Anelka Hat-trick Guides Chelsea into the FA Cup Quarters After Scare at Watford

Watford 1 - Chelsea 3 (FA Cup, February 14, 2009) In the 69th minute Tamas Priskin sent the home fans wild when he chipped over Cech to put Watford ahead. The lead lasted only six minutes though, Nicolas Anelka claiming an overhead kick from close range. Two minutes later Anelka headed home from a Cole cross and late on the Frenchman completed his hat-trick from a Kalou pass.

Swansea 1 - Fulham 1 (FA Cup, February 14, 2009) Swansea dominated the first half without claiming a goal for their efforts, and they were sucker-punched on the stroke of halftime when a Fulham corner was missed by keeper Dorus de Vries with the ball coming off Garry Monk’s hip for an own goal. The Swans got a deserved equaliser in the 52rd minute, Jason Scotland picked up possession just inside the box before escaping the sights of Aaron Hughes, finishing with a shot into the far corner.

West Ham 1 - Middlesbrough 1 (FA Cup, February 14, 2009) Boro moved in front at Upton Park after the Hammers made a hash of dealing with an O’Neill cross, Collins and Upson both failed to cut out the ball and Stewart Downing came round the back to nod in his first goal of the season. Zola’s men left it late to level, Savio’s free-kick missed everyone and Herita Ilunga profitted by heading in from three yards.

Blackburn 2 - Coventry 2 (FA Cup, February 14, 2009) A see-saw match at Ewood Park saw the home side go in front through Roque Santa Cruz before a great strike from Aron Gunnarsson and a deflected shot from Michael Doyle put Coventry into the lead until Christopher Samba ensured a replay deep into injury-time. (Final three goals here.)

Sheffield United 1 - Hull 1 (FA Cup, February 14, 2009) Greg Halford headed home the opener from a David Cotterill cross, Kamil Zayatte headed home the equaliser for the Premier League side.

Portsmouth 2 - Manchester City 0 (Premier League, February 14, 2009) The Citizens put in yet another woeful shift at Fratton Park, and were roundly beaten by a resurgent looking Pompey side. But the home fans had to be patient for the opener, Glen Johnson scoring a tremendous opener skipping his way into the box and steering the ball past Shay Given at the second attempt. Five minutes later it was two, Hermann Hreidarsson rose majestically in the City box and powered a header past Given.

Huddersfield 1 - Leeds 0 (League One, February 14, 2009) Nathan Clarke pounced between skipper Richard Naylor and Andrew Hughes to power a header past Casper Ankergren.

Manchester United 2 - Bolton 0 (FA Premier Reserve League, February 12, 2009) Penalties from Fabio in the first half and Federico Macheda in the second secured the win. (Other highlights here.)

Real Betis 2 - Barcelona 2 (La Liga, February 14, 2009) Betis stunned Barca in the first half, scoring two goals in seven minutes through Melli and Mark Gonzalez. Just before the break Samuel Eto’o brought the league leaders back into the match with a left-footed finish after his penalty had been saved. And after Ricardo had seemingly repelled everything thrown at him, Samuel Eto’o scored the equaliser with six minutes remaining.

Valencia 1 - Malaga 1 (La Liga, February 14, 2009) David Villa continued his fabulous season with yet another sweet strike in the 53rd minute but Malaga went up the other end with Albiol having the last touch to take the ball over the line.

Girona 3 - Albacete 3 (Segunda Division, February 14, 2009)

Lazio 1 - Torino 1 (Serie A, February 14, 2009) Ignazio Abate put Torino ahead with a stinging strike into the bottom corner, Sebastiano Siviglia equalised with fifteen minutes to go, heading home from close range. The match was held up in the second half after the referee was knocked out after taking a shot full in the face.

Napoli 1 - Bologna 1 (Serie A, February 14, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) Christian Maggio fired Napoli into the lead, but a shocking piece of defending in a shambolic home backline allowed Marco di Viao the simple job of equalising.

All the goals from Saturday’s action in Serie B can be seen here.

Empoli 2 - Rimini 1 (Serie B, February 14, 2009)

Hertha Berlin 2 - Bayern Munich 1 (Bundesliga, February 14, 2009) In the Bundesliga’s top of the table clash between Hertha and Bayern it was the hosts who struck first taking advantage of poor communication between Lucio and Lell that allowed Andrey Voronin to head home his fifth of the season. Bayern levelled in the 62nd minute, Lucio and Schweinsteiger both saw their shots saved before Miroslav Klose finally scored. A point was not enough though for Berlin, and after Rodnei carried the ball upfield he found Andrey Voronin who fired Hertha to the top of the table.

Eintracht Frankfurt 0 - Wolfsburg 2 (Bundesliga, February 14, 2009) Edin Dzeko headed Wolfsburg into the lead at Frankfurt meeting a cross at the back post that Proll couldn’t claw out. Zvjezdan Misimovic bagged Wolfsburg’s second from the penalty spot.

Hannover 3 - Stuttgart 3 (Bundesliga, February 14, 2009) Mario Gomez continued his recent good form in front of goal at Hannover, needing just five minutes to fire the visitors ahead. After 22 minutes it was 0-2, Hilbert played in Martin Lanig who stroked in the second from inside the box. Hannover stage a wonderful comeback at the end of the first half, Jiri Stajner pulled a goal back from a corner in the 43rd minute before Jacek Krzynowek levelled on the stroke of halftime with a sweet free-kick. Mikel Forssell looked to have won the match for Hannover with a 85th minute strike only for Thomas Hitzlsperger to score a half-volley to end a thrilling match.

Bochum 2 - Schalke 1 (Bundesliga, February 14, 2009) After Hamit Altintop’s shot was only parried Kevin Kuranyi followed in to steer Schalke ahead at Bochum. Mimoum Azaouagh equalised with a stunning 25-yard drive that pierced Neuer’s top corner and the hosts completed their comeback at the start of the second half when Christoph Dabrowski turned the ball goalwards after two previous efforts had been snuffed out.

Werder Bremen 1 - Monchengladbach 1 (Bundesliga, February 14, 2009) Bremen’s meeting with Gladbach came to life in the final 15 minutes, Claudio Pizarro headed Werder into the lead but minutes later American Michael Bradley had fortune on his side as he drew the visitors level from a free-kick.

Auxerre 2 - Lille 0 (Ligue 1, February 14, 2009) The hosts scored twice in the space of five first-half minutes through Ireneusz Jelen and Kamel Chafnl to take the points.

PSV 2 - AZ Alkmaar 2 (Eredivisie, February 14, 2009) Stijn Schaars set up Gill Swerts for AZ’s opening goal in the 12th. Maarten Martens then doubled the lead for the visitors in the 29th. Demy de Zeeuw missed a penalty for AZ before Danny Koevermans pulled one back in 49th and then Koevermans levelled for PSV in the 83rd off Francisco Rodriguez’s pass.

Belenenses 1 - Sporting Lisbon 2 (Superliga, February 14, 2009) Marcelo’s diving header put Belenenses ahead. Simon Vukcevic drew Sporting level and Helder Postiga completed the comeback for the visitors.

Braga 0 - Leixoes 1 (Superliga, February 14, 2009) Midway through the second half Leixoes broke down the right hand side, whipped a ball into the centree of the box where Nuno Frechaut inexcusably sent a diving header past his own keeper.

Antalyaspor 1 - Galatasaray 0 (Superliga, February 14, 2009) Ahmet Kuru got on the end of a cross on the hour mark to give Antalyaspor the three points.

Fenerbahce 7 - Hacettepe 0 (Superliga, February 14, 2009) Fener ripped Hacettepe to shreds in the first half, Alex opened after 10 minutes and he added a second four minutes later. Lugano, Senturk and Deivid da Souza all got in on the act before the break, and in the second half Senturk bagged his brace while Alex completed his hat-trick.

Olympiakos 2 - Aris 1 (Greek Super League, February 14, 2009) Weak defending allowed Predrag Djordjevic to put the hosts ahead in the first half. Olympiakos won a penalty in the second half, Sifakis stopped Galletti’s initial spot kick as well as a rebound by Papadopoulos, but Galletti eventually scored the second. Vassilis Torosidis’ own goal gave the scoreline more respectability for Aris.

Levadiakos 0 - PAOK 3 (Greek Super League, February 14, 2009) On a bog of a pitch at Levadiakos, PAOK’s Sergio Conceicao picked up on a loose punch from the keeper to roll the ball into the empty net. After the break an attack built by Muslimovic and Canceicao was finished by Olivier Sorlin and Vladan Ivic added a third from the spot.

AEK Athens 1 - Thrasivoulos 0 (Greek Super League, February 14, 2009) Panagiotis Taxtsidis won the match with a 90th minute shot on turn.

RB Salzburg 3 - Dinamo Zagreb 4 (Friendly, February 14, 2009)

Dinamo Bucuresti 1 - Randers FC 0 (Friendly, February 14, 2009) Silviu Izvoranu claimed the only goal with three minutes remaining.

Melbourne Victory 4 - Adelaide United 0 (Agg. 6-0) (A-League Playoff, February 14, 2009) Matthew Kemp gave the Victory a 1-0 lead Saturday in the 10th minute and Hernandez made it 2-0 12 minutes later to effectively book Melbourne’s grand final berth. Danny Allsopp scored a minute before halftime and Tom Pondeljak concluded the scoring in the 48th.

Boca Juniors 0 - Newells Old Boys 2 (Clausura, February 14, 2009) (Longer highlights here.) Boca fell to a surprise home defeat, second half goals from Armani and Sperdutti gave Newells the points.