Godwin Ezeh was the two-goal hero as Al-Hilal of Sudan gained their first African Champions League Group B points with a 2-0 win over Esperance of Tunisia Sunday.The stocky Nigerian striker headed the 'Blue Wave' in front after 29 minutes before a capacity 40,000 crowd at Al-Hilal Stadium and struck again two minutes into stoppage time.It was a fairytale first home appearance in the pool phase of the leading African club competition for Hilal with success lifting them from the bottom of the standings to second place after two rounds.

Chelsea have succeeded in their bid to lure Lyon winger Florent Malouda to Stamford Bridge, the French club's president announced on Sunday.

Vietnam upset the United Arab Emirates in their opening Asian Cup game Sunday while tournament favourites Australia found out the hard way what football on the continent is all about.

The Premier league is set to test Hawk-eye technology in football with a view to remove doubts over goal-line decisions, the chief of the company that makes the product has said.

China captain Zheng Zhi hopes to secure a move back to Europe after the Asian Cup following his eye-catching stint at Charlton Athletic.

Coach Jorvan Vieira believes the loss of valuable points in a struggling draw with co-hosts Thailand may cost Iraq dear at the Asian Cup.

Manchester United forward Dong Fangzhuo is hoping a successful Asian Cup can help him break into the English champions' first team.

The Asian Cup is proving to be an exotic place for reunions among ageing former teammates at European football clubs, with the expatriate coaches leading Group B sides all old colleagues.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez on Saturday confirmed that Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse were leaving Anfield.

England football star David Beckham has split from sponsor Gillette just ahead of his American debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

Thailand held Iraq to a 1-1 draw here Saturday as the Asian Cup got underway in pouring rain, dampening an otherwise entertaining start to the three-week football festival.

Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovic said Saturday there was no mind games behind his side's late arrival here for their Asian Cup opener against champions Japan on Monday.

Mark Viduka is looking to his innate understanding with Harry Kewell to realise the goals to take Australia to victory in the Asian Cup.

Saudi Arabia have dropped 2005 Asian Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari and three others from their squad for the Asian Cup finals, a team official said Saturday.

Bruno Metsu, who this year guided the United Arab Emirates to their first Gulf Cup title, has South Africa 2010 firmly in his sights ahead of their Asian Cup opener against hosts Vietnam on Sunday.

The Asian Cup focus here might be on Australia but the tournament offers a perfect chance for Oman's players to make a case for European club contracts, goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi said Saturday.

New Leicester City signing Hossein Kaebi said only an unprecedented fourth Asian Cup win will satisfy Iran.

Manchester United forward Dong Fangzhuo on Saturday said China were confident of shrugging off recent poor form in the Asian Cup.

Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl knows his side have little hope at the Asian Cup in a group full of champions and instead says his aim is to make them the best in Southeast Asia.

Omar Dabo bade farewell to Algerian club Jeunesse Sportive Kabylie by scoring the two goals that got their African Champions League challenge back on track.