Newcastle head towards quarter-finals

Newcastle have taken a massive stride towards the UEFA Cup quarter-finals after producing a first-half blitz to leave AZ Alkmaar reeling.

A Gretar Steinsson own goal and strikes from Kieron Dyer and Obafemi Martins saw the Magpies race into a 3-0 lead with just 23 minutes gone as the Dutchmen were torn apart.

Shota Arveladze reduced the deficit with a 31st minute header, but Martins - identified as the dangerman by AZ coach Louis van Gaal before the game - claimed his 16th goal of the season six minutes later.

Glenn Roeder's men head for the DSB Stadium next Thursday evening knowing qualification is within their grasp, but aware that the side currently lying second in the Eredivisie will not bow out of the competition without a fight.

A magnificent injury-time strike by Brahim Hemdani earned Rangers a scarcely-deserved draw in their UEFA Cup clash with Spanish side Osasuna at Ibrox.

Hemdani curled a glorious shot into the top corner from 25 yards after Rangers had been outplayed for much of the last sixteen first leg tie.

Raul Garcia headed the opener as Walter Smith's side struggled to defend crosses throughout a wet night at Ibrox.

The home side went on to threaten only briefly, until Hemdani gave them hope out of the blue.

Robbie Keane grabbed an injury-time winner for Tottenham in the first leg of their UEFA Cup game against Braga in Portugal.

Keane had opened the scoring earlier before Steed Malbranque doubled the lead, although Paulo Jorge and Ze Carlos cancelled out the advantage.

Just as they did in the Barclays Premiership against West Ham on Sunday, Spurs left it late, with Keane keeping his cool this time to put his side in the driving seat to reach the quarter-finals.

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