Liverpool, City cruise to easy wins, Juve held

Sep 18, 2010 |

Paris, Sept. 17: Liverpool and Manchester City enjoyed a Europa League cruise as a tournament often derided as the Champions League’s poor relation gorged on a feast of 78 goals and three hat-tricks.

England midfielder Joe Cole scored the quickest European goal in Liverpool’s history — after just 25 seconds — as his team enjoyed a 4-1 victory over fellow former European champions Steaua Bucharest at Anfield on Thursday.

Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled Manchester City won 2-0 at Red Bull Salzburg while mighty Juventus were held to a 3-3 draw at home by unfashionable Polish side Lech Poznan. Poznan’s Latvian striker Artjoms Rudnevs grabbed all of his side’s three goals while Patrick Helmes of Bayer Leverkusen and Alexandr Kerzhakov of Zenit St. Petersburg also hit hat-tricks.

Cole’s early strike was his first for Liverpool since joining on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer. Cristian Tanase equalised in the 13th minute but David Ngog scored twice and substitute Lucas hit the other to ensure manager Roy Hodgson’s decision to leave out star striker Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard did not backfire.

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