28 Aug 2008

Liverpool's blushes spared after Kuyt's late goal

9:58 am on 28 August 2008

Liverpool have scraped through to the lucrative group stage of football's European Champions League, thanks to the Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt's last minute goal in extra time against the Belgium side Standard Liege at Anfield.

The Reds' Champions League season was on the line after two full matches in two countries then two periods of extra time in Liverpool couldn't produce a goal.

But Kuyt saved his side's blushes with a goal on 118 minutes, despite the hosts being outplayed by Standard Liege.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid beat the German side Schalke 4-0 in Spain in the pick of today's matches.

The Primera Liga club won 4-1 on aggregate after their second-leg tie with Schalke.

Arsenal cruised home against the Dutch side FC Twente, bolstering their 2-0 away lead to a 6-0 aggregate after four goals in London.