Published 3/7/2007 6:55:28 AM by Shane Barrow from Dallas, Texas

Spirited Liverpool end Barcelona´s reign
Barcelona's defence of their Champions League crown ended in a whimper here on Tuesday, Ronaldinho and co. wilting before the combined passion of the Anfield crowd and a Liverpool side that refused to relinquish their last chance of silverware this season.

Substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen's goal a quarter of an hour from the end gave the champions a 1-0 win on the night. But the scarcely-deserved victory was not enough to prevent Rafael Benitez's side from walking in to the last eight of the tournament on the away goals rule courtesy of their 2-1 first leg victory.

Ballack finally delivers to send Chelsea into last eight
Michael Ballack kept Chelsea's Champions League dreams alive as his late goal earned a 2-1 last 16 second leg win over Porto that booked a place in the quarter-finals.

Jose Mourinho's side were on their way out after falling behind to Ricardo Quaresma's first half strike, but Ballack capped an impressive fightback as Chelsea scraped through their second round tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Arjen Robben cancelled out Quaresma's goal early in the second half and German international Ballack won it with a fine effort 11 minutes from full-time.

Roma inflict more Champions League misery on Lyon
French champions Lyon suffered more Champions League frustration here on Tuesday as Italian side AS Roma beat them 2-0 in their last 16 second leg match to prevail 2-0 on aggregate.

Goals by captain Francesco Totti and Mancini - his first ever in the competition - inflicted Lyon's first home Champions League defeat since Ajax in October 2002 and ended former France and Liverpool handler Gerard Houllier's hopes yet again of landing the competition for the first time.

Valencia draw with Inter sees them into last eight
Valencia progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 0-0 draw here Tuesday with Inter Milan saw them home 2-2 on aggregate. The Spanish outfit, which stretched its unbeaten European home record to nine matches, had its two away goals from the first leg draw at the San Siro to thank for ensuring progression into the last eight of European football's premier competition.

The tie was marred after the final whistle when a mass brawl broke out between rival players, with members of each of the benches joining the melee which appeared to be triggered by blows exchanged by Valencia's Carlos Marchena and Nicolas Burdisso of Inter.

Print