Reds Defeat Toulouse 1-0 In First Leg

Andriy Voronin found the back of the net in the 43rd minute at Toulouse's Stadium Municipal to secure a first leg victory in Liverpool's Champions League third round qualifier.

From LiverpoolFC.tv:

Liverpool are 90 minutes away from a place in the group stages of the Champions League after a comfortable 1-0 victory against Toulouse in France.

Andriy Voronin's stunning first half strike secured a well earned success against the French outfit as Rafael Benitez's side took a big step towards once again qualifying for European football's premier competition.

With Chelsea looming on the horizon this weekend it came as no surprise to see six changes from the starting line-up which won so impressively at Aston Villa, with Peter Crouch, Sami Hyypia, Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun joining Voronin in making their first appearances of the new campaign.

In the baking mid-afternoon French heat the game was often played at a pedestrian pace, but the Reds remained in control from first minute to last and will now more than fancy their chances of finishing the tie off at Anfield and taking their place in the draw for the next stage of the tournament on August 30.

Despite dominating proceedings, it took until two minutes before half time for the deadlock to be broken “ but it was a goal well worth waiting for.

Steven Gerrard had already gone close with a couple of efforts which flew wide of the target before the Reds grabbed the goal they fully deserved.

Voronin “ who had been one of the stars of the pre-season campaign “ collected the ball on the edge of the area and, having created space for the shot, drilled a blistering drive into the roof of the Toulouse net.

The smile on the Ukrainian's face told its own story “ he may not be a regular first choice for Rafael Benitez this season but there's no doubting he has already endeared himself to the Liverpool supporters with his hugely impressive performances for the club so far.

Toulouse rallied after the break but Pepe Reina remained untroubled, while at the other end Gerrard fired another drive over the bar as Liverpool looked for the goal to kill off the French challenge and make the Anfield return little more than a formality.

Reina was forced into his first save after 62 minutes when Toulouse striker Elmander got across Sami Hyypia at the near post, but his first time effort was well stopped by the Spanish stopper.

Liverpool had opportunities to create more danger in the Toulouse half of the field, but were more often content to retain possession and guard against conceding an
unnecessary equaliser.

After a second successive satisfactory afternoon's work this season, Rafa Benitez can now turn his attentions towards the showdown with Chelsea this Sunday safe in the knowledge that, barring any second leg calamity, his side will be competing once more with Europe's elite later in the season.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Babel, Gerrard (captain), Mascherano, Benayoun, Crouch, Voronin. Subs - Agger, Riise, Torres, Kuyt, Itandje, Alonso, Sissoko

Toulouse: Douchez, Ebondo, Fofana, Cetto, Mathieu, Dieuze (captain), Sirieix, Emana, Cesar, Elmander, Bergougnoux. Subs - Riou, Jonsson, , Sissoko, Gignac, Mansare, Batlles