Ljungberg double overturns Porto

Porto 1 Arsenal

Harry Reekie
Sunday 31 July 2005 19:00 EDT
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Ljungberg, a replacement for David Bentley at the interval, scored in the 47th and 58th minutes as the Gunners bounced back from Lisandro Lopez's first-half opener. Arsenal, who had beaten Ajax 1-0 on Friday, finished top in the tournament after Boca Juniors defeated Ajax by the same score last night. Arsenal finished top in the competition, followed by Porto, with Ajax bottom of the four.

The game had started at a rather sedate pace, with both sides showing clear signs of rustiness in the Amsterdam Arena. The Porto forward Benni McCarthy, linked with several English clubs throughout the summer, fired in a 19th-minute free-kick which Jens Lehmann struggled to deal with but it took until after the half-hour for the first clear opening to be created. Thierry Henry, influential in the victory against Ajax, made room on the right for a dink into the box that Mathieu Flamini could only balloon over the bar.

The midfielder was made to pay for his wastefulness only a minute later when Porto took the lead. Poor defending allowed Jorginho space to send in a cross from the right that begged to be converted. Lopez duly obliged, crashing past Lehmann from close range.

The Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger responded with a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp. It proved an inspired decision within moments of the restart when Ashley Cole crossed from the left and Ljungberg fired in a low equaliser.

The goal spurred Arsenal into action and 11 minutes later they were ahead. Flamini burst into the area before squaring for a revitalised Ljungberg to slide home his second.

At Fratton Park, Portsmouth, with six new signings in the side, could not stop Internazionale chalking up their fourth successive win on their tour of England with a 2-0 victory.

l The Manchester City manager, Stuart Pearce, claims Darius Vassell and Andy Cole have the makings of a "nice partnership". The strikers seem likely to start the first game of the season against West Bromwich on 13 August. Vassell, 25, made his bow in the 2-1 win at Stoke in a friendly on Saturday following his £2m move from Aston Villa. Pearce said: "Andy Cole is also new and they will need time to gel. But I think this could be a nice partnership."

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