bangoura scored from the penalty spot.

Then, just when time looked to be running out, Gallas netted at close range following a low cross by Theo Walcott. Arsenal had been beaten twice by Dynamo, in 1998 and 2003, and also went down 3-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2000, while their record in Russia has always been poor, with two defeats from three visits. Only a small pocket of Arsenal supporters were seen in the far corner of the 17,000-strong crowd – and many of those 150 or so were from the local fan clubs.However, the small travelling section almost had something to celebrate inside two minutes.

As the match started Arsenal were playing their trademark footaball, Van Persie got one down the right channel from Walcott’s pass, but his low angled shot could not get past Stanislav Bogush. Dynamo who knocked Spartak Moscow out of the qualifiers – soon settled and began to build a sustained period of pressure. Arsenal, though, continued to look dangerous on the break. In the 19′, Adebayor capitalized on poor control by Roman Eremenko and sprinted into the Dynamo penalty area only to fire the shot wide. Arsenal gave the ball away carelessly, Dynamo captain Nesmachniy could only smash a 25-yard drive high over the crossbar.

As half-time approached, Van Persie rifled the ball into the side net following good work from full-back Sagna down the right flank. Arsenal carved out their best chance when Adebayor fed Van Persie with a ball across goal, which was cut back for Fabregas – but he could only manage a lame shot straight at the keeper from six yards.

At the start of the second half, Kiev almost managed to score the lead when Eremenko got clear down the right and cut inside Arsenal skipper William Gallas. Manuel Almunia got a fingertip to his shot, which came back off the post and the Arsenal keeper was able to gather. Walcott had to briefly go off for treatment for cramp, but was soon back in the midst of the action as he set up Van Persie down the left – only for the Dutchman to fire his shot horribly wide. Fabregas wasted one more chance with a 25-yard drive straight at the Kiev keeper.

Bangoura to get away down the right from a mistake from the Arsnal skipper. Although Arsenal tracked back, the ball was eventually played into the penalty area where Ognjen Vukojevic went down under pressure from Sagna – and the referee had seen enough contact from the defender Kiev were handed a penalty.Guinea international Bangoura converted the penalty with ease and put the hosts in led after 64′.

Arsenal were now pushing hard for an equaliser in a game in which they dominated and should have won comfortably. Arsene Wenger made few las minute changes and replaced Alex Song with striker Nicklas Bendtner, Emmanuel Eboue replaced Sagna and Vela replaced persie. With so many strikers on Arsenal were vulnerable to counter attacks and Kiev were dangerously looking to extend the lead. Finally in the 88′ Arsenal rescued a point when Gallas bundled in at the far post from a low cross by Walcott for the skipper’s third goal of the European campaign this season.

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