UEFA Champions League Qualifier – August 15th 2007.
Toulouse 0 Liverpool 1
Toulouse: 16 Douchez, 13 Ebondo (22 Sissoko, 83), 5 Mathieu, 28 Cetto, 2 Fofana, 15 Paulo Cesar (21 Gignac, 69), 14 Sirieix, 20 Emana, 25 Dieuze, 9 Elmander, 10 Bergougnoux (7 Mansare, 45)
Unused subs: 1 Riou, 6 Jonsson, 8 Batlles, 17 Fabinho
Booked: Elmander 60, Cetto 79, Sissoko 90
Liverpool: 25 Reina, 3 Finnan, 23 Carragher, 4 Hyypia, 17 Arbeloa, 11 Benayoun (6 Riise, 59), 8 Gerrard (22 Sissoko, 65), 20 Mascherano, 19 Babel, 10 Voronin (9 Torres, 78), 15 Crouch
Unused subs: 30 Itandje, 5 Agger, 14 Alonso, 18 Kuyt
Booked: None
Goals: Voronin 43
Referee: Kyros Vassaras
Attendance: 36,000
Reaction:
Reds boss Rafa Benítez: “We must not think we are already through. This tie is not yet over, it is just one goal. We know they are a very good side who like to counter-attack, which is what they will try to do at Anfield.
“It was a fantastic goal and Andriy showed the quality he has. He is different from the strikers we have as he has game intelligence, he links up the play well and he can score goals. He can play behind a main striker, lead the line himself, or come into the attack from the flanks, and of course he can score truly great goals like that. But we must not think this tie is over.
“It was a really difficult game. It was too hot for football and the pitch wasn’t the best but I think we have done a very professional job in a match played in difficult conditions. It was so hot for the players and we were having to give them water continually, but the referee stopped us throwing the bottles on to the pitch. The players had to come to the sidelines to drink, which was a little strange considering the conditions.
“We will need to work hard in the second game at Anfield because they showed they can be dangerous on the counter attack. It will be a difficult game and we need to finish off the job.”
Reds defender Jamie Carragher: “It’s a good result for us because we were aware they are a good side at home. It was great to get a win, especially in the conditions because it was so hot. I think the training we did in pre-season in Hong Kong helped us cope because we knew about the conditions.
“Andriy scored a great goal and full credit to him for that because he’s been as good as anyone so far for us. I was right behind it when he hit the shot and could see it was going in.
“The tie’s not over yet though. We didn’t play particularly well tonight and in the past at Anfield we haven’t played too well in the qualifiers so we’ll be looking for a different story this time around.”
Toulouse coach Elie Baup: “In those conditions it is hard to keep running and trying to create things when you are playing against a side with such experience and quality. Our players lack the experience of playing in this competition and they found Liverpool’s ability and technical quality hard to cope with out there.”