From The Touchlines

Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal booked their spots in the quarterfinals in contrasting fashion at the Sony Ericsson Open, but top seed Roger Federer was sensationally beaten in the fourth round. 

Federer joined the likes of Nikolay Davydenko, James Blake and Fernando Gonzalez on the sidelines after he was beaten by Argentine Guillermo Canas (left) in three sets, losing 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-7 (5-7).

Twelfth seed Murray nearly followed in his steps as well when he lost a horrendous first set to Frenchman Paul Henri Mathieu. But he bounced back in the second set to take the tie 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, and set up a quarterfinal encounter with Andy Roddick.

Roddick had defeated Spain’s David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3.

Murray had begun the tie in convincing fashion, holding his serve and then breaking Mathieu’s serve to take a 2-0 lead.

But after that, at least in the first set, Murray just completely collapsed, allowing Mathieu back into the set when his serve was broken in the third game.

Subsequently, Mathieu just sailed through the first set 6-2, winning all his serves and breaking Murray’s along the way, setting up a possible upset.

In the second set, things were no different, with Murray accumulating an unusually high number of unforced errors.

It was only at the tailend of the set, with Murray staring defeat in the face, that he began to take the initiative to rescue the tie.

At 4-5 on Mathieu’s serve, Murray (left) found the extra edge he needed, breaking Mathieu’s serve and subesequently consolidating the break to go up 6-5.

He then wrapped up the second set 7-5 when Mathieu, recalling how he could have sealed the match long ago, just fell flat.

Mathieu was guilty of not at least getting his first serves in and allowing Murray, who was hanging by a thread, back into the match.

In the decider, there was no looking back for Murray who broke Mathieu’s serve early to go 2-0 up and consolidated his break after that.

He went on to win the match 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours to advance into the quarterfinals.

There was no such trouble for world no. 2 Rafael Nadal, who sailed through his match with unfancied Juan Martin del Potro, beating the Argentine in straight sets 6-0, 6-4 after 90 minutes.

Nadal cruised through the first set without dropping a single game and not giving del Potro a single break point opportunity as he looked to wrap up the match in a relatively short period of time, considering it was deep into the night.

He encountered a little more resistance from del Potro in the second set, who recovered well from a disastrous first set to give Nadal a run for his money.

del Potro managed to hold serve until the seventh game in the second set, when Nadal, who had several opportunities to break his serve previously, finally broke del Potro’s defences to go 4-3 up.

The Spaniard consolidated his break and later served out the match 6-0, 6-4. The clock just struck midnight. 

Nadal will meet fellow Pacific Life Open finalist Novak Djokovic in the quarter finals.

Other players to have advanced to the last eight were Spain’s Tommy Robredo, Croat Ivan Ljubicic and Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.

Robredo defeated Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), Ljubicic brushed aside Finnish Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 and Chela ended American qualifier Amer Delic’s fine run with a 6-3, 6-2 win.

Cristiano Ronaldo became a thorn in the flesh for Middlesbrough again, as Manchester United secured a FA Cup semi-final spot with a narrow 1-0 win in the replay at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo scored the only goal of the match – a penalty – to send Gareth Southgate’s men packing.

It was the third penalty in the three matches United have played against Boro, and all three have come courtesy of the Portuguese winger.

Within the first 10 minutes, United made it very clear that they were not going to lose grip of this encounter.

After four minutes, Wayne Rooney’s goalbound shot was deflected out for a corner by Boro defender Jonathan Woodgate.

From the resulting corner, Nemanja Vidic tested Mark Schwarzer with a nice firm header.

Subsequently, Ronaldo lashed in a first time shot that whisked off the far post, after a fine layoff by his partner-in-crime Rooney.

Boro were then shocked into going on the offensive, knowing very well that sitting in their half and weathering United’s chances was not going to do them any good.

Mark Viduka was guilty of not at least hitting the target with his drive after 16 minutes, from a deflected pass by Ronaldo’s Portuguese colleague Abel Xavier.

Vidic then had another header saved by Schwarzer at the half hour mark, who was determined to thwart every chance the Devils threw at him.

Woodgate was just as determined, when he stopped Ronaldo’s fine run into the area by blocking his pass three minutes later.

But the best chance of the half came three minutes from half time, with Rooney beating the offside trap, and with a clear sight of goal, moved quickly into the area.

Schwarzer however, was quick to react and before Rooney could get around him, he quickly stretched his arms collect the ball, with Rooney staring in disbelief.

After the break, Stewart Downing spurned his chance to put Boro ahead after failing to hit the target following Viduka’s nice pass.

Five minutes later, Ronaldo burst down the right flank this time, and from an acute angle, managed to place in a shot that just hit the post and went out.

After 66 minutes, Rooney again had his shot blocked after he had cut in brilliantly.

But his best chance of the half came four minutes later, when he expertly beat the offside trap, with George Boateng frantically but erroneously waving to the linesman for offside.

Schwarzer came to his rescue though, when he blocked Rooney’s eventual shot with his legs.

United could not seem to find a way past the ever present and eagle-eyed Schwarzer, who was clearly keen on keeping a clean sheet that night.

But Ronaldo, as usual, had other ideas.

In one of his signature runs down the left flank, Ronaldo found his way deep into Boro’s penalty area, only to be tripped by the fast approaching Woodgate. Penalty.

Ronaldo had previously converted both penalties in their preceding two encounters. This time was no different, as he placed the spotkick into the top corner.

He then reeled off in sheer delight, kissing the United badge on his jersey as his teammates mobbed him.

But if there was delight on the pitch, there was no delight on the touchlines. At least not from Boro’s point of view.

United’s assistant manager Carlos Queiroz had to be restrained by United backroom staff from retaliating against Boro’s bench’s claims that Ronaldo was a ‘diver’ and ‘a cheat’. Southgate, after the match, denied any of the claims and told SkySports TV that the heat of the moment, anything could have happened.

Back on the pitch, Ronaldo and Woodgate exchanged a few unheated words themselves as United went in search of goal no. 2.

It nearly materialised, but only for Schwarzer to save Giggs’ powerfully taken freekick after 78 minutes.

Chances were few and far between as the match reached the full 90 minutes. But there was still more action to come.

Two minutes into stoppage time, James Morrison, who came on in place of Riverside hero Lee Cattermole, saw red after he took a wild lunge on Ronaldo.

United were then very contented to just casually pass the ball around without any real purpose.

Morrison was shocked to see the red; even more so when Rooney came after him and decided to pick a fight with him and had to be restrained by the other players.

Luckily for Rooney, the referee was not going to do anything to him.

At the final whistle, Old Trafford erupted in celebration of United’s entry into the last four, where they will play table proppers Watford.

PARK ROARS!: Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung reels away in delight after scoring against Bolton Wanderers. He netted twice in United’s 4-1 win over Big Sam’s men in a Premiership match.

Park Ji-Sung and Wayne Rooney were on the double as Manchester United scored a relatively easy 4-1 win over Bolton Wanderers.

A solitary goal by Gary Speed towards the end of the match was scant consolation for Bolton, who are chasing a spot in Europe next season.

It took only six minutes for United to get moving with Gabriel Heinze providing a cross to Ryan Giggs, whose goalbound header is parried by Jussi Jaaskelainen into the path of Park.

But Park, just inches away, slid in and blasted the ball over the top.

A minute later, however, Gary Neville went down awkwardly under a challenge from Speed. He was clutching his right leg.

Neville was eventually taken off three minutes later (top) and replaced by Wes Brown.

With only the third chance of the match, United were in front.

Cristiano Ronaldo, with his signature run down the left, cut in behind the Bolton defence brilliantly before pulling the ball back for Park.

Park, unmarked, coolly slotted the ball home after 14 minutes.

After that, United just went ballistic.

Three minutes later, Ronaldo teamed up beautifully with Rooney with a nice one-two, and the latter then chipped cheekily over the onrushing Jaaskelainen and into goal, with the Bolton defence flustered.

Hardly settled, Jaakelainen then had to pick the ball out of his goal again seven minutes later, with Park the person in the right place at the right time this time, knocking in the rebound after Ronaldo’s power shot had merely been blocked.

Big Sam Allardyce was seemingly outraged with his players as the United offense was allowed space and time to create the chance.

Four minutes later, it could have been four up for United when Ronaldo just effortlessly bamboozled his way through the seemingly hapless Bolton back four, but Abdoulaye Faye was quick to sniff trouble and immediately slid in to clear the ball.

Rooney then turned provider this time, playing a one-two with Ryan Giggs but Carrick, upon receiving, sliced the ball wide.

In a half of chances that were few and far between, one thing was for sure: Bolton were still feeling their way through their match at Old Trafford, while United had made use of virtually every chance they have to score a goal.

It was almost the same story after the restart, with Ronaldo nearly connecting with Heinze’s cross from the left.

But the ball harmlessly spun out for a goal kick.

Four minutes later, Giggs spurned a chance to get on the scoreboard after he lobbed aimlessly wide from an inch-perfect cross by Brown.

That was to prove to be his last contribution as he was replaced by Kieran Richardson.

Bolton then finally had their chance, but it wasn’t much of either as United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak dealt confidently with Nicolas Anelka’s shot.

Five minutes later, Ronaldo was unlucky again not to score, despite his contributions to the game so far.

His power driver was palmed away strongly by Jaaskelainen, and the rebound was headed over.

He would not have a chance after that as he was subsequently taken off and replaced by Alan Smith.

Both players were given rupturous applause.

Smith turned in an assist after 74 minutes, as Rooney latched on to his perfectly weighted pass, powered past two Bolton defenders and put in a shot into the far corner of the net.

United had the match in the bag now, but they still had to deal with a Bolton penalty four minutes from time after Nemanja Vidic was adjudged to have pushed Faye.

Speed duly converted the penalty for Bolton’s consolation and face saver.

But Jaaskelainen still had work to do when he parried Park’s pass from the right two minutes later.

The outcome was very clear; even with an extra three minutes of stoppage Bolton could not conjure up anything.

The win meant another three points and another step closer to claiming the crown they last won four years back.

SIMPLICITY DOES IT: Manchester United’s Henrik Larsson (left) reels away after scoring United’s winner against Lille at Old Trafford, as teammate Michael Carrick joins in the celebration. United won 1-0 to qualify 2-0 on aggregate.

Henrik Larsson bade farewell to Old Trafford by scoring Manchester United’s solitary goal in their 1-0 win over French club Lille in the Champions League first knockout phase.

With the win, United go through 2-0 on aggregate to the quarter finals where they are pitted against Italian club AS Roma.

United began with Larsson playing his penultimate match for the Manchester outfit on home turf. Wayne Rooney had been certified fit to start after a harrowing tackle by Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher in a Premiership match left him bleeding.

And it was Rooney’s half volley from Paul Scholes’ cross that was cleared off by the Lille backline for a corner after 14 minutes.

From the resulting corner, John O’Shea rose high to head the the ball, only for the post  to deny him.

But Lille did not just sit back and let United come at them. Seven minutes later, Jean Makoun headed Efstathios Tavlaridis straight into Edwin van der Sar’s arms.

Just as Lille were getting a foothold of themselves in the match, Scholes struck a shot which was deflected, gratefully, into the arms of Tony Sylva.

A largely uneventful first half was marred by a booking for United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been adjudged to have dived in the box (below), although replays showed Ronaldo had been felled by an outstretched boot.

Lille had the final say just before the break, when Peter Odemwingie connected with Mathieu Chalme’s cross from the right. But his less than pacy shot was easily saved by van der Sar.

Lille came out bustling after the restart, with Abdul Kader Keita testing van der Sar with a low and hard strike a minute into the second half.

But two minutes later, Odemwingie nearly put Lille in front after a cross into the box had confused both van der Sar and his defenders. But his strike only hit the post and gratefully into the Dutch keeper’s arms.

Keita and Gregory Tafforeau then both had their shots saved by van der Sar, who was relatively untroubled by Lille’s tame efforts in front of goal.

It was one of Ronaldo’s signature runs that paved the way for Larsson to score his third goal in all competitions. He finished off the fine run with an easy header and no one near him.

That goal meant Larsson has scored in all three competitions United are in: the Champions League, the Premiership and the FA Cup.

It was to prove his last contribution in the match, and also his  last action in front of the Old Trafford faithful, when he was taken off and replaced by the just recovered Alan Smith.

With the match virtually sealed, United manager Sir Alex  Ferguson took off Rooney and Ronaldo, and brought on Park Ji Sung and Kieran Richardson respectively.

Despite that, United still went on the offensive, and could have had a second goal of the night when Smith turned brilliantly and struck the ball goalwards. But his shot was saved by Sylva.

An otherwise textbook match was tarnished by a Mikael  Silvestre awkward fall after a challenge with Tavlaridis, that left him with a dislocated shoulder.

He also joined Louis Saha and Darren Fletcher on the injury list, although Saha and Fletcher’s injuries are not as serious as first thought and they could be back in action by the end of the month.

The final whistle signalled United’s entry into the last eight, and erased memories of a nightmarish Champions League outing last season, where they were bundled out of the competition in the group phase by – guess what – Lille.

Sweet revenge, indeed.

KILLER BLOW: Manchester United’s John O’Shea steals the winner in a Premiership match against Liverpool, knocking in the rebound after Jose Reina failed to hold the ball. United won 1-0.

No one would have anticipated this, but Manchester United once again stole a win right at the death. The victims this time were Liverpool.

With the match seemingly headed for a draw, John O’Shea  popped up in the box to knock in the rebound from Cristiano Ronaldo’s freekick to gift United an undeserved win, and sent the Anfield crowd into shock.

Rightly so, because the Reds had been dominant throughout  the match, beginning in the 11th minute, when defender Daniel Agger’s left footed strike just whisked over the bar.

Early observations suggested that United were going to be in for a torrid lunchtime, with Liverpool making swift and accurate passes that seemed to unnerved even the most calm of United defenders.

But they created a chance for themselves as well, when Patrice Evra pulled back Wayne Rooney’s overweighted pass. But the finishing was not to be as Ronaldo shot it wide.

It was Liverpool’s Chilean midfielder Mark Gonzalez’s turn to test Edwin van der Sar, when he headed straight into the keeper’s arms three minutes later.

It subsequently became a tenacious 10 minutes or so, with Liverpool keeping possession and United all over the place.

Midway through the first half though, Ronaldo had another chance to put United ahead when he played a neat one-two with Henrik Larsson. But he could only watch in dismay as his shot went horribly wide.

It was three minutes later when Liverpool had possibly the best chance to grab the lead, when United gave away a freekick when Nemanja Vidic fouled Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt just outside the box.

Up stepped John Arne Riise, who struck his freekick agonisingly wide off the far post.

Anfield held their breath, but it all came to nothing, as Riise raced back into position clutching his head. He knew how close he came to putting Liverpool in front.

Liverpool were left gritting their teeth over another missed chance three minutes later, when Kuyt failed to connect with Craig Bellamy’s telling low cross.

He had initially forced an error out of Vidic, who was having a really hard time dealing with Bellamy’s speed and trickery.

Gonzalez then tested van der Sar again six minutes later, but his low and hard strike fell safely in van der Sar’s arms.

But it was United who had the final say three minutes from halftime, when Ronaldo did well racing down the right, going past Riise and into the box, only to see Jamie Carragher sliding in to prevent him from making the cross.

Carragher also snuffed out Rooney’s ensuing chance when he slid in to clear the ball for a corner, with Rooney ready to pull the trigger.

Controversy soon emerged down the tunnel, as United manager Sir Alex Fersugon was spotted having heated exchanges with Carragher.

After the restart, Liverpool came out bustling just as they did in the first half, with Bellamy trying his luck, to no avail.

There was no luck for him on 50 minutes, when he seemed to have clinically finished off Riise’s strike, only to have the linesman wave him for offside.

Replays showed that Riise’s strike got a flick from Momo Sissoko, and hence the goal was disallowed, to United’s relief.

Riise then tried his trademark long range powerhouse on 52 minutes, but it went just over the bar.

The subsequent substutions saw Fabio Aurelio coming on for Gonzalez, Mikael Silvestre replacing Evra, Saha for Larsson and Jermaine Pennant replacing Bellamy, which must have come as a huge relief for Vidic, who was struggling to keep up with Bellamy’s pace.

Twenty five minutes on, Rooney was blatantly fouled by Carragher with a high boot, which left the England forward with blood oozing out of a fresh wound on his right thigh.

He was eventually taken off and replaced by Irishman John O’Shea.

With 10 minutes to go, Ryan Giggs, in his 700th appearance for United, played a nice strong header which Reina only just managing to hold it.

With the match seemingly set for a dour goalless draw, United maestro Paul Scholes was shown a red card by Martin Atkinson four minutes from time for attempting to take a swing at Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso, who had held on to Scholes just a little too tightly for his liking.

Two minutes later, van der Sar produced a brilliant save to  deny substitute Peter Crouch’s point blank effort, which had the word goal written all over it.

It was to prove to be a very very crucial save for United when at the death, Giggs won a freekick in a great position after Steve Finnan had held him back.

Ronaldo’s powerful low freekick could only be blocked by Reina, and the rebound was put into the net by a quick reaction from O’Shea.

Anfield fell silent, as O’Shea reeled away in unbridled delight, with his teammates ready to pounce on him.

On the other end, van der Sar and Gary Neville let out shouts as they clenched their fists in celebration of the goal that had seemed so far away.

There was little else Liverpool could do. Even a last ditch onslaught yielded nothing for the hardworking yet unlucky Reds.

As for United, they were overtly elated with another win that came out of nothing. The last such win came against Fulham, when Ronaldo notched the winner.

The win brings United another step closer to wrestling the title away from defending champions Chelsea, who brushed aside Portsmouth 2-0.