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Leeds fight on as Wigan survive County scare

Leeds United’s thrilling FA Cup adventure goes on after a penalty equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time ensured Simon Grayson’s side took Tottenham to a fourth round replay.

Jermaine Beckford, Leeds’ match-winner in their third round victory over Manchester United, was the hero again, coolly converting the spot-kick to earn the League One (third division) side a 2-2 draw and a second chance of reaching the last 16.

Notts County also lived to fight another day after coming within seven minutes of a classic giant-killing act before being forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Premier League club Wigan.

Holders Chelsea eased into the fifth round at the expense of Preston while Reading followed up their elimination of Liverpool in the last round by accounting for another Premier League side, Burnley.

But there was no doubt that the biggest drama of the day came at White Hart Lane, where Leeds looked dead and buried until Michael Dawson was adjudged to have brought down Beckford deep into injury time.

The striker had cancelled out Peter Crouch’s opener for Spurs early in the second half but Leeds had appeared to be on their way out after Roman Pavlyuchenko came off the bench to restore the hosts’ lead a quarter of an hour from the end.

In the end though Spurs were left to rue their failure to capitalise on their dominance in an opening spell in which Jermain Defoe failed to convert a penalty of his own.

Notts County, who are threatened with bankruptcy because of an unpaid tax bill, were on track for a famous win over Wigan after opening up a two-goal first-half lead through former West Brom striker Lee Hughes and Ben Davies.

But the League Two (fourth division) side allowed Wigan back into the contest through Jason Scotland and Ben Watson’s 83rd-minute equaliser sent the tie to a replay.

County’s caretaker manager, Dave Kevan, said: “I thought the lads were fantastic, but when we look at it again in the cold light of day, we’ll have mixed feelings. They know they’ve had a great opportunity to cause an upset, and sadly that hasn’t quite developed.”

County’s League Two counterparts Accrington Stanley, the lowest-ranked club left in the tournament, went down to a 3-1 defeat by Fulham after having Darran Kempson sent off just before half-time.

At that stage, the tiny Lancashire club were matching their Premier League guests with Michael Symes having cancelled out Erik Nevland’s opener for Fulham.

But the home side tired after the break and Damien Duff and Zoltan Gera sent the Londoners through.

“They made life very difficult for us,” Fulham boss Roy Hodgson admitted. “But in the second half we showed them more of our qualities and ended up winning the game relatively comfortably.”

Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge struck either side of half-time as Chelsea advanced to the last 16 with a 2-0 win over struggling Championship side Preston North End.

Reading ensured they joined them in Sunday’s fifth round draw when Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson scored an 87th-minute winner against Burnley.

Birmingham extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches with a 2-1 win at Everton. Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson gave Alex McLeish’s on-form side a first-half lead and despite pulling a goal back through Leon Osman, Everton were unable to conjure up an equaliser.

Portsmouth gained some relief from their on and off-the-field woes by coming from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1.

Darren Bent had given Sunderland the lead and the match was briefly interrupted by protesting fans running on to the pitch.

But a double from Nigerian striker John Utaka ensured the Pompey supporters departed Fratton Park in better spirits.

Aston Villa followed up their advance to the League Cup final with a 3-2 defeat of Gus Poyet’s Brighton. Nathan Delfouneso, Ashley Young and Fabian Delph were on the scoresheet for Martin O’Neill’s men.

Bolton registered their first win under Owen Coyle by beating Sheffield United 2-0 at the Reebok.

But Wolves must replay with Crystal Palace after being held to 2-2 draw at home to the on-form Championship side.

West Brom beat Championship promotion rivals Newcastle 4-2 in an entertaining clash at the Hawthorns while Cardiff City beat Leicester by the same scoreline.

Derby edged Doncaster 1-0 and Roy Keane’s Ipswich went down to a 2-1 defeat at League One Southampton.

Arsenal face a potentially awkward fourth round tie at Stoke on Sunday, which also sees Manchester City travel to Scunthorpe.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: burnley, caretaker manager, cold light of day, equaliser, FA Cup, grayson, injury time, kevan, lee hughes, leeds united, michael dawson, mixed feelings, no doubt, Notts County, peter crouch, second chance, west brom, white hart lane, Wigan

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Mali, Algeria, eager to atone for bumpy Cup starts

For Mali and Algeria, Thursday’s second Group A run out gives them a second chance to prove their true worth after indifferent starts to their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns.

In the case of Mali a miraculous fightback to grab a point against Angola having looked down and out trailing by four goals with quarter of an hour to go masked a poor first half display that had Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi shaking his head in frustration.

The Algerians for their part paid for an error-strewn tepid performance 24 hours later when they were whipped 3-0 by outsiders Malawi, who face Angola in the second leg of Thursday’s Group A double header at the 11 November stadium.

Keshi says his side were mentally shaken by the way they let Angola race into what appeared an unassailable lead, before the hosts’ crumbled.

“The spirit was low after Angola,” Keshi reported.

“The players are aware of the mistakes they made on Sunday, but it was a hard game played in a difficult atmosphere given the frantic support for the home side.”

Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita, who came off the bench to score two goals, insisted his teammates had the mental strength to bounce back.

“Algeria may be in the World Cup but they’re in a tricky situation. Our position is more favourable.

“The pressure is greater for them because if they drop points against us qualification for the next round is going to be tough.”

Keshi was cautiously optimistic of being able to call up Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, who has been battling a groin injury and missed Sunday’s opener.

“Sissoko is better, but whether he plays or not I don’t know.”

Mali will have to tread carefully on the disciplinary front, with four players a booking away from a one match suspension, a quartet that includes Keita, who bagged a double on Sunday with Frederic Kanoute and Mustapha Yataboure contributing.

Over in the Algeria camp Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra said sorry to the nation’s fans for Monday’s defeat to Malawi, a world apart from the performance they put in to pip Egypt to the World Cup in November’s play-off in Kartoum.

“We apologise to the Algerian people. We weren?t at the level expected of us for this match.”

He blamed the shock loss in large part on the hot and humid conditions – the game kicked off at 1445 local time. Thursday’s game is scheduled for 1700.

“We couldn?t play at our real level because the heat handicapped us greatly. There were moments where we couldn?t even walk on the field.

“We were expecting that kind of heat but it was clear that our opponents were more used to it. We?ll have to bounce back against Mali, and it won?t be as hot during that one.”

For Siena striker Abdelkader Ghezzal, Algeria got what was coming to them against Malawi.

“We played badly and deserved to lose,” Ghezzal conceded.

“We had some good chances, but were not good enough to capitalise on them.

“This defeat will do us well, as we need to rediscover the spirit that allowed us to qualify for the World Cup.

“We now need to focus on our next match against Mali.”

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: Africa, africa cup of nations, algeria, algerians, Angola, Barcelona, camp Rangers, double header, Egypt, fightback, groin injury, Luanda, madjid bougherra, mali, mental strength, midfielder, mohamed sissoko, Mustapha, outsiders, score two, second chance, second group, Stephen Keshi, tricky situation, true worth

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Uruguay tops Costa Rica 1-0 in first leg of World Cup playoff

Uruguay damaged Costa Rica’s hopes of qualifying for a third straight World Cup, scoring a first-half goal and holding off the 10-man Ticos 1-0 Saturday night in the first leg of their inter-confederation playoff.

Diego Lugano capitalized from the second chance off the same corner in the 22nd minute and Uruguay will return home on Wednesday for the second leg with a clear advantage.

Randall Azofeifa all but sealed Costa Rica’s fate in the 53rd minute, arriving late for a challenge on Alvaro Fernandez, tripping him with a lunging left leg and drawing his second yellow card from Spanish referee Alberto Undiano.

Costa Rica, playing without manager Rene Simoes on the bench due to his expulsion from the Ticos’ final CONCACAF qualifier on October 14 against the United States in Washington, had the better possession early. Walter Centeno had a chance from distance in the 19th and it created a number of set piece situations that appeared to give it the early momentum.

But Uruguay, which trained in Guatemala to get accustomed to Estadio Saprissa’s artificial turf pitch, adjusted and scored with a second effort on Nicolas Lodeiro’s corner kick.

Lugano headed Lodeiro’s offering at goal, which had to be headed off the line at the right post by Azofeifa. The ball sailed to the top of the area, where Fernandez sent it back in and Lugano reacted, getting enough of a high right leg to push it inside the right post, where goalkeeper Keilor Navas could reached while being blocked by Azofeifa.

Uruguay had better possession after the goal, but Costa Rica had its best chance in the 43rd when Azofeifa’s ball out of the midfield was flicked high past Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who had come off his line, but sailed just over the bar.

Costa Rican felt it should be offered the chance to equalize in the 48th when Uruguayan defender Sebastian Eguren appeared to settle a high ball at the top of the area with his right arm. Television replays appeared to indicate Eguren clearly hit the ball with his upper right arm, but Undiano allowed play to continue and five minutes later Azofeifa was sent off.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica

Concacaf

Tags: 53rd, alvaro fernandez, artificial turf pitch, confederation, corner kick, eguren, estadio saprissa, Fernando Muslera, keilor, left leg, midfield, Rene Simoes, replays, right arm, second chance, second effort, straight world, uruguayan, Walter Centeno, yellow card

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Bednar returms after ban expiry

Championship side West Brom Albion’s Czech striker Roman Bednar is available for first-team action after completing a back-dated three-month ban in relation to allegations that he bought recreational drugs.

The 26-year-old forward was suspended by the club on May 17 after stories appeared in a national newspaper suggesting that he had bought cannabis and cocaine.

He attended an FA disciplinary hearing in Derby last week and was handed a three-month suspension after admitting charges of “possession and use of a prohibited substance”, a breach of FA Rule E25.

“Albion would like to make it absolutely clear that they have treated this incident as a most serious matter,” a club statement read.

“After a full and fair hearing by the FA, the club feel the three-month suspension imposed on Roman, coupled with the maximum fine available to the club, was the appropriate punishment.

“Since the first day of his suspension, Roman has shown complete remorse for his actions.

“He co-operated fully with the police, FA and club during their respective enquiries and expressed a strong desire to be given a second chance to make up for the embarrassment he has caused to Albion and their supporters.

“Roman will receive every support from the club and it is now entirely down to the head coach, Roberto Di Matteo, to decide when to recall Roman for first-team duty.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: allegations, breach, cannabis, cocaine, czech, day, derby, disciplinary hearing, embarrassment, head coach, incident, Police, possession, punishment, rajput, recreational drugs, remorse, roberto di matteo, roman bednar, second chance, striker, strong desire, west brom albion

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Man City striker Bojinov in talks with Parma

Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov is in talks with Serie A club Parma over a loan move to Italy, his Premier League club revealed on Wednesday.

City’s pre-season signings of Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor have left Bojinov well down the pecking order and he is set to join Ched Evans and Felipe Caicedo, who have both moved on in the past week, at the Eastlands exit door.

“We can confirm that Valeri Bojinov is in talks with Italian side Parma over a loan move,” a statement on City’s website confirmed.

“It is expected that over the next day the Bulgarian will complete terms to join the side recetly promoted back into Serie A.”

Bojinov was signed by Sven-Goran Eriksson from Fiorentina in 2007, but his City career was blighted by a cruciate ligament injury which kept him out for seven months of his first season in England.

He looked set for a second chance at the start of last season but after being named in the team against Aston Villa for the first game he ruptured ligaments in the warm-up.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: ched, cruciate ligament injury, Emmanuel, emmanuel adebayor, England, felipe caicedo, fiorentina, first game, goran eriksson, italian side, Italy, man city, Manchester, manchester city, manchester england, parma, pecking order, premier league, roque santa cruz, santa cruz, second chance, seven months, striker, Sven Goran Eriksson, valeri bojinov

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West Brom to give Bednar a second chance

Championship side West Bromwich Albion are giving disgraced striker Roman Bednar a second chance at the Hawthorns.

The 26-year-old, who remains suspended by the club as he awaits the verdict of an FA probe into the drugs scandal, is being offered a second chance by Baggies chariman Jeremy Peace.

But Peace has shown little mercy to players who he feels have sullied Albion’s name in recent years.

Former full back Bernt Haas and goalkeeper Russell Hoult, who had been a big favourite of the supporters, were both quickly and quietly shown the door, after newspaper articles revealed some internet indiscretions by the players.

However, Bednar was caught out by even more serious allegations in May, when a Sunday tabloid produced an expose of him buying cocaine and cannabis.

The Czech player has not kicked a ball or even attended a training session since, and was missing when the players gathered this week to meet the new head coach for the first time, and begin pre-season training.

With things improving behind the scenes, the player who played such a vital role in Albion’s last Championship campaign, could play for the relegated side again, after the club’s a years’ stay in top flight football in England.

The police decided not to press charges and instead issued a caution which now leaves the striker sweating on the FA verdict.

There has never been a suggestion that Bednar used drugs with the player claiming to have been tested three times in the previous year when the results had shown each time that he was clean.

He could still face a suspension from the FA but Bednar has been suspended without pay since the incident and any ban would be back-dated to then.

Peace said this week: “As regards Roman, we cannot do anything until we have the results of the FA inquiry which we anticipated might be available towards the end of this month. After that, we will have a clearer idea of the picture.”

But Peace and his fellow directors believe Bednar was more foolish than felon and are ready to offer him a route back into football.

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: baggies, Bernt, chariman, England, English Premier League, fellow directors, felon, flight football, football in england, Goalkeeper, haas, hawthorns, head coach, indiscretions, Jeremy Peace, little mercy, May, pre season training, russell hoult, second chance, training session, West Bromwich, west bromwich albion

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More teams begin to fill in Champions League field

NEW YORK – Two-thirds of next season’s CONCACAF Champions League berths already have been claimed, leaving only eight places remaining in the 24-team field.

Trinidadian clubs W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh qualified along with the Puerto Rico Islanders from the final rounds of the Caribbean club championship over the weekend, while Real Espana and Olimpia assured themselves of the remaining two berths from Honduras.

Real Esteli has earned the chance to represent Nicaragua and could become the 17the team to qualify if its stadium meets the tournament standards when it is inspected next week. If the stadium is not approved, the berth will be awarded to a third Panamanian side.

The second Champions League will kick off with the first leg of the Preliminary Round the week of July 28.

W Connection and the Puerto Rico Islanders claimed their berths Friday with victories in the CFU Club Champions Cup semifinals in Macoya, Trinidad. W Connection defeated Jabloteh 2-1 and the Islanders subdued Tempete FC of Haiti 2-0 in extra time.

Jabloteh then capitalized on its second chance in the third-place game on Sunday, beating Tempete 2-1 while W Connection went on to win the Caribbean club title for a second time in three years, defeating the Islanders 2-1.

In Honduras, Marathon already had claimed one of the country’s berths by having won the Apertura title last year and have been joined by Espana and Olimpia, which drew 2-2 on Saturday in the first leg of the Clausura championship final.

Which team will get the berth directly into the Group Stage is still to be determined. Espana has the most points over the two seasons and a victory Sunday would assure it of bypassing the Preliminary Round. An Olimpia victory would advance Marathon automatically to the Group Stage.

Honduras received a third berth in the Champions League from Belize, which did not have a stadium that met tournament standards and was disqualified.

Berths still undecided include two from Mexico and one each from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama, which should be decided in the coming weeks. Canada also has its qualifier up for grabs with the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps facing off in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

Go to Source

Tags: Belize, berth, berths, Caribbean, caribbean club, champions cup, club champions, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, cup semifinals, El Salvador, extra time, final rounds, group stage, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, macoya, marathon, Mexico, Montreal, New York, Nicaragua, olimpia, place game, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, real esteli, san juan, second chance, second time, Trinidad, trinidadian, two seasons, Vancouver, W. Connection

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Loew expects Ballack for Germany´s Far East tour

BERLIN (AFP) – German national coach Joachim Loew said on Saturday he expects Michael Ballack to take part in Germany’s Far East tour later this month which could spark a club versus country row with his captain’s Chelsea side.

Ballack is set to feature for the English Premier League club in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday May 30, but Germany travel to China on May 26 to play the national side in Shanghai on Friday May 29.

Germany then fly to Dubai to play the United Arab Emirates side on June 2 and Loew says he wants his captain to be on the trip.

“Michael Ballack is our leader, he can integrate young players, bring them together and give them hints,” said Loew.

“These are valuable things he can tell the other players.

“However, they must have also the feeling: our captain is with us for these difficult situations.

“We decided this trip last year and it was agreed with both the Bundesliga and the German Football League, because the Chinese market is important for economic reasons,” added Loew.

But whether or not Ballack misses the Wembley showcase against Everton and travels to China remains to be seen with the London side desperate for some silverware this season.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski has been told he is on his final warning after he slapped Ballack during a World Cup qualifier in Cardiff on April 1.

“Your credit is used up: last chance,” Loew told Germany star Podolski.

“However a player such as Podolski, who always behaves so positively in the the national team circles, always deserves a second chance.”

Tags: Bayern, berlin, Bundesliga, cardiff, China, chinese market, difficult situations, Dubai, economic reasons, English Premier League, everton, fa cup final, far east tour, final warning, german football league, Germany, germany travel, joachim loew, last chance, london, Lukas Podolski, Michael Ballack, national coach, premier league, second chance, Shanghai, silverware, striker, united arab emirates, Wembley, wembley stadium, World Cup, world cup qualifier

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Ajax try to lure Olsen

THE HAGUE (AFP) – Dutch league giants Ajax are hoping to lure Denmark coach Morten Olsen back to the club following the resignation last week of Marco Van Basten, according to reports Thursday.

De Telegraaf newspaper said the Amsterdam club has decided to sound out Olsen following successive refusals from Co Adriaanse, Frank Rijkaard and Michael Laudrup.

The 59-year-old Olsen, a former coach of Ajax from 1997 to 1999, confirmed in the report he had beeb contacted “by a club” but refused to say which “out of respect for the Danish federation”.

The Dane then evoked the possibility of combining his job with the national team with that of a club-level coach but admitted such a deal would “need the agreement of all three parties concerned”.

Denmark are currently well positioned to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. They sit top of Europe zone qualifying group 1 ahead of Hungary and Portugal.

Also in the running to succeed Van Basten, according to reports, are Ronald Koeman, Gertjan Verbeek and Danny Blind, the club’s current sports director.

Van Basten stood down last week after failing to guide the Dutch giants into next year’s Champions League.

Despite his legendary status at the club where he made his name, Van Basten was forced to admit he “was partly responsible” for the team’s results and on Sunday asked for “a second chance” to remain at the helm.

Days later, in the face of continued criticism from both supporters and the media, he chose to walk away from a contract that still had three years left to run.

Tags: Ajax, co adriaanse, current sports, Dane, Danny Blind, de telegraaf newspaper, denmark, dutch league, Eredivisie, Europe, europe zone, former coach, frank rijkaard, hague, Hungary, legendary status, marco van basten, Michael Laudrup, morten olsen, portugal, qualifying group, ronald koeman, second chance, South Africa, verbeek, World Cup

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Japan striker Okubo to sign for Wolfsburg

TOKYO (AFP) – Former Real Mallorca striker Yoshito Okubo will join fellow Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebe at German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, his J-League club announced Saturday.

"The two clubs reached an agreement in monetary terms on Okubo’s transfer to Wolfsburg on late Wednesday night," Vissel Kobe said in a statement without disclosing any figures.

Okubo, 26, was to fly to Germany on Sunday to undergo a medical check and sign a contract with the German first division club, the statement said.

It will be a second chance for Okubo to ply his trade in Europe after his unimpressive stint with Spanish side Real Mallorca from January 2005 to July 2006. He scored five goals in 39 La Liga appearances.

Okubo rejoined J-League strugglers Cerezo Osaka after the Spanish experience and moved to Vissel Kobe in early 2007.

He has struck 64 goals in 149 J-League matches and five goals in 33 games for Japan since his international debut in 2003. All the goals for the national team came in 2007 and 2008.

Hasebe joined Wolfsburg from J-League powerhouse Urawa Reds in early 2008.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, Cerezo, cerezo osaka, Club, contract, Europe, fellow, Germany, international debut, j league, january 2005, Japan, Jupiler League, Kobe, makoto, medical check, midfielder, monetary terms, okubo, Osaka, powerhouse, Real, real mallorca, reds, second chance, spanish experience, spanish side, stint, striker, Sunday, tokyo, vissel kobe, Wednesday, wednesday night

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