Chelsea in semis with 7-5 agg win over Reds

Chelsea will face favorites Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals after sharing eight goals with Liverpool on one of the most dramatic night’s in the history of the tournament for a 7-5 aggregate win. Last season’s beaten finalists Chelsea could finally relax when Frank Lampard’s second goal of the game a minute from time saw them grab a stunning succes over their Premier League rivals after a 4-4 Stamford Bridge draw. Dutch coach Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea had looked to have done the hard work with a 3-1 first leg victory at Anfield last week, but they suffered the shattering blow of conceding twice in the opening half hour of the return

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Gerrard double as Reds destroy Real Madrid

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres combined to destroy Real Madrid’s Champions League ambitions as Liverpool powered into the quarterfinals with four goals on the night and 5-0 on aggregate at Anfield. Former Atletico Madrid striker Torres made the breakthrough from close range after 16 minutes of Liverpool pressure when he fired home from close range before Gerrard’s double destroyed any lingering doubts. “The most important thing for me was to win the game and book our place in the last eight and it was a fantastic team performance,” Gerrard told ITV.

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Ronaldo free-kick puts United eight clear

A superb free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo gave Manchester United a 2-1 home win over Blackburn to move them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table. United’s record-breaking run of clean sheets came to an end at Old Trafford, but Ronaldo’s moment ensured Sir Alex Ferguson’s side remain well on course to lift their third successive title. United took a 23rd minute lead when Wayne Rooney celebrated his first start since returning from a hamstring injury, by taking advantage of a mistake from defender Ryan Nelsen to score the opening goal

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Eto’o scores twice as Barcelona march on

Barcelona continued their march towards the Spanish Primera Liga title as Samuel Eto’o scored twice in their 3-1 home victory over Sporting Gijon — a result that moves them once again 12 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table. Eto’o scored his opener in the 23rd minute when he tapped home Thierry Henry’s cross, after Andres Iniesta had carried the ball with pace from his own half.

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Obama team works to define U.S. strategy in Afghanistan

When U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks, then-President Bush said the goal in Afghanistan was "to build a flourishing democracy as an alternative to a hateful ideology." Seven years, billions of dollars and hundreds of U.S. casualties later, the goals are more pragmatic and modest.

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