Wolves jump to second spot

LONDON, JANUARY 18: Wolverhampton Wanderers moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the English first division on Thursday after a dramatic 3-2 victory at Portsmouth.

Wolves, out of the top flight since 1985, move to 55 points, behind City on goal difference. Millwall drop to third on 52, with Burnley fourth on 51.

Portsmouth, who have now lost eight of their last nine league games, remain 16th.

Nigel Quashie put Portsmouth ahead after 12 minutes when his shot from the edge of the box was deflected and looped over goalkeeper Michael Oakes. But Alex Rae equalised four minutes later when veteran Portsmouth keeper Dave Beasant somehow allowed his straight free kick to fly past him.

Wolves made most of the running from then on and went ahead after an hour when Nathan Blake reacted quickly to fire in a shot off the underside of the bar following a corner.

Blake had the ball in the net again in the 79th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside and seconds later Portsmouth were level.

Croatian veteran Robert Prosinecki, rumoured to be on his way out of the club, made space on the edge of the box and unleashed a fierce Left footer into the top corner.

Juve survive scare

ROME: Juventus survived a late rally from Atalanta to reach the Italian Cup semifinals on Thursday as they set up an attractive tie with AC Milan.

The Turin giants lost 1-2 on the night but went through 5-4 on aggregate thanks to the cushion of a 4-2 win in the home leg.

Juve could have gone behind as early as the fourth minute when Gianni Comandini was hauled down in the area by France international Lilian Thuram. (Reuters)