Porto, Valencia book last eight spots

In Pool B Valencia had the better of a goalless draw with defending champions Manchester United, who win that pool. That eliminates Fiorentina of Italy who drew 3-3 with French champions Bordeaux.

It ensures two Spanish teams will be in the last eight with Real Madrid aiming to make that three when Pools C and D are completed while with Fiorentina eliminated all Italian hopes now rest with Lazio.

The goal of the night was in Berlin. Brazilian substitute Clayton received the ball on the leftside of midfield and beat three tackles from a retreating German defence before finishing with the outside of his left foot, ensuring the Portuguese side go through alongside Barcelona.

They had Gabri to thank for two quality second-half goals after Zdenek Svoboda had put the Czechs ahead before the interval.

Last week Prague had kept their hopes alive with an equaliser in the fourth minute of injury-time at Porto but they immediately took control of this match. Vratislav Lokvenc held the ball up for Svoboda whose sidefooted finish from the edge of the box was exquisite.

Barcelona have been the most impressive qualifiers in this tournament in both the first phase and the second phase but Prague dominated the first half.

World Player-of-the-Year Rivaldo was replaced by coach Louis van Gaal at the interval but Barca overcame the loss of the Brazilian by equalising after 52 minutes.

Dutchman Frank de Boer was prominent in a move that ended with Gabri bursting through and firing a left-footed angled shot into the net. And with a minute remaining Gabri struck his second from the edge of the box.

In Pool B, Fiorentina conceded a first-half goal to Sylvain Wiltord but an Enrico Chiesa penalty, a tap-in from Gabriel Batistuta and Rui Costa made it 3-1 before Marc Zanotti and Laurent Batlles squared the match with late goals.

In fairness to Fiorentina, the news of the result in Valencia had already drifted through by the time Batlles equalised.

Valencia deserved a draw against a United team that started without David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole.

Valencia launched a series of dangerous raids but their best effort was a long range shot from their former French international defender Jocelyn Angloma that struck the bar.

United’s best effort was a header from Teddy Sheringham after a brilliant cross from South African Quinton Fortune which was saved by Spanish international goalkeeper Santiago Canizares.

United win that pool and therefore avoid — at least for now — Barcelona when the draw is made for the quarter-finals.

In Florence, Bordeaux, already eliminated, had taken a relaxed approach to this match with the players joined by their wives and girlfriends for a mini-break in Tuscany. But it was Fiorentina who looked to be in holiday mode as Bordeaux took the lead after four minutes.

A slick passing movement ended in Batlles firing in a shotfrom the right that was blocked but Wiltord latched onto the rebound to score.

Wiltord then squandered three good opportunities in the closing minutes of the opening period although Fiorentina keeper Francesco Toldo must get some credit for the saves.

The game also was unusual in that both goalkeepers — Fiorentina’s Toldo and Bordeaux’s Ulrich Rame — have recently been linked with a move to United who despite employing Mark Bosnich, Raimond van der Gouw, Massimo Taibi and former York City custodian Nicky Culkin in goal this season are yet to find a convincing replacement for Peter Schmeichel.

Just two minutes into the second period Fiorentina hit-back. Their talismanic striker Batistuta escaped his marker Herve Alicarte who blatantly held back the Argentinian.

Alicarte was dismissed and Enrico Chiesa made no mistake from the spot kick.

Just after the hour the Italians went ahead when Chiesa was ruled onside in what was a hairline decision before setting up a tap-in for Batistuta.

Just two minutes later it was 3-1. Michel Pavon was dispossessed by Rui Costa whose shot was deflected into the net off Pavon’s backside as the Bordeaux skipper vainly bid to redeem his earlier error.

But the goals from Zanotti and Batlles ensured the French champions bowed out with dignity.