AZ Alkmaar advanced to the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup after they won through on aggregate against a tough Villarreal side, depsite drawing 1-1 in the second leg in Holland. The Dutch side went into the match with a 2-1 lead from the first game, but surprisingly adopted an attacking formation by Co Adriaanse whose tactical decision almost cost them the match. AZ took the lead and two-goal advantage over all when Kenneth Perez struck a fine low shot past José Reina in the visitors' goal. The home team's enterprising system led them to push forward again in search of another goal, but the action came from elsewhere in the 21st minute as Alkmaar's Barry Opdam was shown his second yellow card in as many minutes for a foul on José Mari. In the ensuing meleé, Jose Mari then struck out at Barry van Galen and he too was sent off as both sides were reduced to ten men. After the break Villarreal looked in the ascendancy as they pressed AZ and looked to have levelled matters when Riquelme's effort was almost deflected into his own net by Olaf Lindenbergh. AZ stormed forward to try and close the tie out but it ended at 1-1.



Danny Landzaat of AZ Alkmaar

Newcastle United move from bad to worse as England's crisis club were tossed out of the UEFA Cup by Portugese club Sporting Lisbon. After the fiasco with Dwyer & Bowyer, they lose to Lisbon. Plus there is a player-coach spat, with winger Laurent Robert coming out in the press saying he didn't agree with Grame Souness' tactics and selections. Souness in his turn has lashed out at the Frenchman for making his concerns public. Ironically, in today's FA Cup semi-finals match against Manchester United, Souness may have to play Robert due to lack of options. Dwyer & Lee Bowyer are banned from this match due to the red cards & suspensions they each picked up.



Binghamton Senators centre Jason Spezza won the Les Cunningham Award on Friday as the American Hockey League's most valuable player. After spending a year and a half with the Ottawa Senators, the native of Mississauga, Ont., found himself in the AHL this season because of the NHL lockout and made the most of it.



Song for the day - "Bury My Heart" - JASON MCCOY