Roma hit five and Porto six in Champions League goal sprees
NYON: Gervinho, the former Arsenal striker, struck twice as Italy’s Roma thrashed CSKA Moscow 5-1 on the second night of action in the group stage of the 2014-15 Champions League.
Juan Iturbe and Maicon were also on the scoresheet in the Group E game in the Stadio Olimpico. Sergei Ignashevich put through his own net and Ahmed Musa claiming Moscow’s solitary reply.
In the other group game Jerome Boateng snatched a last-gasp 1-0 victory for Bayern Munich over his former club Manchester City.
The German defender denied City a draw in Munich at the death, courtesy of a shot which deflected off team-mate Mario Gotze and past Joe Hart.
In Group H Yacine Brahimi’s hat-trick helped Porto set a new club-record Champions League victory in a 6-0 defeat of BATE Borisov.
The outclassed Belarus side had no answers to Algeria midfielder Brahimi, with Jackson Martinez, Adrian Lopez and Vincent Aboubakar also scoring.
No such entertainment in the other game: Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar played out a goalless draw in Spain.
Group F saw Barcelona struggle to a 1-0 victory over APOEL Nicosia at the Nou Camp, with defender Gerard Pique to thank for their slender win. The hosts dominated possession and had 17 efforts on goal, all but the one in vain.
Lasse Schone’s brilliant free-kick saw Ajax hold Paris St Germain to a 1-1 draw.
Denmark winger Schone levelled the match with Ajax’s first shot on target, just when PSG were eyeing victory.
Edinson Cavani blasted his 28th goal in 50 PSG appearances to hand the Frenchmen the lead, with Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic denied at every turn against his former club.
In Group G Luka Zahovic stole a late equaliser in Maribor’s 1-1 home draw with Sporting Lisbon. Former Manchester United midfielder Nani handed Sporting the lead with just 10 minutes remain but the hosts hit back after a pair of botched clearances let in Zahovic.
Chelsea were unable to transfer their imperious Premier League form to the European arena, letting an early lead slip to draw 1-1 with Schalke at Stamford Bridge.
Cesc Fabregas put Chelsea ahead, sliding home after a one-two with Eden Hazard on just 11 minutes.
Jose Mourinho’s men were unable to close out the contest however, with Klaas Jan Huntelaar stealing a point for the visitors.
The Schalke striker pinched the ball from Fabregas before firing home, thwarting Chelsea’s hopes of a fast start to this year’s tournament.
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