[lfc-news] RAFA: GOAL 'IMPORTANT' FOR MORIENTES

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RAFA: GOAL 'IMPORTANT' FOR MORIENTES
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http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/05/11/02/SOCCER_Liverpool_Benitez.html&TEAMHD=soccer

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez expressed his delight and relief that
Fernando Morientes was finally back on the goal trail as the champions of
Europe edged closer to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 3-0
defeat of Anderlecht.

The Spanish striker scored his first goal at Anfield this season and only
his third of the campaign, which has yet to yield a Barclays Premiership goal.

Morientes' Liverpool total now since he signed in January is still just six
from 28 games, but the weight of expectation was visibly lifted from the
29-year-old's shoulders when he scored the first of the Merseysiders' trio
in a comfortable Group G success.

The goal was Morientes' 27th in Champions League matches for Real Madrid,
Monaco and now the current holders of the trophy.

Benitez said: "It was good that one of our strikers scored. It was
important for him and important for us."

Morientes limped off in the second half, and Benitez said: "Fernando has
felt some pain in his knee, but we have to wait to see how it develops. But
I hope it is nothing serious."

Sadly, the game was marred by the late red card for Nenad Jestrovic, for
alleged racial abuse of Liverpool's Mali midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Anderlecht are now awaiting the final wording of referee Kim Milton
Nielsen's report before deciding on their reaction.

Jestrovic denied using racial abuse, but claimed he and Sissoko had sworn
at each other.

"I can't understand why I was sent off," Jestrovic said. "I approached the
referee after the game and he said it was for an obscenity."

Benitez said: "I have not spoken to Sissoko about what happened, so I do
not know what was said."

Anderlecht boss Frank Vercauteren was reluctant to discuss the exact words
that are believed to have been exchanged, but said: "If it was racial
abuse, I cannot condone that.

"I do not want to explain it in detail, but I can say that the words and
language used you do hear 50 times in an average game. Sissoko insulted
Jestrovic and he replied in kind and the referee said he heard Jestrovic
and sent him off.

"It is the what you hear often. We will wait to see what the referee's
report says. Maybe what is written may not be correct and I will want to
see what is supposed to have been said.

"I will wait to see what is written in the report. I have to believe my
player but I still say what was said is something that is heard a lot on
the pitch. If it was racial abuse it is something I cannot condone.

"The other player should also have been sent off as well. He said something
similar. Okay, these things should not be said, but I do not intend to
punish my player further. He has been punished enough and anything I do
will only punish the team."

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