Uefa Award Italy Victory

Serbia have been told they must play two games behind closed doors, with one match suspended, while Italy were handed a suspended sentence of one game behind closed doors. The match in Genoa earlier this month was called off after only six minutes as travelling Serbia fans threw flares and fireworks onto the pitch. The kick-off had already been delayed by 35 minutes after pre-match clashes between visiting supporters and Italian police.

There were a number of arrests and more than a dozen supporters and police were taken to hospital. The Serbian Football Association had asked Uefa for the game to be replayed, but the Italian Football Federation rejected that possibility out of hand.

Uefa have now ruled at a disciplinary hearing into the trouble that Italy should be awarded a 3-0 victory. The decision means Italy now find themselves three points clear at the top of Euro 2012 quaifying group C with 10 points from four games.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Pakistan VS South Africa 2nd 20Twenty (Abu Dhabi)

Another day, another batting collapse from Pakistan. They were shot out for 120 and it was too little to defend even for their talented bowling attack. Their spinners posed a brief threat but South Africa shut them out to seal a 2-0 series win. Graeme Smith's 38 wasn't a fluent effort but he fought on to push South Africa close before Colin Ingram and JP Duminy applied the final touches.

When a struggling Smith was stumped off Saeed Ajmal, South Africa needed 53 from 40 balls, raising the possibility of an improbable twist in the tale. Ajmal had 3.4 overs left in his spell and there were two new batsmen in the middle but Ingram killed the contest with admirable coolness. He pulled Umar Gul for four before collecting three boundaries off Shoaib Akhtar in the 17th over - a smashed six over long-on and two fours dragged to square-leg - to push South Africa ahead in the chase. He fell, holing out to long-on, but Duminy stayed put till the end.

Nothing went right from the start for Pakistan. Shahzaib Hasan continued to be a walking wicket and his exit, to an ugly slog across the line, opened the floodgates. Imran Farhat, who was bowled going for an over-ambitious heave, left one wondering whether the selectors were being too harsh on Imran Nazir. Like yesterday, it was Lonwabo Tsotsobe who removed the openers.

Again there was no middle-order revival. Mohammad Hafeez averages just 20.01 from 53 ODIs and 16.53 from 17 Twenty20s. Today was yet another day where he played a couple of pretty shots before combusting. He was caught at the crease, pondering whether to cut or steer, and lost his stumps before he could make up his mind. Umar Akmal ran himself out following a mix-up with Misbah-ul-Haq, and Shahid Afridi scooped Rusty Theron to deep point. Abdul Razzaq improved on his performance from yesterday - he swung a couple of sixes - but tapped a full toss straight to mid-off.

It was left to Misbah to push Pakistan over 100. It was another one of his meandering knocks that seemed to go nowhere until the last couple of overs when he showed some intent. Like yesterday, he initially struggled to find his timing but fought on to hold one end up. He went for the big shots in the end - there was a neat six over wide long-on, hit on a bent knee, and a shuffled swat to the backward square-leg boundary - but it was too little and too late.

It was difficult to rate South Africa's bowling in this context. Did Pakistan's shoddy batting display make the bowling look better than it was? It would be unfair, though, to not credit them for their discipline. Tsotsobe punctuated his natural left-armer's angle with the ones that straightened to collect early wickets, Johan Botha, as ever, strangled the run-flow in the middle overs with his variations, and Theron enhanced his reputation as a death-over specialist with three wickets in the last over. Pakistan's bowlers again attempted the improbable but it was a bridge too far to cross.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed 

My Faourite Wrestling Match, Mick Foley Vs The Undertaker

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

"Great Performance."

Alonso Takes Title Lead

Alonso: stands 11 points clear

 

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso moved into the world championship lead on Sunday after winning the Korean Grand Prix, as Red Bull suffered a double retirement. The Spaniard moved top of the standings after the race's previous leader, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, suffered an engine failure.

Vettel had himself appeared set to take the lead in the title race after team-mate Mark Webber had earlier spun out in wet conditions at Yeongam. Webber headed into the weekend with a 14-point lead but now finds himself 11 points behind Alonso, whose win was his fifth of the season and third in four races.

He now stands on 231 points with Webber second on 220. Lewis Hamilton finished second in Korea to go third with 210 points ahead of Vettel, who has 206. Defending champion Jenson Button, meanwhile, could only finish 12th and now appears out of contention. Although he still has a mathematical chance, Button now stands 42 points behind Alonso with just 50 available across the remaining two races.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished third to boost the team's position in the constructors' championship, while Mercedes GP's Michael Schumacher equalled his best result of the season with fourth. Renault's Robert Kubica finished fifth ahead of Force India's Vitantonio Liuzzi and Williams' Rubens Barrichello. Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi finished eighth ahead of team-mate Nick Heidfeld, with Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg claiming the final championship point.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Jankovic Slumps In Doha

Jankovic: Broken five times

Second seed Vera Zvonareva got her WTA Championships campaign off to a winning start with a 6-3 6-0 victory over an ailing Jelena Jankovic. The sixth-ranked Serbian has been troubled by a sinus problem in the past week and was clearly out of sorts at the season-ending tournament in Doha.

Zvonareva broke early in the first set of the White Group match and although Jankovic saved numerous break points in the seventh game, the Russian broke her resistance two games later to clinch the set. Zvonareva faced a break point in the opening game of the second set but she recovered to hold and when she broke for a third time in the next Jankovic capitulated. Jankovic's defeat, who as late as 2008 held the number one spot, continues a run of poor form. She was beaten at this month's Kremlin Cup by No. 248 Zarina Diyas.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Kaymer Could Become No.1

Westwood (L) and Kaymer both chasing the world No.1 spot

Europe will provide the golfing world's new number one come Sunday evening, but it remains to be seen whether it will be Lee Westwood or Martin Kaymer.

Westwood, who is currently out injured, had looked certain to be the man to finally topple Tiger Woods at the top of the rankings. Because of the machinations of the ranking system, which is calculated over a two-year period, the Englishman will knock Woods off the top spot at the conclusion of this week's Andalucia Masters despite not playing.

But such has been Kaymer's blistering recent form, the German could now deny Westwood that honour. Kaymer has won the last three events he has competed in (the USPGA Championship, the KLM Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship) and would claim the number one spot himself should he extend that run to four in Spain this week with an win in the Andalucia Masters.

A second place finish on his own, or with one other player, would also be enough for the 25-year-old to establish himself as No.1. Kaymer's rise up the rankings has been little short of phenomenal, the German having won six times around the world since October 2008 - four of those victories coming in the last 12 months.

Westwood could clinched top spot had he finished in the top two in the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews earlier in the month, but he could only manage 11th place. The 37-year-old suffered a recurrence of his long-standing calf problem in that event and does not now intend to play again before the WGC-HSBC Champions event in China, starting on 4 November.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

South Africa Dominate 1st Twenty20 Game in Abu Dhabi

 

Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Johan Botha restricted Pakistan to 119 before Colin Ingram and JP Duminy revived the chase from a wobbly 26 for 3 with a 66-run partnership to push South Africa to victory in the first of the two Twenty20 games in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan fought hard with the bowling but the battle was lost by their batsmen. 

There was a predictable monotony about the Pakistan batting. The openers didn't last long, Umar Akmal flattered to deceive, Shahid Afridi unfurled a couple of violent hits to threaten a revival, Misbah-ul-Haq batted slowly and the lower order collapsed. The chase shouldn't have got so close but South Africa slipped up against Shoaib Akhtar early in the piece. Loots Bosman crashed one straight to cover point and AB de Villiers dragged a pull shot to his stumps as Shoaib picked two wickets in his second over. And when Graeme Smith was bowled, attempting a cut against Mohammad Hafeez, South Africa were wobbling at 26 for 3 at 5.1 overs. Pakistan brought on Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul and the duo kept the runs down to maintain the pressure. 

However, the release of pressure came from unexpected quarters. It was set up perfectly for Afridi to come in and strangle the batsmen with his accuracy but he leaked 23 runs from his two overs: Duminy collected a boundary to fine-leg and Ingram swung one over long-on and heaved another to the square-leg boundary to propel South Africa ahead. Duminy and Ingram batted sensibly to add 66 runs in 10.4 overs to push South Africa close to the winning line. Though Duminy fell, to a good diving catch by Umar Akmal at long-on, David Miller hit a few boundaries to ensure the scoring rate didn't slacken and Ingram remained unbeaten to take South Africa home.

Barring a couple of poor overs from the Morkel brothers at the start - Albie struggled with wides and Morne struggled with no-balls - South Africa did nearly everything right. They kept it tight on good lines and lengths and waited for Pakistan to implode. Tsotsobe removed the openers to set the tone for the innings: Imran Farhat fell to an ugly slog, edging to slip, and Shahzaib Hasan fell to a good tumbling catch from JP Duminy running back from point after scooping an intended big hit.

Botha came on after the Powerplay to strangle Pakistan with a triple-strike. Two of them came easily: Mohammad Hafeez carved one straight to sweeper cover and Abdul Razzaq, who struggled in his brief stay, played down the wrong line and lost his off stump. In between those dismissals, Afridi counterattacked in his inimitable style with a breezy 25 off just seven balls. He muscled Botha for three sixes over long-on but fell trying another big hit. 

Much depended on Akmal at this stage and he even looked in the mood to play a responsible knock. He didn't try any flashy hits and rotated the strike with singles but he exited just when he appeared to have settled down. It was a slow bouncer from Albie and Akmal connected well with his swat-pull but sent it straight to Botha who swallowed it at midwicket. With Misbah struggling to find his timing, Pakistan were struggling to reach 100. Albie and Rusty Theron slipped in a few full tosses that Misbah utilised to push the score to 119, a score that however proved insufficient. 

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Shane Bond Saga

Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, has said he became a "victim of politics" when he was discarded by his cricket board after he signed a contract with the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL). Bond has said he had no regrets over his decision to play in the ICL but has admitted to being let down by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), which, he claims, had contractually allowed for participating in the league but backed out when the ICC intervened. 

"What I'll never understand is why it had to be one or the other, ICL or playing for New Zealand, especially when I received a cast-iron assurance that I could do both, and my contract with New Zealand Cricket certainly allowed for it," Bond said in his book Looking Back. "In the end I became a victim of politics. "As distasteful as that might be, I could learn to live with that, but what I can't live with is the suggestion that in the end I didn't want to play for my country."

Bond signed with the ICL in January 2008 and was not considered for the national team for nearly two years due to his involvement with the unauthorised league. He made his international comeback in June 2009 when NZC allowed players to return to the national fold on the condition that they terminate their ICL contract. Bond, who played for Delhi Giants, was earlier in the year, snapped up by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, who bid US$750,000 for him at the auction. He still stands by his decision to play in the ICL though. "One thing I'll never regret is signing to play in the Indian Cricket League. Not at all. I've achieved security for my family and in the long term that is more important than a few Test and one-day caps. "Although I had been on a good contract by New Zealand standards, I hadn't got rich out of the game. I'd done all right, obviously, but I simply hadn't played long enough to accumulate the sort of income that would provide long-term security for my family once my career ended." 

Bond recalled the discussion he had with NZC chief Justin Vaughan when he was told his contract with the board would be terminated due to his links with the ICL. "'Excuse me?' was about the only response I could come up with," Bond said. "So let's get this straight, it was okay for NZC to be in breach of this regulation as long as the wrong people didn't find out? Or had they just not done their homework properly? I admit I lost it a bit here and, for the first and only time, I swore at Justin." 

Bond said he opted against the legal route out of consideration for himself, his board and his team-mates even though it could have worked in his favour. "There was talk that India would not honour their commitment to tour here in 2009, and that other New Zealand guys who had signed with the IPL would have their contracts torn up," he said. "I would have suffered, NZC would have suffered, and my mates would have suffered. In the end it was better just to suck it up and move on." 

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

German Cup Update

Schweinsteiger: Bayern brace

DFB Pokal holders Bayern Munich overcame last year's finalists Werder Bremen 2-1 at the Allianz Arena to advance to the third round of the competition. Meanwhile, Energie Cottbus shocked Bundesliga outfit Freiburg and managerless Cologne enjoyed some respite with a much needed win against Munich 1860.

Claudio Pizarro gave Werder Bremen the lead after just two minutes but Louis van Gaal's struggling Bayern Munich side struck back thanks to a brace from Bastian Schweinsteiger to go through. Bremen, who reached the German Cup final two years in a row and lost last year's final 4-0 to Bayern missed a handful of good chances before Schweinsteiger scored the winner. 

Second division outfit Energie Cottbus caused a major upset by knocking out in-form Freiburg 2-1. A Marc-Andre Kruska penalty and Emil Jula goals were enough despite Papiss Demba Cisse's earlier equaliser.

Schalke were made to work hard as they recorded a 1-0 success at FSV Frankfurt. The club's summer signing from Atletico Madrid Jose Jurado scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute.

Bundesliga bottom side Cologne enjoyed some respite from their troubled season with a much needed 3-0 win against Munich 1860 to ease into the next round. Cologne, who have endured a difficult start to the season, sacked coach Zvonimir Soldo over the weekend following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Hannover. However, the Billy Goats made light work of their league two opponents at the Rhein Energie Stadion thanks to goals from Martin Lanig, Milivoje Novakovic and Lukas Podolski.

VfL Wolfsburg defeated fifth division side Victoria Hamburg thanks to a comfortable 3-1 victory. The Bundesliga outfit took the early lead through Slovak Peter Pekarik's header with Brazil international Josue slotting home a second. Marcel Schaefer added a third to seal a spot in the next round before the hosts pulled a late goal back.

Kaiserslautern advanced to the next round with a 3-0 win against Arminia Bielefeld. Croatian striker Srdan Lakic was the hero for the hosts thanks to a superb hat-trick.

Third division Koblenz stunned Hertha Berlin 2-1 helped by a stunning goal from Michael Stahl at the Stadion Oberwerth. Second division leaders Hertha endured their first defeat of the season as Stahl opened the scoring with an audacious strike from inside his own half which sailed over goalkeeper Marco Sejna.

Marcus Steegmann added a second from the spot with 10-man Hertha replying late on.

The all-second division game between Bavarian rivals Greuther Furth and Augsburg went to extra-time after the game had finished 1-1 in 90 minutes. The visiting team eventually came out on top but only after four goals in the extra 30 minutes. Angolan striker Rafael bagged a brace and Michael Thurk wrapped up the win in the final minute.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Bundesliga Update (24 October, 2010)

Ivanschitz: Scores for Mainz

Mainz returned to the top of the table with a 1-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen, while Dortmund drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim and Stuttgart beat St Pauli 2-0. 

Substitute Andreas Ivanschitz scored the 70th minute winner for Mainz against Leverkusen just two minutes after coming off the bench to earn his side their eighth win in nine games this season and send them two points clear of Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund, meanwhile, needed a free-kick three minutes into injury time from Antonio da Silva to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim as their seven-game winning streak came to an end. Demba Ba put Hoffenheim ahead in the ninth minute before Dortmund were denied an equaliser six minutes later when Nuri Sahin was ordered to re-take a penalty and he missed at the second attempt. The visitors had Sejad Salihovic sent off just seconds after the final whistle.

Elsewhere, Stuttgart moved off the foot of the table with a much-needed 2-0 win at home to St Pauli. Georg Niedermaier put Jens Keller's side ahead in the 19th minute and Zdravko Kuzmanovic made the points safe 15 minutes from time. Stuttgart's win saw Cologne, who sacked manager Zvonimir Soldo earlier in the day, slip to the foot of the standings.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Bundesliga Update (23 October, 2010)

 

Konan: At the double

Werder Bremen maintained their improved form with a comfortable 4-1 win at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Marko Marin opened the scoring in the sixth minute before goals from Wesley and Aaron Hunt put them 3-0 up. Per Mertesacker scored an own goal with 23 minutes remaining but Claudio Pizarro netted to pour cold water on any hopes of a late comeback. 

A brace from Didier Konan helped propel Hannover up to third in the table as they defeated Cologne 2-1.

Konan scored twice in the opening 15 minutes while Martin Lanig's 85th minute goal for Cologne was too little, too late.

Nuremberg earned a three-point haul against fellow strugglers Wolfsburg, notching a 2-1 success. Ilkay Gundogan broke the deadlock on 11 minutes but Wolfburg hit back through striker Grafite. However,  Nuremberg landed the victory in the second half courtesy of Mike Frantz's strike.

Freiburg edged their meeting with Kaiserslautern, recording a 2-1 triumph after coming back from a goal down. Jan Moravek handed the visitors the lead but goals from Papiss Cisse and substitute Stefan Reisinger completed the turnaround.

Elsewhere, Frankfurt played out a goalless draw against Schalke at the Commerzbank-Arena. 

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Coppa Italia Update

A dramatic Khouma Babacar goal a minute before the end of extra-time was enough for Fiorentina to overcome Empoli to advance through to the fourth round of the Coppa Italia. The Viola, who recorded only their second win of the Serie A season against Bari on Saturday were hoping to make to the next round of the cup in the eagerly anticipated Tuscan Derby. Empoli went into the game as the only unbeaten team in Serie B, only conceding six goals this season. Having thrashed Reggiana 4-1 in the last round, Alfredo Aglietti's side were hopeful of causing a major upset at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. But Senegalese teenage striker Babacar struck a decisive blow in the 119th minute to break their Serie B opponents hearts. Fiorentina will face the winners of the Frosinone-Reggina tie on Wednesday evening.

Sinisa Mihajlovic's side join Genoa in the next round of the competition after the Rossoblu overcame Grosseto 2-1 thanks to another goal in the final minute of extra-time. Gianluca Freddi had given the second division outfit the lead only for striker Luca Toni to level in the 82nd minute before the winner deep into stoppage time.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Serie A Update

Serie A leaders Lazio made it four wins in a row by edging out Cagliari as Inter Milan, Juventus and Roma were all held. 

Lazio maintained their excellent start to the campaign by holding on for a 2-1 home victory over Cagliari. Sergio Floccari gave Lazio the lead midway through the first half and the advantage was doubled eight minutes after the break by Stefano Mauri. Cagliari pulled one back just before the hour mark through Alessandro Matri, but Lazio stood firm to record another three points. 

Vincenzo Iaquinta saw a first-half penalty saved as Juventus were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw away to struggling Bologna.

Roma also met with frustration on their travels after playing out a 0-0 stalemate with bottom club Parma.

Cyril Thereau scored an injury-time winner as Chievo Verona posted a 2-1 home success over 10-man Cesena. Bostjan Cesar gave Chievo a 31st minute lead, but Roberto Guana's own goal in first-half stoppage-time drew Cesena level. Steve von Bergen was sent off for the visitors in the 88th minute and Thereau pounced for Chievo's winner a minute into injury-time.

Marco Rossi scored midway through the second half to earn Genoa a 1-0 home win over Catania which allowed them to leapfrog their opponents in the table. 

Udinese hung on with 10 men to beat Palermo 2-1 at home - a result which also lifts the club out of the relegation zone. Medhi Benatia put Udinese ahead after just nine minutes and Antonio Di Natale's 54th minute penalty had the home team in command. However, Andrea Coda was sent off on 65 minutes and Mauricio Pinilla's 83rd minute goal for Palermo set up a nervy finale.

Lecce also picked up a much-needed three points after coming from behind to see off Brescia 2-1 at home.

Andrea Caracciolo put Brescia ahead on 19 minutes, but second-half goals from Edward Ofere and David Di Michele earned Lecce the points.

In the final game of the day, champions Inter Milan had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Sampdoria. Stefano Guberti's volley from Antonio Cassano's cross opened the scoring just after the hour mark, but in-form Nerazzurri striker Samuel Eto'o poked home with 10 minutes remaining to level things up and earn a point. Inter are now second in the table, four points behind leaders Lazio, while Samp drop to eighth.

Copa Del Rey Round-Up

 

Real Murcia, from Spain's third tier, grabbed a heroic 0-0 draw with giants Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey. The first-leg of the fourth round clash saw Jose Mourinho's side travel to Murcia and despite naming a very strong side with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Lassina Diarra and Gonzalo Higuain included - Madrid could not find a way past. Murcia goalkeeper Dani Hernandez made second-half saves to deny Ronaldo, Pedro Leon and substitute Angel Di Maria to keep Madrid from taking the lead in the first leg match. Madrid controlled the game at the Nueva Condomina stadium as it was determined not to repeat last year's 4-0 first leg defeat to minnow Alcorcon at the same stage. Third-tier clubs have eliminated Madrid in the fourth round the past two seasons. The second-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu takes place in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Barcelona made easier work of their first-leg clash at lowly Ceuta with a 2-0 win.Barca travelled to Ceuta, which is actually on the Northern tip of Africa, and sealed a comfortable victory ahead of the second-leg.Maxwell opened the scoring after 16-minutes before Pedro doubled their lead just ten minutes later. 

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

La Liga Update (24 October, 2010)

Espanyol defeated Levante on Sunday, Getafe were too strong for Sporting Gijon, while Osasuna overcame Malaga. Goals from Ruben Gracia and Giuseppe Rossi allowed Villarreal to defeat Atletico Madrid 2-0 at El Madrigal.The three points moved the club onto 19 points in La Liga, above defending champions Barcelona on goal difference and only one point behind leaders Real Madrid after eight matches.

Gracia opened the scoring in the ninth minute and after the end of the first half, which concluded with a dispute surrounding an Atletico penalty claim, Rossi made sure of the points with a goal in the 52nd minute. Luis Fabiano ended a two-month scoring drought with two goals as Sevilla beat Athletic Bilbao 4-3 after a frantic finish.The Brazil striker controlled Frederic Kanoute's failed effort to bounce a shot inside the near post in the 35th minute of the game for his first goal since August. Fabiano then earned a 45th minute penalty that Kanoute converted to deflate the Basque visitors, before he raced past Bilbao's defence to reach Ndri Romaric's long ball in the 62nd and tap a looping shot over goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. Bilbao were given a lifeline by Fernando Navarro's sending off in the 64th minute and Fernando Llorente then headed Markel Susaeta's 74th minute cross into the bottom corner before scoring from the rebound of his own saved penalty for his sixth goal of the season in the 78th minute. However, Kanoute converted his second penalty of the match, which was awarded in highly-debatable circumstances, in the 79th minute to render Igor Gabilondo's late goal as a mere consolation.

Crucial equaliser

Leonardo Ulloa's late equaliser earned Almeria a 1-1 draw at home to promoted side Hercules, which may also have saved the job of coach Juanma Lillo. The Andalusian side's form has been wretched so far this season and there was speculation that a fresh defeat may spell the end for Lillo. And that looked a distinct possibility as Nelson Haedo Valdez gave the visitors the lead eight minutes before half-time. But the locals stuck to their task and Ulloa, a summer signing from Second Division Castellon, came up with the all-important leveller with seven minutes remaining.

Espanyol kept their perfect home record intact with a 2-1 victory over promoted side Levante at Cornella. The Barcelona-based team went ahead through Argentinian winger Jesus Datolo early on and looked set to stroll to a comfortable victory after Xisco Nadal was sent off for the visitors 10 minutes into the second half. The Catalans doubled their lead with 10 minutes left, when Jose Callejon struck, but suffered a nervy final few minutes after Christian Stuani headed a late goal for Levante.

Getafe gave their fans something to celebrate at the end of a disappointing week as they crushed Sporting Gijon 3-0 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Michel's men came into the match having lost 2-0 at local rivals Atletico Madrid last weekend and then going down 1-0 to Stuttgart in the Europa League on Thursday, but goals from Derek Boateng, Adrian Colunga (penalty) and Ivan Marcano got the Azulones back on track.

Struggling Osasuna grabbed some welcome points with a commanding 3-0 victory against out-of-sorts Malaga. The hosts jumped into the lead after three minutes thanks to a Javad Nekounam penalty before further strikes by Shojaei Massoud and Carlos Aranda either side of the break sealed a one-sided win.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

La Liga Update (23 October, 2010)

Real Madrid thrashed Racing Santander 6-1 to stay top of the Primera Liga, while Barcelona beat bottom side Real Zaragoza to maintain their pursuit. Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals as Real Madrid thumped Racing Santander to record their second consecutive 6-1 Primera Division win at the Bernabeu, following the thrashing of Deportivo La Corunaby the same scoreline last time. Aside from Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil were also on the mark as Madrid returned to the top of the table having briefly been replaced following Barcelona'swin earlier in the evening. Racing netted a 74th-minute consolation when Papakouli Diop's piledriver deflected in off Markus Rosenberg but otherwise it was all Madrid as the Spanish giants continued to impress under Jose Mourinho.Madrid have now won nine and drawn the other two of their 11 competitive games under the Portuguese mastermind, with the early-season criticisms about a lack of goals now a rapidly fading memory.

Earlier, Argentine wizard Lionel Messiwas the inspiration once again as Barcelona beat bottom side Real Zaragoza 2-0 to preserve their perfect away record in the league. Messi struck a goal in each half (42, 66) to take his season's tally to 12 in all competitions and match the double he produced in Wednesday night's UEFA Champions League match against FC Copenhagen. Sandwiched in between Zaragoza defender Leo Ponzio was sent off for striking out at Dani Alves (47) to make his side's task even harder.

Meanwhile, a Gonzalo Castro brace saw Real Mallorca inflict a first home defeat on Valencia. Castro opened the scoring via the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Ricardo Costra caught Pierre Webo in the box. He then added his second when heading home on 29 minutes after Miguel Angel Moya could only parry Everson Ratinho's shot. Roberto Soldaro pulled one back for the hosts on 36 minutes after Vicente drew a foul from Ratinho. But Mallorca held on for the win to move to eighth in the table, with Castro almost securing his hat-trick in injury time but Moya saving.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

English Carling Cup Update

Javier Hernandez was again the hero for Manchester United as he came off the bench to score the winner in their Carling Cup fourth round clash with Wolves at Old Trafford. The game had been looking to be heading for extra-time, as Wolves twice battled back to level matters against the holders. The opener had arrived on 56 minutes when Bebe claimed his first goal for United as his cross-come-shot looped off George Elokobi and over Wayne Hennessey. But Elokobi made amends just minutes later as he powered home a brilliant header. United were back in front on 70-minutes as Ji-Sung Park drove forward and inadvertently exchanged passes with Federico Macheda before firing home. Still Wolves were not finished as Kevin Foley slotted home, but United were not to be denied as Hernandezscored a brilliant individual goal as Sir Alex Ferguson's men broke with pace and the Mexican kept his cool to beat the advancing Hennessey.

League One Brentford suffered heartbreak at St Andrews as they lost on penalties to Birmingham City.

Brentford, who defeat Everton with spot-kicks in the last round, had looked like claiming victory in normal time as Sam Wood volleyed the Bees ahead after great work from Myles Weston and Charlie MacDonald.

But then with just seconds remaining, the ubiquitous Kevin Phillips slipped through to score a dramatic equaliser. With no goals in extra time the match went to penalties, and Maik Taylor was the hero as he saved Craig Woodman's effort to hand City a 4-3 on penalties.

Northampton Town's Carling Cup dreams came to and end with a 3-1 defeat at Ipswich. The Cobblers, who took the scalp of Liverpoolin the last round, threatened another shock as Liam Davis fired home a wonderful opener for the League Two side on 16 minutes. The lead, though, last jut ten-minutes as Carlos Edwards fired home from an acute angle. Town edged ahead before the interval through Damien Delaney , and victory was sealed eith two minutes remaining when Tamas Priskin fired home.

Roberto Martinez ended the run of his former club Swansea as his current chargers Wigan sealed a 2-0 win at the DW Stadium. After a goalless first-half, which Swansea enjoyed the better of - Wigan took the lead as Mauro Boselli latched onto Antolin Alcaraz's through ball and slotted home. The winner came in the final minutes after Andrea Orlandi had brought down substitute Charles N'Zogbia.Ben Watson stepped up to convert the penalty and send Wigan into the last eight.

West Bromwich Albion also eased into the quarter-finals with a convincing 4-1 win at Midlands rivals Leicester. The Premier League club's class told as Roberto Di Matteo got the better of Sven Goran Eriksson at the Walkers Stadium. Simon Cox dinked the ball home to give the Baggies the lead on 21 minutes, but there was some hope for Leicester as they levelled just after half-time when Nicky Shorey put through his own net. But West Bromwere soon back ahead courtesy of an horrendous error from Conrad Logan as he allowed the ball through his grasp which gifted a goal fro Somen Tchoyi. Steven Reid then headed a third before Cox fired home an excellent fourth to seal the win for the Baggies.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

English Premier League Update

West Ham remained bottom after defeat to Newcastle, Birmingham claimed their first three-point haul since August with a home win over Blackpool, Sunderland were given a helping hand by Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light and Bolton drew away to Wigan.

Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were on target as Chelsea eased clear at the top of the Premier League with an unspectacular victory over battling Wolves. The France international side-footed home in the 23rd minute after good work from Nicolas Anelka and Yuri Zhirkov, with Carlo Ancelotti's side having to wait until nine minutes from time before Kalou put the finishing touch to a fine move. Mick McCarthy's men more than held their own at Stamford Bridge, with Stephen Hunt making his debut for the visitors to a chorus of boos from the home faithful, who have not forgotten or forgiven his clash with Petr Cech back in October 2006.

Baggies bouncing

West Brom climbed to fourth in the table as they hit back from going a goal down to secure a 2-1 home success over Fulham. Zoltan Gera's low drive from the edge of the box was tipped onto the post by Scott Carson, only for the unlucky goalkeeper to see the ball rebound off his back and into the net. But the home side swiftly hit back as Chris Brunt's pass allowed Youssuf Mulumbu to beat Mark Schwarzer at his near post, before Brunt and Jerome Thomas combined to set up Marc-Antoine Fortune to side-foot home soon after.

Tim Howard's blunder allowed Tottenham to recover from a goal down in their 1-1 draw with Everton as the keeper's flap allowed Peter Crouch to nod across goal for Rafael van der Vaart to lash into the empty net. David Moyes' men, who are now on a four-game unbeaten run, had taken the lead just moments earlier as Leighton Baines' sublime free-kick arrowed into the top corner of Heurelho Gomes' net.

West Ham remained rooted to the bottom of the table after throwing away the lead to lose 2-1 to Newcastle at Upton Park in the evening kick-off. Avram Grant's side went in front through Carlton Cole, but their visitors equalised before half-time courtesy of Kevin Nolan and under-the-spotlight striker Andy Carroll settled the contest in the 69th minute.

Nikola Zigic was handed his first home Premier League goal on a plate as Birmingham ended their six-game winless run with victory over Blackpool. The giant striker, who opened his top-flight account in the defeat at Arsenallast week, gleefully fired home from six yards after Charlie Adam's inexplicable decision to try and play the ball out of a crowded box. Liam Ridgewell had forced the Blues ahead in the 36th minute as he met a corner from the right, which Zigic headed onto the bar from close range with the defender continuing his run into the box to nod home.

Dunne blunder

Richard Dunne secured an unwanted Premier League record as the eighth own goal of his top-flight career handed Sunderland a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light. The Villa centre-back only succeeded in turning the ball beyond Brad Friedel as he attempted to cut out Steed Malbranque's cross from the right in the 25th minute, with team-mate James Collins already in position to clear.

Johan Elmander continued his fine form with a fifth Premier League goal of the season as Bolton hit back to secure a 1-1 draw at Wigan. Hugo Rodallega finished a flowing Latics move with an assured finish beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen, but there was a hint of offside about the effort, with Franco Di Santo arguably beyond the last defender before feeding his team-mate. However, the Trotters hit back almost immediately in the second half, with the Sweden international stabbing home from close range after Kevin Davies' header back across goal.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Rangers Finally Reach First World Series

TheTexas Rangers did a victory lap, sharing the moment with their frenzied fans. They sprayed each other with ginger ale on the field to involve the AL championship series MVP in the celebration, and doused their manager with the contents of a water cooler.

Fireworks and confetti filled the Texas sky. A flag proclaiming the Rangers as the AL champions was raised high above the ballpark, whipping in the wind alongside more than three dozen Lone Star state flags.

And to make their first World Series berth even more satisfying, the Rangers earned it by beating the defending champion New York Yankees. The clincher was a 6-1 victory Friday night in Game 6 of the ALCS.

"Coming out of spring training, this team showed such a heart," said Rangers icon Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcherwho is the team president and a part-owner. "There were so many things going on, and they were just unbelievable."

The celebration erupted when former Ranger Alex Rodriguez took a called third strike from hard-throwing rookie closer Neftali Feliz. "The World Series is coming to Texas," said Michael Young, the longest-tenured Ranger in his 10th season. "These fans have waited longer than we have. I know how bad we wanted it and they must have wanted it more."

The World Series begins Wednesday in either San Francisco or Philadelphia, and the first game in Texas will be next Saturday. The Giants have a 3-2 lead in the NLCS with Game 6 on Saturday night in Philly.

Texas, which had never won a postseason series or a home playoff game before this year, dispatched the $200 million-plus Bronx Bombers with little drama — especially after a four-run outburst in the fifth inning snapped a 1-all tie.

"They beat us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "They outhit us, they outpitched us, outplayed us and they beat us." The Rangers showed the 27-time World Series champions something Ryan has brought them: a culture where pitching rules, and starters expect to go deep into games.

Colby Lewis dominated over eight innings for his second win of the series and Josh Hamilton earned the series MVP award. In a state where most sports fans gear up for fall weekends by watching high school football, the Rangers gave a new meaning to Friday Night Lights. Vladimir Guerrero, heading for baseball's biggest stage for the first time in his 15 major league seasons, drove in three runs before scoring on Nelson Cruz's homer in the fifth.

Hamilton, who homered four times in the series, admitted he shed a tear in center field right before the final out. "We are here as a group. This group is here because they don't know how to fail," said Hamilton, whose comeback from cocaine and alcohol addictions after being the No. 1 overall pick has been well-documented.

After going 2 for 18 with two singles in the division series, Hamilton broke out in the ALCS. So much so that he was intentionally walked five times, an ALCS record, including three times in the clincher.

Right after Hamilton was given a free pass in the fifth, Guerrero followed with a two-out, two-run double that chased Yankees starter Phil Hughes. Cruz greeted reliever David Robertson with his fifth postseason homer, knocking it to one of the deepest parts of Rangers Ballpark. Guerrero didn't have an RBI in the series until his grounder in the first drove home Elvis Andrus. The big hits by Guerrero and Cruz made it 5-1 again, but the Rangers wouldn't give up that lead the way they did in Game 1.

Washington, their fourth-year manager, wasn't even sure he'd keep his job in the summer of 2009 after failing a drug test and admitting to using cocaine once. But Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels stuck by their skipper, and again when the story became public this spring.

 

Now Washington is taking them to the World Series, with ace left-hander Cliff Lee set to start Game 1 since he wasn't needed for a final game against the Yankees. Before going the full five games in the first round to beat Tampa Bay for their first-ever postseason series victory, the Rangers had been knocked out of the playoffs by New York in 1996, 1998 and 1999. The Yankees went on to win the World Series each time, and had won 10 postseason games in a row over Texas, including the opener of this series a week ago.

It seemed fitting that A-Rod made the final out.

 

Rodriguez was one the largest unsecured creditors owed money by the Rangers in a messy bankruptcy case this summer before a group led by Ryan and Chuck Greenberg bought the team from Tom Hicks in an auction. Rodriguez was owned about $25 million in deferred compensation for his three seasons (2001-03) when Texas finished last in the AL West each time.

 

Ryan, whose only World Series as a player came for the 1969 New York Mets, was presented with the AL championship trophy after spending much of the game standing, clapping and hollering along with the rest of the raucous crowd of 51,404.

 

A franchise that began in 1961 as the expansion Washington Senators and moved to Texas in 1972 with Ted Williams as its manager finally reached the World Series in its 50th season.

"Our fans have waited a long time, this organization has waited a long time," Ryan said. "This team coming out of spring training was on a mission."

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

"Best of luck Texas."

Webber Heads The Pack

In a session that saw Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes GP all take a turn at the front of the pack, it was Webber was ultimately triumphed with his 1:37.942. The Aussie finished ahead of his title rivals Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton while Robert Kubica showed an impressive turn of pace to take fourth place ahead of Jenson Button, Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel.

With the track temperature sitting at 35'C, the second practice in Korea got underway with a mad flurry as the drivers were quickly out for their installation laps. Jaime Algursuari stayed out for the first timed lap of the afternoon, a 1:49.539. With more drivers setting times, Hamilton went quickest, then Sebastien Buemi and then Alguersuari again before Hamilton returned to the P1 slot with a 1:42.064. Nico Hulkenberg slotted into second place and Robert Kubica fourth.

Kamui Kobayashi demonstrated the lack of grip, running wide as did Alguersuari. Felipe Massa joined the list of those running off the track while Adrian Sutil kicked up dirt as he cut the corner. Vitaly Petrov took control at the top but his reign was short-lived as Button stormed to the front before Alonso overhauled him with a 1:41.153. Hamilton joined the list of those kicking up dirt as Alonso lowered the benchmark to a 1:40.167. Nico Rosberg took second place with Rubens Barrichello third ahead of Massa, Schumacher, Kubica, Button and Petrov.

Pushed

Hamilton was the next to lead the way, 0.019s up on Alonso's best. Mark Webber improved to third place. Sakon Yamamoto brought out the red flags as he spun his Hispania exiting Turn 16. The session resumed six minutes later after the marshals pushed Yamamoto's car off the track. Schumacher took over from Hamilton at the front, crossing the line with a 1:40.009. Button overhauled the seven-time World Champ by 0.003s and upon his return to the pits, McLaren had to use the fire extinguishers on his rear brakes. The Brit's time was soon topped by Vettel, who clocked a 1:39.204. With 30 minutes remaining in the session, Webber led the way ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Schumacher, Button, Alonso, Heidfeld and Kubica while Bruno Senna was the only driver yet to set a time as his Hispania team continued work on his HRT.

Webber lost out to Hamilton as the McLaren driver posted a 1:38.279. Massa shot up the order, taking third place ahead of his Ferrari team-mate before improving to second, 0.541s down on Hamilton. Alonso climbed to second place with Kubica taking third as the Renault driver continued to impress at the new Korean track.

Alonso continued lapping, taking the P1 slot with a 1:38.132. Moments later, while pushing hard, Webber put his RB6 into a massive spin after losing the rear of his car before hitting the dirt at Turn 11. Back out on track, Webber went quickest with a 1:37.942. Button slotted in to fifth place.

Times

01. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:37.942 23 laps

02. Alonso Ferrari 1:38.132 + 0.190 30 laps

03. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:38.279 + 0.337 29 laps

04. Kubica Renault 1:38.718 + 0.776 29 laps

05. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:38.726 + 0.784 19 laps

06. Massa Ferrari 1:38.820 + 0.878 32 laps

07. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:39.204 + 1.262 22 laps

08. Petrov Renault 1:39.267 + 1.325 28 laps

09. Rosberg Mercedes 1:39.268 + 1.326 29 laps

10. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:39.564 + 1.622 26 laps

11. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 1:39.588 + 1.646 25 laps

12. Schumacher Mercedes 1:39.598 + 1.656 26 laps

13. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:39.812 + 1.870 35 laps

14. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:39.881 + 1.939 27 laps

15. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:39.971 + 2.029 22 laps

16. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:40.478 + 2.536 30 laps

17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:40.578 + 2.636 29 laps

18. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:40.896 + 2.954 32 laps

19. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:42.773 + 4.831 29 laps

20. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:42.801 + 4.859 19 laps

21. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:43.115 + 5.173 26 laps

22. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:44.039 + 6.097 29 laps

23. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1:45.166 + 7.224 19 laps

24. Senna HRT-Cosworth 1:46.649 + 8.707 3 laps

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

SA VS ZIM 3rd One Day Match (Cricket)

South Africa stamped their authority firmly on their northern neighbours in the final ODI of Zimbabwe's tour in Benoni, sealing a massive 272-run win - a record margin of victory for them. On a day for records, South Africa first racked up a monstrous 399 for 6, Jean-Paul Duminy and AB de Villiers both racing to centuries in the course of a record-breaking 219-run stand for the third wicket as the runs flowed without cease. The cracks in Zimbabwe's brittle attack had been in evidence on the unforgiving tracks in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom, but the visitors' bowlers finally crumbled completely, and their batting followed suit.

Duminy and de Villiers' partnership lasted 31.4 overs at just under seven-an-over as they shared ten fours and seven sixes, with no bowler spared before a tiring de Villiers finally departed for a 99-ball 109. Duminy added three further boundaries and had raced to 129, his highest ODI score, before he eventually fell with the score well past 300. Together they had surpassed the previous South African record for the third wicket, de Villiers and Zimbabwe also having been involved in the previous effort, and also made the third highest overall partnership for South Africa in one-dayers.

Any hope that humid conditions at the start and patches of green on the wicket might assist the seamers had soon evaporated as Ian Nicolson - in just his second match in national colours - came in for some fearful punishment, his first two overs being spanked for 32. The treatment of his new-ball partner Shingirai Masakadza was not nearly as harsh, but captain Elton Chigumbura was still forced to turn to spin as early as the sixth over.

The change brought immediate results, Prosper Utseya luring Graeme Smith out of his crease with a wonderfully flighted offspinner and Hashim Amla suffering his first failure of the series as a lifter on off stump from Shingirai Masakadza found a thin edge and South Africa were pegged back to 59 for 2 after an electric start.

Zimbabwe were visibly lifted by the breakthroughs, but Duminy and de Villiers soon wrested the initiative back as they took up the offensive with great vim and vigour. Nicolson's return to the attack was greeted with a volley of rifling strikes through the off side, and Graeme Cremer's third over was spanked for 18 as the batsmen matched each other shot for shot in a race to fifty.

Duminy got there first - from his 53rd ball - but de Villiers' half-century took just one delivery longer and as their partnership developed the chance of a gettable total for the Zimbabweans began to evaporate. In a display of imperious, almost bored powerhitting, no bowler was spared.

Hamilton Masakadza, the eighth bowler tried by a desperate Chigumbura, finally brought an end to the torment as de Villiers set himself to thrash a sixth six but a skewed top edge landed safely in the hands of the younger Masakadza, running in from the deep midwicket boundary. Duminy departed soon after, but the left-handed trio of Albie Morkel, David Miller and Colin Ingram prolonged the assault and took the score to the brink of 400.

Zimbabwe's chase was soon in ruins as their batsmen subsided on either side of a plucky 47-run stand between Tatenda Taibu and Craig Ervine. The seamers made the first incision as three wickets fell inside the first seven overs, and Johan Botha then struck twice in an over to tear the heart out of the middle order and Zimbabwe collapsed in a heap to 127 with more than 20 overs left.

If Zimbabwe were to get anywhere near South Africa's mountainous total, a positive start was vital but they were immediately on the back foot as Brendan Taylor upper-cut Lonwabo Tsotsobe into Rusty Theron's waiting hands at third man with the score still in single figures. Hamilton Masakadza was not long in following him to the pavilion, splicing an attempted pull to give Theron his second catch at mid-on. Chamu Chibhabha briefly flattered to deceive, swiping a back-of-a-length delivery from Tsotsobe into the stands at deep cover and sending Morkel diving for cover with a rifling straight drive, but when he fell to a low catch by Amla at mid-off Zimbabwe slipped to a perilous 30 for 3.

Taibu and Ervine were determined not to give up without something of a fight, and when they kick-started their partnership with five boundaries in the space of two overs it seemed Zimbabwe were still up for the challenge. But Botha's introduction sealed both of their fates as his first delivery, a flighted offspinner, deceived Taibu and his sixth rushed between Ervine's bat and pad to clean-bowl both batsmen.

Immediately afterwards Zimbabwe slipped to 80 for 6, Chigumbura bowled by Theron off the inside edge, and an early finish to the evening appeared a foregone conclusion. Wayne Parnell knocked Keith Dabengwa off his feet with a pinpoint yorker, trapping the batsman lbw in the process, and then bullied Graeme Cremer into a top-edged pull to leave Zimbabwe staring at humiliation.

Some determined resistance from Utseya, and a pair of massive sixes off the younger Masakadza's bat, briefly kept that fate at bay but Theron's return soon brought a swift end. More often than not, Zimbabwe have battled gamely with the bat on this tour, but faced with an impossible chase today they were back to their diabolical worst.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Champions League Wednesday (Match Day 3)

Ten-man Tottenham almost pulled off one of the greatest comebacks ever as they rallied only to lose 4-3 to Champions League holders Inter Milanat the San Siro. Harry Redknapp's men got off to the worst possible start when Inter broke the deadlock after just 68 seconds through Javier Zanetti. Samuel Eto'o played in Zanetti inside the box and the veteran Argentine curled his shot superbly into the far corner to become the oldest player ever to score in the Champions League.

Things got worse for Spurs six minutes later when Wesley Sneijder cut open the visitors defence with a sublime pass to Jonathan Biabiny who was brought down in full-flight by Heurelho Gomes to give the home side a penalty. Gomes was sent off for the offence forcing Redknapp to sacrifice Luka Modric for replacement goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini and his first task was to pick the ball out of the net after Eto'o converted the spot-kick.

Spurs were all at sea and Inter made it 3-0 on 14 minutes when Dejan Stankovic played a neat one-two with Eto'o before drilling the ball into the bottom corner. Things went from bad to worse for Spurs before the break when the impressive Coutinho slipped in Eto'o inside the box and he slotted his shot under the body of Cudicini.

Spurs improved after the break, with Bale the star of the show with a brilliant hat-trick. Bale pulled a goal back on 52 minutes with a superb solo effort as he raced past Zanetti and Walter Samuel just inside the Inter half before smashing a brilliant shot into the bottom corner past Julio Cesar.

Welsh ace Bale reduced the arrears further in the final minute with a carbon copy of his first goal as he found the bottom corner with another unerring left-footed finish. Seconds later Bale completed his hat-trick when he smashed home Aaron Lennon's pass, but Inter held on to secure the three points.

In the other game in Group A FC Twente and Werder Bremenshared the spoils after a 1-1 draw in Holland. Somewhat against the run of play Twente went in front 15 minutes from time when Theo Janssen pounced from close-range to score. However, the lead proved short-lived as Marko Arnautovic came back to haunt his old club with the equaliser just five minutes later when he scored from close-range after working a one-two with Claudio Pizarro.

Manchester United put the Wayne Rooney issue to one side to overcome Bursaspor 1-0 at Old Trafford to put a smile on their fans' faces after a difficult last 48 hours. United scored the only goal of the game after just seven minutes when Nani picked up the ball in midfield and ran unchallenged to the edge of the box before curling his shot beyond Bursaspor keeper Dimitar Ivankov.

Rangers could count themselves unlucky not to take all three points from their clash with Valencia after an action-packed 1-1 draw at Ibrox. Maurice Edu made their domination count on 34 minutes when he rose highest above Valencia goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez to head home Vladimir Weiss' corner. American star Edu went close to adding a second soon after when his thumping long-range strike came back off the post and from the rebound Kenny Miller blazed over with the goal at his mercy. Edu turned from hero to villain at the start of the second half when he unfortunately headed into his own net to draw Valencia level.

Barcelona moved to the top of Group D with a hard-fought 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen at Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi smashed home from the edge of the box after being picked out by Andres Iniesta. Barcelona survived a major scare midway through the second half as Dame N'Doye saw his shot come back off the underside of the crossbar and Cesar Santin missed the rebound with a header just wide of the target. Messi made the game safe in stoppage time when he scored from close-range to end the Danes' brave fight.

Panathinaikos and Rubin Kazan remain winless after a goalless draw in the other game in Group D.

Lyon maintained their 100 per cent record in Group B with a 2-0 victory over ten-man Benfica at Stade Gerland. Jimmy Briand gave Lyon the lead on 21 minutes when he headed home Michel Bastos' cross and Benfica suffered a major blow two minutes before the break when Nicolas Gaitan was sent off for a second bookable offence. Lyon made their numerical advantage count six minutes after the break when Lisandro Lopez scored from close-range after his initial attempt was saved.

Raul equalled Gerd Muller's all-time record for goals in European competition with a clinical brace in Schalke's 3-1 success over Hapoel Tel-Aviv to take his tally to 68 goals in Europe. The Spanish ace set Schalke on their way with the opener after just three minutes with a cool finish after a sublime dummy by strike partner Klass-Jan Huntelaar. Raul doubled the lead just before the hour mark when he converted Ivan Rakitic's cross after a flowing move from the home side. Jose Manuel Jurado added a third on 68 minutes with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box. Etey Schechter pulled a goal back for Hapoel in stoppage time, but it was nothing more than a mere consolation.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

Nice going Raul. Rangers played nice.

Champions League Tuesday Night (Match Day 3)

The Blues returned to the scene of their 2008 final defeat by Manchester United but left the Luzhniki Stadium with all three points courtesy of a 2-0 success to continue their 100 per cent record and Arsenal can also boast nine points from nine after having little difficulty in overcoming Shakhtar 5-1 at Emirates Stadium, with former Gunners striker Eduardo making an emotional goalscoring return to North London.

Yuri Zhirkov'sstunning strike set Chelsea on their way to a 2-0 victory over Spartak Moscow as they pushed their last visit to the Luzhniki Stadium to the back of their minds.

Zhirkov unleashed a spectacular left-foot volley from outside the box which gave goalkeeper Andriy Dykan no chance in the 23rd minute as the Blues put themselves on the brink of qualification from Group F.

Nicolas Anelka added a second before the break after good work from Michael Essienand although Spartak came back strongly after the break, Carlo Ancelotti's men held firm to secure a third win from three.

Perfect

Arsenal can boast an equally perfect record with Shakhtar Donetsk the latest to be undone by Arsene Wenger's side in continental competition this campaign, with the first goal in their 5-1 defeat an absolute gift.

Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov inexplicably failed to deal with a routine ball into the box and Alex Song was on hand to pounce from close range, although he was almost embarrassed after some unnecessary showboating with his finish. Song then crossed for Samir Nasri to double the Gunners' lead before the break as the in-form France international showed superb skill to control the ball, spin away from the defender and lash beyond a helpless Pyatov. Returning captain Cesc Fabregas lashed home a third from the penalty spot after Luiz Adriano was penalised for attempting to put Johan Djourou into a headlock, before being brought off just as former team-mate Eduardo took to the field to a very warm reception. But Eduardo and his team-mates could only look on in admiration as Jack Wilshere made it 4-0 after playing a slick one-two with Tomas Rosicky before Marouane Chamakh added a fifth soon after. However, there was still time for the Croatia international to earn a generous standing ovation from the home supporters as he produced the kind of finish all-too rarely soon during his injury-hit stay with the club.

Braga picked up their first victory of the campaign against Partizan Belgrade in the clash between Group H's also-rans as Lima curled a sweet free-kick over the wall and beyond Vladimir Stojkovic's despairing dive, before Matheus added a second at the death.

Marseille got off the mark in Group F as they inflicted a third successive defeat on MSK Zilina as Lucho Gonzalez's corner was headed home by Souleymane Diawara, although Martin Dubravka could have done more to keep it out.

Heavyweights

Real Madrid came out on top in the clash of European heavyweights at Santiago Bernabeu as AC Milan were left reeling with two goals in as many minutes in the opening quarter of an hour. The Milan wall opened up to allow Cristiano Ronaldo's tame free-kick to beat a static Marco Amelia, with the visiting goalkeeper helpless again soon after as Mesut Ozil's shot took a huge deflection off Daniele Bonera.

Ajax moved level on four points with Massimiliano Allegri's men although they were left hanging on for their 2-1 victory over Auxerre in Amsterdam. Stunning strikes from Demy De Zeeuw and Luis Suarez put the hosts in control, but Andre Ooijer's second half red card allowed Valter Birsa to reduce the arrears with a great free-kick from the edge of the box. But their hopes of a comeback were ended with the late dismissal of Dennis Oliech, while substitute Jean-Pascal Mignot also saw red despite not even making it onto the field.

Bayern Munich are in firm control at the summit of Group E but they were given a huge helping hand from CFR Cluj as the Romanian visitors contrived to score two own goals. Corin Cartu's side stunned the Bayern fans by forging head in the 28th minute thanks to Cadu's far post header, but the Cluj skipper then inadvertently turned the ball past his own keeper four minutes later. The generosity did not end there, with Cristian Panin turning a corner beyond his own bemused goalkeeper Eduard Stancioiu, before Cadu's attempted clearance struck Mario Gomez to end the game as a contest in the 77th minute, with Juan Culio's late second for Cluj not enough.

The race for second place in Group E is tight after Basel claimed their first victory with a surprise 3-1 success away to Roma. Alexander Frei's blistering opener was swiftly cancelled out by Marco Borriello's assured finish, only for Samuel Inkoom to again silence the Stadio Olimpico moments before the interval and Adilson Cabral to seal the victory in the closing seconds.

Best Regards,

Tauqeer Ahmed

"Roma was aweful. Looking for a better Milan performance."