Liverpool still on track

2004-03-04 08:52

Sofia - Liverpool gave embattled manager Gerard Houllier reason to smile on Wednesday as they eased into the fourth round of the Uefa Cup after a 4-2 victory in their third round second leg match with Levski Sofia to win 6-2 overall.

The visitors did well to pull away after seeing a 2-0 lead - with goals by Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen - evaporate into 2-2 after Georgi Ivanov and Sasha Simonovich had scored for the hosts on what was a national holiday to celebrate the 126th anniversary of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire.

However headers from German international Dietmar Hamann with his first goal in European competition for Liverpool and Finnish skipper Sami Hyppia ensured they progressed.

Victory maintained Liverpool's proud record under Houllier in away legs in the Uefa Cup having last lost to Spanish side Celta Vigo five years and four months ago on the Frenchman's first match in sole charge following the departure of co-manager Roy Evans.

Houllier was a happy man afterwards ending a dreadful period for him where a series of poor results provoked someone to send him a death threat in the post.

"The early goals were a great help, though their defence were generous," Houllier said.

He was particularly pleased for Owen, whose only reason to be cheerful of late was his engagement to his girlfriend as he had hit the back of the net just twice in his last 11 matches.

"I was pleased for Michael.

"He is on a run to break a European record and I thought he looked sharp.

"What I especially enjoyed was how hard he worked for the team.

"He's not only a star player but a team one as well."

Chris Kirkland pulled off a stunning save in the 64th minute to deny Stanislav Angelov's excellent long range drive and turned it over for a corner as the hosts went in desperate search of the four goals required to bring off a miraculous comeback.

However miracles were dispensed with as Finnish skipper Sami Hyppia scored his 19th goal for Liverpool on his 250th appearance in the 67th minute with a weak header from a Gerrard corner to make it 4-2 on the night.

Gerrard had grabbed the all-important away goal in the 7th minute running on to a dreadful backpass by the experienced Ilian Stoyanov and slid it in from a tight angle after rounding the keeper Dimitar Ivankov for his fifth of the season and second in three matches.

Owen wrapped it up just after 10 minutes on the clock accelerating away from a static back four for his 22nd European goal for his club and shot powerfully past Ivankov from the edge of the area into the top right hand corner.

- AFP