A magnificent goal from Robert Pires salvaged a point for Arsenal in the dying minutes of their clash with Lazio in Rome’s Olympic Stadium. The goal drew Arsene Wenger’s side level at 1-1 and the result secures the Londoners a place in the second phase for the first time, with two group games still remaining.
But for the whistle of referee H Krug it could have been a nightmare finish for the Gunners when with seconds remaining the German disallowed a Lee Dixon own goal, which sparked off a furore of protests from the Italians. Sven Goran Eriksson’s side had been much more fortunate in the first half when Czech Pavel Nedved’s shot took a wicked deflection off Silvinho to spiral into the air and over the scampering Lukic into the top corner of the net.
In Glasgow, Rangers could not breakdown a resilient Galatasaray and had to settle for a goalless draw in front of the Ibrox faithful. The result keeps Dick Advocaat's team in second place in Group D, a point behind the Turks.
Filed by Seán Folan
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS:
Group A
Real Madrid 5-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Sporting Lisbon 0-3 Spartak Moscow
Group B
Lazio 1-1 Arsenal
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Sparta Prague
Group C
Heerenveen 1-0 Olympiakos
Lyon 1-2 Valencia
Group D
Rangers 0-0 Galatasaray
SK Sturm Graz 2-0 Monaco
