Liverpool Football Club News

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Rafa pleased to keep clean sheet

19 Feb 2010 - 08:57:13

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was pleased that his team's patience was finally rewarded as the Reds edged to a narrow 1-0 victory against Unirea Urziceni in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash at Anfield.

The Romanian side looked set to secure a creditable goalless draw until David N'Gog netted with just nine minutes remaining.

It sets the tie up nicely for next week's second leg encounter, with Benitez saying: "I think we could have scored one or two more goals but that is football. The team was doing well in defence, 1-0 and a clean sheet is not bad.

"Sometimes when the other team is defending well you have to be patient and keep more of the ball and then we scored at the end.

"It is always important to score, especially in this competition, and not concede so we were waiting for this goal and were really pleased when we scored.

"It is not the best result but it is good. If we score one (in Romania) they have to score three so a clean sheet was important so we have to be relieved.

"If you ask me if I would prefer 2-0 then 100 per cent yes but you cannot change the score now. We knew they were well-organised and they were a good team so we were expecting more or less their style of play."