Champions League Playoffs

Some entertaining matches so far. Just saw these three on DVR:


Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 - 3 Dynamo Kiev

Mönchengladbach started like gangbusters for the first 15 or so minutes with a lot of good looks and a goal from Alexander Wing. However, Kiev counterpunched on a great strike from Mykhalyk and then another from Yarmolenko and defended well.

Mönchengladbach looked potent on the attack but their defensive marking was poor to say the least. It'll take a minor miracle for them to erase this deficit in the away leg in the Ukraine.



Braga 1 -1 Udinese

Udinese packed back and defended and overall played about like you'd expect a team that just sold half it's starting 11 but hit first on a perfect set piece from Di Natale headed in by Dusan Basta. Braga had the lion's share of possession but didn't create a lot of clear chances. They got the equalizer late on a screaming 25 yarder from Ismaily right after their GK made a couple of brilliant saves to keep their hopes alive in the return leg in Italy.

New Udinese signing Maicosuel was a bright spot along with the solid defending of Benetia and Danilo.



AEL Limassol FC 2-1 Anderlecht

Another Cyprian Cinderella?
Just saw this one in bits and pieces but Sacha Kljestan played and looked good for Anderlecht in the parts I saw.

Story here was Milan Jovanovic getting a yellow and being pulled after the 2nd Limassol goal to keep him from picking up a 2nd for the return leg. Jovanovic had other plans. After being subbed, he flipped out in front of the dugout and started kicking water bottles onto the pitch and, yes, got that second yellow...