17 February 2004	Tuesday	25 Zilhaj 1424

LONDON, Feb 16: Holders Arsenal stayed on course to lift the FA Cup for the third year running, while Real Madrid grabbed a last-gasp equaliser to keep hold of top spot and Serie A leaders Milan remained five points clear.

ENGLAND

Arsenal ended Chelsea's FA Cup chances with new Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes scoring twice in the fifth-round tie as the holders came from behind to beat their London rivals.

Manchester United advanced to the quarterfinals after a 4-2 win over neighbours Manchester City in an action-packed derby that included a red card for United's England defender Gary Neville for head-butting with almost an hour to play.

Second division Tranmere Rovers, who beat Swansea 2-1, first division Sheffield United, 1-0 winners over Colchester, and first division, Millwall who beat Burnley 1-0, also go into Monday's draw.

SPAIN

Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid scraped a 1-1 draw at home to Valencia when Luis Figo converted a controversial injury-time penalty in an intense top-of-the-table clash.

Valencia looked on course for victory at the Bernabeu after defender Roberto Ayala put them ahead with a bullet header from a corner 15 minutes from time.

But Figo levelled from the spot three minutes into injury time after Raul went down as he challenged Valencia defender Carlos Marchena for the ball inside the area.

ITALY

Leaders AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Lecce but remained five points clear after second-placed AS Roma drew 0-0 at bottom club Ancona.

Champions Juventus picked up a vital three points to close the gap on the top two by beating Reggina 1-0 in Turin. In a bad day for the big clubs, fifth-placed Inter Milan lost 2-1 at home to Udinese.

GERMANY

Leaders Werder Bremen moved nine points clear after an injury-time penalty by Brazilian striker Ailton beat Kaiserslautern 1-0.

Bremen have 48 points from 20 games, with champions Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart on 39 in second and third respectively. Munich lost 1-0 at fifth-placed VfL Bochum, their first loss there in 19 years. Denmark striker Peter Madsen got the only goal after eight minutes.

FRANCE

Leaders Monaco suffered their first home defeat of the season, 1-0 to Lille, as their lead was cut to four points.

A blunder by Italian goalkeeper Flavio Roma enabled Matt Moussilou to get the only goal in the 79th minute.

Peguy Luyindula brought Olympique Lyon back into the title chase when he scored both goals in the champions 2-1 win at AJ Auxerre tha moved them up one place to second with 47 points.

THE NETHERLANDS

Ajax Amsterdam maintained their three-point lead at the top with a 2-0 win at Volendam.

Goals by Yannis Anastasiou and Tomas Galasek took the leaders on to 52 points against the 49 of PSV, who needed an injury-time goal from Mateja Kezman to beat Twente Enschede.

FA CUP DRAW

Holders Arsenal will visit either Liverpool or Portsmouth in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup following the draw made on Monday.

Liverpool were the last team to beat Arsenal in the competition when they came from behind to edge them 2-1 in the 2001 final at Cardiff. Arsenal have won the cup twice since then.

Liverpool drew 1-1 with Portsmouth at the weekend and the two sides will replay on Sunday.

The matches will take place on the weekend of March 6-7.

DRAW: Millwall (I) v Tranmere (II) Manchester United v West Ham (I) or Fulham Sunderland (I) or Birmingham City v Sheffield United (I) Liverpool or Portsmouth v Arsenal

Ties to be played over the weekend of March 6 and 7.

ODDS:

5-4 Manchester United

15-8 Arsenal

8-1 Liverpool

11-1 Birmingham City

14-1 Millwall

20-1 Sheffield United

40-1 Fulham, Sunderland, Tranmere

50-1 West Ham

66-1 Portsmouth. -Reuters