Bojan goal ends Leicester revival

Bojan Krkic brought Leicester's mini-revival to a halt on Saturday, giving visitors Stoke a 1-0 English Premier League victory with a moment of magic in an otherwise tame Midlands derby.

The Spaniard scored his fourth goal of the season in the 63rd minute to end the Foxes' four-match unbeaten run as Nigel Pearson's side remained bottom.

For Mark Hughes' Potters, after losing 3-0 at Arsenal a week ago, the win was the perfect tonic, particularly after losing skipper Ryan Shawcross to injury ahead of the game.

Midtable Stoke made the breakthrough after Jonathan Walters set up Bojan. With his back to goal there was still work to do, but Bojan took one touch with his right foot, turned and with his left drilled a 17-yarder past Ben Hamer.

Benitez eyes return to form v Lazio

Napoli coach Rafa Benitez, still brooding over last week's controversial defeat by Juventus, is confident his side's good recent form can help them regain third place in Serie A when they face Lazio on Sunday.

The Rome-based side are a point clear of Napoli, Italy's final Champions League qualification spot.

Benitez's side had won back-to-back league games before Sunday's 3-1 reverse that ended in a slanging match after a controversial refereeing decision allowed Juve's second goal.

Lazio, however, are unbeaten in their last six Serie A games.

"They (Lazio) have been playing very well," Benitez told a news conference.

"But with the exception of the first half against Juventus, we have also played at a high level in the last four games and we are looking to win tomorrow and regain third place."

Sunday's defeat left Napoli 13 points behind the Serie A leaders and effectively ended their slim hopes of launching a title challenge.

Napoli claimed that Martin Caceres was offside when he headed Juve's second goal, although replays showed it was only a question of millimetres, if at all.

They were also angry after having a goal of their own disallowed shortly afterwards for a foul by Kalidou Koulibaly on Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis said the decision which allowed Juve's second goal to stand was "either bad faith or incompetence".

After Juventus hit back, Benitez adopted an ironic tone, and claimed that Buffon, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri and general manager Giuseppe Marotta had a different take on referees when they were not at the Turin club.

"We weren't born yesterday but, it can happen," Benitez added.

Lazio coach Stefano Pioli wants his side to prove they belong in the hunt for a Champions League spot.

"We have an opportunity to confirm that we've improved and that we deserve third place," Pioli said.

"It's a very important game against a strong side that are accustomed to playing these kind of matches."

Lazio's last loss came at the hands of Juventus in late November.

"That game (against Juventus) taught us a lot," Pioli added. "I would like to have the opportunity to play them again but we've improved since then.

McIlroy feels like punching himself

Rory McIlroy felt like punching himself after a dire performance with the putter in the third round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Saturday which all but ended his hopes of starting 2015 with a title.

The world No 1 began the day two strokes behind leader Martin Kaymer but come his final putt he was eight adrift of the German, who now seems certain to claim a fourth Abu Dhabi crown.

McIlroy, 25, carded a one-under-par 71, making two birdies and a bogey, despite missing just two fairways and one green in regulation.

"I feel like punching myself," the Northern Irishman told reporters.

"I didn't putt well at all. From tee to green I've never felt more comfortable. I'm driving the ball great. It's just a matter of capitalising on the chances you give yourself and I didn't do that today."

Among the Northern Irishman's woes were a scuffed birdie chance on the ninth that lipped out and a bogey on 13 after chipping past the hole.

His rotten putting continued, missing birdie chances from 15-20 feet on three straight holes before dribbling an eight-footer wide on the final green to cap a miserable display with the short stick that left him looking away in disbelief.

"I tried to stay as patient as possible but it was very frustrating - I kept giving myself birdie chances and was not able to convert any of them," said the four-times major winner.

"I started the ball on line for the most part but struggled with the speed as well, so (it's a) combination of that."

McIlroy won the last two majors - the British Open and the US PGA Championship - and the serial winner said he was determined to end positively in Abu Dhabi.

"I'm going to have to do something a bit better on the greens tomorrow to shoot a good number and finish the tournament off well - (I'm) obviously playing for second place tomorrow," McIlroy added.

Boost for McLaren after Honda win argument

McLaren have been given a boost after Formula One's governing body tweaked the rules to allow Honda, the team's new partner, to develop their engine this season in line with rival manufacturers.

The Japanese company, who have replaced Mercedes at McLaren, are returning to Formula One as the sport's fourth engine supplier.

Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari are allowed to introduce limited upgrades during the season but Honda, as a new entrant, had been told to present their engine for approval on February 28 with no further development permitted.

Honda met International Automobile Federation officials last Monday to present their view that the situation was unfair.

A document issued to teams on Friday by Formula One race director Charlie Whiting, seen by Reuters and confirmed by the FIA, did not name Honda but clarified the situation with an amendment in their favour.

"As each of the four 2015 manufacturers will have an homologated power unit at the start of the season, we believe it would be fair to ensure that each of them enjoys equal opportunities for upgrades during the season," it said.

"We will therefore allow the new manufacturer to use the same number of tokens that the other three manufacturers have available to them, taken as an average of the three.

"For example, if the three 2014 manufacturers have eight, seven and five unused tokens respectively at the start of the season, then the new manufacturer will be allowed to use six during the season,"

The current manufacturers are allowed to improve their engine using a complicated system of 'tokens' within set limits.

Tne tokens are assigned to parts of the engine and divided into three categories, meaning that some parts require more than others and manufacturers must choose which areas to improve.

There are 66 tokens and the existing manufacturers can use 32 during the course of 2015, with the number reduced over time so that by 2018 there will be only 15 tokens available.

Honda, who partnered McLaren from 1988 to 1992 when they won four constructors' titles, quit F1 as a constructor at the end of 2008.

McLaren have not won a race since 2012 and finished fifth last year. Double world champion Fernando Alonsohas now joined from Ferrari to partner Briton's Jenson Button.

The season starts in Australia on March 15, with champions Mercedes again expected to set the pace after a dominant 2014.

Robben says bitten by crocodile

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben offered a bizarre explanation for a mystery hand injury sustained at the team's training base in Qatar on Saturday, saying he had been bitten by a crocodile.

The website of German newspaper Bild published a photograph of the Dutchman apparently with the fingers of his left hand bound up with tape.

He is quoted as saying: "When I got a ball from a hole near the pool, a crocodile has bitten me!"

The club offered no explanation for Robben's claim, although crocodiles are not a native species in the desert state and being bitten by one appears to be extremely unlikely.

Powerful Sarries crush Munster

Saracens ended Munster's hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions Cup with a convincing 33-10 win at Allianz Park.

The win for Sarries puts them top of the Champions Cup Pool One ahead of Clermont, who take on Sale, with the English side travelling to France for a decider next weekend.

Chris Wyles and Chris Ashton, twice, scored the tries for the home side, and Billy Vunipola impressed, as Munster failed to deal with his ball-carrying.

Denis Hurley's score for Munster eight minutes from time gave them a glimmer of hope, but they were outplayed and never really threatened the comeback.

Saracens nearly made the perfect start when Alistair Hargreaves almost went over, but Munster were able force him into touch just short of the line.

The home team did open the scoring though, on ten minutes, when Owen Farrell slotted a penalty from inside the Munster 22 after the visitors had failed to roll away from a ruck.

Still, Munster enjoyed a decent period of possession and looked dangerous, without creating any clearcut chances.

They were struggling at scrum-time though, and the first try came after an impressive Saracens drive. Having made ground at the set-piece, Sarries then went through a couple of phases before getting their backs involved.

Billy Vunipola was the key, drawing in two Munster defenders with his dummy run. That gave Sarries a huge overlap and they went through the hands and Wyles, a late addition to the starting line-up for the injured David Strettle, went over in the corner.

Farrell converted to make it 10-0 after 22 minutes and it already looked a long way back for Munster.

Things got worse for Munster when they lost No 8 CJ Stander to injury, and another big scrum earned another penalty, which Farrell slotted to make it 13-0.

The visitors finally got on the board just after the half-hour when the Saracens scrum was penalised for going early for the second time, Ian Keatley made no mistake from 40 metres out.

But Sarries hit straight back with their second try to effectively end the game as a contest. It came from a quick tap penalty, and the ball was again spread to Wyles who raced down the left.

The covering Munster defence desperately tried to force Wyles into touch, but the American played a lovely grubber inside and Ashton was on hand to dot down. Farrell's conversion made it 20-3 to the home side with five minutes to go before the break.

And there was still time for Farrell to add three more points to make it 23-3 at halftime and it was one-way traffic.

Munster needed a quick start to the second half, and they almost got it when Andrew Conway and Simon Zebo made linebreaks in quick succession to put Sarries on the back foot.

However after reaching the Saracens five-metre line, Munster couldn't find a way through, and eventually conceded a penalty for holding on as the chance went begging.

The home side hit straight back with a huge drive from Billy Vunipola, who had been hugely influential in the first half, but on this occasion Munster held out.

They did eventually add to their lead with another Farrell penalty after the Saracens scrum dominated once more, stretching the lead to three scores.

There was no way back for Munster, although curiously they tried another kick at goal with quarter of an hour remaining, rather than going for a bonus point.

Farrell was off-target, but two minutes later Munster infringed again, this time James Cronin was penalised, and he was given ten minutes in the bin to make matters worse.

Being a man down seemed to galvanize Munster, and they finally got over the line for the first time through Hurley. It came after a good break from Peter O'Mahony, and it seemed like an unlikely comeback might be on.

Those hopes were quickly extinguished though as Saracens again found some space, with Ashton completing his double to put the home side within a try of a bonus point.

They could not find that fourth try though, and as a result, still have work to do in Clermont to ensure a place in the last eight.

Munster, meanwhile, lost a third straight game in Europe for the first time in their history, and are out of the competition as a result.

The scorers:

For Saracens:
Tries: Wyles, Ashton 2
Cons: Farrell 3
Pens: Farrell 4

For Munster:
Try: Hurley
Con: Keatley
Pen: Keatley
Yellow Card: Cronin

The teams:
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (c), 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 James Johnston, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Ernst Joubert, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Chris Wyles.

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Dave Foley, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 James Cronin.
Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guinazu, 17 John Ryan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Dave O'Callaghan, 21 Ronan O'Mahony, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Keith Earls.

Venue: Allianz Park, Barnet
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (France); Tual Trainini (France) 

Lack of goals worry Notoane

South Africa's Under-20 (Amajita) stand-in coach, David Notoane, says finishing remains South African teams' biggest headache after his young team were held to a 1-1 draw by Lithuania in St Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday.

"With the way my team dominated the encounter, I will consider a draw as two points dropped as opposed to winning a single point," Notoane lamented afterwards.

The match was Amajita's opening Commonwealth Cup fixture in which they are the first African team to participate in the annual tournament previously reserved for the former Soviet Union countries.

"In any opening match, one would rather take a point than lose the match. We should come back a more ruthless side when we take on Tajikistan on Sunday.

"Finishing is something I will instruct my boys to do for Sunday's game. We scored the opening goal and instead of going for the kill, we went to sleep and we were duly made to pay a hefty price."

SA Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan watched from the stands and attended the opening ceremony on Friday, where Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, opened proceedings.

"They will improve as the tournament progresses. The showed some real glimpses of quality although matches are counted by goals scored," Jordaan said.

"But I am very hopeful goals will come and I want to wish them well."

Lithuania coach Narbekovas Arminas, meanwhile, said he was stunned and impressed by South Africa's neat touches and speed on and off the ball.

"I had never seen them in action before but boy, they are a delight to watch," he said.

"They are so gifted and comfortable and I think my team was lucky to escape with a point."

Jordaan was expected to fly to Equatorial Guinea later on Saturday, where he is part of the local organising committee for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Al-Attiyah wins 2nd Dakar Rally title

Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar in the car category and Spain's Marc Coma in bikes have won the Dakar Rally.

Saturday's victory was Al-Attiyah's second in cars, matching his 2011 title. He is the seventh to win multiple titles in the car category.

South African Ginel de Villiers was 35 minutes, 34 seconds behind in second place, and Krzysztof Holowczyc of Poland was third. Holowczyc was 1:32:01 adrift in the grueling, two-week rally across Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.

Coma won his fifth Dakar title on bikes, finishing 16:53 ahead of Paulo Goncalves of Portugal, and 23:14 in front of Toby Price of Australia.

Al-Attiyah called it "fantastic because we've dominated the race from the beginning and were able to control the rally throughout.

Barca looking to improve away form

If Barcelona are to overhaul leaders Real Madrid and wrest the La Liga title back from Atletico Madrid for a fifth Spanish top-flight triumph in seven years they will have to improve their form away from home.

Barca have won eight out of nine games at their Nou Camp stadium, a 1-0 defeat to Celta Vigo the only blip, but have dropped 10 points on the road following defeats at Real Madrid and Real Sociedad and draws at Getafe and Malaga.

Real, a point clear of second-placed Barca at the top, have won seven out of nine away games although they still have to play at Barca and champions Atletico Madrid.

"This is a marvellous sport in which the winner is not always the best team," Barca coach Luis Enrique told a news conference on Saturday previewing Sunday's game at promoted Deportivo La Coruna.

"The fans and the stadium have an impact," added the former Barca and Spain midfielder.

"We always go out to win, whether we nail it or not, but the idea of going after the game is one we have every time.

"Playing away from home is harder than playing in your own stadium for a lot of reasons."

Luis Enrique has been under pressure in recent weeks following reports of a rift with Barca's talismanic Argentina forward Lionel Messi.

Last weekend's 3-1 victory at home to Atletico helped calm the waters but the next time Barca stutter speculation the coach's days are numbered is sure to return.

"As soon as we lose or draw there will be another party," Luis Enrique, whose relationship with the media has been testy in recent days, told reporters.

Barca have little time to recuperate after the Depor game as they host Atletico on Wednesday in a King's Cup quarterfinal first leg.

Simeone warns against underestimating Granada

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has warned his players not to take Granada lightly on Sunday even though the Andalusians are bottom of La Liga and their coach, Joaquin Caparros, was sacked on Friday.

The champions are on a high after knocking holders Real Madrid out of the King's Cup on Thursday but Simeone said he was wary of a Granada side whose players will be desperate to get their season back on track.

Youth coach Joseba Aguado will take charge of the team for Sunday's game while the club seek a replacement.

"When a coach leaves motivation is higher because more responsibility falls on the players," Simeone told a news conference on Saturday.

"The responsibility passes to the players and they will be excited about the game and imposing their speed in attack," added the Argentine, who led Atletico to their first La Liga title in 18 years last season.

"We have to manipulate the match in a way that plays to our strengths and generate intensity in our play."

Atletico are third with just under half the season played, three points behind second-placed Barcelona and four adrift of leaders Real, who have a game in hand.

Real play at Getafe and Barca are at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, before the Catalans host Atletico for a King's Cup quarterfinal, first leg on Wednesday.

Simeone said Fernando Torres, who struck twice in Thursday's 2-2 Cup draw at Real that sent Atletico through to the last eight 4-2 on aggregate, would start Sunday's game up front with Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic.

Spain international Torres returned to his boyhood club on loan from AC Milan this month following seven mixed years in England and Italy.

Chelsea win to go five clear

Chelsea ran riot at Swansea City, scoring four times before halftime on the way to a 5-0 win that sent Jose Mourinho's side five points clear in the Premier League on Saturday.

Brazil midfielder Oscar and Spain striker Diego Costa scored two apiece inside the opening 35 minutes as Swansea were torn to shreds. Substitute Andre Schuerrle got his name on the scoresheet late in a more even second half.

Champions Manchester City will now be under pressure to respond when they host sixth-placed Arsenal on Sunday.

Manchester United climbed above Southampton into third spot, 12 points behind Chelsea, with second-half substitutes Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson on target in a 2-0 win at second-bottom Queens Park Rangers.

Southampton are away at Newcastle United later on Saturday.

Christian Eriksen struck a late winner to give Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 victory over Sunderland to move them above Arsenal.

Liverpool's improvement continued as Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert scored in a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa who have now gone five league games without a goal.

Crystal Palace recovered from 2-0 down to snatch a vital 3-2 win at fellow strugglers Burnley, their second consecutive victory since Alan Pardew took charge taking them up to 12th.

Bottom club Leicester City's recent burst of form which had brought them two wins in three games ended in a 1-0 home loss to Stoke City.

Sociedad suffer setback at home to Rayo

Real Sociedad's bid to climb away from the La Liga relegation places suffered a setback when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and were roundly whistled by their own fans.

Sociedad have stabilised since former Manchester United and Everton manager David Moyes took over in November after a poor start to the campaign but their latest setback comes after they were knocked out of the King's Cup by Villarreal on Wednesday.

Rayo secured the points at Sociedad's Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian when Angola forward Manucho outjumped the home defence at an 81st-minute corner and headed past goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

It was no more than Rayo deserved after a generally poor performance from Sociedad, who lacked creativity and penetration in attack, and showed Moyes has plenty of work to do if the Basques are to secure their top-flight status.

After whistles rang out around the ground on the final whistle, defender Jon Ansotegi told Spanish television he could not explain why Sociedad had managed to beat Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Anoeta but were unable to see off sides of lesser calibre.

"We give everything on the pitch and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't so we just have to congratulate the opponent and admit they played better," he said.

"We are battling in the bottom half of the table and it's been a very poor first half of the season so we just have to work on improving."

With their campaign at the halfway mark, Sociedad are 12th on 19 points from 19 matches, three points above the drop zone. Rayo are ninth on 23 points.

Valencia can climb above Sevilla into fourth if they avoid defeat at home to Almeria later on Saturday.

Sixth-placed Villarreal host struggling Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol are at home to Celta Vigo in a mid-table clash.

Leaders Real, who have a game in hand, are at Getafe on Sunday before Barca, a point behind in second, play at Deportivo La Coruna and champions Atletico host bottom side Granada.

Gayle inspires Palace to beat Burnley

Dwight Gayle scored twice as Crystal Palace came from two goals down to beat Burnley 3-2 on Saturday in the Premier League to continue their strong start under Alan Pardew.

Burnley led 2-0 after just 15 minutes through goals from Ben Mee and Danny Ings in a two-minute span. However, Gayle began the comeback in the 28th and Jason Puncheon equalized with a long-range strike three minutes after the break. Gayle then snatched the win in the 87th when he controlled a cross from Puncheon and slotted a low shot past goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Palace have won two straight in the league since Pardew took over as manager and climbed to 12th place, but is still just four points outside the relegation zone.

Burnley are 17th, one point from the drop zone.

Baroni, Lambert star for Liverpool

Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert scored to give Liverpool a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa on Saturday that kept the team in touch with the European places in the English Premier League.

Borini volleyed in a cross from Jordan Henderson for his first league goal of the season in the 24th minute, and Lambert doubled the lead with a low strike from the edge of the area in the 79th. It was Liverpool's third straight away victory in the league, and Brendan Rodgers' team is seventh, two points behind fifth-place Tottenham.

Villa were booed off the pitch as the hosts extended their winless streak to seven games and have gone nearly nine hours without scoring. The team has scored just 11 goals in 22 league games and sit 14th, three points outside the relegation zone.

Martin Skrtel also hit the post while Christian Benteke and Nathan Baker missed decent chances for the hosts.

Steven Gerrard failed to recover from a hamstring injury with Raheem Sterling back after his planned winter break in Jamaica.

Liverpool took the lead when Borini netted his first goal for the club since April 2013. Jordan Henderson was allowed time to cross and, after pulling away from Jores Okore, Borini volleyed in at the far post.

Sterling should have made it 2-0 eight minutes before the break but wasted a great chance when Lucas' header put him clean through and he could only chip weakly at Guzan.

Villa offered little going forward although the previously anonymous Tom Cleverley fired over after Ashley Westwood's pass.

Villa almost levelled in the 61st when Simon Mignolet parried Benteke's 10-yard volley.

Borini blasted over two minutes later but Liverpool was being pinned back by a revitalized Villa as Baker headed over and then produced an air shot from just six yards.

But the hosts were left to rue the misses when Lambert sealed Liverpool's victory with 11 minutes left.

Sterling received the ball on the edge of the box and he found Lambert, whose fine touch took him away from Carlos Sanchez before he drilled into the corner.

Man United back to winning ways

Substitutes Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson ended Manchester United's three-game winless run in the Premier League on Saturday, with second-half goals clinching a 2-0 victory against a struggling but spirited Queens Park Rangers.

Fellaini found the breakthrough during an improved second-half performance by United, meeting Antonio Valencia's pass and powering the ball into the net in the 58th minute. And the 19-year-old Wilson struck in stoppage time after QPR goalkeeper Robert Green parried his initial attempt.

But it was a frustrating return to the team for striker Radamel Falcao, who was thwarted several times by Green.

While United provisionally returned to third place - ahead of Southampton's late game at Newcastle - QPR remain in the relegation zone after a fifth straight league match without a win.

Although it was QPR's first home loss since October, the west London team is relying on its home form to avoid the drop. All 19 points have been collected at Loftus Road with 10 successive away losses making even manager Harry Redknapp feel uncertain about his future.

United didn't manage a single shot on target in last Sunday's loss to Southampton. Such an anomaly was prevented after 10 minutes here when Michael Carrick struck at Green, who then kept out Falcao's close-range effort with a quick reaction save.

QPR, though, were unsettling United, with Charlie Austin seeing two volleys expertly tipped over by goalkeeper David de Gea.

Wayne Rooney' penalty appeal after being tripped by Joey Barton was dismissed, but United was creating little for Angel di Maria or Falcao up front.

The visiting United fans were chanting "4-4-2" and the restoration of four rather than three at the back, coinciding with Fellaini replacing Juan Mata in midfield at halftime, contributed to an upturn in fortunes.

Although Falcao's header was thwarted by Green's low diving save, United did finally score for only the second time in six hours in the league through Fellaini.

And as QPR battled for the equalizer, the hosts were caught on the break when Wilson scored for the first time this season, having only previously netted twice in a single game in May.

Defoe joins Sunderland's battle for survival

Former England striker Jermain Defoe returned to the Premier League when he signed for Sunderland on Friday and could make his debut against his former club Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Defoe, who has signed a three-and-a-half year deal, had been training with the youth development squad at Spurs since returning to England from Toronto FC during the MLS close season.

Striker Jozy Altidore moves back to the MLS, where he started his career, signing for Toronto as part of the deal.

Ten clubs reportedly wanted to sign the 32-year-old who opted for Sunderland, managed by his former Tottenham teammate Gus Poyet who was later assistant manager at Spurs while Defoe was a player there.

"I am thrilled that Jermain is a Sunderland player," Poyet told Sunderland's website.

"I know all about his attributes and his qualities first-hand and his exceptional goal-scoring record speaks for itself. He has something different, something special.

"We know each other very well - he was very young when we played together and I was coming to the end of my career, so I know him from inside the pitch."

On the day Defoe made his Spurs debut against Portsmouth in February 2004, Poyet replaced him after 82 minutes.

Defoe scored the first goal in a 4-3 win over Portsmouth while Poyet scored the last-minute winner and the Uruguayan will hope Defoe has not lost his scoring touch as Sunderland seek to preserve their Premier League status this season.

They are 16th in the table, a point above the relegation zone.

Defoe has been one of the most prolific scorers in England over the last 15 years with 214 goals in 524 matches for Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth and over two spells at Tottenham.

Defoe scored a total of 143 goals for Spurs and is their fifth highest all-time scorer and their record scorer in European competition with 23.

He also netted 19 goals in 55 England appearances and in his brief spell in the MLS scored 12 in 17 games for Toronto.

Chiefs release Nkhatha to SuperSport

Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the club has released striker Kingston Nkhatha to join SuperSport United with immediate effect.

The Zimbabwean forward signed a pre-contract with Matsatsantsa this month that would have seen him move to Pretoria when his contract with Chiefs expires at the end of the season.

But AmaKhosi clearly do not want a player on his way out of the squad hanging around and have allowed him to leave.

“Kingston Nkhatha is no longer a Glamour Boy and has joined SuperSport United with immediate effect! We wish him all the best!” the club announced via their Twitter feed.

Despite the signing of David Zulu from Chippa United and the imminent return to fitness of Katlego Mphela, it is still a blow for coach Stuart Baxter who values the physical presence of Nkhatha up front.

The forward missed just one of Chiefs’ 22 matches in all competitions so far this season, despite being mercilessly hounded by a segment of the club’s fans from the stands. In all he made 68 starts for the club, scoring 21 goals, since joining from Black Leopards in 2012.

Igesund looking to change tactics

A disappointing showing during the first half of the Premiership has led SuperSport United coach Gordon Igesund into rethinking his strategy before the league resumes next month.

"This team is used to fighting for the league title and the fact that we finished the year in a lowly 11th position, clearly indicates that we need to alter our tactics if we are to finish within the top-eight bracket," Igesund said on Friday.

Despite beating Chippa United 2-1 in their last game of the year, with midfield livewire Lebogang Manyama grabbing a brace, Matsantsantsa have been inconsistent since Igesund replaced Cavin Johnson at the helm last September.

Winning the Telkom Knockout two months into the job, Igesund looked to be on the right path but league losses to Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits, and draws against Ajax Cape Town and Polokwane City left Igesund with more questions than answers.

"The Telkom Knockout got into our heads hence we started struggling in the league," he said.

"I am glad we ended up by beating Chippa to bring the confidence back. The mid-season training camp gives me a perfect chance to instil philosophies into the team before we restart."

Having indicated his desire to make influential midfielder Dove Wome's move from Sundowns to United a permanent one during this month's transfer window, the former Bafana Bafana coach said it was all systems go.

"He has been a class act for us and there is no doubt that we want to keep him on permanent basis.

"He is a true warrior and having him around has surely bolstered things up for us, hence we managed to win the Telkom Knockout. We are looking at strengthening the squad but it is too early to mention which players we are eyeing right now."

Igesund said Kingston Nkhatha would help bolster the attack if he joined the side at the end of the season, in a move which left his current boss at Kaizer Chiefs fuming as the striker had signed a pre-season contract with United without Bobby Motaung's knowledge.

"I don't want to get into that debate what I am happy about is that we are already planning for next season," Igesund said.

"There is no doubt that Kingston is an excellent player with brute force and the right attitude. He will bring so much to the team and I can't wait to have him on board. But at the moment he is Chiefs player and we need to respect that."

Igesund said it was his ambition to win the Nedbank Cup so his team could participate in the CAF Confederations Cup.

"Playing in Africa is every coach's dream but we must first reach the final. It is going to be a tough tournament but the fact that we managed to win the Telkom Knockout will give us more impetus to win the Nedbank title".

SuperSport face Polokwane City in the last-32 round of the cup competition.

Altidore returns to MLS with Toronto

United States striker Jozy Altidore on Friday completed his move from Sunderland to Major League Soccer's Toronto FC as part of the deal in which former England forward Jermain Defoe moves in the opposite direction.

Altidore, 25, has struggled at Sunderland where he managed just one league goal in 21 league appearances after joining from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in 2013.

At Toronto he will team up with United States teammate Michael Bradley, who last year moved back from Europe for a big-money deal with the Canadian club.

Altidore began his career with the Metrostars, now the New York Red Bulls, before moving at the age of 18 to Spanish club Villarreal.

He had one year loan in the Premier League with Hull City, scoring once, before he was sold by Villarreal to AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

Altidore was a success with Alkmaar, scoring 38 goals in 59 league games before returning to England for his ill-fated spell with Sunderland.

Toronto have been in MLS for eight seasons but have yet to reach the playoffs despite investing heavily in players and coaching staff.

The club will be hoping that Altidore can capture the kind of form he has shown for Juergen Klinsmann's national team in which he has been a regular starter, scoring 25 goals in 76 games.

"Our top priority is building a winning club with players that are committed to the TFC vision. Jozy is a special player, and checks off all of the boxes that we look for in a player," general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said.

MLS's 20th season kicks off in March.

Chelsea not planning to make signings - Mou

Premier League leaders Chelsea are not planning on doing business during the January transfer window, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.

Mourinho's men have topped the table for most of the season but having let a six-point lead slip to two in recent weeks with Manchester City hot on their tails, British media speculated Chelsea could bolster their defence.

The Portuguese, though, said he was happy with his squad and had no plans to buy defensive reinforcements despite his back four being carved apart in a 5-3 defeat at local rivals Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago.

"I'm happy with the squad, it is not a big group but a good group," Mourinho told a news conference ahead of his team's visit to Swansea City on Saturday.

"I'll be happy if nobody leaves or nobody comes but the market is open so you never know.

"I have the two best goalkeepers in the Premier League, I have fantastic defenders. The team defends very well. We conceded five in one game and that is better than conceding one each in five matches and losing five matches."

Title rivals Manchester City have already added to their squad with the signing of Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony from Swansea for a reported £30 million on Wednesday.

Asked for his view on the deal, Mourinho remained unmoved by City's new signing.

"Well done. He is a good player and a good striker," Mourinho said. "If they have the money and can spend the money and have no problems with Financial Fair Play, well done.

"They can only play with 11 though. If Bony plays and Dzeko is on the bench then I am happy with that. But to have Aguero, Jovetic, Bony and Dzeko is magnificent."

Mourinho faced the media on Friday for the first time after missing last week's press conference before a win against Newcastle United.

He had refused to face reporters after being charged with misconduct by the Football Association for claiming there was a campaign against Chelsea following a draw at third-placed Southampton.

"Now I am in conditions to control myself and a week ago I couldn't control my words so to avoid bigger problems I stayed away," Mourinho explained.

"I am not interested in the FA charge, I just ignore it and get on with my job.

Nasri out for up to four weeks with injury

Manchester City's Samir Nasri will miss Sunday's game against former club Arsenal after being ruled out for up to a month with a calf injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday.

The France playmaker is also likely to sit out their crucial clash with Premier League leaders Chelsea on January 31, but there was better news on the injury front for City fans with captain Vincent Kompany and striker Sergio Aguero declared fit.

"Unfortunately, Samir Nasri has a calf injury so he will not be fit. I think he will be out for around three weeks to a month," Pellegrini told reporters.

"Vincent Kompany is 100 percent fit. We have some doubts about Edin Dzeko. We will see tomorrow the squad list."

The Chilean coach was again pressed on the future of Yaya Toure, who is away at the African Nations Cup, after the midfielder refused to confirm he would be at the club next season in an interview with CNN.

Pellegrini, however, seemed unconcerned.

"I think Yaya is 100 percent committed with our team and with this team. I don't have any doubts about that," he said.

City's title challenge suffered a blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton on Saturday which left them two points behind Chelsea.

Having drawn two of their last three league games, City need a victory to stay on the coat-tails of Jose Mourinho's side, who could extend their lead to five points with victory over Swansea City on Saturday.

"It's a very important game," Pellegrini said.

"Arsenal are not at the top of the table at the moment but they always have high targets. Both teams play very attractive football so I hope we are going to see a very good match."

City reinforced their attacking options this week with a £28-million deal for striker Wilfried Bony, but will not be able to call on his services until he returns from the Nations Cup with Ivory Coast.

Pellegrini stressed that the arrival of the powerhouse forward does not spell the end of the road for Stevan Jovetic at the Etihad Stadium.

"Bony is replacing Alvaro (Negredo), not Jovetic. Stevan is a very important player for us," he said.

"We sold Alvaro because he had personal problems and did not want to continue here."

The Reds good for Oshoala

Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon has voiced his soft preference for the English FA WSL side, Liverpool Ladies FC for star striker, Asisat Oshoala.

The Reds are among the several suitors outside the nation's shores seeking the signature of Rivers Angels goal poacher and reigning African women player of the year.

Okon said a stint with the English side will greatly impact positively on the blossoming career of the fleet-footed lanky striker, Oshoala.

"Of course, Liverpool Ladies FC are well respected strong women side in the world and will certainly impact positively on her career if she eventually chooses to further her football career there.

"She will readily get my approval and support as I'm convinced she will always come back to the national team a far improved player.

"Oshoala has done very well for herself and need a good side that will further harness the budding talent to make her all round best player in the world.

"Aside England any of my player that has career offer from Germany, France, United States of America (USA) will enjoy a wholehearted support from me because of the pedigree and quality of their leagues.

"Experience over the years has shown that some of our key players who journeyed to countries like Belarus, Sweden, Russia, among other similar places come back to the national team somehow off form and weak.

"That's why I'm not comfortable with the reported movement of Chinwendu Ihezuo to a Russian side that move is unlikely to improve her game.

"I'll always continue to volunteer a fatherly advice on their career choice so that they can improve on their worth and come back to the national team to add value to what we've on ground.

"We need our best legs to prosecute the assignments we've in the year especially the Fifa Women's World Cup in Canada.

"As African champions we can't afford to disappoint at the world stage that's my interest in where my players ply their trade," said the former Falconets coach to supersport.com.

Falcons will confront former world champions, USA, Sweden and Australia at the group stage of the upcoming global football showpiece in Canada later in the year.

© supersport.com

Kramaric set to make Leicester debut

Croatia striker Andrej Kramaric gave goal-shy Leicester City a timely boost after he was granted a work permit in time to play for the Premier League's bottom club against Stoke City on Saturday.

The prolific 23-year-old, who has scored 28 goals for club and country so far this season, signed for a reported club-record fee of nine million pounds from Croatian side HNK Rijeka last week.

He was finally cleared to play in England on Friday and will add some much needed firepower to Nigel Pearson's side, who have struggled to find the net this campaign.

"We've watched Andrej for a long time so we knew we were signing a player that could add great quality to English football," Pearson said in a statement on the club's website (www.lcfc.com).

"He's an extremely talented young footballer and I'm delighted we've been able to finalise his signing. He is potentially a very important addition for us."

Leicester have enjoyed a revival in recent weeks and are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions.

Kramaric, who has four caps and two goals for Croatia, watched from the stands as his new teammates wasted a glut of chances in the 1-0 league victory against Aston Villa last Saturday.

Guinea's Sylla out of opening game

Striker Idrissa Sylla has officially been ruled out for Guinea's Africa Cup of Nations 2015 opening game against Ivory Coast.

The Zulte Waregem forward had joined Guinea's camp in Conakry with a hamstring injury, missing out on the Syli's two pre-Afcon warm-up friendly matches.

But he resumed training with the squad on Thursday at the Wellness and Sport Centre in Casablanca, Morocco, where Guinea have been preparing.

It has now been confirmed by Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer that Idrissa Sylla will not play against Ivory Coast in their Afcon opening tie on January 20.

The coach hopes that he will have fully recovered in time for the Cameroon and Mali games.