Hamburg's Philipp Westermann fired the first sub-par round of the week to race into the clubhouse lead in the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

GERMANY took another ominous step towards South Africa 2010, Michael Ballack blasting home an early 30-yarder before the unlucky Ashley Williams scored an own goal for the clincher.

MARK HUGHES hailed Manchester City’s “excellent” night after their 2-0 UEFA Cup victory at Schalke put them into the knockout stages.

Schalke 0 Chelsea 0

Chelsea recalled Claude Makelele for their Champions League, Group B clash with Schalke in Gelsenkirchen.

AVRAM GRANT’S brave new world at Stamford Bridge continues to heal the wounds left by Jose Mourinho’s departure as Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Schalke put them in a commanding position in Champions League Group B.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan makes four changes to his side for their Champions League clash with Benfica at the Stadium of Light tonight.

Wayne Bridge makes his first start of the season in Chelsea’s Champions League clash against Schalke at Stamford Bridge.

THE man US President George W Bush wants as his UN ambassador was castigated yesterday as a “kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy” who had abused analysts who disagreed with his views of Cuba’s weapons capabilities.

A TOP US State Department expert on chemical and biological weapons told congressional investigators he had been pressured to change his analysis of intelligence on Iraq and other issues, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing unnamed congressional officials.