Football: Irish give up in replay bid

Irish football officials have finally conceded that there will be no replay of the controversial World Cup playoff against France.

Beleaguered Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini gets a vote of confidence for the club’s director-general Jorge Valdano despite their disastrous Champions League exit to Lyon.

Lyon snatch a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Anfield as Liverpool lose four matches in a row for the first time since 1987 to leave their Champions League qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Nasser Al-Attiyah closed the gap on Volkswagen team-mate Carlos Sainz’s overall Dakar Rally lead after winning Wednesday’s 220km 11th stage to San Juan in Argentina.

Manchester United and Arsenal both claim easy victories on Wednesday to remain in touch with Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League.

India is struggling to revive its national sport, field hockey.

Second seed Rafael Nadal and fifth seed Andy Murray (above) both ease through to the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne after straight sets wins.

Novak Djokovic is up to number three in the world after defeating Marin Cilic in the final of the China Open in Beijing on Sunday.

Michelle Wie’s long wait for her first LPGA Tour title is finally over after the Korean-American secured a two-shot triumph at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Team Columbia chief Bob Stapleton exclusively tells CNN that the return of Lance Armstong to competitive cycling has boosted the sport’s profile for the better.

Two second half goals from Peter Crouch and a further strike from fellow substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips give England a 3-1 win over African champions Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday.