Australia international Mark Viduka scored twice as Middlesbrough advanced into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a nervy 4-3 third round replay win on Tuesday against Hull, struggling at the foot of the second-tier Championship.
Debutant Seb Hines put the Premiership side ahead at the Riverside Stadium before Mark Viduka and a Yakubu penalty seemingly put the game beyond the visitors.
However, Andy Dawson pulled one back and Jon Parkin made it 3-2 with a penalty after Abel Xavier's foul on Stephen McPhee.
PHOTO: AP
Two minutes later Viduka, who is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave the north-east club during this month's transfer window, was on target again.
But with 21 minutes left Dawson scored again to set up a tense finish but Boro's inexperienced defense held on.
In the other replay involving a Premiership side, Manchester City edged an entertaining match against Championship visitors Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 to set up a home clash with Southampton.
PHOTO: AP
Both sides had plenty of chances before the deadlock was broken just before half-time.
City's Stephen Ireland netted from close range to give the home side the lead at Eastlands but Lee Bullen drew Wednesday level with a fine header early in the second period.
But barely five minutes later England striker Darius Vassell restored City's lead and Pearce's men just did enough to prevent the match going into extra-time.
Elsewhere Wolves beat Oldham 2-0 to set up a home derby with Midlands rivals West Brom. Darren Potter's long-range strike 10 minutes into the second half helped Wolves on the way before Craig Davies added a second.
League One promotion-chasers Bristol City will travel to Middlesbrough after a 2-0 win away to Championship side Coventry.
Scott Murray made the breakthrough for the visitors at the Ricoh Arena, scoring in the 39th minute from outside the area after Enoch Showunmi's pass
Showunmi went from provider to scorer after the interval with a header.
Southend will face either Tottenham or Cardiff after a 2-0 win at Barnsley.
Kevin Maher's stunning 25-yard strike gave the Shrimpers the early lead at Oakwell before Lee Bradbury's second-half effort sealed victory.
Championship side Ipswich booked a home tie against League One Swansea after Matthew Richards's 84th minute goal secured a 1-0 win against visitors Chester at Portman Road.
Plymouth, also of the Championship, came from behind to beat managerless Peterborough 2-1 and will meet Barnet at Underhill in the fourth round.
Luton's third round replay against Queens Park Rangers was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Meanwhile in Scotland, lowly St Mirren fought back from two goals down before bowing out of their re-arranged Scottish FA Cup third round tie 3-2 at Dundee United to a late winner from David Robertson.
The match was postponed on Jan. 6 after a flu bug swept United.
Barry Robson gave United a first half lead with a 31st minute free kick and they eased 2-0 ahead with a Garry Kenneth goal in the opening minute of the second half.
Saints surged back with a Richard Brittain penalty in 76 minutes and John Sutton levelled five minutes later with a low shot into the bottom left hand corner.
Robertson secured United's victory after a late Saints blunder to earn a fourth round tie at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Feb. 3.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
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The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
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