UNITED STUNNED BY BAYERN FIGHTBACK

UNITED STUNNED BY BAYERN FIGHTBACK

Ivica Olic scored an injury-time winner as Manchester United lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash.

United made a terrific start when in-form marksman Wayne Rooney grabbed his 33rd goal of a highly-productive season after just two minutes in the Allianz Arena.

The game continued at a terrfic pace thereafter with chances aplenty for both sides, but it was Bayern who claimed an equaliser after 77 minutes when Ribery's deflected free-kick set up a tense finale.

With both sides gunning for victory, it was Bayern who claimed the advantage heading into next Wednesday's second leg at Old Trafford when Olic ran through the United defence and kept a cool head to drill a low shot past Edwin van der Sar

United went ahead with their first attack when Martin Demichelis fouled Nani out on the right touchline and the Portuguese winger's free-kick picked out the unmarked Rooney, who volleyed in left footed from close range with just 74 seconds on the clock.

United continued to press, with Rooney working a couple of shooting opportunies which came to nothing, while Nani dragged a left-footed shot wide after stepping inside.

Edwin van der Sar was called into action on the 20-minute mark when he got down low to save Ribery's deflected left-footed shot.

Moments later, Nani's teasing cross bounced off the top of Hans-Jorg Butt's crossbar as the game switched from end to end.

But that was Bayern's cue to turn the screw and when Hamit Altintop volleyed the ball across goal, Ivica Olic squandered a glorious chance to turn in the equaliser from close range.

But with Bayern turning up the heat, it was United who should have scored again when Rooney found himself free in front of goal, Butt making a good low save to keep the hosts alive.

The second half started in a similar fashion, with van der Sar making a save at his near post to deny Olic after a smart one-two with Ribery.

Altintop's trickery then created space with van der Sar repelling his drive, while Mark van Bommel's fierce run and shot was comfortably held by the Dutch stopper.

United brought on Antonio Valencia and Dimitar Berbatov in a bid to get a foothold in the attacking third again, but it was Bayern who again came close as van der Sar again denied Olic with a low save.

However, the equaliser arrived with 13 minutes left when Ribery's free-kick from 25 yards hit Rooney's heels and left van der Sar flat-footed on his line.

Both sides went searching for a winner, with Vidic's thunderous header from a Ryan Giggs cross almost winning it for United, while Mario Gomez was denied by a great save from van der Sar in added-on time.

But just a minute later, Olic ghosted through the United defence before drilling a low shot past van der Sar to give Bayern the first-leg lead and exorcise some of the demons of the 1999 final.

And United's miserable evening was compounded by an ankle injury suffered by Rooney in the build-up to Bayern's last-gasp winner.

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BARCA TURN HEAT UP ON REAL

BARCA TURN HEAT UP ON REAL

Barcelona provisionally moved back to the top of the Primera Division standings by becoming only the second team to take points off Real Mallorca at their Ono Estadi this season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 63rd-minute strike - his third of the week - proved to be the winner.

Mallorca had won 12 of 13 matches at home coming into this game, having only lost to Sevilla previously, and they can feel somewhat unlucky not to have led at the break after hitting the post twice in the first period.

It proved costly when Xavi's corner was stabbed goalwards by Carles Puyol and, although his effort was blocked, Ibrahimovic was on hand to slot home from close range for his 15th goal of the season.

Real Zaragoza enjoyed a huge boost in their fight to avoid the drop after thumping third-placed Valencia 3-0, whose poor disciplinary record returned to haunt them as they once again finished with 10 men.

Zaragoza, having lost their past two matches, started the game just a point above the relegation zone but they put daylight between themselves and 18th-placed Tenerife thanks to goals from Carlos Diogo, Javier Arizmendi and Jiri Jarosik.

It was a night to forget for Valencia though, as they had to play the whole second half with a man less following the dismissal of Nikola Zigic on the stroke of half-time.

With that red card, Zigic became the eighth Valencia player to be sent off in the past 11 competitive games.

Alejandro Alfaro scored from the spot five minutes from time to snatch Tenerife a late point from a 1-1 draw away to fellow strugglers Malaga.

After an entertaining first half in which Tenerife missed a host of excellent chances to take the lead, Malaga began to dominate and looked set for victory when Apono bagged the opener after 66 minutes.

But the visitors refused to lie down and Nino won a penalty with five minutes left, which also saw Malaga defender Patrick Mtiliga sent off for bringing down the Tenerife striker.

Alfaro slotted home from the spot and the game ended with honours even, which will not have been an altogether satisfactory conclusion for either side.

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Four-star Frank inspires Blues romp

Four-star Frank inspires Blues romp

Frank Lampard grabbed four as Chelsea demolished Aston Villa 7-1 at Stamford Bridge to soar back to the top of the Premier League table. Lampard's quartet made him third-highest scorer in the club's history - eclipsing legends Roy Bentley and Peter Osgood with 151 goals.

Lampard was assisted by a double from Florent Malouda and another from substitute Salomon Kalou as Carlo Ancelotti's side smashed in 12 goals in four days.

Chelsea have now scored 82 goals so far this season and apart from John Carew's first-half equaliser, the Blues were in cruise control for long periods.

The victory put them back in front of Manchester United by two points although Sir Alex Ferguson's side play Bolton in the early evening kick-off.

Chelsea, who left 30-goal top scorer Didier Drogba on the bench, started brightly enough with Deco finding Nicolas Anelka inside the Villa penalty area in the third minute.

But the France international, given the task of leading the attack in place of Drogba, shot into the arms of Brad Friedel at his near post.

Drogba, who scored twice in the 5-0 midweek demolition of Portsmouth, was rested according to the club's assistant coach Ray Wilkins.

Lampard tried to surprise Friedel in the 14th minute with a low drive from 30 yards but the American goalkeeper was untroubled by the bounce.

But Chelsea went ahead a minute later when Malouda's low cross was turned home at the far post by Lampard.

It was the England midfielder's 18th goal of the season in all competitions.

Villa's Stephen Warnock required treatment to a head injury after a collision with Joe Cole in the 23rd minute.

Controversy erupted in the 27th minute when John Mikel Obi appeared to elbow James Milner.

But referee Peter Walton booked Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov for protesting about Mikel's challenge and took no action against the Chelsea midfielder.

However, Villa were jubilant in the 29th minute when they equalised through Carew.

He converted a superb curling cross from Ashley Young at the far post to score his ninth goal in eight games.

Moments later Yury Zhirkov, who was clearly at fault for allowing Carew to ghost into space at the far post for Villa's goal, was booked for a foul Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Deco followed his Chelsea team-mate in the book moments later for a foul on Milner in the 40th minute.

But Chelsea restored their lead in the 44th minute through a Lampard penalty.

Referee Walton adjudged Zhirkov had been fouled by Villa defender James Collins as he burst into the penalty area and Lampard converted the spot-kick with ease.

Chelsea went 3-1 up in the 57th minute when Malouda finished off a sweeping move by the hosts.

Deco's clever ball inside the full-back found Zhirkov in space and his cross was met perfectly by Malouda for the France international to score his 12th of the season.

Chelsea gave away a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the penalty area seconds later when Paulo Ferreira fouled Agbonlahor.

But Milner's effort was straight into the defensive wall to the dismay of the Villa fans.

Chelsea made Villa pay in the 62nd minute when Lampard grabbed his hat-trick, and his 20th of the season, with his second penalty of the game.

Zhirkov was again fouled, this time by Richard Dunne, and Lampard beat Friedel to become the joint third-highest scorer in the club's history.

It was a game of landmarks for the Blues with John Terry becoming the club's all-time record captain. His 325th appearance eclipsed former great Ron Harris and it was also Terry's 450th outing for the club.

In the 68th minute, rampant Chelsea made it 5-1 when Ferreira and Lampard combined to set-up Malouda for his second of the game and his 13th of the season.

In the 82nd minute substitute Kalou sent a curling shot around Friedel's right-hand post but he found the target a minute later when he drilled the ball past Friedel from 18 yards.

Lampard then made it 7-1 with his fourth of the game in added time as Villa's 10-match unbeaten run came to a crashing halt.

It also made the midfielder the third-highest scorer in the club's history with 151 goals - only Kerry Dixon and Bobby Tambling are now ahead of him.

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COOK CAUGHT UP IN TOFFEES ROW

COOK CAUGHT UP IN TOFFEES ROW

Everton have written to Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook following an alleged boardroom row with an Everton fan.

The game was overshadowed by a bust-up between managers Roberto Mancini and David Moyes near the end of the game and now it seems trouble has spilled over into the boardroom.

Reports suggest Cook had a stand-up row with George Downing, who was a guest of the Goodison Park club for Everton's 2-0 win from the directors' box at Eastlands on Wednesday.

Cook and Downing, a regular guest of the Everton board, are alleged to have exchanged words in the directors' box before the latter, who was attending the game with his wife, was asked to leave.

Everton have now written to Cook to demand an explanation following the incident.

City, though, are bemused at his and Everton's reaction to the episode and are denying any wrong-doing from their chief executive, believing that he was merely reacting to Downing's behaviour, which they claim was inappropriate.

City are claiming that near the end of the match Downing joined the Everton supporters singing of their impending victory while still in the directors' box. City claim he directed at least one chorus of this at Cook, though this is denied.

Everton contacted Cook on Mr Downing's behalf on Thursday and a spokesman said: "We have written to Mr Cook asking for his observations with regard to the incident."

Relations between the two clubs have been strained since Joleon Lescott's controversial £22 million transfer from Goodison Park to Eastlands last August, when City were accused of deliberately unsettling the England defender during their attempts to lure the player away from Merseyside.

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PALACE ADMINISTRATORS IN BUYER TALKS

PALACE ADMINISTRATORS IN BUYER TALKS

Crystal Palace's administrators are in talks with a potential buyer after Friday's deadline for interested parties to come forward passed.

The Eagles went into administration in January with debts of around £30million and are now in the Championship relegation zone after being docked 10 points.

Administrator Brendan Guilfoyle, who set the deadline after warning the club could not be financed after the end of the season, is now confident of a positive resolution.

"This deadline was always a real one as once the season comes to its conclusion monies will need to be found," said Guilfoyle.

"I needed to be in this position as I didn't want to start looking at the alternatives.

"Discussions are at a delicate stage and I am not in a position where I can expand on where we stand at this current time, but remain positive that the club's future will be resolved shortly.

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FA CHARGE FOR ROBERTO MANCINI

FA CHARGE FOR ROBERTO MANCINI

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after his clash with Everton counterpart David Moyes on Wednesday.

The Italian took exception to Moyes picking up the ball in injury time of City's 2-0 defeat, an action Mancini interpreted as time-wasting, and the pair had to be separated by fourth official Howard Webb before Walton's intervention.

Both were sent to the dressing rooms and, having considered referee Peter Walton's report, the FA have decided to charge Mancini.

The FA have written to Moyes to remind him of his responsibilities and conduct but he will not be charged.

Mancini has until April 6 to respond to the charge. A regulatory commission will hear the charge by April 19.

"It was nothing really, and I've no problem with Roberto," said Moyes on Friday.

"He was fine immediately afterwards, he apologised walking down the tunnel, and I have no problem at all with him, you just get along with it."

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RYAN GIGGS OPEN TO WALES RETURN

RYAN GIGGS OPEN TO WALES RETURN

Ryan Giggs has told Wales boss John Toshack he would consider coming out of international retirement to cover for the injured Aaron Ramsey.

Giggs, 36, has not played for his country since the summer of 2007, but with the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign looming and Wales without Ramsey following his broken leg, that could soon change.

Asked about a possible international return, Giggs told the Western Mail: "It is something that I would have to talk about with John and Sir Alex Ferguson.

"But, at this stage, I wouldn't dismiss the idea.

"If I had that call from John I would have to think hard about it.

"I would properly consider the idea.

"I wouldn't rule it out."

Wales open their qualifying campaign away to Montenegro on September 3 before facing Bulgaria, Switzerland and England.

"Starting off well in a fresh campaign is vital," Giggs added.

"Those first two or three games are so important to get the whole country fully behind the team."

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