Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/197223
21 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2013 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Late Lewandowski winner sinks Arsenal THE Barclays Premier League leaders had done well to fight back from going behind to on 16 minutes when Henrikh Mkhitaryan drilled the ball in after Aaron Ramsey had given away possession on the edge of his own penalty area. Olivier Giroud's close-range strike sent the teams into the break on level terms, before substitute Santi Cazorla sent a 20-yard effort against the woodwork. However, all of the Gunners' efforts were undone as Dortmund - last season's beaten Champions League finalists - netted with just eight minutes left on the counterattack through Lewandowski to ruin Arsene Wenger's 64th birthday and leave the Gunners still with work to do to qualify for the knockout stages. Dortmund had looked lively from kick-off, with Marco Reus supporting Poland forward Lewandowski as manager Jurgen Klopp watched on from the stands serving his UEFA touchline ban. It was no real surprise when the Germans took the lead on 16 minutes. Ramsey was hustled out of possession by Reus on the edge of his own penalty area, with the ball fed to Lewandowski. The Pole played in Mkhitaryan, who smashed a low shot past Wojciech Szczesny from 15 yards. Arsenal, who moved clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Norwich here on Saturday, were used to having it very much their own way this season and faced perhaps the first real test of character. Giroud showed great strength to out-muscle full-back Marcel Schmelzer and win the ball on the nearside touchline, before cutting back towards the Dortmund box where he was unceremoniously upended by Mats Hummels. The assistant referee behind the goal was well positioned to correctly Robert Lewandowski slots home the winner signal a free-kick just outside the box, which Laurent Koscielny headed over from Ozil's delivery. Tomas Rosicky clipped a ball through for Jack Wilshere to run onto, but it was just too far ahead of the England man. However, Wilshere landed awkwardly on his ankle, and immediately fell to the ground before needing treatment off the pitch. He was back on soon enough, but still not moving freely. Arsenal continued to be patient, often allowing Dortmund long spells of possession. When the ball broke to Giroud on the left, his cutback was fired goalwards by Rosicky, but Hummels cleared off the line. Arsenal, though, were level five minutes before the break. Ramsey brought the ball forwards and fed Bacary Sagna on the overlap. His cross in behind the defence caught out Neven Subotic and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, with the mix-up allowing Giroud to smash the loose ball into the net. Wilshere looked to have shrugged off any problems as he emerged for the second half. The match remained delicately balanced as both sides held good periods of possession, but lacked a decisive ball in the final third. On 58 minutes, Wilshere was replaced by Cazorla, before Dortmund - coached from the technical area by assistant Zeljko Buvac - made a double change as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Jonas Hofmann came on for Jakub Blaszczykowski and Mkhitaryan. Lewandowski was somewhat fortunate to only be shown a yellow card by Sweden referee Jonas Eiksson when he clashed with Koscielny, and looked to have caught the defender with a stray elbow. Arsenal were within inches of taking the lead when Cazorla's curled effort from 20 yards struck the angle of post and crossbar with the keeper beaten. Dortmund, though, hit Arsenal on the counter attack with eight minutes left. The ball was played out to rightback Kevin Grosskreutz on the overlap and his deep cross drifted over towards the far post, where Lewandowski arrived on queue to swept it past countryman Szczesny. With Napoli winning in Marseille, the Gunners are now locked in a three-way scrap for qualification and will need a better result when they travel to German in two weeks time. Messi strikes but Milan hold Barca Messi celebrates his goal against Milan LIONEL Messi scored on his starting return to Barcelona's line-up as they drew 1-1 with AC Milan at the San Siro. Messi has been sidelined by injury which forced him to miss Argentina's World Cup qualifiers last week - but was needed to claim a point after a defensive howler gifted Milan the lead. Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique were at fault to allow Robinho to combine with Kaka before puttnig his side ahead. Messi replied on 23 minutes after he was afforded too much space, but depsite the visitors dominating thereafter they were unable to find a winner. Milan were gifted their 10thminute lead following a defensive mix-up between Mascherano and Pique. They failed to deal with a long punt forward before Mascherano's attempted clearance cannoned back off his team-mate and to the advancing Robinho. The Brazilian played a one-two with the overlapping Kaka, whose return pass left him with the time to pick his spot. After failing to score in the league for the first time in two years during the weekend's 0-0 draw at Osasuna, the onus was on Barcelona to pick up their tempo. They did so by controlling possession, but Milan retained their own threat through Robinho and Kaka while Kevin Constant's forward runs from the back provided an outlet. Constant's eagerness to get forward was punished, however, on 23 minutes as Barca won the ball back high up the pitch and Messi was left in acres of space down the right flank. Andres Iniesta slid a pass across to the Argentinian and while Constant desperately tried to get back, Messi had already cut inside Philippe Mexes and got off his shot before the pressure arrived. With their lead lost Milan went close through Mexes, heading a Robinho corner wide, but Sanchez wasted the best chance before the break when he prodded Iniesta's lofted pass straight at Marco Amelia. Amelia had to be alert after the break to deny Iniesta as Barcelona made a quick start after the break. The goalkeeper also had to get down to deny Xavi while Messi hit a volley over. Milan had seen little of the ball in the second period when Robinho missed a glorious chance to put them 2-1 up. Sulley Muntari burst down the left and delivered a low cross that Robinho failed to get a touch on with the goal gaping. Barcelona were the more likely scorers though - Riccardo Montolivo thwarting them on several occassions as he became overworked in midfield - with Adriano sliced wide after running onto a Messi pass. A winning goal never arrived though to keep Barcelona top of Group H by two points from Milan. Yesterday's Champions League results Schalke - Chelsea Steaua Bucuresti - Basel Arsenal - B. Dortmund Marseille - SSC Napoli Austria Wien - Atletico Madrid FC Porto - Zenit Petersburg AC Milan - Barcelona Celtic - Ajax Tonight's Champions League matches 0-3 1-1 1-2 1-2 0-3 0-1 1-1 2-1 Bayern L - Shakhtar Donetsk Manchester U. - Real Sociedad Galatasaray - FC Kobenhavn Real Madrid - Juventus Anderlecht - Paris Saint Germain Benfica - Olympiakos CSKA Moscow - Manchester City Bayern Munich - Viktoria Plzen