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Sir Alex Ferguson is optimistic a repeat performance of Tuesday nights Carling Cup effort in the second leg at Old Trafford next week will be enough to send Manchester United to Wembley.

Ferguson found it hard to be too critical of his side following the 2-1 reverse at Manchester City given they dominated for half an hour and continue to create clear openings after Carlos Tevez had ambushed his old club.

And, while they must win to stand any chance of successfully defending their trophy, the United boss remains confident.

The most important thing will be to play like we did this time, he said.

We dominated the match and were reasonably in control. Then we had a mad five minutes before half-time and it brought them back into the game.

But with the crowd at Old Trafford, the occasion and what is at stake, we will be okay.

The mad five minutes Ferguson referred to revolved around the penalty teenage defender Rafael needlessly gave away five minutes before half-time for a tug on Craig Bellamys shirt.

Rafael made his first grab outside the box but was still clinging on as the Welshman entered the area and referee Mike Dean immediately pointed to the spot.

Given his recent altercations with officialdom, Ferguson probably wisely diluted his words, instead inviting others to judge its merits.

Everyone can see the penalty for themselves, he said.

It is the kind of decision that has gone against us tonight but could go for us on another day.

Ferguson was not happy with Citys second though.

A debatable corner turned into a disaster when Wes Brown and Jonny Evans both went to try and close Vincent Kompany down, meaning Tevez was on his own as the Belgian turned the ball back into the six-yard box.

It was a disappointing mistake given it involved two orthodox defenders, the kind Ferguson was desperate to return during that awful period when he had nine men missing.

I dont know if it was a corner or not. But we certainly didnt defend it well, he grumbled.

The approach of the 2010 World Cup has temporarily reversed the exodus of star Korean and Japanese players to Europe, as they seek match time to boost their chances of appearing at the tournament.

The two East Asian nations have many players plying their trade in Europe, but many believe that regular appearances in their domestic league will do more for the World Cup selection hopes than sitting on the bench in England, France, Germany or Spain.

In the first two weeks of 2010, Junichi Inamoto and Shinji Ono returned to the J-League while Seol Ki-hyeon and Cho Won-hee said goodbye to England and are now preparing for the new K-League season.

Seol, a veteran of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, made just one start for English Premier League club Fulham this season, leading the 31 year-old sign for reigning Asian continental champions Pohang Steelers.

The former Reading and Anderlecht winger has never played in his domestic league.

Players need to be playing so Seols move is good news for us, Huh said. If you dont play for a while, you start to lose your match sharpness. I will have to take a look at him when the season starts.

Cho joined Wigan in March 2009 but injury and a coaching change limited his opportunities and after starting just two games this season, he has returned to former club Suwon Bluewings on loan.

I returned to Suwon because I want to play many games, said Cho as he arrived at Incheon International Airport. It is important to reach my peak fitness quickly and I want to display some good performances.

South Korea takes on Greece, Argentina and Nigeria in Group B in South Africa while Japan faces the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.

Japans Junichi Inamoto left the J-League in 2001 to sign for Arsenal of the English Premier League. The midfielder, who has since played in Germany and Turkey, has struggled for playing time this season with French club Rennes and has signed for Kawasaki Frontale.

I just turned 30, and I wanted to come back to the J. League while I was still in my best condition, Inamoto said.

The World Cup is not the only reason I have come back. Of course I want to be involved and it helps to be playing in Japan in full view of the manager. I wanted to come back to Japan first and foremost, and if I can go to the World Cup then thats a bonus.

Fellow 2002 World Cup midfielder Shinji Ono has left German club Bochum to sign for Shimizu S-Pulse.

Shinji is a remarkable player and a good man, but during his time at Bochum he was badly hit by injuries and was unable to play as much as we would have wanted, said Bochum general manager Thomas Ernst.

Even Japans most accomplished football export Shunsuke Nakamura is not immune. The playmaker, with 94 appearances for Japan under his belt, has struggled since moving to Spain and Espanyol last summer, and there is talk of a loan back to the J-League.

Espanyol had big expectations of the player who starred in his spells at Reggina and Celtic but Nakamura has played just six games this season.

He hasnt adapted as we would have wished but we will do all we can for him to be at 100 per cent, said Espanyol sporting director German de la Cruz.

We are not planning to loan him out or sell him and we hope that he will return to his best form.

In Australia, the timing of the season means the situation is reversed, prompting players to seek an exit. The A-Leagues regular season will end on February 14, meaning those not involved in the playoffs or the Asian Champions League face four months without a competitive game ahead of the World Cup.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek, whose side faces a tough group of Germany, Ghana and Serbia at the World Cup, has made it clear that he will pick those playing regular competitive football. As a result, many fringe national team players are looking at short-term loans to Korea, Japan and China.

Not all involved in the domestic game are happy at this expected exodus.

We understand completely why Pim wants the players to be active, but at the same time this has the potential to undermine careers, and the competition, Professional Footballers Australia boss Brendan Schwab said.

The players are being forced to make a choice they dont necessarily want to make. They dont want to go, but theyre prepared to go. The worry for us is that theres always a great risk in a hasty move, a poorly planned move.

The outspoken owner of A-League club Gold Coast United, Clive Palmer, was scathing in his criticism of Verbeek encouraging players to move overseas.

Thats our national team, not his, Palmer said. The main criterion for any national coach should be to foster the game here in Australia. Football is not just about the World Cup, its also about making the A-League the best it can possibly be.

Hes setting the wrong example, and if he was working for me, Id sack him, believe me.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he cannot afford to lose Cesc Fabregas to injury if his side are to maintain their title challenge.

The Gunners captain was inspirational as he scored one and had a hand in the second for substitute Fran Merida in the 2-0 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.

Having missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury, the Spain international showed just how valuable he is to Arsenal, who moved to within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea - with Bolton again to come at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

It is important for us not to lose any more players, especially him. He is just coming back now, said Wenger.

We survived okay when he was not there but, in the period coming up, when we have so many big games, it is important to have him.

If you watched the game, it is difficult to say how much we have missed him but you dont need to explain to anyone that it is important.

Asked if Fabregas was the best midfielder currently playing in the Premier League, Wenger added: I do not see all the games but what is very interesting for us is Cesc gets stronger and stronger and has more personality on the pitch, like the whole team.

He grows. He will be 23 this year - he is just starting.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle, in his first match in charge since leaving Burnley, could only marvel at the talent of the Gunners captain.

The quality of Fabregas, with the first goal when he bounced a one-two off Eduardo, he could play for anyone in world football, said Coyle. He is such a top player.

Coyle was, however, pleased with his sides display as they created enough chances to have earned something from the game.

I thought the level of performance was terrific, he said.

What we offered for the duration of the match would, on another day, result in points - whether it be one or three.

We were always in the game, particularly second half, and they werent half-chances, they were real gilt-edged chances.

We created chances from the first minute of the match and, if you analyse that game, I think we were deserving of a better result.

We never got that break you need against these elite clubs - the first goal hit Matt Taylor on the back of the head and a couple of boys have fallen over when the ball has come into the box.

Thierry Henry cannot be punished for his handball before the goal that helped send France to the World Cup instead of Ireland, FIFA said on Monday.

FIFAs disciplinary panel decided it had no legal right to consider the case under the governing bodys own rules. It says a handball offense is not classed as a serious infringement necessary to prosecute Henry under FIFAs Disciplinary Code.

There is no other legal text that would allow the committee to impose sanctions for any incidents missed by match officials, FIFA said in a statement.

FIFAs executive committee, led by president Sepp Blatter, referred the case to the disciplinary panel last month.

Henry touched the ball with his left hand and arm before passing for William Gallas to score the decisive goal in a playoff in Paris last November. France drew the match 1-1 after extra time to beat Ireland 2-1 on aggregate.

Following a worldwide outcry after the match, the Football Association of Ireland asked FIFA and the French federation for the match to be replayed.

FIFA said the result must stand because decisions made on the field of play could not be reviewed.

During matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final, FIFA said last November.

However, FIFAs ruling executive committee met in special session on Dec. 2 at Cape Town, South Africa, and ordered a case to be opened against Henry.

Had the disciplinary panel accepted the case at its meeting Monday at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, the veteran striker could have faced being banned from matches at the World Cup in June.

MADRID -Results from the return leg of fifth-round matches in the Copa del Rey (home teams listed first).

Tuesdays Game

Villarreal 0, Celta Vigo 1 (Celta Vigo advances 2-1 on aggregate)

Wednesdays Games

Deportivo La Coruna 2, Valencia 2 (Deportivo La Coruna advances 4-3 on aggregate)

Racing Santander 0, Alcorcon 0 (Racing Santander advances 3-2 on aggregate)

Osasuna 1, Hercules 0 (2-2 on aggregate; Osasuna advances 2-0 on away goals)

Sevilla 0, Barcelona 1 (2-2 on aggregate; Sevilla advances 2-1 on away goals)

Getafe 5, Malaga 1 (Getafe advances 6-3 on aggregate)

Thursdays Games

Mallorca vs. Rayo Vallecano (Rayo Vallecano leads 2-1)

Atletico Madrid vs. Recreativo Huelva (Recreativo Huelva leads 3-0)

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English Football Results

LONDON -Results Wednesday in English football (home teams listed first).

FA Cup

Third Round

Third Round Replays

Liverpool 1, Reading 2, ET

Newcastle 3, Plymouth 0

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Italian Cup Results

ROME -Results from the Italian Cup Round of 16 (home teams listed first).

Dec. 16

Inter Milan 1, Livorno 0

Tuesdays Game

AS Roma 3, Triestina 1

Wednesdays Games

AC Milan 2, Novara 1

Genoa 1, Catania 2

Juventus 3, Napoli 0

Thursdays Games

Fiorentina vs. Chievo Verona

Udinese vs. Lumezzane

Lazio vs. Palermo

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French Football Results

PARIS -Results from the French first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Wednesdays Games

Monaco 4, Montpellier 0

Boulogne 0, Sochaux 0

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African Cup of Nations Results

Group D

At Lubango, Angola

Gabon 1, Cameroon 0

Zambia 1, Tunisia 1

Barcelona exited its first competition under coach Pep Guardiola when the defending champions dropped out of the Copa del Rey despite beating Sevilla 1-0 on Wednesday.

Sevilla advanced to the quarterfinals of the domestic cup on away goals after the two-leg series ended 2-2.

Barcelonas unrelenting second-half pressure paid off in the 64th minute as Xavi Hernandez chested down Ndri Romarics weak clearance outside the area to curl a shot through a crowd and past the outstretched Andres Palop.

Lionel Messi hit the post and Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed an open goal after that as the titleholders pressed for the necessary goal to advance, but Palop was too good as he denied Messi in the closing moments.

We eliminated, without a doubt, the best team in the world, Sevilla winger Diego Capel said.

Barcelona had won every competition it had competed in since Guardiolas arrival before the start of the 2008-09 season, lifting an unprecedented six major trophies along the way.

Its not a problem, said Guardiola, who fielded a full-strength lineup.

There are few things I can say to the team. We tried to come back, we played a great second half. We just have to recover going forward.

Sevilla will play Deportivo La Coruna after the Galician club scored twice in the second half to draw 2-2 against Valencia and advance 4-3 on aggregate.

Sevilla created the better first-half chances with goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto stretching to keep Ndri Romarics sharp header out after just three minutes.

Sevilla was upset in the 20th when Alvaro Negredo was called for an inadvertent touch on Pinto, who had lost the ball well out of his goal with Jesus Navas ready to score into the empty goal.

The European champions, in need of at least two goals, nearly got the first eight minutes later as Ibrahimovic flashed a controlled volley across goal after Sevillas defense failed to clear Messis cross.

Barcelona started the second half with conviction and several chances before Xavi finally netted.

Andres Iniestas individual effort was thwarted at the last moment just after Palop stretched to tip Ibrahimovics header out as it looked certain for the top corner in the 52nd.

Palop then came out to block Messis short-angled shot on the hour mark then denied Henrys low roller before the visitors finally scored.

Henry put Messi through but the world player of the years soft chip over Palop landed just wide as the Spanish champions maintained the momentum, with Messi curling his shot off the far post in the 69th before Ibrahimovic volleyed wide.

The frantic pace continued as Jesus Navas led a 3-on-2 Sevilla breakout in the 77th, but Carles Puyol tipped out the wingers pass toward Negredo with the open goal beckoning.

Guardiola replaced Ibrahimovic and Daniel Alves with Bojan Krkic and Pedro Rodriguez in the 80th, just before Palop somehow got down to keep Messis low shot out.

The truth is that to go out the way we did, with so many chances … Messi said. We didnt expect to go out, we had enough confidence that we would get through.

For Deportivo, Luis Filipe stole a poor back pass and slid around Carlos Marchena before nudging under Valencia goalkeeper Miguel Moya to start the rally in the 50th minute. The Brazilian left back stole again in the 71st and cut along the goal line before Juan Rodriguez redirected his short cross in at the near post for the equalizer that saw Deportivo continue its impressive season, which sees it fourth in the league standings.

Nicola Zigic scored both for Valencia, the 2008 champion.

The Serbia striker headed Miguels cross past keeper Manuel Fernandez in the 11th and dove to meet the defenders cross again in the 29th, heading through Fernandezs legs.

Jeremy Mathieu had a clear chance for Valencia four minutes into injury time but skied his shot from inside the area.

Third-tier Alcorcon, which knocked Real Madrid out in the last round, couldnt maintain its good run as it drew 0-0 at Racing Santander to lose 3-2 on aggregate.

Racing will play Osasuna after Masoud Soleimanis impressive 49th-minute strike gave Osasuna a 1-0 win over second-division leader Hercules, which dropped out on away goals after the teams finished tied 2-2 overall.

Also, Roberto Soldado scored twice as Getafe routed Malaga 5-1 to easily advance 6-3.

On Thursday, Atletico Madrid must overcome a 3-0 deficit to Recreativo Huelva, and Rayo Vallecano leads Mallorca 2-1.

Second-division Celta Vigo advanced 2-1 on aggregate after beating Villarreal 1-0 on Tuesday.

John Terry has urged Chelsea to take advantage of recent slip-ups by their rivals and restore a healthy lead at the top of the Premier League.

But the England captain also warned that the Blues cannot afford any more blips of their own when they return to top-flight action against Sunderland on Saturday.

Manchester United and Arsenal both failed to win last weekend, but still closed to within one and three points respectively of Chelsea.

The Blues boasted an 11-point lead over Arsenal after beating them at the end of November, while United trailed Carlo Ancelottis side by four points and Terry warned: We cannot afford any more slip-ups.

Thankfully the teams in and around us have been slipping up as well, but Arsenal are right back in the frame again. When we beat them 3-0 I thought they were out of it to be honest.

We need to concentrate on ourselves because apart from the Watford game, when we were brilliant albeit against a lesser side, we havent been playing as well.

Hopefully that game will give us a boost and we can kick on now, and pull away when the other teams are slipping up.

The 29-year-old also revealed how Ancelotti has helped improve their team spirit further by taking the squad and coaching staff out for dinner last week.

Its the first time since I have been playing that a manager has taken everyone out and paid for it as well, Terry told Chelsea TV.

It was a little bit of team bonding. We are with each other 24 hours a day and in each others pockets, but everyone enjoyed it and had a good meal.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have been boosted by the return to fitness of Portugal midfielder Deco, but the 32-year-old is unlikely to be match fit to face Sunderland this weekend. Ancelotti is more likely to hand Deco a recall in the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Preston a week later.

The snow and cold weather have disrupted Ancelottis training plans, with the players given two days off after the postponement of their game at Hull last Saturday.

The squad were back in training on Wednesday morning despite snow still covering much of their Surrey training ground. It was the first involvement for Deco after a hamstring injury had kept him out of action since he played against Portsmouth on December 16.

The Cobham ground staff worked hard to make the training surface playable so the squad could train outside instead of inside the all-weather dome.

Sol Campbell has admitted the details of his return to Arsenal still need to be sorted out after playing 45 minutes for the reserves.

Campbell, who last played for the Gunners in the Champions League final in 2006, played the first half of the reserves 4-2 win over West Ham on Tuesday night.

But the 35-year-old, who left Highbury for Portsmouth in the summer of 2006, has been training at the Gunners Hertfordshire base since quitting Notts County.

Campbell - capped 73 times by England, including a spell as captain and playing at three World Cups - was keen to resume his career as quickly as possible after settling his contract dispute with League Two outfit County.

He could be in the Arsenal squad for the Premier League trip to Bolton on Sunday but first needs to sort out his contract at the Emirates. Campbell said: There are still a few technicalities to iron out, but I have signed for Arsenal until the end of the season, and its fantastic, great, marvellous. The old enthusiasm is back.

He added: Im ecstatic really to be back at Arsenal, and I have worked bloody hard to get there. Campbell admitted he had a lot to thank Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for.

Arsene Wenger has been an inspiration, he said. He has watched me closely after letting me train at Arsenal for nearly two months now.

Hes not stupid - he wouldnt have taken me back if he didnt like what he has seen, and I have worked and worked. I do believe I can contribute.

I really have my confidence and fitness back and I believe I can make a big, big contribution.

There is fantastic quality all around the pitch within this Arsenal team and I want to be part of it, and I will make a big push to try to do that, but its little steps at a time.

Villarreal dropped out of the Copa del Rey after Roberto Trashorras injury-time penalty gave second-division Celta Vigo a 1-0 victory to advance on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Diego Lopez got a touch to Trashorras spot kick but couldnt keep the strike out as Celta Vigo advanced to the quarterfinals 2-1 on aggregate.

On Wednesday, holder Barcelona must overcome a 2-1 deficit when it travels to Sevilla.

In other return leg games on Wednesday, Deportivo La Coruna leads Valencia 2-1, Malaga leads Getafe 2-1, Racing Santander holds a 3-2 advantage over third-tier Alcorcon, and second-division leader Hercules leads Osasuna 2-1.

On Thursday, Atletico Madrid must overcome a 3-0 deficit to Recreativo Huelva, and Rayo Vallecano leads Mallorca 2-1.

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has returned to training for the first time since his wife suffered a brain hemorrhage last month.

The Dutch international took part in Man Uniteds four-hour practice session and gym workout Monday, one day after the Premier League team flew into Doha for a four-day training camp.

Van der Sar has been on compassionate leave since wife Annemarie van Kesteren was admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam on Dec. 23. Van Kesteren has reportedly escaped suffering any permanent damage.

Van der Sar had also been recently troubled by a knee injury, last playing in Uniteds 3-0 win over Everton on Nov. 21.