Kuyt on target as Reds progress

Dirk Kuyt
12 April 2012

Dirk Kuyt headed a late winner to snatch a 1-0 victory over Sparta Prague in Kenny Dalglish's first European tie as Liverpool manager.

Kuyt finally broke the resistance of a determined Sparta side with the only goal of a testing Europa League affair five minutes from the end of the second leg at Anfield.

Both sides had squandered numerous chances in a scrappy last-32 encounter but Liverpool's superior quality was eventually rewarded by the hard-working Kuyt.

David Ngog, Joe Cole and Raul Meireles had also gone close in front of a sell-out 42,949 crowd which further underlined the gathering momentum of Dalglish's new regime.

Sparta, backed by 3,000 of their own raucous fans, contributed fully to an eventful, if low-quality, clash but were eventually undone as Kuyt profited from a late corner.

Jose Reina had a scare early on when he failed to claim a corner but Libor Sionko was unable to take advantage and Meireles missed a good chance when he scooped a cross from the rampaging Martin Kelly over.

Kuyt cut inside to tee up Ngog but the Frenchman chipped tamely at Jaromir Blazek, who almost gifted a rebound opportunity to Cole but recovered.

The hosts started brightly after the restart with Meireles volleying narrowly wide and then creating another attack with a superb long ball for Kuyt. Kuyt raced on into the area and pulled back for Ngog but the lone striker again fluffed his shot.

Sparta also continued to threaten but Reina got down well to cut out a cross from Ondrej Kusnir but the hosts found a way through five minutes from the end when Kuyt jumped above the defence to head firmly past Blazek and put the Reds into the last 16.

Cole should have added a second when he raced through on goal in injury time but sliced his shot wide.

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