footballworld

Dirk Kuyt earned Liverpool a narrow 1-0 win over Sparta Prague on Thursday, on that night when all three British clubs in action reached the last 16.Rangers, beaten finalists in 2008, needed an equaliser at the death to prevail at Sporting Lisbon, while Manchester City's expensively assembled squad eased past Greek representatives Aris.Liverpool enjoyed the lion's share of possession against the Czech side but, as in the first leg, they struggled to make their dominance count.Raul Meireles blazed over wastefully from an inviting Martin Kelly cross in the first half, while French striker David Ngog was one of several Liverpool players frustrated by Sparta goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek in the second.With extra-time beckoning, Liverpool won a corner on the left-hand side that Meireles curled into the box and Kuyt darted away from the goal-line to cushion an intelligent header into the bottom-right corner.Liverpool will now play Portugal's Sporting Braga, who overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 2-0 win at home to Lech Poznan of Poland.

A dramatic injury-time goal by American international midfielder Maurice Edu earned Rangers a 2-2 draw at Sporting Lisbon that sent the Scottish giants through on away goals.After former Rangers man Pedro Mendes had cancelled out El Hadji Diouf's opener for the visitors, an 83rd-minute header by Yannick Djalo looked to have given the Portuguese team victory.Rangers launched a desperate last attack in the 92nd minute, however, and when David Healy rolled in a low cross from the Rangers right, Edu tapped home to send the travelling fans berserk.The next stop for Walter Smith's side will be PSV Eindhoven, who won 3-1 at home to French league leaders Lille for a 5-3 aggregate success.Following a goalless first leg, City beat Aris 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium thanks to a first-half brace from January signing Edin Dzeko and a deflected Yaya Toure effort.Roberto Mancini's men must now tackle Dynamo Kiev, after the Ukrainian powerhouses thrashed Besiktas 4-0 to seal an embarrassingly one-sided 8-1 overall victory.

Elsewhere, Villarreal came from behind to defeat Napoli 2-1 in the tie of the round at El Madrigal.Marek Hamsik broke the deadlock in the tie in the 18th minute before quick-fire goals from strikers Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi just before half-time saw the Spanish side through.Villarreal's last-16 adversaries are Bayer Leverkusen, for whom Michael Ballack scored his first goal since his return from injury in a 2-0 win at home to Metalist Kharkiv that completed a 6-0 aggregate victory.Two-time European champions Benfica advanced with a 2-0 aggregate defeat of Stuttgart and will now face Paris Saint-Germain, who went through on away goals following a 0-0 draw at home to BATE Borisov.In the day's early kick-off, 2008 champions Zenit Saint-Petersburg secured their place in the last 16 by coming from behind to defeat Swiss side Young Boys 3-1, thereby overturning a 2-1 deficit from the away leg.Porto, champions in 2003, progressed on away goals on Wednesday despite a 1-0 loss at home to Sevilla, while CSKA Moscow secured a 2-1 aggregate win over Greek outfit PAOK on Tuesday.

Manchester United striker Federico Macheda scored a late penalty as England's injury-hit Under-21 side suffered a friendly defeat by Italy.Italy started well, Gianvito Misuraca forcing Frank Fielding into a low save. Josh McEachran's fine pass set up Scott Sinclair for England's best chance but he shot at the keeper when one-on-one. With two minutes to go Ben Mee was sent off for tripping Niccolo Giannetti and Macheda, on loan at Sampdoria, coolly slotted his penalty into the corner. The friendly in Empoli was an early opportunity for manager Stuart Pearce to cast his eye over players ahead of the Under-21 European Championships in Denmark this summer. However, the former Manchester City manager's options were severely limited with nine withdrawals from his squad, including five injured defenders in Martin Kelly, Kieran Gibbs, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling and James Tomkins, while Kyle Walker was promoted to the senior squad.

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson, Bolton Wanderers' on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge and Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph had also previously withdrawn from the group. The missing players gave Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran, who has played 14 times for the Stamford Bridge outfit this season, the opportunity to feature for the Under-21 side for the second time. And the 17-year-old impressed with a neat passing game which was at the heart of England's most promising moves. Middleborough full-back Joe Bennett also came into the side for his Under-21 debut and he too showed quick feet and enthusiasm as England battled against a defensive and at times route one, Italian side.With little between the two teams in the opening 10 minutes, Pearce's options were further reduced when Everton's Jack Rodwell limped off and was replaced by Chelsea's Jack Cork at centre-back. The substitution almost led to the first goal for Italy when Vicenza striker Misuraca capitalized on confusion in the England backline and beat the offside trap before driving his effort low from the edge of the box, but a fine reflex save from Blackburn keeper Fielding kept the score level.

England, who were runners-up to Germany in Euro 2009, currently lead the European rankings and had hoped to put in a more convincing performance against a side who have not qualified for this summer's European Championships. Pearce sent on a trio of debutants in the second half in an attempt to liven up the game with Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is considered one of the hottest prospects in English football and has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, coming into the fray, along with Burnley's Jay Rodriguez and Leeds midfielder Jonathan Howson. The changes had the desired effect with Oxlade-Chamberlain showing a great turn of pace to create one of England's better chances as he breezed past his full-back and hit the byline, but no England player could tap in the cross from six yards. A delightful diagonal ball from McEachran teed up Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box as England looked to hit Italy on the counter attack but the 17-year-old side-footed a tame effort straight into the arms of Carlo Pinsoglio. England continued to dominate possession and with eight minutes to go finally made the Italian goalkeeper work.

A wonderful 40-yard pass by McEachran split the Italy centre-backs and put substitute Sinclair through one-on-one with Carlo Pinsoglio but the Swansea winger fired his effort straight at the goalkeeper. Sinclair almost made amends seconds later but his powerful effort from 18-yards was tipped around the post by Pinsoglio. Despite their dominance, England were hit by a sucker punch two minutes from time when Mee tripped Juventus striker Giannetti and Macheda nonchalantly slipped his penalty into the corner, handing Pearce only his sixth defeat in 44 matches in charge of the Under-21 side.