Lionel
Messi scored a superb Champions League hat-trick as Barcelona ran Ajax ragged in a 4-0 victory in their
Group H opener at the Nou Camp.
The Argentinian striker was
at his effortless best, despatching a fine first-half free-kick and then
producing two clinical finishes either side of Gerard Pique's header.
Ajax were passengers in the
second period and were denied even a consolation when Victor Valdes saved
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's penalty.
Messi, perhaps inspired by
Cristiano Ronaldo's treble for Real Madrid on Tuesday night, now has 62
Champions League goals and a record four hat-tricks.
Neymar, making his
Champions League debut, was quickly into the action as he raced clear and
tested goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer after only three minutes.
The Brazilian was looking
the game's liveliest player, eager for the ball and running at the away
defence, but it was Messi who opened the scoring.
He was going away from the
box when Lerin Duarte trod on his boot, though he showed no discomfort when
stepping up to caress the free-kick home from just outside the area. The ball
crept in via the inside of the post, leaving Vermeer grasping at thin air.
Ajax were vulnerable, ever
more so when Niklas Moisander was booked - after a couple of warnings - for
tripping Andres Iniesta.
Out of nowhere, Ajax
threatened an equaliser in the 31st minute.
On-loan Bojan Krkic was the creator against his parent club, neatly making space for
himself before curling a teasing cross to the back post where Ricardo van Rhijn
met it with a strong header but Valdes made a good save.
Duarte
was next to work the Spain international, striking first time from the edge of the area, and Valdes was
again up to the task.
Valdes'
opposite number Vermeer was also helping being worked, getting down low to save
from Neymar and then, seconds before half-time, gathering from Messi who had
ignored the run of Cesc Fabregas in favour of shooting.
A couple of minutes earlier
Neymar blazed over after taking Iniesta's chipped cross down on his chest.
It took Barca five minutes
of the second half to threaten again, Van Rhijn hooking Dani Alves' cross away
to deny Neymar a simple finish.
That simply delayed the
inevitable, though, as a four-on-three breakaway found its way to Messi
breaking into the area. He guided the ball on to his left foot, committing his
man in the process, and finished at the near post.
Messi almost made it three
with an improvised touch off his knee, but it was Pique who struck next when he
rose to nod home Neymar's precison ball into the box.
Ajax were being cut open at
regular intervals and went four behind to Messi's hat-trick goal in the 75th
minute.
He made it look simple,
feigning to shoot before picking out the bottom corner with apparent ease.
Sigthorsson had the chance
to rescue something from the evening when Javier Mascherano conceded the
penalty, but Valdes guessed right to preserve his clean sheet.
Tweet Follow @punshcomempower
50% off Hosting for your Website at GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
Host a site without stress on namecheap eApps|YOUR APP HOSTING PROVIDER
Submit your Website
Free webmaster resources including SEO Tools, Computer Glossary, Templates Sign up to BIGTIMEBUX today!
0 comments:
Post a Comment