UEFA Cup, Benfica 3-2 Espanyol

Benfica score valuable away goals!

Two goals in as many minutes kept Benfica's hopes alive against Espanyol as they fought back from 3-0 down to lose 3-2 away in their UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg on Thursday.

Raúl Tamudo, Albert Riera and Walter Pandiani looked to have given the Barcelona club an unassailable lead but two goals in the space of three second-half minutes from Nuno Gomes and captain Simão gave the visitors two priceless away goals ahead of next week's return leg in Lisbon.

The Spanish side started the game more brightly than their fellow Iberians and fully deserved to take the lead midway through the first half. Raul Tamudo collected the ball inside the penalty area before skipping past Benfica’s David Luiz and hitting a rising shot into the back of the net.

That lead was doubled just after the half hour as Raul Tamudo again caused Benfica's defence problems. His deep cross from the right touchline found Albert Riera lurking at the far post. The left winger's goalbound volley was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Benfica's Nelson as the defender desperately tried to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Benfica came out looking for a goal but the home side still looked the more dangerous with Francisco Rufete and the outstanding Riera offering a constant outlet down the flanks. With a healthy advantage home coach Ernesto Valverde felt confident enough to sacrifice Tamudo for the tournament’s top scorer Pandiani on 53 minutes. It proved an inspired substitution as within five minutes the Uruguayan had taken his UEFA Cup tally to ten, rising above the Benfica defence to head in another excellent Riera centre.

The Primera División team looked to be heading for Lisbon with a comfortable lead but the complexion of the tie changed completely shortly after the hour. Nuno Gomes pulled a goal back with a tap-in on 63 minutes after substitute Fabrizio Miccoli had beaten the offside trap and two minutes later captain Simão, cutting into the box from the left side, struck Benfica's second with a shot that deflected off Daniel Jarque and into the net. Miccoli then missed a chance to complete the fightback when he blazed across the face of the goal but Quim ensured there would be no further scoring at the other end by thwarting Pandiani.

UEFA Cup Espanyol 3-2 Benfica goals:

UEFA Cup, Tottenham 3-2 Braga... Second Leg

Brilliant Berbatov sends Spurs into last eight

Tottenham Hotspur FC can look forward to their first UEFA Cup quarter-final appearance since 1985 after a second-leg victory over SC Braga inspired by the brilliance of Dimitar Berbatov. The €16m striker scored two first-half goals and created the third for Steed Malbranque as Tottenham recovered from the shock of conceding an early goal to secure a 3-2 triumph on the night and 6-4 aggregate success.

Having won in Portugal last week, Spurs had the worst possible start after Tom Huddlestone headed past Radek Cerny. But Spurs were soon back in front as Berbatov scored with a right-footed flick and then a quite superb volley.

Andrade Joao Amaral's arrowed free-kick briefly threatened a shock, before Berbatov's pass freed Steed Malbranque, who flicked the ball past Paulo Jorge.

Spurs have now scored 23 times in seven games and Martin Jol's side gave their fans another three goals to savour. The pick was Berbatov's breathtaking volley, though the passes that made the first and third goals were equally eye-catching.

Wednesday's victory also means Spurs have won all eight games they have played in the Uefa Cup this season as they bid to win the tournament they last won in 1984. That outstanding record momentarily came under threat when Braga took a surprise lead after Huddlestone headed into his own goal following Amaral's curling free-kick.

Tottenham had dominated the game up to that point but even conceding that goal failed to dim Spurs' quixotic spirit. If Berbatov's goals showcased his exquisite finishing skills, the Bulgarian was quick to credit the role played by first Robbie Keane and then Huddlestone in setting him up.

Keane was surrounded by four Braga defenders but the Irishman's flick beat them all as Berbatov made a run to the left of his striking partner. The pass deserved a goal and Berbatov did not disappoint, beating Jorge with a measured shot hit with the outside of his right foot.

Huddlestone had looked distraught after his own goal, but his demeanour improved immeasurably when his quick thinking from a free-kick provided the pass for Spurs' second goal. Huddlestone's flighted pass was quickly chested down by Berbatov who swivelled to volley past Jorge with a stupendous strike.

Berbatov and Keane had chances to extend Spurs' lead before the interval, but neither striker was able to find the net. Just before the hour Braga's hopes of pulling off a remarkable win were revived when Amaral thumped a free-kick past Cerny.

But for a third time in the game Braga had no answer to Berbatov, as the Bulgarian arced a pass over the Portuguese defence to find Malbranque who slipped the ball past Jorge.

Tottenham: Cerny, Stalteri, Dawson, Chimbonda, Young-Pyo Lee, Lennon (Ghaly 81), Huddlestone, Zokora, Malbranque, Keane (Defoe 66), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Tainio, Mido, Taarabt, Charlie Lee.

Booked: Berbatov, Malbranque.

Goals: Berbatov 28, 42, Malbranque 76.

Braga: Paulo Santos, Luis Filipe, Paulo Jorge, Rodriguez (Nem 40), Carlos Fernandes, Frechaut, Madrid, Joao Amaral, Joao Pinto (Cesinha 74), Ze Carlos (Maciel 74), Wender.
Subs Not Used: Dani Mallo, Castanheira, Ricardo Chaves, Bruno Gama.

Booked: Joao Amaral, Joao Pinto, Luis Filipe.

Goals: Huddlestone 24 og, Joao Amaral 61.

UEFA Cup, second leg. Tottenham 3-2 Braga goals video:

FA Cup Fifth round replay, Reading 2-3 Manchester United

Match Full Report and Highlights.

Reading were the width of a crossbar away from completing one of the finest comebacks in FA Cup history at the Madejski Stadium as they went down 3-2 to Manchester United. Reading boss Steve Coppell began the game with an aggressive looking forward line of three including Irish international Kevin Doyle, making his first start in over a month after overcoming a hamstring injury.

With just a minute gone Reading's boss was considering a rethink as Gabriel Heinze put United into the lead inside two minutes. Few minutes later it was far too simple for Saha to dartbetween De la Cruz and Bikey before finishing with an excellent shot. The Frenchman has been downgraded since Henrik Larsson arrived, but the latter will be going back to Sweden in a couple of weeks and the dynamism of Saha at the Madejski Stadium wasencouraging for United as they contemplate the run-in to the Premiership. Sir Alex Ferguson had another jolt of satisfaction here in the sixth minute. Richardson slung the ball to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the right and the craftsman finisher squeezed a shot just inside the far post.

The three goals sparked Reading into life and they gave themselves a spirited chance when Ivar Ingimarsson headed a John Oster corner into Dave Kitson who nodded home at the far post.
With their lead cut Manchester United then retreated further and further into their shells allowing a rejuvenated Reading to take the game to them and even though the second half struggled to match the spellbinding opening of the first the number of passes by red shirted players that were going astray gave the home side increased initiative.

Substitute Glen Little's cross had Leroy Lita in its sights on 78 minutes only for Wes Brown to pull off a fantastic defensive header to deny the England under-21 international at the far post.
The introduction of Rooney was Ferguson's attempt to kill off the game but Reading continued to press forward with intent and when Sidwell bundled his way into the penalty area to set up Kitson, Van der Sar was called upon to pull off a dramatic save.

The Royals finally had their goal when de le Cruz found Lita who stretched back largely unchallenged to head past the United keeper and despite Brynjar Gunnarsson crashing an effort against the crossbar in the final seconds Ferguson was able to relax and turn his attentions to Anfield on Saturday.

FA Cup, Reading 2-3 Manchester United Highlights and Goals

Champions League, Real Madrid 3-2 Bayern Munich

Van Bommel Keeps Bayern alive

Two first-half goals from Raúl González and one from Ruud van Nistelrooy gave Real Madrid CF a slender advantage in a vibrant first leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie with FC Bayern München, whose challenge was revived by Mark van Bommel's late strike. Raúl gave the home side an early lead with a typically predatory effort and, although Lucio swiftly brought the German champions back to level terms, the Madrid captain headed his team in front before the half-hour. Van Nistelrooy then capitalised on some static Bayern defending to provide the Spanish club with a two-goal cushion. The visitors had the better of the second period, however, and got their reward two minutes from time as a crisp half-volley from Van Bommel halved their aggregate deficit.

Fabio Capello, whose side went into this game with just two goals from their last four Primera División matches, gave UEFA Champions League debuts to Argentinian duo Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuaín and the hosts had already launched several forays into the Bayern area by the time they went ahead in the tenth minute. Van Nistelrooy split the away defence with a devastating through-ball and, although Oliver Kahn half-blocked Raúl's attempt to round him, the rebound fell perfectly for the Spanish international to roll his fourth goal of this campaign into the unguarded net.

Bayern regrouped and Brazilian star Lucio nodded the equaliser midway through the first period to stun the packed home crowd.

From David Beckham's corner on the right Ivan Helguera headed goalwards and Raul bundled the ball home. Six minutes later it was 3-1, Beckham involved again with a freekick that Helguera touched on for van Nistelrooy to pounce on and beat Kahn from close range for his fifth goal of the competition and 52nd in his career.

Van Bommel delight:
In the 88th minute a loose ball fell to Van Bommel on the edge of the box and the Dutchman duly made no mistake to set up an enthralling second leg at the Fußball Arena München on 7 March.

Match highlights and goals: