Cameroon held to surprise draw by Algeria

CAMEROON, winners of the last two African Nations Cups, were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by outsiders Algeria as they began the defence of their crown yesterday.

Patrick Mboma headed the Indomitable Lions ahead shortly before half-time but Algeria, who have not been beyond the quarter-finals since they won the 1990 tournament, equalised through sub Brahim Zafour after the break.

It was the first goal conceded by Cameroon in the tournament since the 2000 final against Nigeria. They kept six successive clean sheets on their way to winning in Mali two years ago.

Newcastle’s Lomana LuaLua took the lion’s share of the blame for Democratic Republic of Congo's 2-1 defeat by Guinea after missing a hatful of chances. Blunders meant the Simbas led only by Alain Masudi's first-half strike in their African Nations Cup opener in Group A.

“We gave them the game really,” LuaLua admitted after Guinea scored twice as Congo’s defence disintegrated in the last half-hour. “We were in control and we just gave it to them.

“I should have scored a hat-trick or four goals in the first half and I didn't take my chances,” he admitted.

Tunisia who beat Rwanda 2-1 on Saturday, share the group lead with Guinea before Wednesday's game at Rades against LuaLua’s men.

In European club action, Valencia blew the chance to reclaim top spot in Spain’s La Liga after a costly slip up at home to Osasuna. It was Valencia’s second home league defeat of the campaign, and allowed Real Madrid to maintain their two point advantage at the summit of La Primera.

Osasuna claimed all three points courtesy of Mauricio Pellegrino’s own-goal on the stroke of half time, and despite intense second half pressure, the visitors held on for an unlikely victory.

The win moves Osasuna into fifth spot, boosting hopes of UEFA Champions League football next term.

Barcelona remain seventh but did their hopes of playing in Europe's premier club competition a power of good with a single goal win at Sevilla.

Striker Patrick Kluivert, whose future continues to be the source of much speculation, was the match-winner for the Catalans heading the only goal on the half hour.

Real Sociedad continued their impressive recent form by demolishing struggling Celta Vigo 5-2 at the Balaidos. The Basque outfit shrugged off the disappointment of falling behind to a first minute Gustavo Lopez goal to record their fourth league win on the trot.

Darko Kovacevic and a Savo Milosevic own-goal ensured that the visitors went in at the break ahead, though Frenchman Peter Luccin restored parity on 50 minutes.

However, three goals in a 12-minute spell effectively ended the game as a contest, as Xavi Alonso notched his first league goal of the season on the hour mark, before Turkish star Nihat Kahveci grabbed a quick-fire double (70, 72).

In Italy, Roma have had their lead at the top of Serie A cut to one point after being held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese, while Milan thrashed Ancona 5-0.

Fabio Capello’s side got off to a great start when Christian Panucci put the home side in front after 15 minutes. However, Udinese showed plenty of endeavour to draw level, having forced some very good saves from Roma goalkeeper Carlo Zotti.

With two minutes remaining, Czech Republic international Marek Jankulovski hit a wonderful half volley past Zotti to earn Udinese an unlikely point.

That draw for Roma allowed Milan to close the gap at the top after Il Rossoneri thrashed bottom club Ancona 5-0 at the Giuseppe Meazza. All the goals came in the second half from the home side, as Andrei Shevchenko broke the deadlock with a 64th minute penalty.

Rui Costa made it two before Jon Dahl Tomasson made it 3-0 with another penalty strike. With six minutes remaining, Brazilian Kaka scored a brace to hand Carlo Ancelotti's side a comfortable five-goal win.

A hat-trick from David Trezeguet was not good enough to secure three points for title-chasing Juventus at Empoli last night. The home side had their own hat-trick hero in Tommaso Rocchi, but he was denied the satisfaction of three points when Trezeguet scored the game’s sixth goal 14 minutes from the end.

Struggling Modena held Internazionale to a 1-1 draw. Alvaro Recoba gave the visitors an 11th minute lead before Ayodele Makinwa equalised three minutes before the break to earn a point for Modena.

Parma failed to take advantage of Inter’s away draw to leapfrog over them after being held to a 0-0 draw by Bologna at the Ennio Tardini.

Lazio drew level on points with Inter and Parma after a 1-0 away win at struggling Lecce.

Aparecido Cesar scored the Biancoceleste’s winner ten minutes after the break, as Lecce then had Marco Cassetti sent off for using foul and abusive language four minutes later.