Garcia double sinks Bordeaux
31 Oct 2006 - 22:03:28
Luis Garcia scored twice as Liverpool eased in to the last 16 of the Champions League with two group games still to go after cruising to a 3-0 victory against ten-man Bordeaux at Anfield.
Steven Gerrard also netted as the Reds completed the double over the outclassed French side that had Fernando Menegazzo sent off for a head-butt on John Arne Riise midway through the second half.
That incident was out of keeping with the rest of the match which was a low-key affair.
Gerrard and Mo Sissoko shook off ankle problems to start but Craig Bellamy missed out with a calf injury as Rafa Benitez, amazingly, fielded an unchanged starting line-up for the first time in 100 games following the weekend win against Aston Villa.
After a lack-lustre opening quarter to the game, out of nothing, Dirk Kuyt set up Gerrard who crossed for Garcia to fire a 23rd-minute shot into the ground before it looped up over Ulrich Rame and into the net.
As the Reds found their stride, Kuyt flashed a drive wide before Gerrard crossed for the Dutchman to head over the bar.
Bordeaux improved at the start of the second half and the former Nottingham Forest striker Jean-Claude Darcheville striker had a great chance to equalise in the 50th minute when he was sent clean through on goal, but Pepe Reina stood tall and saved the Frenchman's effort with his legs.
Darcheville almost immediately had another chance but fired well wide from the edge of the area.
The match suddenly exploded into life in the 67th minute when Menegazzo head-butted Riise who had blood streaming from his wound. The Brazilian was immediately sent off.
Liverpool ran riot in the last quarter of the match with Gerrard, who had earlier missed several openings, finally got a shot on target as he raced on to Bolo Zenden's long ball before placing his 72nd-minute effort past Rame.
Four minutes later Garcia strolled through the Bordeaux defence before beating Rame with a clinical left-footed shot.
Sissoko and Sami Hyypia went close to adding a fourth goal in the closing stages but Benitez's side had already done enough to join PSV Eindhoven in winning through from Group C.