Chelsea’s hopes of a place in the Champions League final 16 have been compromised on Tuesday when the holders fell to the 1st reduction of their trophy defence in a two-1 defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Regardless of a late energy by Oscar, objectives from Alex Teixeira and Fernandinho were adequate to give the Ukrainian champions breathing space at the top of Group E and lengthen an extraordinary unbeaten run stretching back 11 months.

It was Chelsea’s first loss because they went down to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, but things would have been far worse for the Premier League leaders had Juventus not been held to a one-1 draw at FC Nordsjaelland.

Chelsea remain in 2nd area but are now 3 points behind Shakhtar ahead of the return game on November 7, while coach Roberto Di Matteo must hope for a quick recovery prior to Sunday’s visit of Manchester United.

John Terry returned for Chelsea immediately after missing their four-two win at Tottenham Hotspur as he served the 1st instalment of a four-game ban for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, but his first contribution was unfortunate.

Ironically sporting a Unite Against Racism armband, a single yr to the day considering that his clash with Ferdinand, the Blues captain unwittingly diverted a shot into the path of Teixeira, who drilled the hosts into a 3rd-minute lead.

One more Chelsea stalwart, Frank Lampard, was making his 100th European look, but he endured a similarly forgettable commence to the game, with injury forcing him off in the 16th minute.

Eden Hazard replaced Lampard and aided craft an opening for Fernando Torres, but Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov came out to save at the Spaniard’s feet.

The hosts refused to be flustered by Chelsea’s forays into their territory, nonetheless, and the harmful Willian twice threatened to lengthen their lead with attempts from extended range.

The Brazilian with the afro haircut then teed up Henrik Mkhitaryan for a strong shot that Petr Cech parried, although the Czech goalkeeper also had to claw away a near-variety work from Yaroslav Rakitskiy.

The half-time whistle came as a relief for Di Matteo’s side but issues received no greater in the 2nd half, as the residence side doubled their advantage inside 7 minutes.

Hazard was caught in possession in midfield by Fernandinho, who hared upfield to collect a lay-off from Luiz Adriano before crashing a precise reduced shot into Cech’s bottom-correct corner.

Pyatov had to repel extended-assortment shots from Hazard and Ramires, but Mircea Lucescu’s males refused to be pushed back.

Cech twice had to deal with smartly hit shots from Mkhitaryan, even though Adriano noticed a header bobble narrowly broad of the left-hand post.

Oscar tucked property Branislav Ivanovic’s minimal cross in the 88th minute to declare a consolation objective for Chelsea, but Shakhtar have been in no mood to relinquish their record of possessing by no means lost at property to an English club.

Promising New Zealand filly Kate has been set an ambitious goal after winning a three-year-old handicap at Hastings on Saturday.

Trainer Wayne Hillis says the St Reims filly’s ultimate target this spring will be the Group One VRC Oaks (2500) at Flemington on November 8.

Hillis described Kate as a strong horse who had great potential.

“We’ve always thought a bit of her,” Hillis said.

“We’ve got some big ambitions for her. It’s good to get this win to show we’re on the right track.

“The VRC Oaks is our aim and we’re on our way now.”

He said Kate had three luckless runs as a two-year-old, but had always shown the potential to step up to better class races at three.

Hillis will enter Kate for the Group Two Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 6 ahead of the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 17 and then the Oaks.

He has a lot of faith in the filly, which he said would have at least one more run in New Zealand before travelling across the Tasman.

“We’ve really liked her all along. I’ve ridden her myself and she’s a beautiful mover,” he said.

“Even as a two-year-old she looked three at that stage, she was very strong.”

Hillis said Kate, bred and owned by Don Skelton, would run in the Listed $ 50,000 Wanganui Guineas (1340m) on Saturday.

Hillis’ only previous Oaks runner in Australia was Boulevardofdreams, who finished third in the Group One Australian Oaks at Randwick in 2004.

Amid the very best mares in the country more than a middle distance, Secret Admirer is on a mission to broaden her repertoire this spring.

The five-year-old will resume in Saturday’s Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m), the 1st stage in a campaign geared in direction of the Caulfield Cup.

Twice a Group 1 winner more than 1600 metres at Randwick, Secret Admirer has proven connections enough at her only two begins beyond that journey to come below consideration for the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

“Simply because she gets properly weighted in that race we felt it was time to try her in excess of a mile-and-a-half,” trainer Grahame Begg mentioned.

“She ran fifth in the Cox Plate and 3rd in the Queen Elizabeth so we have got a little bit of an inkling.”

Reflecting the simple fact she will be aimed at longer races, Secret Admirer will resume more than 1400 metres for the very first time on Saturday.

Her other 1st-up runs have been above shorter journeys and she has been placed in all 3.

Secret Admirer has not raced since the Queen Elizabeth in April, the culmination of a 6-start off autumn campaign which yielded 4 minor placings.

Begg mentioned the important to her was a genuine tempo, which the backmarker did not always get final planning.

“She was probably a couple of inches away in the autumn,” Begg explained.

“She demands quick run races.

“She’s certainly matured. She’s in which she ought to be at.”

Along with the Peter Moody-qualified Lights Of Heaven, Secret Admirer will be striving to grow to be the first mare to win the Warwick Stakes given that Private Steer in 2004.

The pair was between a final field of 13 declared for the characteristic which is headed by several Group 1 winner Danleigh and defending titleholder Pinwheel.

Also there is the Queensland-trained pair of Bold Glance and Startsmeup who Begg hopes may inject some pace into the race.

“She will undoubtedly be competitive. It appears like there should be acceptable speed with Startsmeup, Bold Glance and Pinwheel,” Begg mentioned.

Missile Stakes winner Pinwheel was favourite with TAB Sportsbet on Wednesday at $ two.90 ahead of Gai Waterhouse-educated former New Zealander Rock `N’ Poop at $ five.50.

Secret Admirer and Lights Of Heaven were the two $ eight.

Opposition to Frankel in the Juddmonte Worldwide Stakes at York later on this month could be thin in the ground with John Gosden raising doubts about his Eclipse winner Nathaniel.

With Cirrus Des Aigles currently ruled out of the Group One particular highlight, the best horse in the globe may have no more than a canter round on his initial start more than 10 furlongs (2000m).

Nathaniel won the Eclipse on his first begin of the season and went down by the narrowest of margins to Danedream in his try to defend his King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes title at Ascot a fortnight later.

Nevertheless, having been entered into the Irish Champion Stakes at the second stage, the Leopardstown race could now be favourite.

Gosden advised the Guardian that a trip to York remains “an alternative” but a trip to Ireland was “much more probably”.

“We’ll see how items are and make a determination closer to the time,” Gosden mentioned.

“The horse is in excellent order but I want to see what the weather’s undertaking, that is constantly critical.”

He did, nevertheless, dismiss the notion that the Global came too quickly right after the King George.

“That is not an concern. By the time the York race comes close to, it will not be far off a month (since he last ran),” he stated.

With Cirrus Des Aigles also now heading for Ireland, Gosden explained he would not be shirking the challenge.

“He’s a horse I respect,” he stated.

“But, if I’m satisfied with the race and ailments, I’ve never in my lifestyle been frightened off by 1 horse.”

One particular who may possibly consider on Frankel, nonetheless, is William Haggas’ Dancing Rain, absent considering that selecting up an injury in Japan.

“We’ll either go there or the Yorkshire Oaks, which is the logical choice,” mentioned Haggas.

“If it looked like becoming a really tiny area for the Worldwide, we might go for it.

“We’d be taking on Frankel, which is a close to impossible job, but the owners are extremely keen to have a go at a mile and a quarter at some stage and the very first time (this season) is almost certainly the appropriate time to do it, because she’ll be fresh.

Australian cyclists Anna Meares and Kaarle McCullough have won Australia’s first medal in the velodrome this Olympics in the women’s group sprint.

Meares and McCullough took bronze by cruising ahead of Ukraine to win by .764.

Germany’s Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel were given the gold in controversial fashion following the relegation of China at the velodrome on Thursday.

Guo Shuang and Gong Jinjie had combined to claim an historic very first Olympic gold in the two-lap event, the first ever Olympic cycling title for China, only to be relegated soon following for an infringement.

It indicates China were relegated to the silver medal place.

Guo and Gong were not the only pair to fall foul of the principles as the women’s occasion occasion produced its Olympic debut.

Earlier, Olympic and six-time world sprint champion Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish were relegated from the 1st round for an “irregular alter”.

Pendleton and Varnish had been the first to beat Welte and Vogel’s world record of 32.549sec, set by the German pair last April, but they were relegated from the first round right after qualifying for the gold medal match with China.

The setback ended Pendleton’s bid for 3 gold medals at the Games, in which she is also competing in the sprint and keirin.

“It really is just a single of these items that occurred. We have been possibly just a bit as well eager and enthusiastic for a ride,” stated a distraught Pendleton.

“Now and once again rubbish items come about and this is one particular of these. The only positives I can consider is I know I’m in excellent type.”

Guo, China’s major hope for gold in the sprint and keirin, and Gong looked devastated on hearing the news right after it was announced. However they returned to the podium for the medal ceremony, smiling as they collected their silvers.

The pair had earlier underlined their gold medal credentials by twice setting a new world record for the two-lap power event in 32.447 and 32.442.

Australian rowing supermum Sarah Tait and crew-mate Kate Hornsey claimed silver as Excellent Britain celebrated their 1st gold medal of the London Olympics on Wednesday.

With Princess Anne amongst an expectant 25,000-sturdy crowd at Eton Dorney, Tait and Hornsey were forced to play 2nd fiddle to the dominant British duo Helen Glover and Heather Stanning broke the home team’s gold drought on the fifth day of the Games.

Tim Sheridan: Aussies ecstatic with silver

Favourites Glover and Stanning, Group GB spares only 3 many years ago, also ended another much longer drought for the hosts who had in no way won Olympic gold in women’s rowing.

They set a new Olympic very best time in the heats and took control of the final in the initial 250m exactly where they created up a length lead.

Globe champions New Zealand trailed in second for all but the last 100m as Tait and Hornsey, fourth behind USA with 400m to go, stormed property.

But they still finished two lengths behind Glover and Stanning to the joy of the residence crowd.

The silver medal was nevertheless a particularly sweet good results for Tait, 29, who chose to undergo wrist surgical treatment just 4 weeks ago to make certain her fitness for her 3rd Video games look.

The Australian women’s team captain is the only survivor of the infamous women’s eight crew which bombed in Athens when Sally Robbins lay down ahead of the finish line.

The Victorian’s 2008 expertise in Beijing was just as unpleasant as her very-touted eight cracked underneath the pressure and also completed last in the final.

Tait, who is coached by her husband Bill, took time off the sport in 2009 to give birth to daughter Leila and became Australia’s first Olympic rowing mum when she lined up in this week’s heats at Lake Dorney.

“Following Beijing I nevertheless was not certain regardless of whether I would continue rowing, I had a infant and that sort of place a spanner in the operates in terms of not knowing regardless of whether,” she advised AAP in March.

“It really is a huge challenge and there is a lot of tiny things on the way that individuals never assume about but we have to juggle.”

Tasmanian Hornsey only joined Tait in the pair last year when she was a final-minute replacement right after Geelong rower Phoebe Stanley suffered cardiac arrhythmia prior to the globe titles in Slovenia.

Tait and Hornsey have been total of smiles at the finish line, particularly immediately after becoming concerned by their medal prospects with 500m to row.

“We knew we had a good run to the line and we knew we could make a couple of positions in the race,” Tait mentioned.

“Coming into the 1500 in fourth we really worked tough to get bronze. In the last couple of strokes, it ought to have been, we popped out in silver which is just unbelievable for us.

“It truly is so fascinating.”

Paul Gallen says he would happily forsake his standing as Cronulla’s highest-paid player to bring Luke Lewis to the club.

Lewis is weighing up a move to the Sharks or Wests Tigers following becoming granted an early release from the final two years of his contract with Penrith and Gallen would enjoy to line up alongside his NSW teammate at the start off of the 2013 NRL season.

The Cronulla and NSW skipper signed a two-yr contract extension last year which will hold him at the club till the end of the 2015 campaign, and he mentioned attracting top-quality players to Toyota Stadium is far more important to him than earning more income.

“I am fairly satisfied with in which I am at, at the second. If he earns more cash than me, I never care,” Gallen stated on Thursday.

“Toddy (Carney) is almost certainly going to earn much more income than me. It’s about winning. I am a lot more than pleased with my contract and in which it is at and, if someone get more than me, it is fine.”

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has been operating around the clock trying to persuade Lewis to join his club.

Nevertheless, Gallen explained he had no notion what selection the former Panthers skipper will make, despite the fact he’s been spotted checking out properties in the Cronulla area.

“I spoke to Flanno last evening at 10pm and I know he and (football manager) Darren Mooney are undertaking all they can,” Gallen mentioned.

“It is up to Lewy now. He’s a different character as we all know. I am confident he’ll be hunting at house rates out here and out the Tigers’ way as nicely and will make the right choice for his loved ones and himself.”

Gallen also stated that securing the services of Lewis would send out a signal of intent from the perennial battlers that they are a significant player in the NRL.

“That’s in which we are at the second,” he stated.

“You pick up a player like Luke Lewis then other gamers want to come here as nicely. It would be good to get him.”

Luke Nolen is officially odds-on to defend his Melbourne jockeys’ premiership crown.

With five meetings left in the 2011-2012 season, Nolen holds a one-win lead above Craig Newitt as their enthralling title battle continues at Sandown on Wednesday.

Numerically at Sandown, Newitt holds a slight edge over Nolen with a complete guide of eight rides compared to his rival’s seven mounts.

But a leading corporate bookmaker believes Nolen, due to the fact he is backed by dominant trainer Peter Moody, is entitled to be favourite to win the title for a third time.

Betstar has posted Nolen at $ one.40 with Newitt a $ 2.90 possibility right after Black Caviar’s jockey struck a late blow with Adelaide-trained galloper Prince Of Capers at Caulfield on Saturday.

Newitt is chasing his first Melbourne jockeys’ title.

He will be strongly favoured to, at worst, stay in touch with Nolen with his ride on Geejayhaitch in the Schweppes Handicap.

Geejayhaitch was posted broad when he was taken to the front in a much stronger Banjo Paterson Final at Flemington prior to dropping out from the 600m.

The veteran stayer was a Sandown placegetter 4 starts ago and he is an early $ 2.50 fixed odds favourite to make amends on Wednesday.

Early markets point to Praesentia (Sportingbet Handicap) becoming amongst the finest of Nolen’s rides.

Canterbury coach Des Hasler has encouraged Manly followers to bring the hate in the course of his highly anticipated return to Brookvale Oval on Friday night.

But the former Sea Eagles mentor insists he is not expecting a hostile reception from supporters of the club he guided to two NRL premierships ahead of his acrimonious off-season departure.

Hasler joined Canterbury inside a week of helping the Sea Eagles claim the 2012 premiership, ending a close to 30-yr association with the club and angering its followers.

There is no query there is even now sick feeling towards Hasler from the Manly fanbase, with supporter groups preparing on bringing banners questioning Hasler’s loyalty and his determination to leave the club.

But far from shying away from the probably volatile atmosphere, Hasler has offered it his full support.

“It’d be great (if they give it to me). That’s what it truly is all about, it is the passion, the tribalism,” Hasler stated.

“I’m certain if I turned up to their location on Sunday afternoon for a barbie, they wouldn’t turn me away.

“That is what it really is all about, the emotion, it really is what you want.”

A lot more than anything, Hasler is looking forward to seeing how his Bulldogs – who are chasing their eighth win on-the-trot – match up to Manly’s unforgiving type of play.

“It is an chance for this youthful Bulldogs side to really get a taste of grind football,” he said.

“It will be a wonderful knowledge for us and a true mastering curve for us to encounter that kind of side, against who I view as the benchmark side.

“They are the NRL premiers and they’ve received gamers who can lift for the huge games. It will be a great check for us.”

Star Bulldogs front-rower James Graham can not wait to get a taste of Fortress Brookvale.

“The environment will be actually intense, a hostile atmosphere,” Graham said.

“We want to see wherever we’re at.”

Graham, who is acquainted with rivalry clashes from his time with St Helens in the English Super League, mentioned this was not a game Hasler was prepared to shed.

Hasler has already had to endure his former club triumphing twelve-ten when the two teams met in round eight.

“Des is not excellent at dropping at the finest of occasions and I am confident he will not want to lose this game,” Graham extra.

“As gamers we’re making an attempt to not focus on what took place in the previous, and concentrate on the now. Regardless of what went on at the finish of last year, it’s not actually any of my business.

“… Certainly there is a fantastic environment (at Brookvale), any game that’s played there, and naturally with the minor side story that’s going on I believe the atmosphere will be actually extreme.

“I’m not as well positive (if Manly fans hate Hasler). They are entitled to their opinions. I am not privy to all the details, so who am I to talk about it?”

North Melbourne AFL coach Brad Scott took pride in the way his players stood up to their former tormentors St Kilda in a spiteful round-14 clash at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.

North trailed by two points at halftime but kicked 12 goals to St Kilda’s 6 in the second half to win 21.ten (136) to 15.13 (103).

Scott’s Kangaroos (7-six) hopped into eighth spot, pushing the Saints (6-7) down 1 place to ninth.

It was another large stage forward for North, who have strung collectively two upset wins in a row after their shock victory above Adelaide final week.

But while midfielders Daniel Wells and Leigh Adams and four-aim forward Drew Petrie had been influential, 21-year-old Sam Wright shot to prominence with a fine tagging role on Brendon Goddard.

The Saints had won their past four matches against the Kangaroos and Goddard had averaged in excess of 30 disposals in his past 5 games against North.

Goddard was held to 20 touches and clashed behind play with Gibson in the final phrase, decking his opponent with a round-arm swing in an incident which could come beneath scrutiny from the AFL’s match assessment panel.

Gibson kicked a goal ten minutes later and went straight to Goddard to give him a verbal spray.

“We have looked up to Brendon Goddard in the past. He’s a super player,” Scott stated.

“He can play any position on the ground and that’s actually what we’re grooming Sam Wright to do.

“St Kilda have stood in excess of us in the past. Our boys are increasing up.

“I’ve almost certainly lamented the simple fact in the previous I truly feel like the parent in the glass box over Etihad viewing their little ones get bullied in the school yard.

“But now we’re starting up to stand on our personal two feet and stand up to the opposition which is genuinely pleasing.”

Scott said it was clear there was lots of niggle in the game.

“Our boys handled themselves truly properly. I did not believe anyone ever lost their temper,” he mentioned.

“I did see it (the clash with Goddard). Sammy came back on and continued to play properly so that was terrific.

“Final year Brendon Goddard commented on the truth that Jack Ziebell had cannoned into Nick Riewoldt and ended up finding suspended.

“It truly is not my work to comment on opposition gamers. I will just concentrate on my personal.”

Riewoldt was also quiet, kicking one particular objective as he was soundly beaten by North defender Nathan Grima.

Lenny Hayes and David Armitage had been amongst St Kilda’s foremost players even though the Saints have been hampered by injuries to Rhys Stanley (hamstring), Jason Blake (ankle) whilst crucial forward Justin Koschitzke struggled with illness and was kick-much less.

St Kilda host fourth-positioned Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night whilst the Kangaroos are at home to third-placed West Coast in Hobart earlier on Saturday.

“I hear eight-stage game mentioned. From our standpoint, each game is important,” St Kilda coach Scott Watters mentioned.

Watters stated Sunday’s loss was a unusual instance of his midfield becoming soundly beaten.