Injury time winner Valencia
Valencia move into fifth and level on 33 points with city neighbours Levante, but both can be surpassed by Rayo Vallecano and Malaga, who are in action on Sunday. Deportivo stay rock bottom of La Liga, now four points from safety, and will have to improve if they are to avoid the drop. They began [...]
South Africa end nine-year wait
DURBAN, South Africa ● South Africa won an Africa Cup of Nations match for the first time in nine years by outplaying Angola 2-0 to go top of Group A Wednesday. Bafana Bafana (The Boys), whose last success came against Benin at the 2004 tournament in Tunisia, triumphed through goals from centre-back Siyabonga Sangweni and [...]
Swansea frustrate Man United
SWANSEA, Wales ● Manchester United’s lead over Manchester City is down to four points from six after the Premier League leaders were held 1-1 at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium on Sunday. Patrice Evra struck with a first-half header to put United on their way but a Michu equaliser before half-time was enough to give Swansea [...]
Chelsea smash five past Leeds
LONDON, England ● Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez set his sights on League Cup glory after his side were handed a semi-final clash with Swansea. Benitez’s hopes of landing the Chelsea job on a permanent basis would be significantly increased if he can put some silverware in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet. After losing 1-0 [...]
Norwich hold on to unbeaten streak
NORWICH, England ● Norwich City extended their unbeaten run to eight Premier League games with a 2-1 win at home to Sunderland on Sunday that left the visitors just a point above the relegation zone. Goals from Sebastien Bassong and Anthony Pilkington put Norwich 2-0 up and although Craig Gardner replied before half-time, Martin O’Neill’s [...]
United has upper-hand in goalfest
READING, England ● Robin van Persie had the final say to send Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League following a seven-goal thriller at Reading that United won 4-3 on Saturday. Alex Ferguson’s side regained top spot from neighbours Manchester City, moving three points clear in the process, but, once again, they [...]
Chelsea fail against West Ham
LONDON, England ● Rafael Benitez lamented Chelsea’s profligacy in front of goal after his side’s run of league games without a win was extended to seven following a 3-1 loss at West Ham United on Saturday. In a true game of two halves, Chelsea led through Juan Mata’s 13th-minute opener and looked comfortable until West [...]
City unconvincing past Swansea
MANCHESTER, England ● Carlos Tevez’s first goal since September 1 earned Manchester City an unconvincing 1-0 win over Swansea City on Saturday, bringing Roberto Mancini some relief after a trying week. Mancini, the City manager, made a half-time tactical switch that saw Tevez take up a deeper role, from which he scored with a superbly [...]
Feyenoord escape in Venlo
VENLO, Netherlands ● Feyenoord had to come from two goals down for a 3-2 away win over VVV Venlo that kept them in touch with the Eredivisie leaders. VVV stunned the visitors as a curling free-kick from Oguzhan Turk and a deflected Guus Joppen shot in the space of four minutes gave them a 2-0 [...]
