Argentine duo help Spurs beat Boro in FA Cup replay
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentine midfield duo Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela both scored as Jose Mourinho’s side edged past Middlesbrough 2-1 in their FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday.
In eight-time winners Tottenham’s first FA Cup tie at their new stadium, Lo Celso slotted them in front after two minutes before Lamela doubled the lead in the 15th minute.
Second-tier Middlesbrough made it an anxious final few minutes for the hosts as George Saville’s low shot halved the deficit in the 83rd minute but Tottenham survived for a first win in five games to set up a fourthround trip to Southampton.
Newcastle United strolled past third-tier Rochdale, winning 4-1 at St James’ Park. Eoghan O’connell’s own goal put Newcastle ahead and Matthew Longstaff and Miguel Almiron ended any chance of an upset with goals before halftime.
Joelinton ended his 20-game goal drought in the second half as Newcastle cruised through to face third-tier Oxford United.
Third-tier Shrewsbury Town set up a dream fourth-round home tie against Liverpool as they sprang something of a surprise by knocking out Championship club Bristol City 1-0.
Defender Aaron Pierre’s superb long-range effort in the 89th minute sparked wild celebrations at New Meadow.
LUKAKU DOUBLE SENDS INTER INTO QUARTERS
MILAN: Romelu Lukaku scored after just 21 seconds as he bagged a brace in a 4-1 thumping of Cagliari that fired Inter Milan into the last eight of the Italian Cup, while Lazio and Napoli are set for a quarter-final clash after easing past second-tier opposition.
Belgian Lukaku has looked a player reborn since moving to Italy and his double took his hot streak to six goals in his last four appearances in all competitions, with his Serie A tally standing at 14 in 19 games.
The 26-year-old lashed home his opener with the match barely underway and then, after Borja Valero had made it 2-0 in the 22 minute, headed home his side’s
third from Nicolo Barella’s corner just three minutes after the break as Antonio Conte’s side ran riot at the San Siro.
Their were nerves among the home fans when Christian Oliva pulled one back for the Sardinians in the 73rd minute with a fierce drive, but Andrea Ranocchia headed in Cristiano
Biraghi’s corner to seal the win.
The win helped Inter bounce back after letting Juventus take top spot in Serie A with a 1-1 home draw with Atalanta at the weekend, and the return of Alexis Sanchez after an injury lay-off will also boost coach Conte.
They will be joined in the quarters by Lazio and Napoli, who both cruised through with comfortable wins over second-tier sides Cremonese and Perugia to set up a mouth-watering last eight tie with each other.
Holders Lazio, who are on a club-record run of 10 straight wins in Serie A and well in the title discussion, made short work of Cremonese in their easy 4-0 victory in Rome.
MAN UTD AXE WINTER TRAINING CAMP
London:manchester United have called off a winter training camp in the Middle East due to fears over tensions in the region.
United have often used the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai as a warm-weather base in recent years, and the Old Trafford outfit were set to visit the venue in the upcoming first ever winter break for Premier League clubs. But United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed those plans have now been shelved in the wake of the United States’ killing of Iran’s general Qassem Soleimani.
The incident has triggered a tense political mood in the region and Solskjaer admits United won’t travel to Qatar due to security concerns.