Satudays matches report

Ghana 4 - Ivory Coast 2 (Africa Cup of Nations, February 9, 2008) Sulley Muntari gave Ghana a 10th minute lead in the third place play-off with a stunning free-kick. Boubacar Sanogo equalised for the Elephants with a strong run and finish. Nine minutes later, the Werder Bremen striker scored from close range to give the Ivory Coast the lead after Drogba’s shot was saved. Five minutes after bagging the second, Sanogo then should have completed his hat-trick but he hit the bar after being played in by the Drogs. But the Black Stars drew level with a fine solo goal from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, who outpaced three defenders before coolly slotting home. The host nation then completed the comeback after Junior Agogo broke the offside trap to easily beat Kone. And the Elephants then ended the tournament on a sour note, as Kone failed to handle Dramani’s speculative shot from distance.

***

Aston Villa 4 - Newcastle 1 (Premier League, February 9, 2008) Newcastle came flying out the traps when England U21 hero James Milner swung in a cross which England bench-warmer Michael Owen headed home under pressure from Laursen. Newcastle had Given to thank for saving Carew’s free header just before the break (first-half highlights here), but straight after the interval Given was helpless as Bouma’s deflected right-foot shot nestled in the corner. Newcastle quickly conceded the second three minutes later when Carew headed home Young’s corner, and unable to get back in the game, the sorry Toon fell to pieces from a corner which ping-ponged in the box before Carew bagged his second of the match. The humiliation was completed when Carr stupidly handballed in the box, and Carew scored his hat-trick goal from the spot. Newcastle are experiencing relegation form.

Everton 1 - Reading 0 (Premier League, February 9, 2008) Phil Jagielka got the only goal from a deep Osman cross to send the Royals into the bottom three after their seventh consecutive league defeat.

Middlesbrough 1 - Fulham 0 (Premier League, February 9, 2008) A Jeremie Aliadiere goal put further distance between Boro and the drop-zone, Fulham remain deep in the mire.

Bolton 0 - Portsmouth 1 (Premier League, February 9, 2008) Lassana Diarra scored his second goal for Pompey since joining during the January transfer window.

Derby 0 - Tottenham 3 (Premier League, February 9, 2008) The Ramos revolution continues to propel itself forward as Spurs recorded only their second away win of the season at Championship-bound Derby. A dull first-half blossomed after the break as goals from Robbie Keane (rebound), Younes Kaboul (shot following a corner) and a stoppage-time penalty from sub-Dimitar Berbatov sealed a convincing victory.

West Ham 1 - Birmingham 1 (Premier League, February 9, 2008) Freddie Ljungberg scored his first goal in a year after punishing some slack defending, but Birmingham were soon level through new signing James McFadden, who scored from the spot after he was brought down by Lucas Neill. Lee Bowyer saw red late on, as Brum escaped out of the bottom three.

Sunderland 2 - Wigan 0 (Premier League, February 9, 2008) Sunderland leapfrogged the Latics in 14th place thanks to a goal in each half from Dickson Etuhu’s close-range header and sublime strike from Daryl Murphy.

***

Sevilla 1 - Barcelona 1 (La Liga, February 9, 2008) Sevilla dominated the first-half at home to Barca, Diego Capel got the breakthrough ten minutes before half-time. Xavi equalised from a great through ball by Messi, Palop probably should have kept it out.

Real Murcia 0 - Villareal 1 (La Liga, February 9, 2008) Guille Franco got the winner three minutes into injury-time at the end of the game.

Deportivo La Coruna 1 - Getafe 1 (La Liga, February 9, 2008)

***

Bayer Leverkusen 1 - Hamburg 1 (Bundesliga, February 9, 2008) Van de Vaart got the opener for the away side, Friedrich equalised with half an hour to go.

Hannover 2 - Karlsruher 2 (Bundesliga, February 9, 2008) Balitsch gave Hannover the lead in the 44th minute only to see Kennedy equalise just past the hour mark. Hajnal put Karlsruhe ahead minutes later but Rosenthal restored parity three minutes from time.

Stuttgart 1 - Hertha Berlin 3 (Bundesliga, February 9, 2008) Hertha claims all three points at Stuttgart with Marko Pantelic netting a brace in the first-half. De Rafael added a third with Mario Gomez on the mark for the hosts. Delpierre was sent-off for Stuttgart late on.

Bochum 3 - Energie Cottbus 3 (Bundesliga, February 9, 2008)

***

AS Roma 2 - Reggina 0 (Serie A, February 9, 2008) Pannuci headed in at the back post from a fine Totti cross for the first, Mancini followed up on a fine run and shot from Giuly for the second.

Atalanta 2 - Fiorentina 2 (Serie A, February 9, 2008) The Viola took the lead when Pazzini controlled a pass and spun to find the far corner against his former employers. Muslimovic levelled from a corner just a minute later. Fiorentina went ahead again, Semiol headed in Kuzmanovic’s cross from the right on the hour. But Muslimovic slid home his second of the game in injury-time to end the game all square.

Messina 1 - Mantova 0 (Serie B, February 9, 2008)

Vicenza 2 - Bari 3 (Serie B, February 9, 2008)

***

Lyon 4 - Socaux 1 (Ligue 1, February 9, 2008) Bodmer got two for Lyon, the first came after two minutes the second came from a rebound off a fine Juninho free-kick. Sandiwhced between the two Lyon goals was a brilliant volleyed equaliser from Pancrate. In injury-time Govou and Benzema added some gloss to the scoreline.

***

Larissa 1 - AEK Athens 0 (Greek Super League, February 9, 2008) AEK had Alves sent-off as they fell to their second consecutive deafeat, losing to Zurawski’s first goal for Larissa since joining from Celtic.