RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Brazil striker Adriano scored a hat-trick to give national champions Flamengo a 5-3 win over Fluminense in a spectacular Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) championship derby on Sunday.
John Aloisi scored twice as Sydney FC defeated Perth Glory 3-2 at Parramatta Stadium to keep up the pressure on A-League leaders Melbourne Victory.
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Tickets for the World Cup semi-finals and final, as well as two of England's first round matches in South Africa, have sold out, FIFA said on Friday.
PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Fourth division Colmar knocked Ligue 1 side Lille out of the French Cup 10-9 on penalties after Salim Mezriche scored the winner following a goalless draw after extra time in their round of 64 game on Saturday.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney as the best player in the world.
Boca Juniors went three goals down within 18 minutes as they lost 4-2 at Newell's Old Boys in the Argentine Clausura championship on Saturday night.
BUENOS AIRES, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Uruguay's Sebastian Fernandez scored 16 minutes from time to give champions Banfield a 1-0 away win over River Plate at the Monumental in the opening round of the Argentine Clausura championship on Sunday.
WARSAW, Feb 7 (Reuters) - European champions Spain were handed an easy-looking path to the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine in Sunday's qualifying draw, although coach Vicente Del Bosque said afterwards he was taking nothing for granted.
Birmingham 2-1 Wolves: Super-sub Phillips
Birmingham City clinched a dramatic local derby win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
BUENOS AIRES, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Boca Juniors went three goals down within 18 minutes as they lost 4-2 at Newell's Old Boys in the Argentine Clausura championship on Saturday night.
Bolton Wanderers and Fulham shared the points after playing out a stalemate at the Reebok Stadium.
SOFIA, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Cash-strapped Botev Plovdiv could be thrown out of the top division after 16 players asked the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) for free transfers over unpaid wages and bonuses. Bottom club Botev, the country's oldest team, said they had breached contracts by failing to pay players for several months. "It's very possible Botev will disappear from the footballing map," BFU president Borislav Mihaylov told Darik radio.
Borussia Dortmund lost touch with the Bundesliga leaders after surrendering a 2-1 lead and suffering a 3-2 home defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Bayer Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes was refusing to panic as his side were caught at the top of the Bundesliga by Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti paid tribute to his "perfect'' captain John Terry after two goals from Didier Drogba against Arsenal put the Blues back on top of the Premier League.
Burnley secured a vital win at Turf Moor in their battle against relegation.
MEXICO CITY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - All Paraguay forward Salvador Cabanas can think of nine days after being shot in the head is returning to training and getting to the World Cup, the president of his Mexican club America said on Tuesday.
MEXICO CITY, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas regained consciousness and spoke to his family for the first time since he was shot in a Mexico City bar last week, his doctors said on Saturday.
LUANDA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou should resign following the "monstrous" decision to ban Togo from the next two African Nations Cups, captain Emmanuel Adebayor said on Sunday.
Chelsea ran out victors against Arsenal to regain their place at the top of the league table.
John Terry's life maybe in turmoil off the pitch but the disgraced England captain remains as inspirational as ever in a Chelsea shirt as the Blues put an end to Arsenal's remaining title dreams with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
BEIJING, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The Chinese Football Association (CFA) is not fundamentally dishonest despite the arrest of three top officials in a match-fixing scandal, China's new soccer supremo Wei Di said on Tuesday.
TOKYO, Feb 6 (Reuters) - China missed a late penalty in a goalless draw with World Cup-bound Japan in the opening match of the East Asian championship on Saturday.
LISBON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Portugal midfielder Deco has decided to retire from international soccer after the World Cup finals in South Africa.
LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur's Mexican midfielder Giovani Dos Santos has joined Turkish side Galatasaray on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club said on its website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).
Robbie Keane came off the bench at the interval to help Celtic overcome Dunfermline 4-2 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
LUANDA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Holders Egypt are favourites to win Sunday's African Nations Cup final (1600 GMT) although they face a tough task breaking down Ghana's accomplished defence.
LUANDA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Substitute Mohamed Nagui scored five minutes from time to hand Egypt an unprecedented third successive African Nations Cup title after a 1-0 victory over Ghana on Sunday.
LUANDA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Egypt's record third successive African Nations Cup triumph underlined how much of a blow missing out on the 2010 World Cup finals is to the country.
Find out the draw for the qualifying competition.
BUENOS AIRES, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Striker Denis Stracqualursi scored twice as Gimnasia upset bitter city rivals Estudiantes 3-1 at home in a high-tension La Plata derby on Wednesday.
WARSAW, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The coaches of England, Russia and Germany could all be forgiven for having other things on their minds when they come to the Polish capital for the qualifying round draw of Euro 2012 on Sunday.
WARSAW, Feb 7 (Reuters) - European champions Spain will face Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein in the qualifying competition for the Euro 2012 championship after being the last team pulled out of the bowl at Sunday's draw.
EINDHOVEN, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Karim El Ahmadi struck twice as Feyenoord ended PSV Eindhoven's 39-match unbeaten run in all competitions with a 3-0 win in the quarter-finals of the Dutch Cup on Wednesday.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink said he was saddened that UEFA had been forced to keep apart former Soviet states in the draw for the 2012 European championship qualifiers on Sunday.
WARSAW, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Russia coach Guus Hiddink said he was saddened that UEFA had been forced to keep apart former Soviet states in the draw for the 2012 European championship qualifiers on Sunday.
Hull City earned a precious win over Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
A football fan critically injured at a Premier League match on Saturday died in hospital, police said on Sunday.
LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Serie A leaders Inter Milan dented AC Milan's title ambitions with a 2-0 win over their city rivals even though they finished the match with nine men.
ROME, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Marcello Lippi says he hopes his Italy side meet England in this year's World Cup final so he can see how fellow Italian Fabio Capello would cope with the conflicting emotions.
MILAN, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Italy coach Marcello Lippi contradicted his own boss over his future on Monday, saying whether he stayed in the job could depend on results at the World Cup.
Valencia spoiled Onesimo Sanchez's debut as Real Valladolid coach on Saturday, winning 2-0 to secure third place in La Liga for another week.
A late header from Nunes earned Real Mallorca a 1-0 win over Villarreal that preserved their perfect home record in La Liga on Sunday.
The race for the Ligue 1 title was thrown wide open on Saturday evening as Rennes recorded a surprise 4-2 victory over leaders Bordeaux.
Saint-Etienne ended Monaco's four-game winning streak with a decisive 3-0 home win on Sunday.
Liverpool completed the league double over Everton with victory at Anfield.
Germany coach Joachim Löw has warned that he may not even be interested in extending his contract beyond the end of the World Cup as a row over his future shows signs of escalating.
Manchester United returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League after a comfortable win over Portsmouth.
BUENOS AIRES, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The number of calls-ups to the Argentina team by coach Diego Maradona reached 100 in 15 months after he drew up a squad for next week's friendly at home to Jamaica.
MONACO, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Monaco fought back from a goal down to beat visiting Olympique Lyon 2-1 in the French Cup round of 32 on Sunday.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Robinho targeted a long stay at Santos when the Manchester City forward started his six-month loan spell at his former club on Monday.
LUANDA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Benin referee Bonaventure Coffi Codjia has been suspended indefinitely by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after failing to take action against an Algeria player who head-butted him at the African Nations Cup.
BERLIN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Germany coach Joachim Loew has denied that there was ever a verbal agreement to extend his contract beyond the 2010 World Cup finals.
BENGUELA, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Striker Obinna Nsofor's second-half goal gave Nigeria third place at the African Nations Cup after a 1-0 win over Algeria in the playoff on Saturday.
ABUJA, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Nigeria have sacked coach Shaibu Amodu following their third place finish at the African Nations Cup and have begun the search to replace him with the World Cup finals just four months away.
BEIJING, Feb 4 (Reuters) - If China decides to hire another foreign coach for its national soccer team it must stump up the cash for the best man available, the new head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said on Thursday.
WARSAW, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Swedish referee Martin Hansson, who was at the centre of the Thierry Henry handball controversy in France's World Cup qualification, deserved to be picked for the finals, UEFA president Michel Platini said on Saturday.
WARSAW, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Poland and Ukraine still have minor problems to solve but are otherwise making good progress as they prepare to host Euro 2012, UEFA president Michel Platini said on Saturday.
VALLETTA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - UEFA president Michel Platini has repeated his belief that the addition of two match officials represents the best way to minimise refereeing mistakes.
LISBON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Holders Porto thrashed Sporting 5-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup on Tuesday.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has played down reports he assaulted sports commentator Jorge Baptista at Lisbon airport.
TOKYO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The normally low-key East Asian soccer championship has taken on increasing significance for under-fire Japan coach Takeshi Okada in the build up to this year's World Cup in South Africa.
ROME, Feb 4 (Reuters) - AS Roma maintained their formidable form on Thursday with a 2-0 home win over Udinese in the first leg of their Italian Cup semi-final.
ROME, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Daniele De Rossi scored with a blistering shot to send in-form AS Roma into the Italian Cup semi-finals with a 1-0 win over a brave Catania side that finished the tie with nine men on Tuesday.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has pressed Ledley King's claims for a World Cup squad berth as a specialist back-up for England's first choice central defensive pairing of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Robinho marked his return to Santos with a brilliant back-heeled winner in their 2-1 away win over Sao Paulo in the Paulista championship on Sunday.
MOSCOW, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Former Zenit St Petersburg president Sergei Fursenko was elected head of the Russian FA (RFU) on Wednesday and his first major task will be to decide whether to extend the contract of national coach Guus Hiddink.
SINGAPORE, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian soccer chiefs will dole out a $1 million bonus if any of their clubs win the Asian Champions League this year.
Inter Milan roared 10 points clear at the top of Serie A after the champions secured a 3-0 home win over Cagliari on Sunday and second-placed AC Milan drew.
Simplicio blasted in an 87th minute winner to help Palermo move closer to the Champions League places with a 2-1 Serie A victory over Parma on Saturday.
Tottenham could not find a way past Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel as two of this season's top-four hopefuls in the Premier League cancelled each other out in a lacklustre goalless draw.
Stoke City secured a convincing victory at home to 10-man Blackburn Rovers.
LUANDA, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan hailed his generation of Pharaohs as the best after they clinched a record third consecutive African Nations Cup on Sunday.
Sunderland and Wigan Athletic shared the spoils from a tough encounter at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland 1-1 Wigan Athletic: KJ earns point
LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Half of Europe's leading clubs are losing money with more than 20 percent facing huge deficits, UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino has told Reuters in an interview.
LOME, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Togo, banned from competing in the next two African Nations Cups after pulling out of this year's competition over security concerns, will appeal the suspension, the country's sports minister told Reuters on Saturday.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Ronaldo, Adriano, Fred and now Robinho, Brazil's four strikers at the 2006 World Cup, have returned home looking to revive their careers and earn a place at this year's finals in South Africa.
Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa were forced to settle for a point apiece at White Hart Lane.
Portsmouth could be on course for their fifth owner of a turbulent season.
WARSAW, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The former Soviet Union states of Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will be kept apart in Sunday's qualifying round draw for the 2012 European Championship.
WARSAW, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan coach Berti Vogts is looking forward to a windfall after his team were drawn against his native Germany in the qualifying tournament for the 2012 European championship.
In one sense, Sunday's draw for the Euro 2012 qualifying competition starting in September is a case of before the Lord Mayor's show.
WARSAW, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Russia and Croatia, who have failed to make this year's World Cup finals in South Africa, will be among the top seeds when the draw for the qualifying round of Euro 2012 is made on Sunday.
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