SoccerBlogs

LYON, France — Striker Bafetimbi Gomis scored a late equalizer Tuesday as Lyon drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 meeting in the Champions League, denying the Spanish team its first win against the former French champions. Brazilian defender Cris headed on a free kick and Gomis clipped the ball [.

BRUSSELS, Belgium  —Three-time winner Liverpool was fortunate to leave Sparta Prague with a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 match, but fellow former champions Ajax, FC Porto and CSKA Moscow emerged with away wins on Thursday. Kenny Dalglish's first European match in charge of the Reds was a dull affair [.

LONDON, England Arsenal struck two late goals to snatch an unlikely 2-1 win over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash at The Emirates on Wednesday. Barcelona dominated possession with wonderful passing, working tirelessly to harass the home side in their short spells on the ball, and deservedly led through [.

MILAN, Italy -Â Peter Crouch's goal 10 minutes from time handed Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win over below-par AC Milan in a bad-tempered Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday. Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who will miss the second leg after a booking, is likely to face UEFA repercussions after appearing to headbutt Spurs assistant [.

CHESTER, Pa. — Goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, the 39-year-old former starter for Colombia's national team, has agreed to a contract with Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union along with Colombian defender Carlos Valdes. Mondragon terminated his contract last month with Cologne in Germany's Bundesliga.

LOS ANGELES, Cal. German second-division club Ingolstadt has signed United States forward Edson Buddle. Buddle's contract with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy had expired. He was MLS's leading scorer for most of last season despite missing more than a month for the World Cup. Buddle ended the regular season as the second-highest scorer [.

DOHA, Qatar — A 92nd minute goal by Maya Yoshida saved three-time champions Japan from a shock defeat at the hands of underdogs Jordan as the two sides drew 1-1 in their opening Asian Cup match Sunday. Hasan Abdel Fattah's shot on the stroke of half-time ricochetted off VVV Venlo defender Yoshida into the net [.

DOHA, Qatar — Japan's World Cup hero Keisuke Honda is ready to orchestrate attacking football against largely defensive rivals at the Asian Cup, as the Blue Samurai aim for a record fourth continental title. "My personal goal and the team's goal are one and the same. We are targetting the title no matter who we [.

MADRID, Spain Real Madrid avoided another embarrassing Copa del Rey exit to a lower-tier club with a 5-1 fourth-round victory over Murcia on Wednesday. After a scoreless first leg, Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero curled Pedro Leon's pass into the top of the goal from long range in the fourth minute to put his team [.

GRONINGEN, Netherlands Eredivisie high-flyers FC Groningen had to come from behind to get past SC Genemuiden and book their place in the quarter-finals of the KNVB Beker. Florencio Cornelia gave the third-tier side a shock lead midway through the first half but Groningen showed their class by turning the game on its head before [.

MADRID, Spain  Karim Benzema cemented his return to form with his second hat-trick of the month and Cristiano Ronaldo also netted three goals as Real Madrid crushed lowly Levante 8-0 in their King's Cup last-16 first leg on Wednesday. France striker Benzema is profiting from the absence through injury of first-choice centre forward Gonzalo [.

MADRID, Spain  Karim Benzema cemented his return to form with his second hat-trick of the month and Cristiano Ronaldo also netted three goals as Real Madrid crushed lowly Levante 8-0 in their King's Cup last-16 first leg on Wednesday. France striker Benzema is profiting from the absence through injury of first-choice centre forward Gonzalo [.

Luka Modric has pressed Croatia to replicate their act from their opening contest against Italy.

ROME, Italy  - AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri was left to fight off loud boos and speculation his days at the club are numbered after an embarrassing 3-2 home defeat by Champions League knockout round debutants Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Three Serie A games without a win and the club being up for sale had [.