TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Birmingham City 0 Chelsea 0: match report Leaders Chelsea had to be content with a point after fortuitously seeing Christian Benitez's first-half effort ruled out for offside. telegraph.co.uk |
Manchester City close in on Vieira Patrick Vieira appears to be moving closer to joining Manchester City and in doing so completing a dramatic return to English football. foxsports.com.au |
Mali conjure miracle in Louanda Mali make a miraculous recovery in the opening game of the 2010 African Cup of Nations, scoring four goals in the final 15 minutes to secure a 4-4 draw against hosts Angola in Louanda. foxsports.com.au |
West Bromwich Albion 4-2 Newcastle United | FA Cup match report Two penalties from Graham Dorrans helped break the impasse between these sides at the third attempt this season, but not without significant intervention from the match officials.Referee James Linington awarded two spot-kicks to West Brom and, for the game's opening goal, boldly ruled that Jonas Olsson's header had crossed the line.Conversely, he denied the visitors three good shouts for penalties - the last of which came seconds before Albion's third goal - sparking a chorus of "3-1 to the referee" from the travelling supporters.The Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo must wish his side could have conjured up such a result in previous meetings against Newcastle this season - Monday's 2-2 league draw and a similar 1-1 stalemate on the opening day of the season have left them six points adrift of their promotion rivals.Roman Bednar might have given West Brom a much earlier advantage but he skewed a shot over the bar from 12 yards.Newcastle, meanwhile, began looking a shadow of the side which has dominated the Championship this term. They were without their recent talisman, Peter Lovenkrands, who has returned to his native Denmark following the recent death of his father – a significant omission given that his hat-trick against Plymouth had secured the club's passage to this round, while his equalisinggoal had proved to be pivotal against Albion five days ago.It wasn't until the second half that Newcastle sprung into life. Having had two penalty appeals turned down, Andy Carroll rifled a fierce volley into the top corner from Jonas Gutierrez's cross.Substitute Shola Ameobi looked certain to be rewarded when he was felled in the box with 19 minutes remaining, but the referee ignored his penalty plea, allowing Albion to race to the other end and score.Ryan Taylor was sent off before Jerome Thomas tapped in Albion's fourth. Carroll added a late consolation to make it 4-2.FA CupWest BromNewcastle UnitedJonny Weeksguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Egypt, Nigeria reach African Cup semifinals Nigeria and two-time defending champion Egypt posted wins Monday and advanced to the semifinals at the African Cup of Nations. cbc.ca |