Seongnam, Urawa draw 2-2 in AFC Champions semis 

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Urawa Reds fought out a tight 2-2 draw in the first leg of the AFC Champions League semi-finals Wednesday, with the pride of the South Korean and Japanese champions at stake.

Lazio hold Real at the Stadio Olympico 

Real Madrid were twice pegged back by Lazio in their Champions League Group C clash which ended 2-2 at the Stadio Olympico here on Wednesday.

It was a case of doubles all round with Ruud van Nistelrooy responsible for Reals’ goals and Goran Pandev starring for Lazio in a match billed rather unkindly given Lazio’s performance as a ‘David and Goliath’ clash by one of the Italian sports papers.

Bremen suffer Greek tragedy 

Werder Bremen suffered Champions League heart-break on Wednesday night when Greek side Olympiakos fought back late to claim a 3-1 victory at the Weserstadion.

Bremen’s Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida had put his side ahead when he converted a first-half cross after 32 minutes, but the Greeks hit back with Ieroklis Stoltidis equalising in the 72nd minute.

Time to protect the refs, English FA says 

The English Football Association (FA) is to launch a campaign aimed at getting players to be more respectful of referees.

The move follows growing alarm at the level of abuse that is being directed at officials which in turn results in fewer people being prepared to put up with the behaviour.

Premier passion over-rides Wenger’s European ambitions 

Arsene Wenger admits he would sacrifice Champions League success to restore Arsenal to the pinnacle of English football.

Wenger has never won Europe’s elite club competition but it is not a short-coming that hurts him because the French coach believes coming out on top in the Premier League is the acid test of his team.

Rooney puts the boot into Roma 

Wayne Rooney’s first goal of the season was enough to give Manchester United a 1-0 Champions League win over Roma here on Tuesday.

After last month’s victory by the same scoreline at Sporting Lisbon, the England forward’s 70th-minute strike leaves the Premier League champions firmly on track to progress from group F, but it was a far from convincing display from Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

Barcelona step towards knock-out phase 

Barcelona took a step closer to the Champions League’s first knock-out round on Tuesday night with a convincing 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart to claim their second consecutive group stage win.

Despite the home side having four clear first-half chances to take the lead, Stuttgart’s defence finally cracked as substitute Carles Puyol and Argentinian super-star Lionel Messi fired second-half goals.

Giggs set for new United deal 

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs looks certain to stay with the Premier League champions after Sir Alex Ferguson hinted he will sign a new contract.

Giggs’s current contract expires at the end of this season but United manager Ferguson is determined to keep the 33-year-old at Old Trafford for at least one more campaign.

Ronaldinho returns to football pitch and its goodbye to absent friends 

Ronaldinho’s return after what was whispered to be an enforced team sidelining by Barcelona is likely to spell bad news for German champions VfB Stuttgart.

The 2006 Bundesliga winners have won only three of their eight league games and host the 2006 European champions knowing they will have to produce a stellar performance if they want to score a major upset.

Successful World Cup sparks interest in women’s football 

Sublime individual talent and entertaining matches drawing big crowds — women’s football has come a long way from the last World Cup four years ago in the United States.