Chelsea and Liverpool play out draw; Arsenal lose, Spurs held

Diego Costa's missed second-half penalty cost Premier League leaders Chelsea a victory at Liverpool on Tuesday but a 1-1 draw did little damage to their title prospects as closest rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur dropped points.

Spain striker Costa was denied by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet, who made amends for being caught off guard by a superb David Luiz free kick midway through the first half.

Georginio Wijnaldum's close-range header levelled the scores in the 57th minute as Liverpool avoided a fourth consecutive home defeat in all competitions, although Jurgen Klopp's side remain 10 points adrift in fourth place.

"It's important to draw against a really good team and now we must focus on playing Arsenal next week," Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said ahead of Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal, who began the day second, must recover quickly from a shock 2-1 home loss to Watford who managed a first league win in eight games and celebrated their first top-flight victory over the Gunners since 1988.

Watford scored twice inside the first 13 minutes through Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney and hung on for the victory after Alex Iwobi pulled one back near the hour mark.

Arsenal are nine points behind Chelsea, who have 56, along with Tottenham Hotspur who moved above their north London rivals on goal difference after a lacklustre 0-0 draw at basement club Sunderland. Spurs also lost defender Danny Rose to injury.

Champions Leicester City's relegation worries are becoming acute after Claudio Ranieri's side went down 1-0 at Burnley for whom Sam Vokes grabbed a late winner.

Leicester's third consecutive league defeat left them two points off the relegation zone in 16th place with the battle for survival heating up after wins for Swansea City and Crystal Palace and Sunderland's battling point at home to Spurs.

Third-bottom Palace won in the league for the first time under new manager Sam Allardyce as Scott Dann and Christian Benteke scored the goals in a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's 70th minute effort earned Swansea a second consecutive win to keep them just above the trapdoor.

Sliding Middlesbrough eeked out a point in a 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion but remain in trouble.

On Wednesday, fifth-placed Manchester City, 13 points off the pace, visit West Ham United while Manchester United, a further two points back, host Hull City, who are now bottom.

Brisbane Roar too loud for Global as they win 6-0

Brisbane Roar demolished Global FC 6-0 to progress to the final round of qualifying for the prestigious AFC Champions League tournament.

The Australian outfit were certainly the more fancied team heading into this encounter and they were clinical in disposing of the Filipino Association Football Club that are based in Cebu City.

Four goals from Australian U23 talent, Brandon Borrello, and a brace from Manuel Arana saw the A-League side breeze past their ASEAN opponents to set up an eagerly anticipated play-off clash with Chinese heavyweights Shanghai Shenhua on the eighth of February.

Following the defeat, Global, who beat Singapore’s Tampines Rovers last week to set up the clash with Brisbane, will now compete in the AFC Cup.

Coached by John Aloisi, Brisbane were quite magnificent on the day.

Not only did they get their tactics spot on, but their players also seemed technically and physically superior to the opposition.

Aloisi will be hoping that his group can repeat this performance against Shanghai. If they are able to do that, they will have every chance of progressing.

Liverpool Danny Ings and Australian model “caught out” kissing on set

Injured Liverpool striker Danny Ings has a ridiculously hot girlfriend. This is fact.

Ings’s missus is Australian model Georgia Gibbs, who posted the belting snap below to Instagram this evening.

The picture shows Gibbs looking stunning as ever, dressed in a teeny green bikini for a modelling shoot with fashion, travel and swimwear photographer Bonnie Cee.

Danny, dressed in scruffy grey cargo pants, was clearly not part of the shoot.

However, Bonnie couldn’t help but click her camera when she saw the love birds sharing a smooch.

Georgia captioned the picture: “Miss ya miss ya kinda wanna kiss ya”, adding “caught out @bonniecee”.

Spanish league expects to be using video referees by 2018

The Spanish league is expected to be using video referees in 2018, its president said yesterday following widespread criticism of a mistake that cost Barcelona a goal at the weekend.

The league initially said it would not comment on the missed call in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Real Betis on Sunday, but president Javier Tebas later told local media that video refereeing will be implemented as soon as it’s fully approved by FIFA.

"We have always defended the use of technology in soccer and in this case we believe that video referees is the most advanced option," Tebas said. "The tests are already underway. I believe that beginning in July 2018, if FIFA approves it, we will start using it."

Tebas said video referees would be favored over the goal-line technology that is in place in other European leagues. He said systems such as Hawkeye were too expensive to be used only a few times each year.

"This year there were three other similar cases and nobody said much about it," he said. "Maybe people are making such a big deal this time because the ball went in by a big margin."

The goal-line technology would have helped in the controversial play at Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville, just after the hosts scored to lead Barcelona 1-0.

A Betis defender tried to intercept a cross into the area but sent the ball toward his own net. A teammate came charging to clear the ball away from the goal, but it clearly crossed the line by the time he got to it. The linesman stayed in place instead of running toward midfield to signal a goal, and the referee went along with the decision.

"You could see it clearly, the ball was a meter (yard) inside the goal," Barcelona striker Luis Suarez said.

Another similar play happened just a few moments later to prompt even more complaints from Barcelona players, but that time the ball appeared to be on the goal-line when it was cleared by a defender.

"In the second goal, you can clearly see that the ball doesn’t cross the line, but in the first one it does," Barcelona player Aleix Vidal said. "It was a very serious error, but the referees aren’t to blame. If we could use the Hawkeye, then we wouldn’t be talking about this now."

Coach Luis Enrique said he was in favor of having outside aid for the officiating crews.

"The referees need help, whether it’s with cameras or whatever, for decisions that favor us or go against us," he said. "The technology can help us, I’ve already said that before."

The draw left Barcelona four points behind leader Real Madrid, which has a game in hand.

Brisbane Roar favourites to beat Global FC in AFC Asian Champions League playoff

GLOBAL FC’s hopes of upsetting Brisbane Roar in Tuesday night’s AFC Champions League playoff at Suncorp Stadium could rest on the shoulders of a player who last year scored goals for fun for the Capalaba Bulldogs.

Ahamad Azzawi, of Iraqi heritage but born in Japan, this month signed for the Filipino club on the back of his 22 goals for the Bulldogs in the 2016 Brisbane Premier League competition.

While Capalaba finished mid-table, Azzawi’s goalscoring feats earned him BPL player-of-the year honours.

The 22-year-old attacking weapon has already delivered for Global, scoring in their 2-0 win over Singapore club Tampines Rovers last week.

That victory earnt Global a shot at the Roar, with the winner of this match to head to China next week to take on Shanghai Shenhua for a spot in the Champions League group stages.

Azzawi isn’t the only Global player with an Australian connection.

Midfielder Yianni Perkatis, 22, made eight A-League appearances for Western Sydney Wanderers between 2013 and 2015, while 25-year-old Shu Sasaki played in NSW competitions for Marconi and the Blacktown Spartans.

But regardless of who plays for Global, the Roar will start the match as almost unbackable favourites. On Monday they were at $1.17 with UBET, while the visitors were the outsiders at $12.

That’s despite Brisbane coach John Aloisi intending to rest a host of players who started in the Roar’s 2-1 weekend A-League win over the Wanderers.

“During this period, I have to rotate players and make sure that I freshen players up but the side that we put out will be a side that is going to be really strong and a side that is there to win,” said Aloisi, whose team is also in action on Friday night when they host Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium.

It means the likes of midfielders Brett Holman and Jacob Pepper, attacker Manuel Arana and goalkeeper Jamie Young, who were all among the substitutes against the Wanderers, are likely starters.

Fullback Corey Brown, who missed the weekend win through suspension, and fringe players Joey Katebian, Nick D’Agostino, Dane Ingham and Cameron Crestani might also be in line for selection tonight.

Roar skipper Matt McKay said the whole Brisbane squad was preparing as if they were going to play.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t qualify directly (for the Champions League group stages),” McKay said.

“We had that chance at the end of last season but moving on from that … at home we want to get results, and to do that, to get in the (group stages of the) competition, we’ve got to have good performances.

“The first one’s (against) Global. If we get past that, that’s great. If we can perform and execute the way we want to play, then we’re going to be hard to stop.”

Six people have been killed in a gun attack at a Quebec mosque

Six people have been killed and eight injured after gunmen opened fire at a mosque in Canada.

Police confirmed the fatalities following the incident at the temple in Quebec which has been branded a terrorist attack by Canada’s prime minister.

The shooting at the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Centre in the provincial capital happened during evening prayers on Sunday.

Christine Coulombe, a spokeswoman for Quebec Police, described some of the wounded as “gravely injured” and added that the dead were aged between 35 and 70.

She added that 39 people had been inside the building during the attack.

Prime minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec premier Philippe Couillard said the shooting, which happened in the men’s section of the mosque, was a terrorist act.

The shooting came amid heightened tensions worldwide over US president Donald Trump's travel ban on some Muslim countries.

In a statement, Mr Trudeau said: "We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge.

"It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence.

"Diversity is our strength and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.

"Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country.

"Canadian law enforcement agencies will protect the rights of all Canadians and will make every effort to apprehend the perpetrators of this act and all acts of intolerance."

Mosque president Mohamed Yangui said the shooting happened in the men's section of the mosque and he feared some victims were children.

"We are sad for the families," he added.

One person was arrested at the scene and another nearby in d'Orleans, police said.

The mayor of Gatineau, Quebec, near Canada's capital of Ottawa, said there would be increased police presence at mosques around his city and in the US, the New York Police Department said it was stepping up patrols at mosques and other places of worship.

New York City Mayor Bill Blasio said on Twitter: "NYPD is providing additional protection for mosques in the city.

"All New Yorkers should be vigilant. If you see something, say something.

"Our prayers tonight are with the people of Quebec City as they deal with a terrible attack on a mosque.

"We must stand together." 

In the summer of 2016 a pig's head was left on the doorstep of the centre.

The incident occurred in the middle of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset - practising Muslims do not eat pork.

Francois Deschamps, an organiser of a refugee support group in Quebec City, said the motive was unknown, but right-wing groups were very organised in Quebec City and distribute leaflets at the university and post stickers around town.

Mr Deschamps said he has personally received death threats after starting a refugee support group on Facebook and people had posted his address online.

"I'm not very surprised about the event," he said.

Canada is generally very welcoming towards immigrants and all religions, but less so in the French-speaking province of Quebe

Visitor mauled to death by tiger in Ningbo zoo in China

A man has been mauled to death by a tiger after he entered its enclosure at a zoo in eastern China.

The tiger was then shot dead by a special forces unit from the local police, in the Sunday incident at the Youngor Zoo in the city of Ningbo.

The man, who has not been identified, was rushed to the nearest hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It is not yet known why the man entered the enclosure. Investigations are ongoing.

The zoo was closed to visitors after the attack.

The mauling took place at around 14:00 in full view of park visitors, some of whom posted video clips and pictures of the attack online.

The man, wearing in a blue parka and black trousers, can be seen lying on the ground. A tiger appears to have its jaws around his neck and head while two other tigers circle around him.

Screams can be heard in the background as a crowd of onlookers gather in front of the enclosure, separated by a moat.

A series of loud explosive bangs can then be heard and the two tigers run off, while the first tiger continues to bite the man.

Zoo authorities said they used firecrackers to scare off the tigers in the enclosure, according to local reports.

They did not identify the man, but said he was middle-aged and that his wife and child were also at the park.

In July last year, tigers mauled a woman and her mother when they stepped out of their car at a Beijing drive-through wildlife park.

The woman, surnamed Zhao, survived but her mother died of her injuries. Ms Zhao has since sued the park for her mother's death.

Ayew brothers on target as Ghana see off Congo, late winner puts Egypt through semi finals

Ghana will face Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal on Thursday after goals from Ghana's Ayew brothers saw off Congo in a bruising encounter. They will be joined by Egypt, who beat Morocco with a late winner.

DR Congo 1-2 Ghana
(M'Poku 68' - J. Ayew 63', A. Ayew 78' pen.)

Ghana are in the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Congo 2-1 Sunday.

Brothers Jordan and Andre Ayew were both on target, with the latter sealing victory from the spot to set up a last-four clash with Cameroon in Franceville on Thursday.

Jordan opened the scoring after just over an hour of a tight, bruising quarterfinal in northern Gabon, but Congo drew level five minutes later through Paul Jose Mpoku's swerving shot, before Andre Ayew re-established Ghana's lead.

They are the sons of Ghana football legend Abedi 'Pele' Ayew, ranked among the greatest African footballers of all time.

Ghana are looking to end a run of 35 years without a Cup of Nations title

Egypt 1-0 Morocco
(Kahraba 87')

Midfielder Mahmoud Kahraba was the hero as Egypt beat north African rivals Morocco with a late winner at Stade de Port-Gentil.

The goal broke Moroccan hearts as they had dominated for long periods but couldn't make the breakthrough in a game that lacked attacking quality.

But with extra time looming, Egypt's moment came with three minutes of normal time to play. Mohamed Salah swung in a corner, which was flicked on and eventually turned in by Kahraba.

Egypt will face Burkina Faso in the last four Wednesday.

Bastian Schweinsteiger scores on starting return for Red Devils

HEADERS from Marouane Fellaini and Chris Smalling, and second half efforts from Henrkih Mkhitaryan and Bastian Schweinsteiger ensured holders Manchester United enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 fourth round FA Cup victory against Wigan.

For German World Cup winner Schweinsteiger it was a rare sweet moment since Jose Mourinho took over — he banished him at one point to train away from the first team before welcoming him back into the fold at the end of October — scoring on his first start in 385 days.

The scoreline flattered Jose Mourinho’s side slightly as his much-changed starting XI struggled to break down the Championship visitors for nearly all of the first half.

But ultimately, United still have a chance of becoming just the sixth team to retain the trophy following a routine win.

Fellaini struck in the 43rd minute of a first half in which the Premier League side failed to play with any real rhythm or pace.

That was probably not surprising given Mourinho had made nine changes from the side that advanced to the final of the League Cup despite losing at Hull in last Thursday’s semi-final second leg.

United spent most of that first half looking like a team that had never played together before and, when the opening goal did finally come, it was from a very direct approach.

At the end of a long passage of play, which had United supporters showing their impatience, the ball was worked to Schweinsteiger on the right and his high, deep cross was met by the Belgian who beat marker Callum Connolly and headed powerfully into the goal.

It was Fellaini’s second goal of the season, the midfielder having also scored an important cup goal in the first leg semi-final win over Hull.

Not until Smalling struck, in the 58th minute, could Mourinho relax after Wigan failed to clear a Wayne Rooney corner and Anthony Martial darted into the Wigan penalty area.

His perfect chip into the six-yard area was met by Smalling, still in position following the set-piece, and the England international made no mistake from close range.

Wigan began to wilt under the United pressure, especially when they pressed forward in search of a route back into the tie, and fell to a devastating counter-attack after 73 minutes.

Man of the match Mkhitaryan and Martial exchanged passes as they galloped into Wigan territory, leaving the former with the opportunity to practically walk the ball past Jakob Haugaard into the Wigan goal.

Another Rooney corner caused problems with nine minutes remaining and was headed goalwards by United substitute Ander Herrera for Schweinsteiger to swivel and force the ball home from six yards.

Federer sets record in Australia Open thriller

Federer, who has become the second oldest player in history at 35 to win a Slam, produced a sensational performance to overcome his long-term rival Nadal, who fell just short in the end. 
The Swiss star, who last lifted the Aussie title in 2010 prior to Sunday's triumph, won the first set 6-4 but his Spanish opponent bounced back straight away to level the scores up after taking the second set 6-3. 
Into the third and it was the Basel-born star who turned on the style, taking the set 6-1 to move to within just one set of landing an incredible 18th title. However, Nadal showed his true fighting spirit to force a decider by winning the fourth set 6-3 and give the packed crowd at Melbourne Park more entertaining tennis. 
It looked like the Spaniard was on course for just his second win Down Under when he took a 3-1 lead in the decider, but Federer reeled off five consecutive games to win the match. 
The Swiss has now moved onto 18 Grand Slam titles, four ahead of Pete Sampras and Nadal in joint-second, and this is his fifth victory at the Australian Open. For Nadal, the tournament has ended in disappointment but he will be buoyed with his performance after he endured an injury-plagued 2016

Adelaide United, Phoenix all square in stifling Adelaide

Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix have been forced to settle for a point after playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Coopers Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In a match played in oppressive conditions, Adelaide raced out of the blocks and took an early lead with youngster Riley McGree netting a powerful strike.

Wellington settled and hit back almost immediately with fullback Tom Doyle embarking on a superb solo run before thumping a fizzing effort past Eugene Galekovic.

After a fast-paced opening, the tempo of the game slowed considerably with Adelaide enjoying large periods of dominance in the opening stanza without truly testing Glen Moss in the Phoenix goal.

And the hosts were made to pay for their wastefulness with Roy Krishna firing Wellington ahead just before the break with a well-taken goal after a lightning counter-attack

Adelaide continued to press after the break and should have restored parity with Sergio Cirio and Iacopo La Rocca spurning brilliant chances to equalise midway through the second half. But their pressure eventually told with substitute Nikola Mileusnic bundling the ball home from close range after Ben Garuccio’s free-kick ricocheted off the post.   Sergio Cirio had a chance to net the winner in the final minute but screwed his effort wide as both sides were forced to settle for a point. 
GOALS 1-0: Adelaide United: Riley McGree, 7’ Sergio Cirio surged into the box before finding Marc Marino on the edge of the area with the attacker teeing up McGree. The youngster thumped a powerful first-time effort which flew into the back of the net, with a slight deflection leaving Glen Moss with no chance. 1-1: Wellington Phoenix: Tom Doyle, 11’ Doyle surged forward down the left flank, showing great feet to beat a host of Reds defenders before firing a swerving left-footed effort which whistled off the post and into the back of the net. 1-2: Wellington Phoenix: Roy Krishna, 37’ Phoenix burst forward after winning the ball inside their own half with Roy Krishna played in behind the Reds defence by Kosta Barbarouses before calmly slotting past Eugene Galekovic. 2-2 Adelaide United: Nikola Mileusnic, 80’ Ben Garrucio’s free-kick was pushed onto the post by Glen Moss with the rebound falling kindly to Mileusnic who fired the ball home from close range. 

Cameroon beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties to reach semi-finals

Liverpool's Sadio Mane missed the decisive spot kick as Cameroon beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

Mane, Africa's most expensive player, was denied by Fabrice Ondoa, Vincent Aboubakar hitting the winning penalty.

Much fancied Senegal had a great chance to win it in normal time but Moussa Sow volleyed wide from close range to leave the game scoreless after 120 minutes.

Cameroon are four-time winners of the tournament.

The result means Mane is likely to make a swift return to his club Liverpool, who suffered a surprising 2-1 home defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderersin the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.

There were striking similarities to this game and 15 years ago, when Cameroon and Senegal met in the 2002 final in Mali.

On that occasion, Cameroon beat Senegal 3-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.

Senegal were made to pay for missing a number of chances in both normal time and extra time.

West Ham's Cheikhou Kouyate headed an early chance over the bar while Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf was close with a lob from inside the area.

Cameroon, who will now face the Democratic Republic of Congo or Ghana on Thursday for a place in the final, failed to register a noteworthy shot in the opening hour.

Their first serious attempt on target came in the 65th minute when Robert Ndip Tambe volleyed straight at Abdoulaye Diallo before the Senegal keeper produced a low one-handed save to keep out Benjamin Moukandjo.

Diallo was responsible for ensuring the tie went to penalties after a fine stop to keep out Jacques Zoua in extra time.

In the shootout, there was nothing to choose between the two teams as the first eight penalties went to plan.

At 4-4, Mane stepped forward but Ondoa saved his kick. That presented Aboubakar with a chance to seal victory and the Besiktas forward made no mistake.

Hearts to sign Greek internationalist Alexandros Tziolis

Greek international midfielder Alexandros Tziolis will join Hearts before the transfer window closes, the Evening News can reveal. The 31-year-old is a free agent after agreeing to terminate his contract at PAOK Salonika. He is due to sign a short-term deal at Tynecastle and become head coach Ian Cathro's seventh signing this month. Tziolis is a current member of Greece's international squad and holds 62 caps. He represented his country at the 2010 World Cup and 2008 European Championship and was also part of their 2014 World Cup squad. He carries an impressive CV having played for clubs including Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Racing Santander, Monaco and PAOK. His signing represents a major coup for Cathro as he reinforces the Hearts squad for the second half of the season. He recruited his sixth new player yesterday with the arrival of Moha El Ouriachi Choulay on loan from Stoke City. The 21-year-old Moroccan winger agreed a move to Tynecastle until the summer. He is a Morocco Under-23 internationalist and joins Aaron Hughes, Lennard Sowah, Malaury Martin, Andraz Struna and Dylan Bikey as Hearts' new arrivals so far this month. Known as Choulay, the player began his career in Spain with Espanyol before joining Barcelona. He won the UEFA Youth League in 2014 but moved to England the following year. Having been unable to break into Stoke's first team, he spent three months on loan at Shrewsbury Town earlier this season. He joins Hearts eager to gain experience of top-flight football. Cathro is not finished in the transfer market and could add two more new faces in addition to Tziolis before the January window closes on Tuesday night. 
The Anorthosis Famagusta forward Esmael Goncalves is expected in Edinburgh in the next 48 hours to sign for Hearts. He scored twice for the Cypriot club in Saturday's 4-1 win at Ermis before throwing his shirt to supporters in a final farewell gesture. Afterwards, he told local media: "The first time I left for the money. Now I go only for the football." Hearts and Anorthosis officials have discussed a transfer fee of £175,000 for the player, whose contract in Famagusta runs until summer 2018. Another centre-back is also considered a priority by Hearts prior to Tuesday's deadline.

Late goals take Burkina Faso into African Cup semifinals

Burkina Faso is first into the semifinals at the African Cup of Nations after two late goals beat Tunisia 2-0 on Saturday.

Aristide Bance, with his dyed blond hair, came off the bench to hit a low shot into the bottom corner from a free kick in the 81st minute and break a deadlock at Stade de l'Amitie. It was pretty much the big striker's first act of the game.

"I knew that Bance could get inside that defense and he has a great ability to shoot," Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte said. "Fortunately for us, the first shot was a success."

Prejuce Nakoulma sprinted away on a counterattack four minutes after that, avoided a desperate tackle from Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi way out near the middle of the field, and side-footed into an empty net to seal the game.

Burkina Faso, which lost in the final two tournaments ago, will play Egypt or Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Burkina Faso also hit the goal frame in each half to underline that it was the better team in the first knockout game in Gabon.

Bertrand Traore was the unlucky player to be denied by the crossbar in the first half after his clever chip looped over Mathlouthi. Bance hit the post straight after scoring his late goal, but that miss didn't matter for the Burkinabes.

It was the second straight time that Tunisia has lost in the quarterfinals.

Bance's introduction, greeted by wild cheers from the Burkina Faso fans, was a masterstroke from coach Duarte. Bance was a hero for Burkina Faso on its surprise run to the final in 2013 but has been on the bench at this tournament.

He lined up for a free kick on the edge of the penalty area soon after coming on, was set up by a teammate, and drilled the shot past Mathlouthi. He whirled away and ran to the bench in celebration, and was mobbed by teammates.

Senegal plays Cameroon in Sunday's second quarterfinal, and it's Ghana-Congo in the other quarter

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article129346124.html#storylink=cpy

Prejuce Nakoulma sprinted away on a counterattack four minutes after that, avoided a desperate tackle from Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi way out near the middle of the field, and side-footed into an empty net to seal the game.

Burkina Faso, which lost in the final two tournaments ago, will play Egypt or Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Burkina Faso also hit the goal frame in each half to underline that it was the better team in the first knockout game in Gabon.

Bertrand Traore was the unlucky player to be denied by the crossbar in the first half after his clever chip looped over Mathlouthi. Bance hit the post straight after scoring his late goal, but that miss didn't matter for the Burkinabes.

It was the second straight time that Tunisia has lost in the quarterfinals.

Bance's introduction, greeted by wild cheers from the Burkina Faso fans, was a masterstroke from coach Duarte. Bance was a hero for Burkina Faso on its surprise run to the final in 2013 but has been on the bench at this tournament.

He lined up for a free kick on the edge of the penalty area soon after coming on, was set up by a teammate, and drilled the shot past Mathlouthi. He whirled away and ran to the bench in celebration, and was mobbed by teammates.

Senegal plays Cameroon in Saturday's second quarterfinal, and it's Ghana-Congo in the other quarter

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article129346124.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article129346124.html#storylink=cpy

Wolverhampton send Liverpool tumbling from FA Cup

Liverpool sunk deeper into their mid-season rut, as Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers shocked them with a 2-1 FA Cup triumph at Anfield.

Indeed, it was a day for the underdogs, with non-league Lincoln besting Championship leaders Brighton Hove & Albion to advance to the final 16.

And Tottenham Hotspur needed injury-time heroics to get past League Two Wycombe Wanderers, who twice blew a late-game lead.

Goals by Richard Stearman and Andreas Weimann proved enough for Wolves, 18th in the second tier, to inflict a third home defeat in a week on Juergen Klopp's faltering side.

The loss left Klopp steaming, the German admitting that Liverpool can't get any lower than where they are currently at.

"If someone asks if this is the lowest point of my Liverpool time until now, I don't know," Klopp told reporters.

"I don't think it is the right time to talk about being positive or optimistic. In this moment, we feel really bad."

Liverpool, fourth in the Premier League, have won only one game out of eight in January and their chances of lifting a trophy this season look bleak.

"It is a perfect moment to turn, because it is not possible to go lower," Klopp said.

Wycombe were on course to trump Wolves, with a genuine giant-killing away to Premier League title hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur, as two goals by Paul Hayes gave them a 2-0 half-time lead at White Hart Lane.

Garry Thompson then restored their lead seven minutes from time, after Tottenham had battled back, but Dele Alli equalised and an own goal salvaged a 4-3 victory for Tottenham.

Lincoln did hold on for an upset though. They went doen 1-0 to Brighton, before coming back to take a 3-1 victory.

Brighton weren't the only Championship high-flyers undone, with Newcastle United succumbing to a humbling 3-0 defeat at League One's Oxford United.

While those two slipped, Aaron Mooy came off the bench for Huddersfield Town to give a late assist, as they ran out 4-0 winners over lowly Rochdale.

There was precious little drama at Stamford Bridge though, as Premier League leaders Chelsea beat second-tier Brentford 4-0, or at Selhurst Park, where Manchester City outclassed Crystal Palace 3-0 in an all-Premier League clash.

Two other Premier League sides made progress, with Middlesbrough beating Accrington Stanley 1-0 and Burnley seeing off Bristol City 2-0.

Blackburn Rovers won a northwest derby 2-0 against Blackpool in a game memorable for protests against their clubs' respective owners by both sets of fans.