Vasco da Gama book last eight spot

Vasco da Gama booked their spot in the last eight of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday by beating Maluti FET College 3-0 -- all thanks to Aleni Lebyane and Stanley Muishond goals in the first half and Samuel Julie’s late goal in the dying minutes of the match at Parow Park in Cape Town.

It was Aleni Lebyane who opened the scoring for Vasco Da Gama in the fifth minute of the match which saw his team taking an early 1-0 lead.

In the 14 minute Thabiso Mokenkoane came close to finding an equaliser for Maluti FET College but his header missed the target.

Seven minutes later Vasco bounced back and this time it was Stanley Muishond who extended the lead with his right-footed shot through Lebyane’s assist in the 21st minute.

Vasco went to break leading by 2-0.

In the second half Jonathan was the first to pull the trigger for Vasco in an attempt to extend the lead, but his shot did not cause any trouble for Maluti FET College.

The first threatening attempt for the College came in the 51st minute when Thambiso Mokenkoane delivered a great pass to George Dibaga but his strike went wide.

Substitute Pogiso Mahlangu, who had replaced goalscorer Muishond three minutes earlier, also tried to register his name on the score sheet, but the ball ended on Mojalefa Hlahatsi who prevented him from getting a goal in the 66th minute.

Vasco continued knocking the ball around and maintaining the ball possession as Maluti tried to find ways of finding a goal.

In the 77th minute Nathan Gertse gave away a penalty for an unfair challenge on Molibedi Mokoena and it was Steven Hoffman who denied him the goal as he made a good save, ensuring that his team maintained a healthy lead.

In the last six minutes of the match Lebyane came back again to try and find a brace but his shot was well managed by Maluti goalkeeper Mojalefa Hlahatsi.

Eventually Vasco managed to take the score to 3-0 in the last minute of the match when Julies hit the nail through Lebyane’s assist.

Vasco da Gama (2) 3 (Aleni Lebyane, 5’ Stanley Muishond 22’, Samuel Julies 90’)

Maluti FET College 0

Vasco da Gama : Steven Hoffman, Sibusiso Mxoyana, Keeno Shellar, Nathan Gertse, Samuel Julies, Sibusiso Moekana, Jonathan Armogam (Darren Smith 70’), Zeka Karkee, Siseko Manona (Thabani Mthembu 77’), Stanley Muishond (Pogiso Mahlangu 63’) , Aleni Lebyane

Maluti FET College : Mojalefa Hlahatsi, Thabang Ngongela , Tsakatsi Mosikidi ( Mzwandile Banda 55’) , Sipho Nkosi, Thabiso Mokenkoane (Tsolo Tsumane 73’) , George Dibaga , Thembinkosi Lorch , Lesly Baloyi , Molibedi Mokoena, Lucas Penze, Lucky Mokoena

‘Messi's intuition makes the difference’

Lionel Messi stands out from the crowd because of his ability to read the game and not because of his magical footwork, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said as the Argentine continues another record-breaking season.

Messi became the highest scorer in La Liga history in November and he has been an unstoppable force since Christmas, helping Barca to move a point clear of Real Madrid ahead of their Clasico on Sunday.

The Argentine has scored 32 goals in La Liga, two more than Real's Cristiano Ronaldo, and he has his sights set on beating his own record of 50 in a season.

Despite all the landmarks, Luis Enrique is more impressed with Messi's footballing brain.

"There are other players that have produced figures that are similar to him," Luis Enrique told a news conference.

"What makes him really different is the way that he can interpret the play, make the right pass, know when to defend and generally read the game."

Luis Enrique had a much publicised bust-up with Messi at the start of January when the coach was unhappy with the player's attitude after returning late from his Christmas break.

Since then, however, the pair appear to have patched up their differences and Messi has been playing some of the best football of his career.

He has been the talisman as Barca have won 17 of their last 18 games and the Catalan club will be eager to capitalise on recent stumbles by Real, who have won only one of their last three league games.

Luis Enrique has warned his players against complacency since Real are capable of snatching back the initiative thanks to the wealth of talent they have at their disposal.

"(Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Gareth) Bale and (Karim) Benzema have a very high level, among the best in the world, and don't need to be on their top form to be decisive. They are a real danger for the team," he said.

"There is no favourite for this game. Both teams have the same objectives during the season and there is no doubt about the quality of the players. Playing at home is an advantage for us as it motivate the players and hopefully that will work in our favour."

Dortmund down Hanover after Euro exit

Borussia Dortmund bounced back from their mid-week Champions League exit with a 3-2 Bundesliga victory over 10-man Hanover on Saturday to earn their first win in four games.

On Sunday, runaway leaders Bayern Munich will be looking to add to their 11-point lead when they host third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach while second-placed Wolfsburg are at mid-table Mainz.

Dortmund bounced back from their 3-0 defeat at home to Juventus on Wednesday, which sealed a 5-1 aggregate defeat in the last 16, and two goalless draws in the Bundesliga as Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted twice to leave him with 12 goals in 25 league games.

Dortmund took the lead in Hanover after Germany winger Marco Reus's no-look pass split the defence and allowed Aubameyang to bury his shot in the 19th minute.

The lead lasted just 12 minutes as ex-Dortmund midfielder Leon Bittencourt stole possession on the halfway line, and sprinted to the edge of the area where he fed Lars Stindl whose weak shot beat the Borussia defence.

Dortmund rode their luck when captain Mats Hummels headed off the line early in the second half from Spanish striker Joselu just before the hosts were reduced to ten men.

Bittencourt was sent off on 55 minutes for a foul on Dortmund veteran Sebastian Kehl just six minutes after fouling Jakub Blaszczykowski.

Dortmund made the numerical advantage count almost immediately as Reus again provided the final pass for Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa to score their second on 57 minutes for his first league goal since September.

Kagawa then set up Aubameyang for his second goal with a cross which saw the Gabon forward head home on 61 minutes.

Hanover set up a nervous last ten minute when Stindl beat Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller to make it 3-2 with 82 minutes gone, but the win leaves Borussia tenth with Hanover 14th.

Bremen stay ninth after being held to a 1-1 draw at mid-table Cologne as a first-half goal by Germany Under-21 striker Davie Selke for the visitors was cancelled out by an 88th-minute penalty from Cologne midfielder Matthias Lehmann.

Freiburg climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-0 win at home to Augsburg thanks to second-half goals from Jonathan Schmid and Nils Petersen.

Paderborn stay second-from-bottom after their goalless draw at home to ten-man Hoffenheim, who had Bosnia defender Ermin Bicakcic sent off for a second yellow card.

VfB Stuttgart remain rooted to the foot of the table despite their 3-1 comeback win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

After Frankfurt midfielder Haris Seferovic gave his side a second-half lead Stuttgart striker Daniel Ginczek cancelled out the advantage by scoring twice in as many minutes.

Romania midfielder Alexandru Maxim then added Stuttgart's third to seal their first home win since September.

The result means just two points separate the bottom four teams of Stuttgart, Freiburg, Paderborn and Hamburg in Germany's top flight.

Pulis wants video tech after mix-up

Frustrated West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis called for video technology to be introduced into the Premier League after referee Neil Swarbrick sent off the wrong player during his side's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City on Saturday.

Gareth McAuley was sent off in a case of mistaken identity for West Brom after 90 seconds at the Etihad Stadium when Swarbrick failed to spot that Craig Dawson had been the culprit in bringing down Wilfried Bony when he was through on goal.

"These decisions change games," Pulis told BBC Sport. "In the modern world today refereeing is a tough job.

"I speak for a lot of managers in the professional game that the standard of refereeing hasn't been good enough this season.

"If we can help them with a 30-second call-back option, say two times in a game, it would stop us talking about the referees and more about the game itself instead.

"If we can help them in shape or form we should."

West Brom resisted for 27 minutes before Bony fired City in front with his first goal for the club and Brazilian midfielder Fernando made it 2-0 before halftime from a corner.

David Silva added a third after the break.

Pulis was unhappy with the build-up to the hosts' second goal though.

"The second goal shouldn't be allowed," Pulis told BT Sport. "Fernando kicked Saido (Berahino) in the face while jumping and it's a decision which leads to the second goal and kills the game.

"Let's be fair, it was going to be tough here today. Saido missed a great chance to make it 2-1 but obviously it's a game that was decided in the first couple of minutes."

Defeat for West Brom leaves them in mid-table with 33 points from 30 matches.

Torres bullet fires Atletico to victory

A bullet header from Fernando Torres set up depleted Atletico Madrid for a 2-0 victory over Getafe on Saturday as the champions boosted their hopes of finishing third in La Liga.

Torres powered home a Koke free kick after three minutes to claim his first league goal since returning to his boyhood club in the January transfer window from AC Milan.

Koke also played a part in the second goal before halftime when another free kick was flicked on by Raul Jimenez and Tiago nodded the ball in.

Atletico were without several players through injury and suspension but looked sharper up front than they have of late.

The hosts, who eased off in the second half as Getafe caused little danger, are now one point behind third-placed Valencia with 59 points.

Leaders Barcelona face Real Madrid in the 'Clasico' on Sunday hoping to record a victory that will send them four points clear at the top.

City cruise past West Brom, Arsenal win

Manchester City profited from a case of mistaken identity to keep their slim title hopes alive with a 3-0 win over 10-man West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.

Gareth McAuley was sent off for West Brom after 90 seconds at the Etihad Stadium when it should have been real culprit Craig Dawson and City ran out comfortable winners with goals from Wilfried Bony, Fernando and David Silva.

A 100th win as City manager for Manuel Pellegrini moved City on to 61 points from 30 matches, three behind leaders Chelsea who have two games in hand and play Hull City on Sunday.

Arsenal, knocked out of the Champions League by AS Monaco on Tuesday, remain one-point behind City after a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane celebrated his first senior England call up with a hat-trick as Spurs beat bottom side Leicester City 4-3 at White Hart Lane.

Sixth-placed Southampton stay above Spurs on goal difference after their 2-0 win at St Mary's against struggling Burnley who remain in the bottom three.

Crystal Palace came from a goal down to beat Stoke City 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium, while Aston Villa's recent resurgence came to end with a 1-0 home defeat against Swansea City.

New Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat takes his struggling side to West Ham United later on 

Leopards send Chiefs packing

A 90th minute goal from Roggert Nyundu sent Kaizer Chiefs packing from the 2015 Nedbank Cup after Black Leopards beat the Soweto side 2-1 in a last 16 match at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.

Chiefs started the better of the teams, but despite seeing the majority of the possession they struggled to fashion real goal-scoring chances.

David Zulu did manage a shot on goal in the 15th minute, but his 20-yard shot went just over the target.

Six minutes later Leopards took the lead against the run of play after Morgan Shivambu fired home from close range following some sloppy Chiefs marking.

Chiefs tried to fight their way back into the game and came close to finding the equaliser minutes before the break when a Morgan Gould effort from six-yards out was cleared off the line by a Leopards defender.

The second half saw Chiefs come out attacking and they nearly found a goal in the 50th minute when Matthew Rusike met an inch perfect cross, but his header was superbly saved by the keeper.

The Amakhosi continued to press forward and were finally rewarded with the equaliser in the 78th minute when Willard Katsande headed home a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner-kick.

The game looked to be heading to extra time before a deflected shot from Nyundu found it’s way past Reyaad Pieterse and into the back of the net for a shock win for the Leopards.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Katsande 78’)

Black Leopards (1) 2 (Shivambu 21’, Nyundu 91’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse, Moleko, Gould, Bukenya, Mtsweni, Katsande, Maluleka, Karuru (Lebese 57’), Masango, Zulu (Tshabalala 58’), Rusike (Mthembu 74’)

Black Leopards: Tshinuna, Nyirenda, Shivambu, Radebe (Nange 46’), Mugananga, Maphangul [Mahangwahaya 66’ (Bobe 84’)], Ndou, Moabotja, Abubakar, Nyundu, Ntshangase