Southampton 1 - 2 Man Utd

Manchester United needed to draw on all their resources as they came from behind to beat Southampton and progress to the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Michael Owen hit a post with a cross before League One Saints shocked the Premier league leaders when Richard Chaplow crashed home a fierce drive.

The lead was cancelled out when Owen nodded in from close range.

And Javier Hernandez finished clinically after being put in by Ryan Giggs to complete United's comeback.

But the home side can look back with pride on a performance that boasted good football and a lot of heart.

Looking far from overawed throughout, they frequently took the game to the visitors, but it was Saints' lack of a cutting edge and United's superior finishing that proved the difference in the end.

From the start Southampton played with belief, perhaps sensing that there could be gaps in United's unfamiliar defensive line-up - none of their regular back five were even in the squad.

But the League One side's early endeavours brought only two well-struck but off-target free-kicks and a snap shot from Rickie Lambert.

With the game crying out for width, the home fans roared on winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whenever he touched the ball, but he was unable to show why he is a £10m target for Liverpool and Arsenal.

At the other end, a disjointed United almost scored a goal that was in keeping with their scruffy performance as Owen launched a cross from the right that drifted over goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski and came back off the inside of a post.

Owen, who also fizzed a shot wide, and striker partner Javier Hernandez barely threatened in the first half as the visitors lacked inspiration in every position.

Southampton created a good opening when Danny Butterfield picked out Guilherme do Prado with a right-wing cross but the Brazilian got underneath the ball and headed off target.

Still, Saints looked the likeliest to make the breakthrough, and it came when Jonny Evans could only half-clear a long ball and Chaplow took full advantage.

The midfielder used his thigh to nudge the ball into space and then rifled a rising drive into the top corner to leave United's debutant keeper Anders Lindegaard with no chance.

The Red Devils continued to toil after the restart, forcing two corners in quick succession but unable to make the count.

The hosts maintained their discipline and shape, even threatening to grab a second goal on the break - left-back Dan Harding made a scintillating run, skipping past a few challenges before prodding a right-footed shot that did not match his build-up.

Sensing an upset, perhaps, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sent on Nani and Giggs for the ineffective Darron Gibson and Anderson.

It almost had an immediate impact as Nani crossed from the left and Owen toe-poked over at the near post.

And within five minutes of the change United were level. Gabriel Obertan tuned his marker inside out and delivered a cross from the right that hit Hernandez and sat up perfectly for Owen to nod home.

Yet United failed to kick on dominate as might have been expected and Southampton showed great resilience to come back at them.

Lee Barnard swung at Chaplow's cutback and missed completely and then was just too far away to connect with Harding's flashing ball across the face of goal.

But then Ferguson's men caught Saints with a sucker punch as substitute Giggs intercepted a Ryan Dickson pass and played in Hernandez, who slotted in what proved to be the winner.

Newcastle striker Mark Viduka wants to stay at Newcastle

Newcastle striker Mark Viduka insists he is keen to remain with the club and has urged the hierarchy to do all they can to retain Alan Shearer as manager.

Viduka, 33, is out of contract at the end of this season, which is when Shearer's interim role is due to end.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "I'd love to spend more time at this club.

"I have been here for two years and we've had five managers. I would say to whoever is in charge, keep Alan for as long as he needs."

Viduka added: "The fans love him, he is Newcastle through and through, he is a big personality, people respect him and the players respect him."

Newcastle boosted their chances of avoiding relegation by beating Middlesbrough 3-1 on Monday to move out of the bottom three on goal difference.

Viduka has returned from an Achilles tendon injury to feature in four of Shearer's six games in charge, helping the Magpies to a draw at Portsmouth and the victory over Boro - their first win at St James' Park since 21 December.

He claims to have been largely overlooked by Joe Kinnear, who was forced to stand down as Newcastle manager after undergoing triple heart bypass surgery in February, and credits Shearer for his impressive form of late.

"When I had problems with my Achilles, I worked hard to get back, but Joe didn't look like he wanted to use me," said Viduka.

"When Alan came in, the first thing he said to me was 'Are you up for a fight?' and I am always up for a fight. I said 'Definitely'.

"I'm a massive fan of Alan's. I admired him as a player, we play the same position, and when someone with his personality and what he has done in the game comes and says 'I need you', it lifts you."

Newcastle face Fulham at home on Saturday before finishing the season away to Aston Villa, and Viduka is backing Shearer to help save the club from relegation and stay on as manager next season.

"He's had a massive impact, I wish him all the best. I hope we stay up and he's got a long career here," said the Australian.

"Everybody respects Alan - he's got that automatically. Maybe he doesn't have the experience as a manager, but he has got that presence about him."

Benitez believes Liverpool still in Premier League title race

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez reckons his side can blow the Premier League title race wide open again when they visit Old Trafford next month.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been so impressed by Manchester United's nine straight league wins that he admits that he cannot see anyone getting near them.

The bookies also clearly agree, with one already paying out on Alex Ferguson's outfit winning a domestic treble, The Sun reported.

Even Fergie himself believes it is a two-horse race, with only Liverpool placed to make a scrap of it.

But Benitez, whose side host Manchester City tomorrow, insisted: "When I speak of facts, one is that United are a very good team and I knew they could have a run of winning games in a row.

"They will win more than a lot of the other teams, but to say we can't beat them? I don't think so. I can only talk of my team, but I don't think they are untouchable. In football now, every game is tough, so anything can happen," Benitez said.

"We have reduced the gap very well and want to reduce it more. It will be difficult but, if we're in the same position going to Old Trafford, maybe that could be important."

Few men are better placed to talk of shattering the status quo than Benitez, whose Valencia side broke Real Madrid and Barcelona's stranglehold on the title in Spain.

Liverpool trail United by five points, but seven years ago Valencia was even further behind Real and still won the title.

Benitez added: "In Spain we were eight or nine points behind in January and finished seven ahead. It's a big gap, but we can reduce that by winning a few in a row."

ManU boss gives history lesson to team on blown up titles

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has given his team a history lesson in blowing titles to make sure they do not get too complacent.

Manchester United can go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League tonight with victory over Blackburn.

But the memories of surrendering a 12-point lead to Arsenal in 1998 and losing the title on the final day of the season in 1995 still burn deep for the Old Trafford gaffer, The Sun reported.

"My feeling is that we don't get carried away because this game can kick you in the teeth. In 1998 we lost a 12-point lead to Arsenal and that's a great reminder of going the whole road and not taking rests. We don't need a rest - the players are young, fit, and fresh," Ferguson said.

"We just have to make sure we keep our focus on every game. Every game for us now is a must-win situation," he added.

Despite winning 10 Premier League titles, Ferguson remembers the details of the ones that got away as if they were yesterday.

"You can't forget the chance we missed at West Ham in 1995 when we only needed one goal to win the league. We should have had a penalty, there was a clear handball. Then in 1998 we threw it away. It was a foregone conclusion until the start of March," he said.

"Prior to the Champions League tie in Monaco we got Giggs injured, Schmeichel was carrying an injury, Scholes played with a broken toe and we had to play him wide right against Arsenal to keep him away from the central midfield.

"Cole and Sheringham were the only ones playing regularly at that time because Solskjaer was also injured. It told in the run-in because it meant we couldn't freshen that part up. Injuries played their part and when you lose a game, it gives the team chasing you real encouragement," he added.

Nolan completes Newcastle switch

Bolton have confirmed Kevin Nolan has joined Newcastle United for £4m on a four-and-a-half year contract.

The midfielder is seen as the ideal replacement for Joey Barton, who faces a long spell on the sidelines at Newcastle after breaking his foot.

"It was an opportunity which was impossible to turn down," Nolan told Newcastle's official website.

"He's got a good eye for goal and has got bags of Premier League experience," said Magpies boss Joe Kinnear.

Nolan spent 12 seasons at Bolton, scoring 50 goals in 345 first-team appearances.

He has featured in all of Bolton's 23 matches so far this season, scoring once.

And Kinnear believes his tenacity will help him become a big success at St James's Park.

"He's a player I think our fans will love," he said. "He's a real inspirational player and a great character. He's the sort of lad that never knows when he is beaten.

"I think he is going to be a very valuable player for us and someone who can help us climb back up the table."

Bolton boss Gary Megson made moves for a replacement for Nolan on Monday, when he signed midfielder Mark Davies from Wolves.

McLeish weighs up move for Boyd

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is considering a bid for Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

The Championship side are keen to bolster their forward line, with Garry O'Connor sidelined by injury and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's loan period ending.

Boyd, 25, is the top scorer in the Scottish Premier League with 18 goals.

McLeish signed Boyd from Kilmarnock during his time in charge of Rangers and also capped the forward when manager of Scotland.

Cardiff City failed with a £2.5m bid for Boyd in the summer but the player recently revealed that he had considered leaving Ibrox.

He was frustrated at being overlooked for key matches last term but his form this season has been impressive.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has made no secret of the need to prune his squad. However, it would be a major surprise if he elected to sell his leading scorer.

Ibrahimovic 'better than Ronaldo'

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho insists his striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a better player than Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo is a good player but he is certainly not the best," said Mourinho.

"He deserved the Golden Ball award because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League. But, for me, Ibrahimovic is the best."

Mourinho also said he is not chasing Chelsea's Dider Drogba, but admitted he will let striker Adriano leave Inter.

The 26-year-old Brazilian forward has been linked with a move to Chelsea or a return to his home country, and is apparently now free to leave in the January transfer window.

"(Club president) Massimo Moratti and I want him to stay," said Mourinho.

"However, if he asked me to leave I would not oppose it. He has 10 years of football left to play."

He added: "I have never hidden my special relationship with Didier but I do not need another striker as I have Hernan Crespo, Julio Cruz, Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"But Drogba is more than a player for me, he is a part of me, an extension of the coach on the pitch."

With Italian champions Inter set to face Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions league next February, Mourinho has begun talking up his players.

And the former Chelsea boss believes his fellow Portuguese, Ronaldo, "is certainly not the best" player in the world.

"When I think how a player should be, names like Kaka, Ibrahimovic and (Lionel) Messi come to mind," said Mourinho.

"Messi is great and in two or three years' time he will win the Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) award."

English clubs handed tough task

England's chances of producing three semi-finalists in the Champions League for the third successive season were dented on Friday by a tough-looking last 16 draw.

Holders Manchester United were paired with Italian champions and Serie A leaders Inter Milan while Premier League leaders Liverpool take on nine-times champions Real Madrid after the draw made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Last year's runners-up Chelsea were paired with Juventus, managed by former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, while Arsenal, finalists in 2006, play AS Roma in a third Anglo-Italian clash.

The Manchester United tie will see another former Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, returning to face Premiership opposition in his new role in charge of Inter.

"Obviously Jose has put us out of the competition before," said United's communications director Phil Townsend in reference to Mourinho's success at the same stage in 2004 with eventual European champions Porto.

"But equally we put Inter out in 1999 when we went on to win the tournament so maybe that's a good omen for us."

Real Madrid's meeting with Liverpool will mark only the second time that the Spanish nine-time European champions have met the English five-time winners in the competition.

Their only previous encounter came in the final of the 1981 European Cup with Liverpool winning through 1-0.

Good wife is best thing to happen to footballer: Scolari

Brazilian football coach Luiz Felipe ‘Big Phil’ Scolari has said that the best thing that can ever happen to a football player is a “good wife”.

Scolari, 60, slammed the culture that involves cash, flashy cars, nightclubs, and WAGs, insisting that they could put the players and their careers in trouble.

The manager of the Premier League side Chelsea also warned players against using up their huge pay packets on luxuries because their careers are so short.

“The best thing for a player in their football life is to have a good wife,” the Daily Star quoted Scolari as saying. “If a player has a good wife, you don’t need to worry about him.

“Today, if a player is intelligent, they have money for their family for the second generation and even the fifth generation. But some players don’t think about this. Some players only think about today, spending money for the day, spending money on a car, nights out, and on this and on that.

“After 10 years they have spent a lot of money, too much money, and they have killed the life.”

Scolari, who won the World Cup as Brazil's manager in 2002, had grown up poor in his home country, but he now earns £6 million a year to manage the Blues. He has been married to his wife Olga for 33 years.

The only difference between Olga, 53, and the WAGs of English football is that Olga is well educated and has made her own living.

Bolton 0-2 Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka returned to haunt his former club with the opener as Chelsea returned to winning ways in impressive fashion at the Reebok Stadium.

The Frenchman put Chelsea ahead when he headed home Jose Bosingwa's cross after nine minutes, and Deco wrapped up the points with a superb scissors-kick.

The Blues had chances for a third, but Bolton responded valiantly late on.

Gary Cahill wasted their best chance, though, as Chelsea set a new record of 11 straight top-flight away victories.

It surpassed the record set by Tottenham in 1960 and Chelsea will be encouraged by the omens as Spurs went on to win the league in the 1960-61 season.

And Luiz Felipe Scolari will know that if Chelsea can replicate their away form at Stamford Bridge they will be in with a shout come next May, for this was a fine win that keeps up the pressure on leaders Liverpool, who also won.

The hosts came into the match on the back of four wins in five matches but, with Chelsea unbeaten at Bolton since 1997, the Trotters could have done without Kevin Davies missing a header when unmarked from Gavin McCann's corner.

It was a chance the striker would normally expect to get on target and he was made to pay when, barely a minute later, Chelsea were ahead.

Bosingwa was the creator, the right-back clipping a perfect cross into the area for Anelka to head in off the post to mark his first match against Bolton since his £15m departure with a goal.

Bolton responded but, apart from a Matthew Taylor long-ranger and a series of uncharacteristic flaps at crosses from Petr Cech, rarely threatened.

And on 21 minutes Deco showed the hosts how it is done in emphatic style, the Portuguese playmaker latching on to Michael Ballack's flick with a superb scissors-kick that flew into the corner.

Given the Blues' ruthlessness away from home, the second goal was the last thing Bolton needed. Chelsea were able to soak up pressure and hit the hosts on the break, with Deco guilty of a poor miss when he shot wide when through.

However, Bolton refused to give in and, to their credit, caused the odd moment of panic in the Chelsea box.

Twice the visitors had strong appeals for a penalty waved away, first when John Terry appeared to block Johan Elmander's shot with his arm - though it was by his side - and then when the same player handled Davies's header.

Both would have been harsh, though, and it was Cahill that missed the Trotters' best chance, diving on to Davies's flick-on only for Cech to beat his header away from goal.

It proved the Trotters' final chance and their brave second-half display was, ultimately, to no avail, Chelsea seeing out their first win in three matches.
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Chelsea assistant first-team coach Ray Wilkins:
"It was a great win for us. When we needed to fight, we fought, and when we could we played good football and made some very good chances, so we're delighted.

"We're not too concerned about the record, all we're worried about is silverware so this was all about three points.

"Of course our away form is exceptional but no-one here is worried about our home form. That will come, I'm sure."

Bolton manager Gary Megson:
"You can always take positives out of a game once you sit and analyse it but at this moment in time I'm disappointed - not just with the result, but with the way we played in the first half.

"We always try to push on against teams and take the game to them - get in their face, to use a players' expression - but we just weren't intense enough in the opening half.

"Ultimately, it has cost us because you can't expect to give a team like Chelsea a two-goal lead and get away with it. Yes, we did better in the second half, but by then it was too late."
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Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel (Smolarek 80), Davies, McCann, Nolan, Muamba (Gardner 46), Taylor, Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Riga, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi.

Booked: Davies, Andrew O'Brien.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Ivanovic 89), Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Kalou (Ferreira 83), Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Sinclair, Mineiro, Stoch, Woods.

Booked: Ballack.

Goals: Anelka 9, Deco 21.

Att: 22,023

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Alexandre Gaydamak ready to sell Portsmouth

Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak has put the club up for sale.

The 32-year-old Franco-Russian businessman cited growing business commitments for his decision.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I have come to realise over a period of time that I can no longer invest the time required to oversee the running of the club."

However, Gaydamak said he will not sell to anyone without a guarantee they will commit to funding a new stadium and training ground for the club.

Gaydamak became co-owner of Portsmouth, alongside then-chairman Milan Mandaric, in January 2006.

He bought out Mandaric at a cost of about £32m to solely take the helm at Fratton Park in July that same year, and set out his strategy to find a new stadium and training facilities for the club.

Gaydamak insists he will now seek assurances that any potential buyer will ensure those ambitions become reality.

He said: "As regards the new stadium and training ground it is sensible to re-evaluate things in the current market, but I stress that it is imperative that they go ahead.

"And until I find a buyer who will give me cast iron assurances that this will be the case, I will remain at the club.

"I have already rejected two offers for the club because I didn't feel the buyers' motives were in the best interests of the club's long-term future.

"Making money from the sale of the club does not interest me. Finding the right buyer is far more important."

Football Association to act over Mido abuse claims

The Football Association is investigating claims of racist chanting directed at Middlesbrough striker Mido by Newcastle supporters on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Egyptian was targeted as he warmed up during the 0-0 draw at the Riverside in a repeat of scenes in the same fixture last season.

An FA spokesman told BBC Sport: "We'll work with the clubs and potentially the police to identify those responsible.

"We would call for individuals found guilty to be banned."

But Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate does not believe Newcastle should be punished for the incident.

"We have to rise above it. If people want to shout those things it's a reflection on them," said Southgate.

"There's a danger that we go on a witch hunt. What do you do? Punish the club?

"They can't do anything about their travelling fans. It's an individual decision to sing what they want.

"I don't think that's fair. How can a club the size of Newcastle control individuals?

"It's a sensitive one and I understand the importance, but I don't want to put the pressure on an excellent club like Newcastle."

A spokesman for Newcastle added: "The club does not condone any sort of offensive chanting."

Rooney’s 100th seals derby

Manchester United overcome a late surge from City to prevail 1-0; Cristiano Ronaldo is sent off for a hand ball

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the third time in his Manchester United career as Wayne Rooney’s 100th goal in club football sealed a 1-0 victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men against Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday. Rooney’s goal — his first in seven games — settled the 150th meeting between the Manchester neighbours and cemented United in third spot in the Premier League.

But United were forced to play the final twenty-one minutes with ten men after Ronaldo was dismissed for handling the ball from Rooney’s corner — his second booking in the space of nine minutes.

With five other players booked, United now face an FA fine for failing to control their players, but Ferguson will not be concerned by that having sealed a crucial victory. City hadn’t landed back in Manchester until early on Friday morning following their UEFA Cup tie against Schalke in Germany, and United went into this game with the advantage of having had an extra two days to prepare.

The extra freshness within the United ranks showed in the first half as the European champions dominated possession and created the best chances. Not for the first time this season, though, Ferguson’s team failed to capitalise on their early dominance and, just as happened at Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal earlier this campaign, United struggled to kill off their bitter rivals.

The visitors could have gone ahead as early as the eighth minute when City keeper Joe Hart fumbled a Rooney shot, but Darren Fletcher failed to convert the loose ball from six yards.

Can Gunners conquer the fortress?

Arsenal face an uphill task against Chelsea tonight as their last win at Stamford Bridge was way back in February 2004

Arsenal’s fading English Premier League title ambitions face a make-or-break moment on Sunday when they visit leaders Chelsea for a London derby at their Stamford Bridge fortress.

A third straight league defeat could leave the Gunners in freefall and a huge 13 points behind the Blues just 15 games in. But equally, winning at Stamford Bridge — where Chelsea have been beaten just once in 89 league games — would send an impressive statement to the rest of the top flight that Arsenal are back in the race.

Despite the Gunners’ dismal league performances on the pitch and dressing-room dust-ups off it, manager Arsene Wenger is relishing the challenge. “This season we have played better against the top four,” he insisted.

“We have to go with extreme desire and express our strong points and not hide. We can play and win anywhere in the world. We know Chelsea are a great side with great players but we can beat them if we play at our best.”

And in his hour of crisis, Wenger has received support from the unlikeliest of sources going into the Chelsea clash — Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari. “Arsene is a coach who has been there 12 years. He’s a man that builds teams. Sells this and that, then puts in other players,” said the Portuguese. “Arsenal are very good every year. And when you change two or three players in one season, you need time. The time, I think, for Arsenal and Arsene is now. They can play very well and win many games.”

Alan Shearer 'rejects Newcastle role'

Alan Shearer has turned down an invite to be on the Newcastle United coaching staff, says manager Joe Kinnear.

A week ago the 61-year-old boss said the door was "always open" for the former skipper to make a return.

"[Shearer] said it was a very kind offer but wasn't ready for it yet, and I said,'That's fine'," Kinnear said.

Having just signed a contract extension himself, Kinnear added: "There's a possibility I might bring someone else in on the coaching front now."

Former Magpies legend Shearer has been continually linked with a return to the club and admitted in September he would like to be manager.

Kinnear said last week that he was unconcerned with speculation linking Shearer the the manager's job.

"I said he would be welcome to come in any time to give the place a lift and work with our strikers," he added about Shearer, who scored 206 goals in 404 appearances.

"It was very honourable of Alan. Speculation linking him with the job is never going to go away and we're both aware of that.

"I told him he's more than welcome here and there's not a problem, there's no aggravation between us."

Kinnear arrived at St James' Park as interim boss in September following Kevin Keegan's exit.

He will now stay for another six months as owner Mike Ashley continues to try to sell the club.

Arsenal can win league - Luiz Felipe Scolari

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is refusing to rule Arsenal out of the title race - even if his side beat them at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger's Gunners are 10 points behind Scolari's Premier League leaders, and are down in fifth place.

But Scolari said: "Even if you're 15 points clear with five games to go, you're not champions. You're only champions at the end of the last game.

"This is a big game. Wenger's team play football, so it's difficult to win."

Scolari is looking forward to pitting his wits against his old friend Wenger in the team's first Premier League encounter of the season.

"This is the first time I'll have played against Wenger," said the Brazilian, who was appointed as Chelsea boss in June but who used to coach in Japan alongside the Frenchman in the 1990s.

"I met him for the first time in Japan - he's been my friend for 10 or 12 years now.

"I like him as a coach. If I chose five coaches in the world as the best, he'd be one of the five.

"I watched their game against Manchester United and it was one of the best games in the Premier League. This game against Chelsea will be like that as well."

Scolari goes into the game without Didier Drogba, who is serving a three-match ban for throwing a coin at Burnley fans during Chelsea's shock Carling Cup defeat.

The 30-year-old striker was back in the headlines on Monday after he reportedly met Inter Milan's sporting director Marco Branca in a Fulham restaurant to discuss a potential January transfer window move to the San Siro.

But Scolari, who left Drogba on the bench for Wednesday's Champions League draw with Bordeaux, says he believes the Ivorian is committed to Chelsea.

"Every minute in the day, I think he's happy," he added.

"He has my support every day - injured or not injured. I'm sure he's 100% committed to the club.

"All I know is that he can't play against Arsenal. I have to be thinking about the Arsenal game, not what might happen in 2010 or 2011."

Late goals send Milan through in UEFA Cup

Late goals from Ronaldinho and Filippo Inzaghi salvaged a 2-2 draw for AC Milan against English FA Cup winners Portsmouth and took the seven times European champions into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

Milan were trailing 2-0 until Brazilian Ronaldinho curled in a superb freekick after 84 minutes and then Inzaghi, who had hit the woodwork three times, showed fine control to slot home the equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time.

Carlo Ancelotti's side top Group E with seven points from three matches and are guaranteed a place in the knockout phase with a game to spare.

Former winners CSKA Moscow, Manchester City and Ligue 1 strugglers St Etienne joined Milan as the first four teams to qualify for the last 32.

Portsmouth, roared on by the majority of a fervent 20,000 crowd shoehorned into the south coast club's Fratton Park home, had stunned Milan with second-half goals from Younes Kaboul and Nwankwo Kanu.

Kaboul powerfully headed home Glenn Johnson's inviting cross after 62 minutes and 11 minutes later Nigeria striker Kanu, whose FA Cup final winner in May secured Portsmouth's place in Europe, hooked in another Johnson cross from close range.

Ancelotti sent on Ronaldinho and Pato for Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko and it was the former who got Milan back into the game with an unstoppable swirling freekick past David James.

With time running out, a hopeful ball into the danger area was taken down with aplomb by Inzaghi who then found the bottom corner of the net.

Portsmouth 2-2 AC Milan

Filippo Inzaghi struck a late equaliser to break Portsmouth's hearts and send AC Milan into the Uefa Cup's last 32.

Inzaghi hit the post and the bar early on, while Peter Crouch was guilty of missing three excellent chances.

Younes Kaboul headed in Glen Johnson's pin-point cross to put Pompey ahead and Kanu doubled the lead from close range.

Inzaghi hit the woodwork again with a diving header, before Ronaldinho scored with a superb free-kick and Inzaghi's toe-poke snatched a draw.

Talk before the game had been that Milan were not relishing the prospect of a wintry evening at Fratton Park.

And it looked like Portsmouth were going to pull off a famous victory until Inzaghi's late, late intervention.

Not that anyone could really begrudge the striker his reward for a performance of real menace.

The former Italy international almost opened the scoring when he latched on to Andriy Shevchenko's free-kick, sending a left-footed shot against the foot of the post.

Inzaghi hit the woodwork again when he raced on to Gennaro Gattuso's pass and lofted the ball over David James and against the top of the bar.

In between those chances for Milan, Crouch should have done better when volleying horribly off target after being picked out by Kanu's cross into the box.

It was to be the story of the night for Crouch, who later headed back into the box with the goal gaping, sent a diving header wide and mistimed an overhead kick.

Pompey, though, were at least creating chances and certainly did not look overawed.

Following a slick passing move, they fashioned another opening, but the angle proved too tight for Glen Little to get his volley on target.

Aside from a couple of long-range efforts from world player of the year Kaka, Milan were unable to threaten.

And it was no great surprise when Pompey broke the deadlock though Kaboul, who rose between two Milan defenders to thump home a header.

Nine minutes later, the home side doubled their lead - and again it was Johnson who was the provider, this time sending in a cross for Kanu to convert.

But rather than folding, Milan came back strongly, with Inzaghi denied once again by the frame of the goal from a diving header.

On came Ronaldinho, who quickly made an impression when he curled in an exquisite 25-yard free-kick to give Milan a lifeline.

Luca Antonini went close with a low, skidding shot as the visitors searched for an equaliser, which they got when Inzaghi struck after his sublime first touch set him up to earn his side a vital point.

It was a hugely disappointing end for Pompey and their fans, but the club still has hopes of making the last 32.

They need to pick up points from their remaining games against Germany's Wolfsburg - away next Thursday - and Holland's Heerenveen to join Milan in the group's top three.


Portsmouth manager Tony Adams:

"The boys are feeling flat in there. They thought they had won it. But I'm proud of them tonight.

"This was the best performance I've seen from us in a long time. And we can still say we are four games unbeaten now, including against Milan.

"We are struggling to put teams to bed, but they (Milan) have some excellent players. If you switch off, they punish you.

"We can work on picking teams up from set plays but it was a fantastic free-kick. But I was very entertained by my players tonight.

"We've given ourselves a chance but we will still have to get over this. The boys are really upset they didn't hang on to win."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti:

"Ronaldinho's free-kick changed the face of the game but we almost lost hope. The reaction had to be good and it was, but you don't often get the opportunity from 2-0 down.

"We were a little lucky. We played quite well in the first half but it became a bit more difficult in the second half after they took the lead.

"Inzaghi deserved his goal. He was unlucky to twice hit a post but we still had to get the break to recover.

"(Portsmouth's) performance did not surprise me. I think they can still go through to the third round in the UEFA Cup with us."


Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Mvuemba 66), Diop, Hughes, Traore, Crouch, Kanu (Davis 81).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Pamarot, Wilson.

Booked: Hughes.

Goals: Kaboul 62, Kanu 73.

AC Milan: Dida, Zambrotta, Favalli, Senderos, Antonini, Gattuso (Seedorf 65), Emerson, Flamini, Kaka (Alexandre Pato 74), Inzaghi, Shevchenko (Ronaldinho 74).
Subs Not Used: Kalac, Kaladze, Pirlo, Bonera.

Booked: Antonini.

Goals: Ronaldinho 84, Inzaghi 90+2.

Att: 20,403

Ref: Serge Gumienny.

Arsenal beat Kiev to reach last 16

Arsenal edged into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with a game to spare after an unconvincing 1-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev at the Emirates.

Substitute Nicklas Bendtner struck three minutes from time to keep Arsenal top of Group G and eliminate Kiev who ended with 10 men after midfielder Olexandr Aliyev lost his cool in the final minutes and pushed referee Alain Hamer.

Kiev, needing a win, should have taken advantage of an injury-hit Arsenal whose season has been coming off the rails in recent weeks with consecutive league defeats and the sacking of William Gallas as club captain.

Until Bendtner's 87th-minute goal, the visitors had enjoyed the best chances of a disappointing game with Ismael Bangoura denied by the woodwork in the first half and Artem Milevskiy shooting straight at Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia late on.

Victory lifted Arsenal to 11 points with one game to play at second-placed Porto on December 10 when a draw will guarantee them top spot of the group.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recalled Gallas, who was dropped at the weekend following comments he made about the team, and the Frenchman was at the centre of the night's key moments.

After receiving a good reception from the home fans he almost became the villain after 38 minutes when he gifted the ball to Kiev dangerman Bangoura who curled a shot against the near post when a pass to a team mate would have been the better option.

Holders United lead rush into knockout phase

Holders Manchester United advanced to the knockout phase as all eight qualifiers from the first four Champions League groups were decided with a round to spare on Tuesday.

United progressed with a goalless draw at Villarreal, the fourth in a row between the two clubs, which was also enough to send the Spaniards through from Group E.

Group F was also decided as Bayern Munich beat Steaua Bucharest 3-0 with two goals from Miroslav Klose and Olympique Lyon edged to a 2-1 win at Fiorentina to go through.

A seventh-minute goal by Raul was enough to give Real Madrid a 1-0 win at Bate Borisov to send the nine-time champions through from Group H alongside Juventus, who had already qualified and who drew 0-0 at Zenit St Petersburg.

Arsenal left it late at the Emirates as an 87th-minute goal by Nicklas Bendtner secured the 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev that sent the Londoners through from Group G along with Porto after they won 2-1 at Fenerbahce with two goals from Lisandro.

Barcelona and Sporting had already qualified, leaving six slots up for grabs from the remaining groups.