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(© Reuters) |
A close-range goal from defender Sami Hyypia gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in a tense Champions League quarter-final first leg at Anfield tonight.
The Finnish centre back found the net a minute before the break after striker Michael Owen drilled in a low cross.
Liverpool failed to push home that advantage in a disappointing second half and were given little room to play with by the well-organised Germans.
Leverkusen had only one real scoring chance in the match. German international Michael Ballack shot wide after a great cut-back from Ze Roberto in the 67th minute.
The second leg will be played next Tuesday in Germany.
In the remaining quarter-final, Panathinaikos earned a 1-0 home win over Barcelona.
The Greeks had several good chances in the first half but made the breakthrough when Joonas Kolkka was felled by Abelardo with 13 minutes remaining. Angelos Basinas made no mistake from the penalty spot.