SPORTS 101202

We’ve got Football all the way first in the English Carling Cup fifth-round – a late deflected effort from Nikola Zigic gave Birmingham a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Aston Villa.

City book their place in the semis to face West Ham United.

Also through to the Cup’s semis are Ipswich Town who managed a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

The Championship club will now face Arsenal in the semi’s first-leg slated for the week beginning 10th January.
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In the Europa League – in Group A – Juventus have failed to make it into the next stage of the competition – drawing 1-all with Poland’s Lech Poznan who qualify at the expense of the Serie-A club.

And staying in Group A – Manchester City also made it through the last 32 beating SV Salzburg of Austria 3-0.

Elsewhere holders – Atletico Madrid were beaten 3-2 at home by Greek-side Aris Salonika; and Swiss-club Young Boys managed a 4-2 win over Germany’s VfB Stuggart to progress.
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And finally in the AFF Suzuki Cup – it was an opening day of stunning results as co-hosts Indonesia came from a goal down to thrash Malaysia 5-1 in their opening Group A tie.

And in an earlier game Thailand were spared the blushes as Sarayoot Chaikamdee scored a late equaliser against Laos to draw 2-2 in Jakarta.

Group B swings into action this evening – Singapore will kick-off their campaign against the Philippines at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi at 6pm;

and holders Vietnam will take on Myanmar from 8:30pm.
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