Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Bayern snatch late win over defiant Fiorentina

February 18, 2010 08:04 IST

Substitute Miroslav Klose headed an 89th minute goal to give Bayern Munich a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in their Champions League last 16 first leg tie on Wednesday, their 13th straight victory in all competitions.

Bayern went ahead with an Arjen Robben penalty in first-half stoppage time after a foul on Franck Ribery.

Per Kroldrup levelled for the Italians five minutes after the re-start, turning in the ball from close range after a corner.

Fiorentina had Massimo Gobbi sent off for an apparent elbow in Robben's face in the 73rd minute.

The Italians, already upset at the red card, were furious about the winning goal, claiming that Klose was offside when the ball was headed to him by Ivica Olic after Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey had parried a long-range shot.

Bayern started nervously, committing several blunders in defence. At one point Martin Demichelis gave the ball straight to Marco Marchionni as he tried to start a move from defence while another mix-up led to a furious argument between goalkeeper Joerg Butt and Daniel van Buyten.

Following the goals either side of halftime, the Germans regained control of the game but were repeatedly frustrated.

Robben should have put Bayern back in front but fired wide from 15 metres after being teed up by Thomas Mueller.

Seconds before scoring the winner, Klose had the crowd howling in frustration when he fired over from inside the penalty area.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.