European teams show their form ahead of Cup qualifiers

Europe's top teams on Wednesday showed how new-look formations were shaping up with 2010 World Cup qualifiers less than three weeks away.

Man U, Chelsea well matched in Champions League

Manchester United has another English title and Cristiano Ronaldo. Chelsea has a huge, talented squad and the wealth of owner Roman Abramovich. There is no underdog in this Champions League final as two English clubs make history by going head to head in Moscow.

Ballack double keeps Chelsea's dreams alive

Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-1 in a dramatic match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to pull level at the top of the Premier League and keep alive their hopes of snatching the title from United's grasp. Michael Ballack was Chelsea's scoring hero, deciding the game with an 86th-minute penalty after heading the home side ahead at the end of the first half.

Ballack helps Chelsea into semifinal

Michael Ballack put Chelsea on course for another Champions League semifinal collision with Liverpool as his goal set up a 2-0 win over Fenerbahce in Tuesday's quarterfinal, second leg. Ballack's first-half header was followed by a late Frank Lampard strike at Stamford Bridge to send Avram Grant's side through 3-2 on aggregate.

Chelsea keep pressure on United with narrow win

Chelsea kept their Premier League title hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough on Sunday but their performance would have caused few alarms for leaders Manchester United. Ricardo Carvalho's well-placed header inside the opening six minutes at Stamford Bridge proved sufficient for Avram Grant's side to close the gap to five points.

Arsenal stay top but United slash lead

Arsenal left it late to stay top of the Premier League as second-placed champions Manchester United closed to within a point on Saturday. The Gunners were seconds away from being knocked off top spot at the Emirates Stadium when Nicklas Bendtner cancelled out an early Philippe Senderos own-goal to secure a 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa.

Capello off to a winning start

England improved dramatically as the match progressed to give Italian Fabio Capello a winning start as coach with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in a friendly international at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas scored his first England goal and the first of the Capello era with a first-time left foot shot.

Ruthless Chelsea book Cup date with Spurs

Chelsea will face London rivals Tottenham in next month's League Cup final after crushing Everton's dream of a first domestic final appearance in eight years on Wednesday. Joe Cole's well-taken strike left Everton with little prospect of overturning their 2-1 first-leg deficit at Goodison Park.

Wright-Phillips leads Chelsea charge

Shaun Wright-Phillips scored a goal and forced an own-goal in injury time to give 10-man Chelsea a 2-1 win over Everton on Tuesday in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals. Wright-Phillips, who put Chelsea ahead 1-0 in the first half, duelled in front of the net for a high ball with Everton's Joleon Lescott, who inadvertently knocked the ball into his own goal.

Top English trio start New Year in triumph

It was a case of as you were at the head of the English Premier League as the top three sides all enjoyed a winning start to 2008. Leaders Arsenal remained two points in front with a 2-0 New Year's Day victory over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium. Elsewhere on Tuesday, Manchester United stayed hot on Arsenal's heels after a 1-0 success at home to Birmingham City.

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