Chelsea put out a clinical performance to ensure they reach the last four in the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Fenerbahce with goals from Ballack and Lampard (who says they can’t play together?).

Carlo Cudicini started in place of the injured Petr Cech but he was soon off with a hamstring injury and was replaced with third choice keeper Hillario.

Chelsea started the game with a spring in their steps knowing full well that they needed a win after their 2-1 defeat in Turkey last week and Joe Cole made a good run down the right and crossed for Ballack to head in the first goal of the day to put them 2-2 in aggregate and that was enough to let them through based on the away goals rule but Lampard gave them the breathing space in the 87th minute thanks to some good work by Essien.

Fenerbahce could have actually scored a goal and take the game to extra time but it was not to be and now Chelsea will meet Liverpool yet again in the Champions League which also means that there will be an English club in the final for sure.

Ballack Goal:

Lampard Goal:

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Chubby Chandler, whose International Sports Management represents the likes of Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke in golf as well as England cricketer Freddie Flintoff, told the Sunday Mirror: “Ronaldo will do what Tiger has done and tick every box in the book. Woods appeals to everyone: male, female, no matter if they are golf-lovers or not. Ronaldo will be the same.

The marketing guru goes to to suggest that Ronaldo could break the wage barrrier and be the first to pocket £200,000-a-week.

“To really cash in you have to have transatlantic appeal and boy, has he got it. Can he be the Tiger Woods of football? No doubt at all.” United fan Chandler adds: “Once they said we would never see the £100,000-a-week footballer.

“Well, I reckon he is on target to be the first £200,000- a-week star of the game.”

Now, i do agree that Ronaldo is amazing, and he has been performing well this season, but £200,000-a-week is simply mind blowing, that’s £800,000-a-month!!.

But i do agree with him on one thing though:

“The sky is the limit for him but there is one thing - he should stay with United because they are such a huge, global brand.

“If I was going to advise I’d say first to forget any thoughts, long-or short-term, of leaving Old Trafford and ignore any talk of Real Madrid.

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Afonso Alves got his first goals in English football when Middlesbrough held Premier League leaders Manchester United to a 2-2 draw at the Riverside.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were on target for the Reds in a genuinely even match that could have gone either way. United almost gifted their hosts goals on several occasions with poor defending and goalkeeping, but also challenged for a winner.

United started brightly, taking a 10th-minute lead when Emmanuel Pogatetz failed to clear a Ryan Giggs corner, allowing Michael Carrick to pick out Ronaldo for his 27th Premier League goal of the season.

Soon afterwards, Ronaldo combined with Rooney before sending a delightful flick wide to Giggs who could only shoot into the side-netting. United were threatening to overrun Boro; Rooney saw a shot blocked by Luke Young and Ronaldo fired wide after a mesmerising run down the left wing.
Ronaldo’s Goal:

Alfonso Alves Goals:

Wayne Rooney Goal:

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Chelsea kept the pressure on leaders Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Eastlands.

Richard Dunne’s sixth-minute own-goal gave Chelsea the lead, with Salomon Kalou’s well-crafted strike just after the break ensuring there would be no repeat of the Champions League implosion against Fenerbahce a few days earlier.

The win means Chelsea move above Arsenal into second place, just two points behind United, although Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have a chance to restore their five-point advantage when they take on Middlesbrough on Sunday.

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Aston Villa returned to winning ways and deepened Bolton’s relegation fears with a 4-0 thrashing at Villa Park.

England midfielder Gareth Barry scored a double to help end Villa’s five-game winless run. The first came after just nine minutes when the 27-year-old headed in a cross from Ashley Young.

Barry then turned provider for the second, as Gabriel Agbonlahor ended his 12-match goalscoring drought to net number two on 54 minutes.

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Goals from Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka made it three wins in a row for Keegan’s side, and all but mathematically ensured their Premier League survival.

The manner of Newcastle’s victory will have pleased their manager immensely. The home side attacked in waves, chased everything and created chances at will. They could have scored a hatful.

Martins put United ahead after 17 minutes. The Nigerian striker cushioned Nicky Butt’s pass, wrong-footed Andre Bikey and sent a neat right-footed shot past Marcus Hahnemann
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Brazil coach Dunga underwent three surgeries on Saturday and was recovering.

Dunga had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, corrective osteotomy surgery on his left tibia, and gallstone surgery, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation said in a statement on its Web site.

Dunga was scheduled to be released from the hospital on Sunday.

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