Manchester City 2 Manchester United 1

The Carling Cup semi-final first leg between Manchester City and Manchester United at Eastlands on Tuesday Jan 19, 2009.

The noisy neighbours just got louder. Inspired by the outstanding Carlos Tévez, Manchester City showed real character in seizing the initiative at the halfway stage of this epic Carling Cup semi-final.

Tévez scored twice, celebrating the second by cupping his ears as if questioning Manchester United’s taunts.

Any lingering vestiges of restraint disappeared. Two seats were thrown on the pitch from the away end. The air filled with sulphurous sounds. Next week’s second leg at Old Trafford promises more fireworks. Welcome to Madchester.

The atmosphere had been crackling from before the off, the enmity between these neighbours inescapable. Already a guttural roar, the noise intensified when City paraded some greats of yesteryear, members of their 1969-70 side, including Franny Lee, Mike Summerbee and the peerless Colin Bell.

Unfortunately for Man City’s impassioned support, the heirs to Nijinsky’s thoroughbred tradition were too slow out of the starting gate, sitting too deep, seemingly too imbued with caution.

Not until Craig Bellamy began running at Rafael did City exude real danger, a development that set the scene for Tévez’s penalty three minutes from the break.

Until then Man United had dominated. Drawing on all of their rich European experience, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, a collection far more seasoned than anticipated, simply kept the ball and dictated play, their supremacy soon reflected in Ryan Giggs’s goal after 17 minutes.

Missing Dimitar Berbatov, the Carling Cup holders were configurated in 4-4-1-1 formation, Anderson playing in the hole behind the tireless Wayne Rooney. Antonio Valencia and Giggs worked the flanks while Patrice Evra, particularly, raided energetically from deep.

Roberto Mancini’s initial tactics were flawed, particularly with Bellamy too detached from Tévez, the lone front-runner predictably derided by those who used to revere his name. Hell hath little fury like a fan spurned.

This was a test for City, collectively and individually. Giggs ran at Micah Richards, operating here at right-back and making a perfectly-timed dispossession as United’s captain threatened.

His confidence growing, Richards suddenly ventured forward, making a surging run after 13 minutes, stopped only by Darren Fletcher’s foul. City supporters loved it, enjoying the sight of their idols taking the game to United. But Ferguson’s men swiftly regained control, taking the lead.

Evra began the move, delivering a superb crossfield pass that caught City cold. Valencia controlled the ball, eluded Bellamy and raced for the line. Spotting Rooney’s dart to the near post, Valencia drilled the ball in.

Rooney met it firmly, bringing a terrific close-range save from Shay Given. As the ball fell free, Giggs reacted sharpest, turning the ball over the line.

As United celebrated, City fans had seen what was wrong: the team were too deep. Supporters leapt from their seats, waving the players forward, urging them to support Tévez more. Finally feeding on the adrenalin of the occasion, City responded, building towards Tévez’s equaliser.

Shaun Wright-Phillips came to life, skipping past Evra, whipping over a cross that Tévez misjudged, heading into the ground rather than towards goal. No matter. The positive new intent was there.

Still City attacked, Richards meeting Bellamy’s cross with a firm header held by Edwin van der Sar. United’s Dutchman then saved from City’s Dutchman, parrying away Nigel de Jong’s shot.

Then controversy. Rafael clearly held Bellamy back when the Welshman was brilliantly released by Tévez’s teased pass. United’s right-back, caught out by the pace and angle of Bellamy’s break, clutched a chunk of the City man’s shirt. Bellamy tried to keep his footing, entering the box but unable to lay the ball off accurately as he fell.

United dissolved into apoplexy when Mike Dean awarded the penalty, Ferguson’s players arguing that Rafael had ceased his offence fractionally before Bellamy arrived in the box.

In such a blur of movement, Dean needed to have the eyes of a hawk, yet he pointed unhesitatingly to the spot.

Rafael was booked, so was Van der Sar for trying to put Tévez off, though the Argentine’s emphatic penalty certainly silenced United’s keeper.

Studiously ignoring the United fans and their countless abusive gesticulations, Tévez wheeled away in celebration, though he seemed to suggest United talk too much when spotting Gary Neville and the rest of the visiting subs warming up.

City began the second half confidently, soon forcing a succession of corners that set alarm bells ringing in the United box. An inswinger from Gareth Barry caused real concern until Wes Brown headed out for another corner.

Bellamy took this one, driving the ball to the near post, leading to a Richards shot cleared by Evra. Valencia conceded another corner before United finally managed to clear their lines.

United, hustled out of their stride, looked to menace on the counter. Rooney, always a threat, always a willing outlet, charged to the goal-line before standing up a cross to the far post. Giggs’s header was pushed away by Given, who then watched a Rooney shot sail over.

But then came Tévez again, triggering joyous tumult at Eastlands, launching endless ironic chants of “Fergie, Fergie sign him up’’. When Bellamy lifted in another corner, Van der Sar palmed the ball out, but Zabaleta caused real problems with a headed pass into the path of Vincent Kompany.

The centre-half hooked the ball across, and there was Tévez heading home before sprinting away in celebration.

Ferguson sent on Michael Owen, who immediately set up Rooney for a strong shot beaten away by Given. Owen fired the loose ball back in but Nedum Onuoha cleared off the line.

These were nervous times for City, Given defying Rooney with a marvellous tip-over save. Then Valencia turned Evra’s cross wide.

Burkina Faso 0 Ghana 1

The Africa Cup of Nations group B game between Burkina Faso and Ghana in Luanda, Angola on Tuesday Jan 19 2009.

Ghana progressed to the quarter-finals of the Africa Nations Cup after a first-half goal by Andre Ayew saw them through in unconvincing fashion.

Ayew took advantage of some woeful marking by Burkina Faso to head home after half-an-hour and qualify in second place from Group B, behind Ivory Coast.

Burkina Faso's hopes of staging a comeback suffered a setback with the 66th-minute dismissal of defender Mamadou Tall.

However, it was a stuttering display by the Black Stars whose injury problems entering the match had worsened after Chelsea's Michael Essien was ruled out of the tournament.

Burkina Faso needed only to draw after holding Ivory Coast in the first match but Ghana had to win following their defeat to the Elephants.

Milovan Rajevac's side had no option to attack from the outset and they won a free-kick on the left wing in the first minute but Asamoah Gyan sent the ball over the bar.

The Ghanaians were then grateful to their goalkeeper in the eighth minute after the pacy Jonathan Pitroipa left defenders in his wake as he bore down on goal but Richard Kingson came out and blocked the shot from a tight angle.

Ghana then took the lead through Ayew's header.

A free-kick cleared to the right was sent back into the box finding Ayew unmarked, and the midfielder diverted his header downwards into the right-hand corner of the net.

Ghana almost doubled their lead when Haminu Draman sent a ball across goal with Gyan just failing to get a touch.

The Burkinabe then sent in a teasing delivery from the right which narrowly eluded a lunging Bakary Kone with Kingson rooted to his goal line and Kone then blazed a shot over the top when well-placed.

However, just as the Burkinabe appeared to be making inroads, they were reduced to 10 men after Tall was sent off following a challenge which left Gyan clutching his face, although the decision appear a harsh one.

Draman then missed a clear chance to double Ghana's lead when he put the ball into the side netting from close range when unmarked before Samuel Inkoom also went close.

Blackpool 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2

The Championship game between Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday Jan 19 2009.

Alan Irvine, the new manager, has ensured there is a new sense of purpose and resolve at Sheffield Wednesday.

After a winless 12-game sequence, he has begun with back-to-back wins, their first since August.

He started by winning 2-1 at Barnsley and on Tuesday night, at Bloomfield Road, Wednesday remained in equally bullish mood.

Tom Soares, on loan from Stoke, gave them a deserved 71st-minute lead, and substitute Leon Clarke made the match safe with a header 12 minutes later.

Blackpool had started well, and an early effort from Ben Burgess was blocked, while a header by Charlie Adam dipped just wide. Ian Evatt then went close with an attempt that came back off a post.

Wednesday responded through Jermaine Johnson, who shot narrowly wide before he departed with a hamstring problem.

Then Clarke, back in the squad after missing out at Barnsley with hamstring trouble, headed over.

The visitors became even more of a threat towards half-time and went into the break looking clearly the better side.

They continued to dominate on the resumption and when Michael Gray crossed from the left for Marcus Tudgay, his excellent effort cannoned back off a post.

Wednesday persisted and Soares pounced to provide them with a deserved lead after 71 minutes, though Blackpool were far from finished.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher went clean through but he could only drag his shot against the body of onrushing goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Wednesday increased their lead in the 83rd minute when, from Darren Potter’s free-kick on the left, Clarke headed past goalkeeper Paul Rachubka. Adam drove in a late consolation from 25 yards.

Match details

Blackpool (4-4-2): Rachubka; Eardley, Baptiste, Evatt, Crainey; Euell (Taylor-Fletcher 59), Adam, Vaughan (Bannan 73), Ormerod; Burgess, Nardiello (Southern 59).
Subs: Jilks (gk), Martin, Edwards, Butler.
Booked: Bannan, Euell.
Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Grant; Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr (Hinds 90); Soares, Potter, O’Connor, Gray; Tudgay, Johnson (Clarke 24).
Subs: Jameson (gk), Hinds, McAllister, Sodje, Esajas, Simek.
Booked: Buxton, Purse, Potter, Clarke, Soares.
Referee: A Hall (W Midlands).

Rangers 2 Hamilton 0

A Steven Whittaker double in extra-time saw Rangers book their place in the fifth round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup after Hamilton once again proved to be tricky opponents.

This was the third meeting in 10 days between the two clubs, with Accies earning a 3-3 draw at the first time of asking and then losing narrowly to Walter Smith's men in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at the weekend.

They once again frustrated the holders and forced the replay to extra-time, but two goals in four minutes from Whittaker ensured Rangers progressed to a meeting with St Mirren in the next round.

Rangers were boosted by the return of Kenny Miller and Lee McCulloch from suspension for the clash at Ibrox, with Miller supported up front by John Fleck and Nacho Novo on the flanks.

Hamilton introduced Trent McClenahan, Grant Evans and Flavio Paixao to the starting line-up following their 1-0 defeat at the weekend.

Rangers immediately set about trying to put Hamilton under pressure when Miller raced onto a lovely ball from Danny Wilson and stung the palms of Tomas Cerny with a blistering shot early on.

The home side continued to press and Miller went to ground in the box claiming he had been fouled by Simon Mensing, but no penalty award was forthcoming from referee Charlie Richmond.

The opener almost came from an unlikely source when Sasa Papac embarked upon an impressive mazy run past several Accies players before forcing a decent save from Cerny with an angled drive.

Rangers were still creating the best of the chances and a cross from the right from Whittaker was nodded on by Miller for Steven Davis, but he bulleted his own header wide.

Only the woodwork prevented Miller from finding the back of the net when he ran on to a Papac pass and saw his shot at full stretch crash off the crossbar.

Whittaker then picked up the first booking of the game for diving after going to ground under pressure from David Elebert just before the break, before Miller again struck the crossbar.

Accies made it more difficult for Rangers after the restart but Fleck could have claimed the advantage with a swerving shot that looked destined for the top corner, only to be blocked by Cerny.

The Hamilton goalkeeper then dived low to smother from McCulloch but the shot lacked any power as the holders battled desperately for the opener.

Last-gasp defending from Hamilton kept them in the tie, with Danny Wilson's close-range header cleared off the line by Elebert.

Novo then had the chance to repeat his late winner from Saturday when he raced on to Fleck's pass but took too long to unleash the shot and Mensing was able to close him down and block.

Cerny had been on fine form for Hamilton and he came to the rescue again, this time denying Miller at the near post after the striker was released by Davis. The keeper then clawed another Miller effort to safety, to groans from the home fans.

A combination of poor finishing and staunch defending ensured the tie finished goalless after 90 minutes and went into extra-time.

Accies could have snatched a goal in the opening minute when Mickael Antoine-Curier whipped a teasing ball to the feet of substitute Kyle Wilkie, but his poor effort rippled the side netting.

The breakthrough finally came after 95 minutes when Miller squeezed between two defenders and flighted the ball over Cerny – who got a touch on it – and Whittaker was waiting to bundle home from almost on the goal-line.

Whittaker then grabbed his second of the night just four minutes later, this time collecting a Fleck pass before lofting over the Accies goalkeeper and into the top corner.

Match details

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Wilson, Weir, Papac, Davis, Thomson (Broadfoot 81), McCulloch (Edu 105), Fleck, Novo (Little 103), Miller. Subs: Alexander, Smith. Booked: Whittaker, Weir, McCulloch. Goals: Whittaker 98, 99.

Hamilton: Cerny, Evans (Wilkie 77), Elebert (McLaughlin 87), Canning, McClenahan, Marco Paixao (Elliott 100), Mensing, Neil, McArthur, Flavio Paixao, Antoine-Curier. Subs: Murdoch, Crawford. Booked: Mensing, Elebert.

Att: 21,856

Referee: C Richmond (Scotland).

Morton 0 Celtic 1

Celtic's supporters have not endured a trophy-less season since 2003 (a year more memorable for their march to the Uefa Cup final) and they kept alive their hopes of landing some silverware during this campaign with this victory at Cappielow on Tuesday night which earns them a fifth round tie at Second Division Stenhousemuir in the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

The outcome, particularly in cup competitions, is always of more importance than the performance and Celtic manager Tony Mowbray, after only one win in his previous five matches, will be glad to have got this potentially hazardous encounter of the way.

A solitary goal from Niall McGinn was enough to separate the financially astute visitors from a penurious home team which is currently third from bottom of the First Division.

Morton have not beaten Celtic since 1979 and, after a promising opening third of this tie, they rarely looked like levelling the scores once McGinn broke the deadlock. Even so, a one-goal lead is always precarious and Mowbray's men were never able to move into cruise control.

The home side certainly could not have been accused of freezing as they set about their more illustrious opponents from the first whistle.

Consequently, they created the first half chance after only four minutes. It was a fine passing move, too, with Dominic Shimmin threading the ball through for Brian Wake who, in turn, teed up a shooting opportunity for Allan Jenkins.

Unfortunately for the former Gretna midfielder, the pass was not as accurate as it might have been and he shot hurriedly wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Two minutes later Wake was claiming for a penalty kick following a tussle with Celtic's captain, Darren O'Dea, but referee Craig Thomson, who had taken up an excellent position, had no hesitation in waving play on.

An unforced error from Shimmin, who took his eye off a through ball from Marc Crosas, allowed McGinn to dispossess the defender but the winger's shot from 18 yards slacked conviction and was comfortably saved by Colin Stewart.

Celtic's defensive frailty was all too evident in the 19th minute when O'Dea allowed a Stewart clearance to bounce instead of attacking it.

The ball sailed over his head to Glenn Loovens, who passed it straight to Peter Weatherson and it required an excellent save from Artur Boruc to parry the striker's venomous drive.

Aiden McGeady attempted to inspire his team-mates with a surging run which took him past two opponents but his shot, from 15 yards, was wayward.

The visitors' performance was just as uneven and it was something of a surprise when they took the lead 10 minutes from the interval.

Marc-Antoine Fortune was the architect, using his strength to hold off his marker and deliver a cutback which McGinn drove emphatically behind Stewart from around the penalty spot.

Fortune might have created a second in the 41st minute but, following a fine solo run, he attempted to shoot from an acute angle rather than pass to two better-placed team-mates and Stewart was mightily relieved with that choice.

Morton's captain, Stuart Greacen, was cautioned for a shove on the busy Fortune and Georgios Samaras tested Stewart with a dipping half-volley from 25 yards as Mowbray's men foraged forward in search of a second goal with which to quell the home side's resistance.

That it proved so elusive was as attributable to the strike partnership of Samaras and Fortune as it was to Morton's disciplined defending. Celtic lack a focal point to their attacks.

Lee Naylor managed to block a netbound drive from Wake in the 73rd minute as Morton's tiring players, with nothing left to lose, threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser.

That inevitably left them vulnerable to the counter-attack and Celtic believed they had settled the matter three minutes later.

A Naylor corner was flicked on by O'Dea and Samaras, lurking at the far post, forced the ball over the line from point-blank range, only for his "goal" to be disallowed, presumably for handball.

Naylor took a more direct approach but saw his shot from 20 yards beat Stewart only to rebound to safety from the inside of the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

Fortune then scorned the best opportunity of the evening, failing miserably to control a delivery from McGinn when unmarked, onside and just three yards from goal.

Match details

Morton (4-4-2): Stewart; McGuffie, Greacen, Shimmin, Reid; Finlayson, McFarlane (Graham 88), Jenkins, McAlister; Wake (Kane 78), Weatherson. Subs: Cuthbert (g), Monti, McGregor. Booked: Greacen, McFarlane.

Celtic (4-4-2): Boruc; Hinkel, Loovens, O'Dea, Naylor; McGinn, McGeady, Crosas, Zhi; Samaras, Fortune. Subs: Zaluska (g), McCourt, Mizuno, Thompson, Forrest. Booked: Samaras.

Referee: Craig Thomson.

Notts County 2 Forest Green 1

The FA Cup third-round game between Notts County and Forest Green Rovers at Meadow Lane on Tuesday Jan 19 2009.

Forest Green were the lowest ranked club left in the FA Cup, so it would have been awkward for Sven Goran Eriksson had Notts County bitten the dust on Tuesday night.

He will therefore have watched with some relief as Stephen Hunt and Lee Hughes set up a trip to Wigan in the fourth round; what with their cash-flow problems, County would no doubt take whatever they can get, but a tie against Premier League opposition should yield a tidy return.

It was Ben Davies’ low drive which exposed the weakness County would exploit for their opener, Terry Burton fumbling a regulation stop.

Hughes was too far away to profit, but Craig Westcarr’s punchy effort in the second half drew another mistake and Hunt, alive to the opportunities to be gained by lurking, was there to finish.

Isiah Rankin’s equaliser was followed a minute later by a curler off Hughes' boot from over 30 yards out.

Match details

Notts County (4-4-2): Schmeichel; Bishop, Lee, Thompson, Hunt; Davies, Ravenhill, Jackson, Westcarr (Hamshaw, 69); Hawley (Rodgers, 70), Hughes.
Subs: Houlf, Edwards, Fairclough, Clapham, Akinbiyi.
Forest Green Rovers (4-5-1): Burton; Hodgkiss, Preece, O’Cearuill, Stonehouse; Rankin, Brown, Smith, Platt (Else, 90), Powell (Berry, 86); Ameobi.
Subs: Pass, Winter, Davies, Henry, Osman.
Referee: Fred Graham (Essex)

Cardiff City 1 Bristol City 0

The FA Cup third-round replay between Cardiff City and Bristol City at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday Jan 19 2009.

A Bradley Orr own goal 16 minutes from the end finally broke the deadlock between these deadly rivals to earn Cardiff, runners-up in the FA Cup two seasons ago, a home tie against Leicester on Saturday.

The goal itself could not have been more unfortunate for Bristol City. Michael Chopra raced clear from Peter Whittingham’s pass before his shot rebounded off the post and struck defender Orr as he was scampering back to his goal line.

While the goal may not have been a picture of beauty, it was nothing more than Cardiff deserved as they created a host of late chances in a game which hardly came to life until the last quarter.

Had it not been for Dean Gerken, who was as cool as a cucumber under pressure from the Cardiff attack, the home side would have won far more convincingly.

Following the goal, Ross McCormack struck the bar and Chopra missed a sitter from six yards.

Match details

Cardiff City (4-4-2): Marshall, Matthews (Kennedy 78) Gyepes, Gerrard, Quinn, Whittingham, Ledley, Wildig (Chopra 32), Burke (Blake 67)), Bothroyd, McCormack. Subs not used: Enckelman (g), Kennedy, Hudson, Feeney, Meades.
Goals:Orr (og) 74
Booking: Gerrard
Bristol City (4-4-1-1): Gerken, Orr, Carey, Fontaine, Nyatanga, Sproule, Skuse, Hartley, McAllister (Elliott 84), Sno (Saborio 61), Maynard (Akinde 61). Subs not used: Henderson, Elliott, Clarkson, Williams, Ribeiro,
Booking: Akinde
Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham)

Katie O'Brien to meet Jelena Jankovic in round two

British No 2 Katie O'Brien has joined compatriot Elena Baltacha in the second round of the Australian Open after a straight sets win over Patricia Mayr.

The Hull-born 23-year-old won 6-3, 6-3 to progress past the first round of a grand slam for just the second time in her career.

O'Brien's best ever result at a major was reaching the second round at Wimbledon in 2007 and a confident display, against a player ranked three places behind her in 90th, ensured she would at least match that at the Australian Open.

A difficult task could, however, await her in the next round where she will play eighth Jelena Jankovic.

O'Brien had seen fellow Briton Baltacha win through in straight sets yesterday before her scheduled match later in the day was postponed because of the rain.

That meant the O'Brien was first on Court Four and, with sunny conditions greeting the players, she quickly found her stride.

O'Brien broke her Austrian opponent in the fifth game to go 3-2 ahead and then with Mayr serving to stay in the set broke again to take the advantage.

Mayr broke early in the second set, but from there the Austrian's serve let her down.

O'Brien pounced on the opportunity and broke on three consecutive occasions to surge ahead before wrapping up the match when Mayr dumped a forehand into the net.

O'Brien admitted she had put pressure on herself to perform against a player ranked below her.

"I knew it was a good opportunity. I had a good draw and I knew I had to go out and compete," she said. "I think I dictated the play today and made her do the running and wore her down. I think it was a good solid performance.

"I'm trying to add aggression to my game. There were a few points I was disappointed with where I let her in, but the first match of a grand slam is always tough. I think I settled down well though.

"I felt really good on court today."

Novak Djokovic overcomes shaky start in Melbourne

Third seed Novak Djokovic overcame a spirited start from Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver to win his first-round match at the Australian Open.

The Serb had to keep a cool head to clinch the match 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 after he had found himself down an early break in the face of some impressive shot-making from the world No 74.

Gimeno-Traver was 4-2 ahead before he started to lose his radar and from there Djokovic's consistency from the back of the court ensured he took control of the match.

The 2008 Australian Open winner broke back to make it 4-4 and then secured his second break to clinch the first set after 49 minutes, although not before his opponent had spurned two more openings.

Gimeno-Traver clearly thought his best hope of claiming an upset win was to go for broke and, while it resulted in some memorable strokeplay, his best moments were too few and far between.

Djokovic also tightened up his serving and needed only one break of serve in the second set before racing away with the match in two hours and 20 minutes.

Fittingly, the Serb's victory was sealed when Gimeno-Traver's 47th unforced error dropped into the net.

In contrast, Djokovic made only 23 unforced errors, which ultimately proved the difference.

Leyton Hewitt back in title winning form

Former world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt is ready to push deep into the Australian Open after beating Brazil's Ricardo Hocevar 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round.

In front of his home crowd, the 28-year-old was rarely troubled as he cruised to a straight sets victory and dropped just six games against the qualifier in one hour and 40 minutes.

The 22nd seed only faced one break point against the 194th-ranked Hocevar, who was making his maiden grand slam appearance, and hit 33 winners and 10 aces.

However, Hewitt said it was tricky facing an opponent he knew little about.

"It's always tough first round of any Slam, probably a little bit more so because I had no idea really how he played either," he said. "We did all the homework we could do before the match, but until you actually get out there, you never really know.

"He's a grinder, he was going to hit a lot of balls back, and he served better than I thought he would.

"But I returned really well, especially at the start."

Hewitt was a beaten finalist here in 2005, when Russian Marat Safin won an epic final, but went out in the first round last year.

Due to face world No 1 Roger Federer in the fourth round if he gets that far, Hewitt said he was in peak form and ready for a crack at the title.

"I'm hitting the ball pretty well," he said. "My ball striking has been pretty good ever since I came back from hip surgery, it's more the confidence in moving and getting into the right position to do it.

"There's a lot guys that are ahead of me on ranking that I think I can take care of. "

Louk Sorensen makes history for Ireland

Louk Sorensen has become the first Irishman to win a grand slam match in 25 years after defeating Yen-Hsun Lu in the first-round of the Australian Open.

Sorensen reached the main draw of a major for the first time in qualifying last week and continued his dream run in Melbourne by beating a player ranked almost 200 places higher 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Ireland had not produced a player that had won a match at a grand slam since the Californian-born Matt Doyle won through to the round of 32 at the 1985 Australian Open.

But Sorensen, ranked 287 in the world, defied the odds to bring that record to an end.

The 25-year-old's match had been postponed after Monday's rain with the players assigned to arguably the least glamorous court at the Melbourne Park complex - Court 14 where the shunting trams just metres away are more audible than the cheers from the other courts.

Regardless, the court will long live in the memory of Sorensen who, with only five players ranked below than him in the whole main draw, was expected to come unstuck against world No 101 Lu.

But the Irishman, whose father Sean coaches the Davis Cup team, showed his gritty resolve early as he broke in the opening set which he took out, with his third set point, by firing a forehand down the line.

There was little between the players and when Lu levelled the match at one set apiece the contest had already lasted more than an hour and a half.

But from there Sorensen took control as he raced through the next two sets in an hour to claim his historic win.

Sorensen has spent most of his career on the Challenger tour while also playing for third division Bundesliga tennis club TC Doggenburg to earn enough money to continue to play.

"It's the biggest achievement of my career so far," said Sorensen, who grew up in Germany but his parents live in Dublin.

"I got through the first round now so I'm very happy.

"I don't know what it will be like in Ireland. I don't want to know until after the tournament."

Sorensen will next play 6ft 9ins American John Isner on Wednesday and after revealing his coach had been unable to travel with him to Australia, said he was likely to prepare for the match by watching YouTube highlights.

"He (coach) had to go back to Germany, he has an important meeting so he couldn't come to Australia," he added.

"But I will call my coach in Germany definitely.

"Isner is a big server. I have never played anyone that tall. He is huge.

"I am maybe going to watch a few points on YouTube."

Venus Williams eases into round two in Melbourne

Venus Williams has joined her sister Serena in the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Lucie Safarova.

The match loomed as a tough opener for the 29-year-old American after the Czech left-hander took her to three sets in their previous meeting at the French Open last year.

It proved not to be much of a contest, however, as Williams won almost twice as many points - 62 compared to her opponent's 37 - to clinch the win in just over an hour.

Safarova did not help her own cause as she committed 34 unforced errors.

Williams raced through the opening set in 35 minutes but was broken in the first game of the second to give hope Safarova would make a better fist of the match.

The Czech could not hold onto her advantage, though, as she was immediately broken and, while she held to level at 2-2, Williams again surged away and won the last four games to close out the match.

Meanwhile, after yesterday's shock loss of 2008 champion Maria Sharapova, it was a good day for the seeded players in the women's draw.

Ana Ivanovic, who lost the final to Sharapova two years ago, outclassed qualifier Shenay Perry 6-2, 6-3 while her fellow Serbian and eighth seed Jelena Jankovic was even more impressive in casting aside Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-0.

Both players were given rousing support from the Serbian fans in the crowd, and Jankovic admitted it was a welcome boost.

"I really love that support," she said. "It's amazing how many people come to support me, and as well the other players. I think this event, it's very patriotic.

"We have Serbian fans everywhere around the world but I think here it's a little bit more."

Tenth seed Agnieszka Radwanska made up for the disappointment of sister Urszula's loss with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-0 victory over Tatjana Malek while 11th seed Marion Bartoli beat Rossana De Los Rios 6-4, 6-1.

Local hope Sam Stosur survived a scare on Rod Laver Arena as the 13th seed beat China's Xinyun Han 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

The only two seeds to lose during the day session were France's 18th seed Virginie Razzano, who fell to Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3, while Anabel Medina Garrigues, the 25th seed, lost out to Croatia's Karolina Sprem 6-3, 6-2.

Robin Soderling crashes out in opening round

Swedish eighth seed Robin Soderling was fuming after he became the first top-10 casualty of the Australian Open, bowing out in the first round.

The 25-year-old looked on target for an easy win after he took the first two sets, but eventually lost to Spain's 113th-ranked Marcel Granollers 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Soderling made 67 unforced errors and was scathing in his assessment of his performance.

"No, I started terrible and finished terrible," he said bluntly when it was suggested things were going well early in the match. "I played a horrible match today and I am terribly disappointed.

"I didn't feel good at all and I didn't play well."

Although the fragile Swede, who has won four ATP titles, pulled out of the AAMI Classic last week because of elbow tendonitis, he said he was 100 per cent fit and that the loss had nothing to do with any injury.

Soderling said his frustration had nothing to do with his good form in 2009.

"I would have been annoyed even if I didn't play well last year," he said.

It was the third Grand Slam in a row where Soderling had faced Granollers, who is something of a doubles specialist, but the Spaniard's first ever win over the Swede.

Soderling played the 23-year-old three times last year, including the US Open and Wimbledon, winning all three matches convincingly and dropping just one set to Granollers in those matches.

Tuesday's loss continues a tough start to the year for last year's French Open finalist, having lost in the first round in Chennai and now here.

Bill McLaren, the BBC's 'voice of rugby', dies, aged 86

Bill McLaren, the distinctive Scottish commentator who became known as the "voice of rugby" in over 50 years with the BBC, has died aged 86.

McLaren, a schoolmaster by profession, commentated on the game he loved from 1948 when he first worked for local BBC radio all the way through to 2002 when he finally laid down his TV microphone after commentating on Wales's Six Nations game against Scotland.

After the final whistle the crowd spontaneously sang "For he's a jolly good fellow" to McLaren up in the stands.

Former Scotland captain Gavin Hastings, who worked with McLaren, said: "First and foremost, Bill was a very proud and passionate Scot but such was his professionalism that you never really have known that.

"He always remained very unbiased in his commentary and I think that that was unquestionably one of his endearing qualities. He was just such a gentleman as well."

McLaren, a true son of Hawick, was a fine player and had already earned a final Scotland trial at lock in 1947 when he contracted TB and spent an agonising 19-month period at an Edinburgh clinic before recovering, thanks largely to the discovery of a new drug.

"I was desperately ill and fading fast when the specialist asked five of us to be guinea pigs for a new drug called Streptomycin," McLaren said in 2001.

"Three of the others died but I made what amounted to a miracle recovery."

His playing days were over and thereafter his love of rugby was confined to teaching a succession of future Scotland internationals at Hawick School and imparting his rugby knowledge and wisdom to readers of the local Hawick Express and listeners on BBC local radio station and, later, television.

During the Second World War he had acted as an infantry spotter, notably at the siege of Monte Casino in Italy, and often attributed his powers of observation on the rugby pitch to those long, dangerous hours, spent in forward postions scouting out enemy placements.

His first match for national radio came in 1953 when he commentated on Scotland's 12-0 defeat to Wales and the call from TV came six years later.

A precise and particular man when it came to detail his 'match crib' became works of art and now sell for a small fortune at charity auctions. McLaren accumulated a vast store of data that often failed to see the light of day but was always there in emergency.

Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions player and coach Sir Ian McGeechan said: "You will never know how many people Bill brought to the game by the way he commentated.

"He was an absolute gentleman, totally unbiased. He had the knack of always looking for the best in players and had a massive positive impact on us.

"I don't think anyone could ever estimate just what his value has been to the game and what he has done.

"But above all Bill didn't just have a massive impact because of rugby. It was also because of his knowledge and understanding of people."

Rugby ran deep in McLaren's veins and it was a matter of enormous pride that his son-in law Alan Lawson became a notable Scotland scrum-half and his grandson Rory, who now plays at Gloucester, has also won full Scotland honours.

Back where it all began, at Hawick, club secretary John Thorburn paid tribute to McLaren. "We're devastated, obviously," he said. "We've got a room named after him at the rugby club.

"It was very close to his heart, Hawick rugby club. He's a huge loss to rugby worldwide."

-- What are your favourite "Bill McLaren-isms"? Read a collection of his best quotes and send us your favourites.

Kiwis register a comfortable victory

New Zealand got the better of Zimbabwe by seven wickets in their under-19 World Cup game in Lincoln.

This is their their second win the in the tournament.

After putting Zimbabwe in to bat, the Kiwi bowlers did a fine job to restrict them to just 135 runs in 42.2 overs.

Zimbabwe failed to find their ground as the devastating bowling spells always kept them on the mat.

Tim Johnston became the pick of the bolwers by taking 3 for 27, while Bevan Small, Ben Wheeler and Doug Bracewell all chipped in with two wickets each.

Then a 116-run opening stand between Harry Boam and Tom Lathan ensured that the Black Caps drive home smoothly.

Teams:

New Zealand: Harry Boam, Tom Latham (W), Jimmy Neesham, Corey Anderson, Craig Cachopa (C), Logan Van Beek, Michael Bracewell, Doug Bracewell, Ben Wheeler, Bevan Small, Tim Johnston

Zimbabwe: Scott Daly, Dylon Higgins (C), Dean Mashawidza (W), Andrew Lindsay, Gary Chirimuuta, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Nathan Waller, Natsai M'Shangwe, Calum Price, Richard Muzhange, Tendai Chatara

Stirling ton leads Ireland to victory

A brilliant century by Paul Stirling steered Ireland to a five-wicket victory over the USA in their under-19 World Cup match in Queenstown.

With this loss, USA became the second team to be crashed out of the tournament.

After deciding to bat first, Steven Taylor and Saqib Saleem scored half-centuries each to put USA on track for getting a massive total but a collapse was triggered by Craig Young and Lee Nelson that folded the USA innings for 217 in 48.1 overs.

Although USA did not get a bad start, with Steven Taylor (57) and Gregory Sewdial (30) playing fine knocks each at the top of the order, followed by Saqib Saleem (62) and Ryan Corns (31) in the middle order but the last six wickets of the USA fell for just 49 runs.

While replying, Ireland lost two wickets but Stirling held on to his ground firmly and when he was eventually dismissed for a 102-ball 114, Ireland needed just nine to win.

Teams:

Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (C), Stuart Thompson, Paul Stirling, Ben Ackland, Lee Nelson, Graham McDonnell, Stuart Poynter (W), Adrian D'Arcy, George Dockrell, Jordan Coghlan, Craig Young

USA: Shiva Vashishat (C), Steven Taylor, Ryan Corns, Gregory Sewdial, Azurdeen Mohammed, Saqib Saleem, Asad Ghous, Saami Siddiqui (W), Naseer Jamali, Salman Ahmad, Regis Burton

West Indies get the better of PNG

West Indies thrashed Papua New Guinea by five wickets in their under-19 World Cup match at Palmerston North.

Opting to field, West Indies managed to restrict PNG to 187 and then chased down the target in just 35.4 overs.

Yannic Cariah, who bagged the Man of the Match award for his performance in West Indies' thrilling last-over win against Bangladesh, found himself again among the wickets.

Cariah finsihed with four wickets against his name.

However, Sese Bau's half-century and a fine 30-run knock by Jason Kila helped PNG reach a respectable total.

Replying to the target, a 118-run stand for the fifth wicket between the opener Kraigg Brathwaite and the wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich helped the Windies complete their chase successfully.

For PNG, Raymond Haoda bagged three wickets.

Teams:

West Indies: Trevon Griffith, Kraigg Brathwaite, Evin Lewis, John Campbell, Yannick Ottley (C), Yannic Cariah, Shane Dowrich (W), Jermaine Blackwood, Akeem Dewar, Jason Holder, Keon Joseph

Papua New Guinea: Heni Siaka, Lega Siaka, Vagi Oala, Tony Ura, Charles Amini, Sese Bau, Jason Kila (C), John Reva, Steven Eno (W), Raymond Haoda, Timothy Mou

Zaki shines for Afghanistan

Afghanistan registered an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong in their Under-19 match in Christchurch.

After Afghanistan opted to field, the bowlers, especailly Zakiullah Zaki never let the Hong Kong batsmen find their rhythm and eventually bundled them out for a mere 137.

Zaki, who is a slow left-arm spinner, finished with an impressive figure of five for 34.

Chasing a modest target, Afghanistan comfortably achieved it, with Javed Ahmed remaining unbeaten on 90.

Meanwhile, with their third straight loss, Hong Kong have been knocked out of the tournament.

For Hong Kong, Ashish Gadhia shone with both the bat and the ball. He not just top scored with 46, but he also chipped in with two wickets.

Teams:

Afghanistan: Javed Ahmadi, MS Aminzai, Hashmat Shaidi, Noor-ul-Haq (C), Khushal Rasooli, Murad Ali (W), Zakiullah Zak, Ayub Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Izat Dawlatzai, Aftab Alam

Hong Kong: Shakeel Haq, Ashish Gadhia, Jamie Atkinson (C), Irfan Ahmed, Nizakat Khan, Mark Chapman, Waqas Barkat (W), Alex Smith, Aizaz Khan, Max Tucker, Niaz Ali

India seize advantage despite Mahmudullah heroics

India 243 and 122 for 1 (Gambhir 47*, Sehwag 45) lead Bangladesh 242 (Mahmudullah 69, Mushfiqur 44, Zaheer 3-65) by 123 runs.

Scorecard

A brain freeze from the Bangladesh lower order squandered the initiative that a 108-run seventh-wicket stand had secured them. With Bangladesh throwing away their last four wickets and falling behind by one run, India didn't look the gift horse in the mouth and went on to extend that lead to 123 with nine wickets in hand.

From 98 for 6, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim had carried Bangladesh past 200 when common sense deserted them. Mushfiqur, who had survived an edgy period early on, threw it away by slog-sweeping an innocuous-looking Amit Mishra from wide outside off. No. 9 Shahadat Hossain came out swinging like the climax of a Western, as opposed to giving the strike to Mahmudullah, who was already past his maiden Test fifty by then.

In the last over before tea, Shahadat chipped Mishra straight to cover. Back after the break, Mahmudullah smote the first ball for four, but when he lofted the fifth ball of the over over mid-on, he came back for two - any other settled batsman would have taken a single and seen out the whole of the next over. Under pressure to take a single next ball, he opened the face and edged Sreesanth to Dinesh Karthik. In the next over, Shafiul Islam got off the mark in Tests with a mowed six, but sliced the next ball to point. Just like that, a golden opportunity of keeping India in the field till about stumps had passed Bangladesh by.

They lost wickets in clusters: the last four for 36 runs, and the first six for 45. Of those six, three came early on the third morning. Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma continued from their impressive spells from the second day and the batsmen kept obliging. There was slight seam movement and bounce in the pitch, enough to make the batsmen regularly play down the wrong line.

Mohammad Ashraful was all at sea, playing Zaheer away from the body, and getting squared up by Ishant. The ever so slight holding of the line from Ishant, and a shade of extra bounce, was enough to awkwardly square up Ashraful and take the shoulder of the bat. Shakib Al Hasan looked to counterattack, hitting four boundaries in the next four overs. Again, all it took was a slight straightening of the ball, and a slash at a wide delivery was flying over gully when Virender Sehwag intercepted it perfectly.

When Zaheer and Ishant were taken off simultaneously, their partnership had resulted in five wickets for 59 runs, during the 23 overs they bowled on the trot. Sreesanth came back to end Raqibul Hasan's resistance, who too played inside the line of a straight delivery, and edged.

The seventh-wicket partnership stopped the procession of dismissals to outside edges and made India go wicketless for almost a full session, leading Bangladesh to a first-innings lead at the same time. Zaheer, the pick of the bowlers, struggled for support, with Sreesanth warned once for running on the pitch and over-stepping almost every second delivery. Mishra was not looking effective at all and Mahmudullah got stuck into him. Between them, Sreesanth and Mishra bowled 12 no-balls.

The duo didn't entirely abort the shots that had proved to be fatal for the earlier batsmen, but were slightly more sensible. They did get away with plays and misses to begin with, but when they chased the wide ones, soft hands meant the ball didn't fly towards slips. In fact, the third man area leaked eight boundaries.

The other big difference the two made was the running between the wickets. They ran hard, and they ran more often, which meant neither of the batsmen got stuck at one end for too long. Nineteen boundaries had been hit before the two came together and 14 came during their stand.

As the stand grew bigger, the batsmen grew surer. Mahmudullah started targeting Mishra, driving him through the covers, lofting him over mid-on, and paddling him to alternate the strike. But then, Bangladesh chose to display their lack of experience.

Coming into bat one run ahead, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were more circumspect than in the first innings. They saw off the aggressive Shahadat without much adventure, and punished the other fast bowers, Shafiul and Rubel Hossain. With eight of their overs going for 55, Shakib had to bring himself on early again. By then, almost nonchalantly Sehwag and Gambhir had added 56 in 10 overs.

Sehwag stayed quiet against his first-innings nemesis for a bit, and had taken only five off 16 Shakib deliveries when he stepped out and launched him over long-on. Four balls later the slog-sweep against the turn consumed Sehwag. Sent in originally as nightwatchman, Mishra reversed roles, and got his own back at Mahmudullah, dancing down the track and lofting him over mid-on twice on the way to an unbeaten 24 off 21 deliveries. He subjected the other spinners to three other boundaries, taking his tally to one more than Gambhir's, who had seemed inconspicuous and yet scored 47 off 56.