[calcutta]

GROUP D: Benni's late brace saves Porto, while Robinho sustains Schalke's struggles

PORTO.............2 McCarthy 79' 89'
JUVENTUS........2 Ibrahimovic 15', Nedved 85'

Benedict McCarthy was the hero for FC Porto with a double in the final quarter of the game to foil Juve's 100% record. The South African international's second goal arrived in the 89th minute following a rare error from Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The Italian, who prior to this match had yet to concede a goal in this season's competition, was caught well out of position as McCarthy stormed in behind to finish into an empty goal from within the six yard box. Midfielder Diego provdided the assist, which deflected off Igor Tudor leaving Buffon in no man's land. It was "Benni's" third goal of the competition and made certain that the 2004 UCL champions would escape with a point against the Italian juggernaut.

Earlier in the opening minutes, Juventus were the better team and they took the deserved lead through a powerful downward header from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Left back Ashley swung in the pinpoint cross which the tall Swede nodded in from seven yards. But the game didn't really take off until the final ten minutes, when McCarthy scored the first of his equalising goals. A piece of individual brilliance saw the striker make space for himself outside the box, and he became the first player to beat Buffon this season with a well placed low drive to the keeper's right. Fabio Capello's men immediately went forward in search of regaining the lead and got their reward with five minutes to play via a 4-on-2 counter attack. Allesandro Del Piero set up captain Pavel Nedved from 15 yards as goalkeeper Vitor Baia was easily dumbfounded. But McCarthy's persistance in the dying minutes ensured Juve's first dropped points of the competition, although his own team still remain third in the group with just five points.

Shots: 11-11
On Target: 7-7
Cards
- FCP Jorge Costa
- JUV Igor Tudor


AS MONACO.......2 Robinho 22' 35'
SCHALKE...........0

Robinho added two more goals to his competition tally to ensure Schalke would remain without a single point or even a single goal after four weeks of play. The Brazilian's first-half brace means he continues to be Monaco's sole goalscorer, putting all four of his team's competition goals in the back of the net. The hosts dominated the first period and Robinho opened the scoring midway through the half. He produced a fluid turn and shot from the penalty spot after being picked out by strike partner Javier Saviola. Robinho doubled his and Monaco's tally in the 35th minute, capitalising on sluggish defence from the Germans. Right back Maicon lobbed a hopeful ball upfield which was latched onto by his compatriot who had beaten the Schalke offside trap. The finish was even better, a perfect chip over goalkeeper Frank Rost from the edge of the area.

But Rost did prevent Robinho from getting his hat-trick four minutes later, with a miraculous point blank save from the goalscorer's eight yard wallop. That was a rare highlight though, as things went from bad to worse for the Bundesliga runners-up when defender Mladen Krstajic pulled up with a thigh strain. He was substituted early in the second half, and is unlikely to be fit for next weeks match at Porto. With that loss of personnel coupled with a two-goal disadvantage, Schalke looked demoralised and fell to their fourth straight shutout defeat to mathematically knock them out of the competition. Meanwhile Monaco have hit peak form at the perfect time to improve to seven points, three behind next week's opponents Juventus. A win in Turin next week by any margin (except 1-0) will see the French side leapfrog the the Italian giants into first place of Group D.

Shots: 12-7 Monaco
On Target: 5-3 Monaco
Cards
- ASM Jaroslav Plasil
- SCH none


GROUP E: Eto'o double puts Barca in pole position

BARCELONA.........4 Eto'o 18' 31', Ronaldinho 22', Larsson 78'
PANATHINAIKOS...0

A first half double form Samuel Eto'o helped FC Barcelona trounce their Greek opponents at the Nou Camp. The 4-0 rout, the largest margin of the current competition, began when the Camerounian international opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a brilliant individual effort. Eto'o collected the loose ball outside the area and darted his way onto goal before sidefooting by Stefanos Kotsolis from 15 yards. Ronaldinho doubled the Catalan's lead just four minutes later. The Brazilian played a delightful give-and-go with Mark van Bommel before finishing with a fierce 12 yard strike into the top corner. By the half hour mark, it was 3-0 when Eto'o scored his second of the match and his fifth of the competition. This time the African headed in a wicked Giovanni van Bronkhorst cross from 10 yards.

Panathinaikos were never in the match after that first half onslaught, struggling for just two shots on goal. Substitute Emanuel Olisadebe squandered their best chance early in the second period. The naturalised Pole ballooned his 15 yard attempt over the bar with just goalkeeper Victor Valdes to beat. Instead it was another substitute who scored the fourth and final goal to complete the rout. Henrik Larsson combined with Ludovic Giuly, who was making a return from a hamstring injury, to finish off the Greeks twelve minutes from time. The Swede squeezed a 13 yard shot under the approaching Kotsolis after his French teammate had put him through. Barca's emphatic win - their third in a row - sees them go top of the group with nine points, while Pana are anchored on the bottom with just three.

Shots: 15-7 Barcelona
On Target: 10-2 Barcelona
Cards
- BAR Edmilson
- PAN Rudolf Skacel