Brazilian player kidnapped on his way to practice

SAO PAULO (AP) - Botafogo says one of its players was kidnapped and released unharmed before a practice session in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian club says midfielder Somalia was briefly abducted on his way to the Engenhao stadium in the city's north side.

Details of what happened were not immediately available and police were still investigating the case.

Some local media reported that money and a watch were stolen from the player.

Kidnappings in which gang members briefly abduct victims and force them to withdraw money from automatic teller machines are not uncommon in Brazil's big cities.

Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Olympics. Brazil also will host the 2014 World Cup.

  

Barcelona makes Copa del Rey quarters on away goal

BARCELONA, Spain (AP): Barcelona reached the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on the away-goal rule after drawing 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Barcelona defender Eric Abidal raced in from the left flank to fire in a pass from Lionel Messi for the 76th-minute opener.

The goal was only the second in Abidal's career, the first coming with Lyon. "I didn't expect to score," the France international said. "I help the team and when I have the chance I shoot. I got lucky."

Bilbao did everything it could to win its first knockout series against the Catalan team in 50 years. Fernando Llorente, back after missing the first leg in Camp Nou with a leg injury, beat Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto with a low shot in the 85th to add drama to the end, but Barcelona held on to extend its unbeaten streak to 25 matches, two short of the club record set in 1973-74.

Barcelona threatened from kickoff. Less than a minute in, Pedro Rodriguez received a questionable offside call after a great team buildup put him through the Bilbao defense, and seven minutes later Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made a reflex save to keep out David Villa's close-range header.

A defensive lineup held Barcelona in check at Camp Nou but Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros opted for attack at home, bolstered by the return of a recovered Llorente. Pressure created a turnover and Markel Susaeta sent a clear chance from the edge of the area flying high.

The teams exchanged more opportunities with Barcelona playmaker Xavi Hernandez, who set a club record with 550 games played, toeing a shot over the crossbar in the 31st and Bilbao midfielder Carlos Gurpegi coming close with a floating header at the halftime whistle.

Bilbao turned up the physical play and dominated the ball and the chances early in the second half.

Abidal, playing in central defense in place of captain Carles Puyol, scrambled to clear a dangerous ball in the area in the 47th, and Bilbao's Koikili Lertxundi tested Pinto with a long strike moments later.

Pedro Rodriguez and Villa revived Barcelona's precision passing and Abidal scored for the first time in three and half seasons with the Spanish champ before Llorente pulled one back for the home side.

"It was spectacular to experience this atmosphere," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. "The (Bilbao) fans should be proud of their players and vice versa.

"This victory has a lot of merit for us."

Earlier, defending champion Sevilla advanced by beating Malaga 3-0 and eliminating its Andalusian neighbor 8-3 on aggregate, and an in-form Adrian Lopez scored a hat trick to rally Deportivo La Coruna to a 3-1 extra-time win and knock out second-division Cordoba 4-2 on aggregate.

Sevilla midfielder Koffi Romaric scored his third goal of the series with a long strike that grazed Malaga's Nabil Baha before sailing into the left corner of the net in the 51st minute, and second-half substitute Diego Perotti sped past his marker and tapped in Jesus Navas' cross in the 65th.

After Malaga was reduced to 10 men by Weligton's sending off in the 72nd, Luis Fabiano capped the win by curling in a free kick in the last minute.

Malaga had the better share of the scoring chances early on but could not covert them into goals in a game that featured the debut of four of its winter reinforcements: Ignacio Camacho, Martin Demichelis, goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, and former Sevilla midfielder Vincenzo Maresca.

"With the score 0-0 at halftime, we could move the ball better in the midfield and wear Malaga down," said Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano, whose team has won three straight in all competitions.

At Riazor Stadium, David Arteaga put Cordoba ahead in the 86th, but Adrian equalized for Deportivo from the penalty spot in the 90th after Cordoba's Jonathan Sesma handled in the area.

Cordoba played the extra period with 10 men after Miguel Angel Tena was sent off in injury time, and Adrian scored the winner in the 103rd when Juan Carlos Valeron put him through the defense. The striker got the third in the 131st, also from the penalty spot, for his fifth goal in four days.

On Thursday, Real Madrid travels to Levante with the knockout virtually certain after a 8-0 thrashing in the first game, and Villarreal faces Valencia after the 0-0 draw at Mestalla Stadium. Also, Espanyol tries to overturn Atletico Madrid's 1-0 lead at home, Almeria defends its 4-3 advantage at Mallorca, and Getafe welcomes second-division leader Betis with Michel Gonzalez's team ahead 2-1.

 

Chelsea's problems deepen with 1-0 loss at Wolves

LONDON (AP): Chelsea's dismal form worsened Wednesday when it slipped to a 1-0 defeat at last-place Wolverhampton Wanderers for one of its most embarrassing defeats in the Premier League.

While Manchester City fell two points behind Premier League leader Manchester United with a 0-0 draw at third-place Arsenal, a fifth-minute own-goal by Jose Bosingwa left defending champion Chelsea outside the Champions League qualifying places after two wins in its past nine matches.

Early season leader Chelsea has now taken just 10 points from the last 11 games.

Chelsea's defeat meant that Tottenham kept fourth place despite a 2-1 loss at Everton, which completed a good night for United, which beat Stoke 2-1 on Tuesday to maintain the league's only unbeaten record. United has 44 points from 20 games as it pursues a record 19th English championship.

Liverpool's poor form also continued with a 3-1 loss at Blackburn, which only led to more chants from fans for manager Roy Hodgson to be fired.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti had said he was in danger of being fired following a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa at the weekend, but Wednesday's result was even worse for a coach who won the league and FA Cup in his debut season.

Bosingwa put lowly Wolves ahead when he bundled a corner over his own line. Salomon Kalou missed a chance to equalize in the second half and Didier Drogba hit the bar as Wolves moved off the bottom of the standings to be replaced by West Ham.

The Hammers' mini revival ended with a 5-0 defeat at Newcastle, while Wigan is 19th after a 1-1 draw at Bolton. Aston Villa slipped into the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to visiting Sunderland.

Arsenal utterly dominated an unadventurous City side at Emirates Stadium and hit the frame of the goal three times in the first half.

Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott constantly created paths through City's static midfield for Arsenal, while the home side's defense limited an attack led by the ineffective Jo to just a handful of harmless counterattacks.

City's best chances were a shot over the bar from Carlos Tevez and a low blocked shot from Yaya Toure.

Wilshere went close in the second minute with a shot that rolled wide. Walcott retrieved the ball on the goal line and crossed to Fabregas, whose close-range effort was blocked and hacked clear.

Robin van Persie hit the left post in the eighth with goalkeeper Joe Hart beaten and Arsenal maintained almost constant pressure, creating a 27th-minute opening for Fabregas - which he side-footed from just outside the area against the same post. Walcott then struck the other post from the rebound, but he had been waved offside.

Walcott thought he had earned a penalty shortly before halftime when defender Vincent Kompany appeared to handle his cross, but referee Mike Jones awarded only a corner. Hart then tipped over a swerving 25-meter (yard) shot by Van Persie 15 minutes into the second half as the Gunners stayed third in the standings, two points behind second-place City.

City's Pablo Zabaleta and Arsenal's Bacary Sagna were sent off in the final minute after shoving each other following a tussle for the ball on the touchline.

At Blackburn, Benjani Mwaruwari scored twice in his first start since Nov. 6 after Martin Olsson had given the host the lead.

Steven Gerrard pulled one back in the 81st but then sent a penalty high five minutes later to dash Liverpool's hopes of a comeback. Hodgson has been under severe pressure after a lackluster first half of the season, and chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" ran out from the Liverpool fans during the second half.

  

Australian wins right to host 2015 Asian Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP): Australia will host the 2015 Asian Cup after having its bid approved by the Asian Football Confederation on Wednesday.

The AFC voted in favor of Australia, the only country to submit a bid, at a meeting in Doha ahead of the Asian Cup which runs from Friday until Jan. 29 in Doha, Qatar. The bid was never in doubt after AFC president Mohamad bin Hammam came out in support of it.

"We considered all the achievements made in Australia toward the development of football and to encourage the next step in developing the game," Bin Hammam said. "We are happy to announce the AFC has approved Australia to host the 2015 Asian Cup."

Bin Hammam said he was satisfied that the bid would live up to the AFC's expectations.

"The AFC is happy that all the promises Australia has made will be met in good time," he said. "We have much interest in seeing the game develop even more in Australia and this is a part of that."

Football Federation of Australia chairman Frank Lowy said his country had plenty of experience hosting big events and the government was fully behind the bid.

"We are delighted that you, Mr. President, and your executive committee decided to award the hosting of the 2015 Asian Cup to Australia," he said in a statement. "We will do the best possible job for the AFC and for Australia.

"The Australian nation will be on show not just on the field but also off the field. The people of Australia, the government of Australia are ready and able to host the Cup and ensure that football advances throughout Asia through the efforts of Australia."

The tournament is planned for January 2015 and will feature the 16 top teams in Asia with matches to be played at four or five selected venues.

  

Witness: World Cup qualifier was fixed

BOCHUM, Germany (AP): A convicted match-fixer testified Wednesday that he bribed a Bosnian referee to manipulate a World Cup qualifying match between Liechtenstein and Finland.

Ante Sapina told a German court trying four men on fraud charges that he met the referee, Novo Panic, in the parking lot of a Sarajevo hotel to discuss fixing the Sept. 9, 2009 qualifying match that ended in a 1-1 draw. Both Liechtenstein and Finland missed the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"I asked him if he could manage two goals in the second half," Sapina told the court.

Both goals came in the second half, including a disputed penalty by Finland.

"In the second half the referee awarded a penalty that was never one," the 34-year-old Croat told the court.

Liechtenstein tied the match one minute later.

Sapina said he paid Panic 40,000 ($52,850) for fixing the match.

Panic was later banned for life for his links to the match-fixing ring.

Sapina was convicted as the mastermind of a match-fixing ring in Germany in 2005 and sentenced to 35 months in prison. He was released early and told the court he resumed betting large sums on manipulated games shortly after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Although Sapina testified as a witness on Wednesday, prosecutors in Bochum have said they expect to bring charges against him and others shortly. Sapina has been in investigative custody since Nov. 19, 2009.

Bochum prosecutors have been leading a probe into what officials have described as the biggest match-fixing scandal in European football.

Prosecutors say more than 300 games are now suspected of having been fixed in various national and international competitions.

  

Gremio: Ronaldinho set to end contract with Milan

SAO PAULO (AP): Ronaldinho is set to end his contract with AC Milan on Wednesday, clearing the way for his return to his native Gremio, the Brazilian club said.

Gremio said Ronaldinho and his agent and brother Roberto Assis were traveling to Rio de Janeiro to meet with AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani and finalize his release from the Italian club.

Gremio spokesman Vitor Rodriguez said Ronaldinho and Assis are expected to return to Porto Alegre later Wednesday to finalize the deal with the club where he started his career in 1998.

Four clubs have been trying to sign Ronaldinho, but the two-time FIFA player of the year has said his main desire is to play for Gremio again. Brazilian clubs Flamengo and Palmeiras and English side Blackburn also have made offers to acquire the playmaker.

Ronaldinho said earlier Wednesday that he was willing to lower his salary to play for Gremio, but that the club's offer was still not good enough to please AC Milan.

"If it was up to me, I would already be wearing Gremio's jersey, even making less money," Ronaldinho was quoted as saying by the GloboEsporte.com website. "The problem is not the offer (the clubs) made me, but it's what Milan is asking for. No one has gotten close."

Milan reportedly wanted nearly 8 million ($10.6 million) to release Ronaldinho, but could be willing to release the player to avoid having to keep paying his high salary.

Ronaldinho, who had been playing sporadically with the Italian club and had been expressing his desire to return to Brazil, was reportedly authorized to leave the team's training camp and travel to Brazil after New Year's Eve.

Assis has been analyzing the clubs' offers and negotiating with AC Milan for the past few days in Brazil.

He met with Gremio officials on Wednesday to discuss the team's offer, but Flamengo and Palmeiras directors both said they remained optimistic.

Galliani reportedly said the offer from Luiz Felipe Scolari's Palmeiras was the best financially, but Palmeiras representative Roberto Tadeu told ESPN Brasil that in the end it would come down to Ronaldinho's choice.

Blackburn said Tuesday it was attempting to sign Ronaldinho, but manager Steve Kean acknowledged it was unlikely the Brazilian star would pick the Premier League club.

Ronaldinho won consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2004 and '05 while with Barcelona and led the Spanish club to the Champions League title in 2006.

He also helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup, under Scolari.

  

Qatar set to host this month's Asian Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP): With the 2022 World Cup still more than a decade away, Qatar's first chance to prove it can host a major football tournament arrives on Friday when the Asian Cup begins in the tiny desert nation.

The glistening city of Doha is still buzzing after overcoming rival bids from the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea to claim the 2022 World Cup. Now the hard work begins.

Qatar faces intense pressure to avoid any embarrassing, Commonwealth Games-like mishaps while attempting to showcase a country desperate for international recognition as more than just a wealthy mercenary that can buy talent and put up skyscrapers.

The hot weather - which dogged its 2022 bid from the start - won't be an issue. The Asian Cup, which runs until Jan. 29, was moved from its normal summer timetable.

The biggest challenge will likely be logistics. Tens of thousands of football fans will stream in for the 16-team tournament that features Asian heavyweights like Japan, South Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia. They are counting on a transportation network with no metro system and a haphazard fleet of buses and taxis.

The ticketing system at all six stadiums has not been tested on this scale since the 2006 Asian Games.

And then there is the question of what to do for three weeks outside the stadiums.

Will fans be charmed by the souks and desert scenery or grumble over the fact they can't buy a beer outside the four- or five-star hotels in this conservative Muslim country?

"Winning the right to host the World Cup will significantly increase the pressure for Qatar to make the Asian Cup a success," said Simon Chadwick, a sports marketing expert at Coventry University in England who visited the country a few weeks before it won the 2022 bid.

"The eyes of the world will be on the country, as people seek to establish whether or not Qatar really does have the credentials or not to host major sporting events. This raises the first big challenge the country faces: Getting the external message and the external image right; in other words, organizers need to make sure that those in Qatar for the tournament, as well as those observing from afar, get as positive a feeling about the country as possible."

Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam said Wednesday that Qatar's Asian Cup "will be the best ever in the tournament's history."

"The AFC Asian Cup is kicking off soon and I hope we call will be able to witness it," the Qatari said. "You will see the changes in the competition and how we have improved over the past eight years.

"It has been a great effort by everyone and I'm sure it will be the best tournament ever and be the model for future events."

The tournament is also be a chance to promote Asian football, which has seen its fortunes on the rise after the decision to hold a World Cup in the Middle East for the first time.

For the likes of Australia and North Korea, the tournament offers a chance put their World Cup troubles behind them.

Others such as Iran, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia - who weren't in South Africa - see the Asian Cup as their best chance of grabbing an international trophy. Then there are the minnows like Syria, Jordan and India, teams that see the tournament as a rare opportunity to display their skills on a prominent stage.

Unheralded Qatar will be hoping for a miracle on home soil. It opens the tournament on Friday against Uzbekistan in front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd.

"This cup is very important," said Syria striker Zyad Chaabo, whose team is ranked 107th in the world. "We all like to play in the Asian Cup because the World Cup is out of reach for us. Reaching the finals in Asia Cup after such a long time is very important. We hope that we will prove to the world that we deserve reaching the finals."

The favorites this year are the same as past tournaments. It's a small club that since 1956 has included three-time champions Iran, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Australia, making its second appearance in the tournament, has one of the stronger teams, as does two-time winner South Korea, which would like to end a 50-year title drought.

"I feel it is better that we did not win Asian title in the last 50 years," said South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae, who was appointed in July. "There is no pressure on us, but if we win this time it will be very, very valuable for the country."

But as Australia found out in 2007, being a favorite with plenty of big-name players doesn't mean all that much. It lost on penalties to Japan in the quarterfinals and the eventual winner was Iraq, which set off wild celebrations in the war-torn country.

"Our ambition is to be the champions again," Iraq captain Younis Mahmood said. "Through winning the cup, we did what America and the government couldn't do, which was to unite the country."

Though the tournament doesn't offer players with the star quality of Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi, there are plenty of tantalizing political backstories.

In the first week, fans can watch former enemies Iran and Iraq face each other, while Iran and North Korea, which were part of President George W. Bush's "axis of evil," will also play one another.

Australian and India - fierce cricket rivals - will face off in a rare football match, while South Korea and North Korea could face off in the knockout stage.

  

Sevilla eliminates Malaga in Copa del Rey

BARCELONA, Spain (AP): Defending champion Sevilla advanced to the quarterfinals of Spain's Copa del Rey by beating Malaga 3-0 and eliminating its Andalusian neighbor 8-3 on aggregate on Wednesday.

Koffi Romaric scored his third goal of the series with a long strike that grazed Malaga's Nabil Baha before sailing into the left corner of the net in the 51st minute, and second-half substitute Diego Perotti sped past his marker and tapped in Jesus Navas' cross in the 65th.

After Malaga was reduced to 10 men by Weligton's sending off in the 72nd, Luis Fabiano capped the win by curling in a free kick in the last minute.

Malaga had the better share of the scoring chances early on but could not covert them into goals in a game that featured the debut of four of its winter reinforcements: Ignacio Camacho, Martin Demichelis, goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, and former Sevilla midfielder Vincenzo Maresca.

"With the score 0-0 at halftime, we could move the ball better in the midfield and wear Malaga down," said Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano, whose team has won three straight in all competitions.

Also Wednesday, Adrian Lopez scored a hat trick to rally Deportivo La Coruna to a 3-1 extra-time win and knock out second-division Cordoba 4-2 on aggregate.

David Arteaga put Cordoba ahead in the 86th, but Adrian equalized for Deportivo from the penalty spot in the 90th after Cordoba's Jonathan Sesma handled in the area.

Cordoba played the extra period with 10 men after Miguel Angel Tena was sent off in injury time, and Adrian scored the winner in the 103rd when Juan Carlos Valeron put him through the defense. The striker got the third in the 131st, also from the penalty spot.

Later, Barcelona visited Athletic Bilbao with the series even after a 0-0 draw at Camp Nou stadium.

On Thursday, Real Madrid travels to Levante with the knockout virtually certain after a 8-0 thrashing in the first game, and Villarreal faces Valencia with everything in play after the 0-0 draw at Mestalla Stadium. Also, Espanyol tries to overturn Atletico Madrid's 1-0 lead at home, Almeria defends its 4-3 advantage at Mallorca, and Getafe welcomes second-division leader Betis with Michel Gonzalez's team ahead 2-1.



  

Aston Villa falls into EPL relegation zone

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP): Aston Villa fell into the relegation zone in the English Premier League for the first time since 2004 then lost to visiting Sunderland 1-0 on Wednesday.

Wolverhampton's stunning 1-0 over Chelsea dropped Villa among the bottom three in the standings on goal difference.

Villa's miserable night at home began with Emile Heskey's red card for shoving Jordan Henderson in the face in the 69th minute, followed by Phil Bardsley scoring 11 minutes later after substitute Boudewijn Zenden's free kick was blocked.

Zenden was sent off late for a second yellow card, but Sunderland earned only its second road of the season.

  

Best scores 3 as Newcastle beats West Ham 5-0

NEWCASTLE, England (AP): Leon Best scored a hat trick in his first Premier League start for Newcastle to help give the club a 5-0 win over a lackluster West Ham.

Best scored twice in the first half and captain Kevin Nolan made it 3-0 in the 45th. Best completed his hat trick in the 60th before Peter Lovenkrands completed the rout four minutes later.

It was the third time this season Newcastle had scored five or more at St. James' Park, and substitute Nile Ranger wasted a great chance to match the six they managed against Aston Villa back in August.

Relegation-threatened West Ham had arrived buoyed by a run of four league games without defeat, but rarely threatened a fightback.



Wolves beat Chelsea 1-0 in Premier League

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP): Chelsea slumped to a 1-0 loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, the latest in a string of poor results that will further increase the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Jose Bosingwa scored an own goal in the fifth minute and Wolves hung on against a sluggish Chelsea, as Carlo Ancelotti's men saw their faint title hopes all but disappear.

Salomon Kalou missed a golden second-half chance, shooting wide when clean through, and Didier Drogba shot against the outside of the post as Chelsea searched for an equalizer. But resilient Wolves stood firm and could have had a second goal when Stephen Hunt's free kick hit the bar.

The defeat means Chelsea, which is on its worst run of form during the reign of owner Roman Abramovich, have had just two wins and 10 points from their last 11 league games. It stands nine points behind leader Manchester United having played a game more.

The visitors had an awful start as Bosingwa turned a corner into his own net under pressure from Fletcher from just outside the goalline.

The Wolves fans taunted Ancelotti with chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning."

Chelsea looked sharper to start the second half, with Michael Essien blazing over from outside the area and Cole seeing his low angled shot from the left of the box comfortably held by Wayne Hennessey.

At the other end Petr Cech had to punch away Matt Jarvis' corner from underneath his crossbar.

Kalou should have levelled in the 53rd minute when Frank Lampard's clever backheel played him in, but the Ivorian could only drag his left-footed shot wide of the far post as Hennessey came off his line to narrow the angle.

Drogba then headed straight at Hennessey from Kalou's cross.

Wolves went within a whisker of doubling the lead as Hunt's left-footed free kick hit the top of the bar, but they were almost undone at the other end as Florent Malouda got free in the left channel but shot wastefully wide.

  

Blackburn beats Liverpool 3-1 in Premier League

BLACKBURN, England (AP): Roy Hodgson's future as Liverpool manager became even more uncertain Wednesday after an embarrassing 3-1 loss at Blackburn for the Reds' ninth Premier League defeat of the season.

Benjani Mwaruwari scored twice in his first start since Nov. 6 after Martin Olsson had given Blackburn the lead.

Steven Gerrard pulled one back in the 81st but then sent a penalty high five minutes later to dash Liverpool's hopes of a comeback.

Hodgson has been under severe pressure after a lackluster first half of the season, and Liverpool fans again chanted for club legend Kenny Dalglish to take over as manager. Home supporters at Ewood Park also joined in the taunts of "You're getting sacked in the morning" directed at Hodgson.

Liverpool had lost just one of its previous 24 league meetings against Blackburn, but its midfield failed to impose itself on the game.

Fernando Torres flashed an early header wide but spent most of the game complaining to referee Andre Marriner after a series of tough tackles.

Rovers looked far more threatening, as Dunn volleyed over from the edge of the penalty area and Mame Biram Diouf bundled an eight-yard shot straight at Jose Reina.

Defender Ryan Nelsen was then given plenty of time in the center of the field to play the ball out to Diouf on the left and when he knocked it on Olsson raced past the static Glen Johnson to fire past Reina in the 32nd minute.

Five minutes later it was Sotirios Kyrgiakos' turn to be slow to react as Benjani controlled Pedersen's cross on his chest and turned to lash a ferocious volley past Reina.

Hodgson's misery was complete in the 57th when Hoilett easily went around Martin Skrtel and Johnson and crossed for Benjani to sidefoot home his second.

Gerrard, in his 550th Liverpool appearance, fired in a consolation after Torres' shot was blocked but then ballooned over a penalty after being fouled in the area.

 

Wigan holds Bolton to 1-1 draw in Premier League

BOLTON, Wigan (AP): Ronnie Stam scored a late equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw for Wigan at Bolton in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Bolton went ahead in the 54th minute when striker Rodrigo Moreno, who is on loan from Benfica, beat Chris Kirkland from six meters (yards) after being picked out by Mark Davies.

Stam leveled at the far post in the 80th minute, claiming his first Wigan goal by sidefooting home at the far post after meeting Steve Gohouri's cross.

While Wigan is still one point and a place above bottom-place West Ham, Bolton is seventh in the standings.

  

Title rivals Arsenal, Man City draw 0-0

LONDON (AP): Arsenal hit the post twice but could find no way past Manchester City as the Premier League title rivals drew 0-0 on Wednesday.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were both denied by the goal frame during a first-half onslaught against a City side lacking adventure.

A powerful long-range strike from Van Persie was turned over by Joe Hart on the hour and the City goalkeeper thwarted the Dutch forward again in stoppage time.

"The way we dominated the game is very positive," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "I feel we had more chances than you usually have in this type of game. They looked to me like they were set up not to lose ... they came here to get a 0-0."

Both sides finished with 10 men after Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for an 89th-minute challenge on Bacary Sagna, who subsequently attempted to headbutt the City defender and was dismissed.

Arsenal remains two points adrift of City in third having played a game less. The draw leaves second-place City two points behind neighbor Manchester United, which also has two games in hand.

"It was very important tonight because it's always difficult to come here and get points," City defender Kolo Toure said after facing his former club. "We wanted to get three points but it was a really difficult game. Arsenal are really in form at the moment.

"The draw is really good. The team played really well and Joe made some fantastic saves."

As City manager Roberto Mancini was forced to fend off claims that his side is boring, Toure leapt to the defense of his side.

"Strikers win you games but defenders win you titles," Toure said. "It was difficult to have chances because Arsenal played very well, but it's good that we didn't lose the game."

The prospect of City winning at Arsenal for the first time since Oct. 1975 always seemed an unlikely proposition after Arsenal's storming start.

Van Persie hit the post after nine minutes and Hart kept out a sidefooted effort from Theo Walcott, who was fed by Wilshere.

City did come close when Gareth Barry's free kick reached Carlos Tevez at the back post, but Alex Song was able to divert the mis-hit shot behind.

From another quick counterattack, though, led by Samir Nasri and Fabregas, Arsenal threatened again. Fabregas struck the same left post that Van Persie hit earlier and from the rebound, Walcott hit the other post but was offside.

"They had good chances in the first 15 to 20 minutes. After that they had good possession but didn't have more chances to score," Mancini said. "In the second half we played better but I think four games in 10 days is very hard and today we were missing important players.

"We wanted to win but Arsenal played better than us, maybe. We defended very well in the second half. If we came here with all players I think it could have been another game but four games, 10 points in 10 days is good. I think it was important not to lose this game."

Walcott felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty before halftime when his cross hit Vincent Kompany's trailing arm.