Video Highlights 30/12/2009: Los Angeles Clippers - Portland Trail Blazers 99-103 (NBA)

I bianconeri pareggiano nella trasferta araba: a segno nel primo tempo Giovinco e Poulsen, entrambi su suggerimento di Del PIero. Un paio di erroracci per Manninger, acciacco per Molinaro.

Portsmouth fell behind against a resurgent Arsenal side in the 26th minute when Eduardo da Silva saw his free-kick take a wicked deflection off Kaboul, although questions will be asked of Hreidarsson who did nothing to stop the ball pass him on the Pompey line. The Gunners doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when a typical Arsenal attack saw Eduardo fed Ramsey who in turn found Samir Nasri who scored. Midway through the second half Aaron Ramsey stole all the headlines with a stunning solo goal, the young Welshman winning a tackle in the Portsmouth half, beating a defender with ease and smashing a left footed beauty past Begovic. Going 3-down sparked Pompey into life, and the hosts pulled a goal back through Nadir Belhadj. The fightback was soon tamed by a classic pass-pass-pass attack from Arsenal that wore down the home defence into allowing Nasri’s cross to be easily headed home by Alexandre Song.

Having scored five in his last five matches against Wigan, Wayne Rooney continued his irresistible form at present applying a deft finish to Rafael’s right wing cross to put United ahead after 28 minutes. After breaking the deadlock United quickly doubled their advantage when a second attack down the hosts right, this time lead by Antonio Valencia, was comfortably tucked home on the cutback by Michael Carrick. Wigan were dead and buried at the break as young Brazilian fullback Rafael da Silva netted his first of the season spinning in the Latics boss and finding the bottom corner. The match started to become a question of how many five minutes after the break as Valencia again broke down the right and his cross was nonchalantly stabbed home by Dimitar Berbatov. With fifteen minutes to go Antonio Valencia got his goal against his former employers, producing a delightful lifted finish from Rooney’s incisive through-ball.

Video Highlights 29/12/2009: Chicago Bulls - Indiana Pacers 104-95 (NBA)

In blizzard conditions at a freezing Villa Park, the weather clearly affected both sides in an underwhelming goalless first half although the Villains should have scored when Stuart Downing saw Pepe Reina stop a point-blank volley from four yards out. For the majority of the second half Liverpool were hanging on by their fingernails as Villa squandered chance after chance to score, and they suffered the killer sucker-punch in the 92nd minute as Agbonlahor saw a tackle send the ball straight into Fernando Torres’ path, and the Spaniard gobbled up his chance and slipped a low shot past Friedel into the far corner.

Bolton broke the deadlock with home-sick Hull after 20 minutes at the Reebok when defender Dawson only managed to partially clear the visitors lines with a header, and Ivan Klasnic was able to swat home the loose ball from 20 yards out. The Trotters were looking home and dry when a goalkeeper howler from Hull keeper Myhill gifted Kevin Davies a second. But then Hull staged a dramatic turnaround, with Stephen Hunt bundling home a corner in the 71st. Hunt struck again seven minutes later as the Irishman collected Hesselink’s flick-on and firing a deflected shot into the net.

Video Highlights 28/12/2009: Minnesota Vikings - Chicago Bears 30-36 OT (NFL)

Video Highlights 28/12/2009: Los Angelese Lakers - Phoenix Suns 103-118 (NBA)

Roberto Mancini continued to enjoy Christmas cheer in his second game in charge of Man City at Wolves, Carlos Tevez giving the visitors the lead on the half hour after Bellamy had created the opportunity after speeding down the left. 20 minutes from time Javier Garrido stepped up and curled a free-kick around the wall and into the corner to double City’s advantage. City wrapped up the win with a fine third, Robinho fired a pass over from the right to the edge of the area, where Carlos Tevez controlled, shifted the ball on to his left foot and slammed a shot into the far corner past Hahnemann.