By Lisa Jucca
Reuters
Wednesday, September 19, 2001; 5:40 PM

_____Champions League_____ Draws/Tables/Fixtures: • First Phase _____Results_____ Matchday 2 • Group A Anderlecht 0, Roma 0 Real Madrid 4, Lokomotiv Moscow 0 • Group B Boavista 3, Dynamo Kiev 1 Borussia Dortmund 0, Liverpool 0 • Group C Arsenal 3, Schalke 2 Panathinaikos 2, Real Mallorca 0 • Group D Lazio 1, Nantes 3 PSV Eindhoven 3, Galatasaray 1 • Group E Juventus 3, Celtic 2 Rosenborg 1, Porto 2 • Group F Barcelona 3, Fenerbahce 0 Bayer Leverkusen 1, Lyon 0 • Group G Manchester United 1, Lille 0 Deportivo 2, Olympiakos 2 • Group H Bayern Munich 0, Sparta Pague 0 Spartak Moscow 2, Feyenoord 2

BRUSSELS, Sept 19 – Belgian champions Anderlecht hung on for a goalless draw despite being outplayed by AS Roma in a Champions League Group A match on Wednesday.

Roma dominated a fast-paced, free-flowing game at Anderlecht's Parc Astrid ground but squandered a hatful of chances.

The draw continued a run of poor results for star-studded Roma, who have yet to win in the Italian league this season and lost at home to Real Madrid in their first Champions League group match.

Roma's Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta was responsible for the most glaring miss midway through the first half, shooting over the bar from close range when unmarked.

Anderlecht, who lost several of their best players over the summer, have also had a poor start to the Belgian season, winning just two of their first five matches.

They fell far short of the standard they reached in the Champions League last season when they won six of their 12 group games and claimed the notable scalps of Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven and Lazio.

Run ragged by the swift Roma players at times, Anderlecht relied on dogged tackling, some fine saves by goalkeeper Filip De Wilde and luck.

Nevertheless, their point leaves them in second place in their group behind Real Madrid, who thrashed Lokomotiv Moscow 4-0 on Wednesday.

BOTH COACHES HAPPY

Both coaches were happy with the result.

"I have found my team again," Roma coach Fabio Capello told reporters after the game.

"We played a great match with five or six chances. I am pleased how the team played with a lot of speed and determination. We could have won but I'm happy even with only one point."

Anderlecht coach Aime Anthuenis also declared himself happy with the result and with Anderlecht's team work.

"We have played a team that is used to doing better. We worked well but something was missing today," he said.

Roma started on the attack and could have taken the lead as early as the second minute when Batistuta headed just wide of the post.

Roma missed several good opportunities before Joris Van Hout came close for Anderlecht in the 24th minute with an acrobatic kick that flew over the bar.

Anderlecht's best period came towards the end of the first half when Glen de Boeck crept behind a Roma defender but could only lob into the hands of goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli from close range.

Batistuta's bad luck persisted when he rifled the ball straight into de Wilde's hands in the 54th minute and shot into the side netting soon afterwards before he was replaced by Vincenzo Montella eight minutes from the end.

Anderlecht had their chances too, with de Boeck heading over the bar from a free-kick in the 65th minute and striker Ode Thompson shooting just wide from a good position a minute after he came on as substitute for Alin Stoica late in the game.

Roma piled on the pressure in a furious finale but Anderlecht held on grimly.

A mistake by Anderlecht's Walter Baseggio let Cafu in in the 79th minute but the Brazilian shot straight at de Wilde.