Lyon down 10-man Metz to go clear at Ligue 1 summit

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Olympique Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette (C) reacts with team mates after scoring a penalty against Metz

 Ligue 1 top scorer Alexandre Lacazette scored from the penalty spot but then went off injured as Olympique Lyonnais extended their lead at the top to four points with a 2-0 win against 10-man Metz on Sunday.

Lyon have 48 points from 22 games, ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille after they lost 2-1 to Nice on Friday.

Later on Sunday third-placed Paris St Germain travel to fourth-placed St Etienne, where a win would take French champions level with Marseille.

France striker Lacazette gave Lyon the lead in the 31st minute when he converted from the penalty spot after Metz defender Guido Milan was sent off for a foul.

The 23-year-old Lacazette, Ligue 1's leading scorer with 21 goals, had to be replaced by Maxwell Cornet on 33 minutes after going off with an injury but midfielder Corentin Tolisso struck late on to make sure of the points for Lyon.

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Tomic tees off at 'ridiculous' Australian Open scheduling

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Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic celebrates defeating Bernard Tomic of Australia

Bernard Tomic of Australia reacts as he plays against Tomas Berdych

Bernard Tomic bowed out of the Australian Open fourth round on Sunday with a stinging rebuke of the scheduling following his straight sets defeat by Tomas Berdych.

Tomic played his last match on the second show court at Margaret Court Arena, while Rafa Nadal defeated South African Kevin Anderson at Rod Laver Arena's centre court.

Organisers have been criticised in the past for putting local players in the prime-time spots in the evening, but couldn't be accused of that on Sunday, with Nick Kyrgios playing a twilight match against Andreas Seppi on Margaret Court Arena.

Sunday's late matches feature women's third seed Simona Halep taking on Belgian Yanina Wickmayer on centre court before Andy Murray's blockbuster clash with Grigor Dimitrov.

Former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tomic has generally enjoyed centre court treatment at his home grand slam but this year has been relegated to lesser courts.

"I spoke to a few people about it. Lleyton as well," 22-year-old Tomic told reporters, referring to Australia's two-time grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt, who was knocked out in the second round at Rod Laver Arena.

"I think the scheduling was like ridiculous this year. Like not just from my side, but for many players. I don't know who was in charge of the schedule. Really, some of the matches I saw, it was just like, 'Wow'.

"I didn't mind (my own matches), but some of the other matches I saw I was like, 'what the hell?'"

"From what I heard in the locker room, and not just myself, like the scheduling was a bit funny.

"I'm not going to complain from my side, but on behalf of the people I talked to, they say it as well. It's not just me saying it."

When asked for comment, organisers referred to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley's comments earlier in the week on scheduling.

"Our feedback tells us that we get it right more often than not," Tiley said.

Tomic, the youngest male to win a main draw match at the Australian Open at the age of 16, has teed off at organisers in the past over scheduling.

At the 2010 tournament when 17, Tomic lost to Marin Cilic in a second round match that finished well after midnight and slammed organisers for not taking into account his age or approving his request for a day match.

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Ogier wins Monte Carlo to boost third world title bid

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Sebastien Ogier of France drives his Volkswagen Polo Sebastien Ogier successfully defended his Monte Carlo Rally title on Sunday, winning the opening round of the world championship with a masterful display in the snow and ice of the French Alps. The double world champion Ogier, who saw off an initial challenge from returning great, ten-times Monte Carlo winner Sebastien Loeb, eventually cruised home to win by 58 seconds from Finnish team mate Jari-Matti Latvala. Driving a Volkswagen Polo R in the difficult, slippery conditions over the rally's four testing days, Ogier led home Latvala and Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen, as the trio secured a podium sweep for the German manufacturer. Ogier prevailed after some tremendous early battles with his illustrious compatriot Loeb, making a one-off appearance after a 15-month absence, over the first seven special stages, until the nine-time world champion hit a rock and broke his Citroen DS 3's rear suspension. Ogier, who is hunting a third consecutive global crown, held a 43-second lead going into the final day and, though controlling his pace with safe tyre choices, still extended his lead to seal his third Monte Carlo triumph. "Winning Monte Carlo means a lot for every driver, but especially for me," Ogier told the official World Rally website (www.wrc.com). "It's the most important rally of the season. The weather makes it a huge challenge but the satisfaction is great when you make it. "This event had the best atmosphere I have experienced on a rally," added Ogier, who grew up near the host town of Gap. "When I drove the stage close to my home village the atmosphere was magical."

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Arsenal cling on to FA Cup victory over Brighton

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Arsenal players (L) celebrate Tomas Rosicky's (obscured) goal against Brighton  Holders Arsenal were made sweat by Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion before eventually prevailing 3-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday to ensure they did not fall foul of another upset. A day after Chelsea and Manchester City were stunned by Bradford City and Middlesbrough respectively, Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead on 89 seconds before Mesut Ozil added a second midway through the first half. Brighton pulled a goal back through Chris O'Grady but Tomas Rosicky restored Arsenal's two-goal advantage with an exquisite volley from the edge of the box. Sam Baldock reduced the deficit with a neat finish on 75 minutes to set up a nervy finish for Arsenal but the holders stood firm to book their place in the fifth round. Earlier on Sunday, substitute Diafra Sakho scored a late winner to give West Ham United a 1-0 victory over League One (third tier) side Bristol City, while Aston Villa beat Championship (second tier) leaders Bournemouth 2-1.

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Ajax and Feyenoord in rare goalless stalemate

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Feyenoord Rotterdam player Colin Kazim-Richards in action  A rare goalless draw between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord on Sunday represented bad news for the two main pursuers of leaders PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Dutch league. Both sides needed a victory to put just the slightest pressure on runaway leaders PSV, who now have a six-point advantage over champions Ajax and 14 points over third-placed Feyenoord. It was only the second time the 'Klassieker' fixture of the Dutch season had ended in a goalless draw. The previous occasion was in 1978. Feyenoord dominated proceedings at the home of the team who are seeking a record fifth successive title and had two good chances in the first half. Colin Kazim-Richards shot wide and then Jean-Paul Boetius has his shot cleared off the line by Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik. Jop van der Linden netted a penalty two minutes before halftime as Go Ahead Eagles moved out of the relegation play-off positions with a 1-0 home win over 10-man ADO Den Haag. Eagles rose above their opponents into 14th place after Den Haag's Vito Wormgoor was judged to have handled in the box and was sent off. Van der Linden converted the penalty and the home side held out for a precious win. Utrecht twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw at Groningen. The hosts were left frustrated after Tjaronn Chery and Michael de Leeuw had given them the lead in each half. On both occasions, though, Utrecht hit back within minutes, through Edouard Duplan and Yassin Ayoub. Second-bottom NAC Breda missed the opportunity to push towards safety when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Willem II.

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Pogba inspires Juve, Inter stunned at home

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Juventus' Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring against Chievo Verona  Paul Pogba scored a typically majestic goal to set Serie A leaders Juventus on the way to a 2-0 win over Chievo while troubled Inter Milan were booed off by their own fans after losing 1-0 to Torino with the last kick of the game on Sunday. Former Argentina forward Javier Saviola scored his first goal for Verona in a 1-0 win over Atalanta and there was another goal line controversy in the 1-1 draw between Sampdoria and Palermo. Juve struggled for an hour to break down lowly Chievo before Pogba glided past an opponent and scored with a low, left foot shot from the edge of the area. The Frenchman also played a large part in the second goal when his volley, following a superb piece of control, was saved by Albano Bizzarri and Stephan Lichtsteiner netted from the rebound. Inter were booed off at San Siro after Emiliano Moretti was left unmarked to head in from a corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, giving Torino their first win away over their opponents since 1988. Inter, who have won only twice in nine league outings since Roberto Mancini took over as coach, are languishing in joint ninth, along with neighbours AC Milan. Eder gave Sampdoria a sixth minute lead with a breakaway goal and Franco Vazquez fired home a spectacular equaliser for seventh-placed Palermo early in the second half, before the game erupted in controversy. Michel Morganella's shot for Palermo hit the underside of the bar but, although replays showed it had crossed the line, no goal was given. Saviola broke his duck for Verona when he turned the ball in at the near post following good work by Lazaros Christodoulopoulos early in the second half. The 33-year-old has now scored for nine clubs in six countries. Juve lead with 49 points, eight clear of AS Roma who visit Fiorentina in the evening match. Lazio and Sampdoria are joint third with 34.

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Substitute Sakho comes to West Ham's rescue

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West Ham United's Diafra Sakho (C) celebrates with team mates Aaron Cresswell (L) and Andy Carroll after scoring  Substitute Diafra Sakho scored late on to help West Ham United beat third tier Bristol City 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday and ensure the Premier League side did not fall foul of another upset. With time running out Sakho connected with Andy Carroll's cross and headed in off the underside of the crossbar to secure West Ham's place in the fifth round. A day after Chelsea and Manchester City were stunned by Bradford City and Middlesbrough respectively, Bristol City looked determined to cause another upset and striker Matt Smith had a header cleared off the line in a goalless first half. But West Ham improved in the second period and Sakho's arrival sparked life into the Hammers as he went close with a half-volley before heading home Carroll's cross in the 81st minute. Later on Sunday Aston Villa host Championship leaders Bournemouth, while holders Arsenal travel to Brighton and Hove Albion.

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