English Soccer: Benayoun, Liverpool win in CL qualifier

Israel international Tal Ben-Haim again in starting 11 for Chelsea in Premier League game against Reading at Madjeski Stadium.

By JEREMY LAST, AP
benayoun 298.88 (photo credit: AP)
benayoun 298.88
(photo credit: AP)
Yossi Benayoun played the first 59 minutes of Liverpool's 1-0 Champions League qualifier win against French side Tolouse in France on Tuesday evening. After not even making the substitutes bench in his new team's English Premier League opening weekend win over Aston Villa on Saturday, the Israeli captain was promoted to the first 11 by Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez. Andriy Voronin scored two minutes before halftime, taking last season's finalists a step closer to the lucrative group stage of the Champions League. Voronin fired home a rising shot from 20 meters after collecting a headed pass from Peter Crouch in the 43rd minute at the Municipal Stadium. Also Wednesday, Israel international Tal Ben-Haim was again in the starting 11 for Chelsea in its Premier League game against Reading at the Madjeski Stadium. Although Ben-Haim has started both of the London club's games in the English Premier League since his move from Bolton Wanderers in the summer, his place in Jose Mourinho's team will be under threat next week if captain John Terry returns from injury as expected in time for Chelsea's league match at Liverpool on Sunday. Benayoun, who made the dream move to Liverpool from London club West Ham in the summer, looked lively on the right wing for the Reds before being substituted for John Aarne Riise with half an hour to play. Speaking after the match Benayoun said he was not totally satisfied with the way Liverpool had played but is happy at the club. "I feel good although it was not a good game for us," Benayoun told Israeli Web site One. "I think I didn't get too involved but after the game Rafa Benitez that the most important thing was the result." The game was one of 12 first-leg matches in the third qualifying round to be played on Wednesday. Scottish champion Celtic held Russian side Spartak Moscow to a 1-1 draw in Moscow. Meanwhile, Argentinian Carlos Tevez made his debut for Manchester United in its 1-1 English Premier League game at Portsmouth on Wednesday. Paul Scholes scored for United before Benjani Mwaruwari equalized for Pompey. Also Wednesday Birmingham drew 2-2 with Sunderland, Manchester City beat Derby 1-0 and Bolton lost to Fulham 2-1. Lionel Messi scored with a left-foot volley to give Barcelona a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in a friendly Wednesday that served as the farewell match for longtime Bayern star Mehmet Scholl. Messi, who came on in the second half, fired from the edge of the penalty area and the ball bounced off the inside of the post into the net with five minutes remaining in the game. Scholl spent 15 seasons at Bayern and retired at the end of the last Bundesliga championship in May. Barcelona started with Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o and both teams made several substitutions in the second half. Scholl left the game after 53 minutes to a standing ovation from the capacity crowd of 69,000 at the Allianz Arena. He was replaced by Franck Ribery, the French star who inherited Scholl's No. 7 jersey.