Neil Robertson stuns John Higgins with dramatic Masters fightback

  • Australian wins 6-5 having been 5-1 down
  • Robertson a late call up to replace O’Sullivan

Neil Robertson made the most of his late call up to the Masters with a stunning fightback from 5-1 down to beat John Higgins 6-5.

Robertson, who won the prestigious top-16 event in 2012 and 2022, was gifted the chance to face Higgins in the opening match after reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan’s withdrawal.

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European football: Jürgen Klopp watches Leipzig win as Atlético go top

  • Xavi Simons scores twice against Werder Bremen
  • Álvarez provides winner for La Liga leaders Atlético

RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons scored twice on his comeback from injury to help his team to a 4-2 Bundesliga victory over visiting Werder Bremen on Sunday as the new Red Bull head of global soccer Jürgen Klopp watched from the stands.

Klopp, who ended a successful nine-year stint at Liverpool last summer and has coached Mainz and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, started his new role this month and will act as an adviser for the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, the United States, Brazil and Austria.

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FA Cup roundup: Hull sunk by League Two Doncaster, Phillips inspires Ipswich

  • Doncaster go through on penalties after 1-1 draw
  • Kalvin Phillips helps Ipswich beat Bristol Rovers 3-0

Grant McCann expressed deep pride after League Two side Doncaster defeated Hull 5-4 on penalties in the third round of the FA Cup to earn a fourth‑round tie against Premier League Crystal Palace.

With the score 1-1 following extra time, Harry Clifton converted the winning spot-kick after Mason Burstow and Alfie Jones missed for the Championship team. Earlier, Luke Molyneux had given Doncaster the lead shortly after half-time but Hull equalised in the 80th minute when Gustavo Puerta followed up Burstow’s low shot that hit the base of the left post.

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Will Osula settles Newcastle nerves after Bromley threaten FA Cup upset

During five years on Newcastle’s payroll Andy Woodman’s apparently endless supply of jokes prompted plenty of training ground laughter but club insiders knew better than to underestimate their goalkeeping coach.

That judgment was vindicated as, a decade after leaving Tyneside, Woodman returned in charge of Bromley. Ultimately, League Two’s 12th placed team could not prevent their hosts from recording an eighth straight victory in all competitions but, for quite a while, Woodman’s meticulously organised players ­frustrated Eddie Howe’s Premier League high flyers.

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Eberechi Eze quick off mark to ease Crystal Palace past Stockport

For Crystal Palace supporters of a certain vintage, any meeting with Stockport is bound to bring back fond memories of Dougie Freedman’s heroics in 2001. More than two decades on from his late goal that ensured Palace avoided relegation to the third tier on the final day of the season and having spent most of the intervening period travelling in different directions, only an early strike from Eberechi Eze could separate Dave Challinor’s side from their Premier League opponents.

Oliver Glasner was grateful that Palace’s stand-in goalkeeper Matt Turner – who stepped in after a sickness bug ruled out Dean Henderson – stood firm in the second half as Stockport sniffed the opportunity of an upset but could not take their chances.

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Scarlets face stiff task to retain Regional Age Grade title

Wales U18 head coach Richie Pugh is facing a busy few weeks with the re-styled Regional Age Grade U18 tournament about to kick off. The first round of fixtures takes place on Sunday 12 January and over the course of seven successive weekends the champions will emerge. Scarlets are the holders of the title and […]

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