Joe Cole scored the only goal on Wednesday to give Chelsea a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. He knocked in a cross from Didier Drogba in the 29th minute. The goal was Chelsea’s first against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Marat Safin saved Russia and sent the defending champions into the Davis Cup semifinals. The former top-ranked Russian played for the first time in the best-of-five series on Sunday and beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-2 in the deciding match to give the hosts a 3-2 win over France.

AS Roma earned a 2-1 win over 10-man Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, and Valencia held host Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. Roma got goals from Rodrigo Taddei and Mirko Vucinic at Stadio Olimpico, where Man United fans fought briefly with police after the first goal.

Justin Gatlin and Floyd Landis made headlines for their sporting achievements in 2006. They were bigger news when they were caught in the year’s biggest doping scandals. Gatlin, who equalled the world record in the 100m, and Landis, who won the Tour de France, had positive tests for testosterone revealed within 48 hours of each other at the end of July.

Inter Milan and AC Milan came away from the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals with positive results on Wednesday. Inter rallied to beat visiting Villarreal 2-1, and AC Milan held hosts Lyon to a 0-0 draw. The second-leg matches are scheduled for Tuesday.