Liverpool progress with win over Bordeaux
Luis Garcia on song
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Tuesday, 31, Oct 2006 10:37
Liverpool progressed through to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a convincing 3-0 win over French side Bordeaux at Anfield.
The Reds' victory takes their points tally in group C into double figures and, combined with PSV Eindhoven's win in the other game in the group, books them a place in the next round.
It was the man whose goals powered the Merseysiders through to the European Cup final of 2005 who opened the scoring as Luis Garcia netted after 22 minutes.
The diminutive Spanish international volleyed home a cross from Steven Gerrard whose energetic performance on the right flank provided support for Rafael Benitez's theory that the talismanic captain is best utilised out wide.
While lacking attacking penetration, Liverpool were comfortably in control of the first half as their first unchanged starting line-up for 99 games easily contained their French opponents.
The second half saw the visitors rally as Jean Claude Darcheville and Florian Marange both forced fine stops from Jose Reina, but their resurgence was stunted by a moment of indiscipline.
Fernando Menegazzo's inexplicable headbutt brought an immediate red card as well as opening a nasty wound on the side of John Arne Riise's head.
Reduced to ten men, Bordeaux lost all hope of any recovery and goals from Gerrard and Garcia quickly killed off their interest in the game.
The England midfielder applied a cool finish to Boudewijn Zenden's through-ball before Garcia waltzed through the remnants of Bordeaux's defence to wrap up the win.