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Results Based News

Reds facing European exit

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 09/04/2009

Two Branislav Ivanovic headers and a Didier Drogba strike helped Chelsea upset the betting pundits and come from behind to beat Liverpool 3-1 in a scintillating Champions League quarter-final first leg clash at Anfield.

It had all seemed so different in the opening minutes when Fernando Torres put the Reds ahead, but Guus Hiddink's side responded superbly and thoroughly deserved their win.

It was the fifth successive season that the two teams had met in the competition but it now seems as though it will be Chelsea who will be playing Barcelona in the semi-finals this time.

Liverpool had already beaten Chelsea twice in the Premier League this season, but it was a very different story this time around.

In the other Champions League last-eight tie of the night, Barcelona thrashed a hapless Bayern Munich side 4-0 at the Camp Nou.

Two goals from Lionel Messi and further strikes from Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o put Barca firmly in the driving seat.

Bayern improved after half-time but the future of coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been brought into doubt following the heavy defeat.

In domestic football, Cardiff City boosted their chances of snatching the last automatic promotion place in the Championship after a 4-1 victory over Derby County.

Roger Johnson's first-half header was ably supported by strikes from Gavin Rae, Jay Bothroyd and substitute Eddie Johnson as the Bluebirds moved up to fifth place in the table.

Celtic remain in the box seat in the race for the Scottish Premier League title after a comfortable 4-0 win over relegation-haunted Falkirk.

Gordon Strachan's side remain three points clear of main rivals Rangers, who were also winners on the night after grinding out a 2-1 victory at St Mirren.

South African Tim Clark has taken the early honours at Augusta National after winning the traditional par three competition on the eve of the Masters.

Clark finished on five under par and was one of three players - alongside Greg Norman and John Merrick - to record holes in one during the unofficial event.

However, no winner of the par three event has gone on to secure the Green Jacket at the season's first golf Major.

In tennis, Serena Williams' reign as number one in the world rankings is over following her surprise first-round exit at the WTA event in Marbella.

Williams lost 6-4 3-6 6-1 to world number 95 Klara Zakopalova and will be replaced at the top of the rankings by Russia's Dinara Safina when the new list is published on April 20.

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