MANCHESTER, England (AP) - Anderson ended a 15-month goal drought for Manchester United on Tuesday to earn a 1-1 draw against Valencia and secure top spot in Group C of the Champions League.

The Brazil midfielder rifled home the equalizer in the 62nd minute after goalkeeper Vicente Guaita had parried Park Ji-sung's strike.

The goal - only Anderson's second for United - kept the three-time European champions unbeaten in all competitions this season.

The 22-year-old Anderson's first goal since finding the net against Tottenham in September 2009 ensures that United cannot face Barcelona or Real Madrid in the last 16.

But United conceded its first goal of this season's group stage when Pablo Hernandez shot between the legs of 20-year-old goalkeeper Ben Amos, who was starting his third senior match.

Michael Carrick was at fault for the goal, the England midfielder being dispossessed 35 meters (yards) from his own goal.

Alejandro Dominguez nipped in, took the ball and ran straight at Nemanja Vidic before rolling a pass to Hernandez.

Wayne Rooney's failure to score from open play for United since March continued, but manager Alex Ferguson was encouraged by his progress since a lengthy layoff with an ankle injury.

"His distribution, his leading of the line and his work rate were outstanding tonight," Ferguson said. "He's getting there, and he's getting there quickly."

Rooney said he feels fit.

"Just in and around the box, I've got to get my sharpness back. But overall I'm happy with my fitness and with my performance today," Rooney said.

United has concerns about Rio Ferdinand's fitness after the center back limped off five minutes into the second half with hamstring problems.

Source: The Star

MALAYSIA did the job by swatting Laos 5-1 in Palembang but it was two goals by Indonesia's Bambang Pamungkas in Jakarta which sent the national team through to the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup yesterday.

Indonesia's 2-1 win over Thailand meant Malaysia edged the Thais to second place in Group A and accompany the hosts to the last four.

Two first half goals by Amri Yahyah, who had gone six years without a goal on the international stage, set Malaysia on the way at the Jaka Baring Stadium in rainy Palembang.

Amri chose the perfect moment to end his drought, striking twice for his first international goals since also scoring a brace against Timor Leste at the 2004 Asean Championship in Bukit Jalil.

Starting in place of the injured Safee Sali, Amri gave Malaysia a perfect start in the fourth minute, connecting to Norshahrul Idlan Talaha's square pass into the six-yard box with a diving header to guide the ball in off the far post.

But just as suddenly, Laos drew level four minutes later. Lamnao Singto ghosted in behind centre-back Muslim Ahmad to head in a cross from the right past Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.

Lamnao nearly punished Malaysia again in the 21st minute from a similar position but this time his header was straight at Khairul Fahmi after Muslim and Faizal Muhammad failed to deal with a long ball into the box.

Laos were controlling possession with Malaysia getting little in the way of shots at goal until the 40th minute when Amri made it 2-1.

Safiq Rahim found space on the right and played a pass forward into the box for Amri to nudge into goal.

As both teams struggled to find their footing in the second round with the rain pouring heavily, Norshahrul squandered a chance to extend Malaysia's lead in the 61st minute when he beat one defender only to take an extra touch and that allowed the goalkeeper to block.

Minutes later came news that Suree Sukha had volleyed Thailand ahead against Indonesia in Jakarta.

Substitute Amirulhadi Zainal then made it 3-1 for Malaysia in the 74th minute after charging down a clearance and stroking the loose ball home.

Norshahrul put the seal on the win two minutes later when he dispossessed a Lao defender to fire in the fourth goal before Laos defender Kitsada Thongkhen put the ball into his own net for a 5-1 win.

In between those goals, former Selangor striker Bambang scored two penalties for Indonesia to send Malaysia through to a last four meeting with the Group B winner in the first leg in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 15.

Read more: Five-star Malaysia in semis

Wartawan diberitahu oleh Ismail bahawa dia akan menganjurkan kejohanan badminton UTP Open. Sesiapa yang ada raket layak untuk menyertai kejohanan ini.

Bole lawan dengan orang luar. Takde le jadi jaguh kampong je. Kejohanan berlangsung dari 23 – 25 December ini. Ismail juga memerlukan 35 orang sukarelawan untuk membantu dia menguruskan kejohanan berprestij ini.

Kepada penyokong Mior Sazali, anda berpeluang berjumpanya di Masjid An-Nur tidak lama lagi. Diatas pujukan Ismail, mior telah bersetuju untuk hadir tapi belum tahu bila lagi.

Jangan lupa tengok Channel 813 esok. Malaysia lawan Thailand. Ramai kawan-kawan yang ngaku mereka adalah keturunan Indonesia.

Memandangkan faiz pun cuti minggu ni ditambah pula musim hujan maka tiadalah latihan bola minggu ini. Isnin depan pun maybe ramai yang cuti. Kita start latihan rabu minggu depan le nampaknya.

Wartawan begitu kecewa dengan aksi pertahanan pasukan Malaysia dan keeper yang kelam kabut. Sebab tu kena belasah dengan Indonesia semalam. Kalau main macam tu lagi confirm kena belasah dengan Thailand dan laos. Defend belum cukup mantap lagi. Rasanya Azad lagi bagus kot dari defend Malaysia tu.

FAM kini sedang menyiasat Samsul Jefri kerana mengkritik mutu pengadilan Maniam selasa lepas. Dogek dan Ismail turut tidak setuju dengan cara sham mengkritik pengadil itu.

Petang semalam telah diadakan perlawanan persahabatan antara UTP – Jabatan Perangkaan Perak. Perlawanan terpaksa dilangsungkan dalam hujan lebat dan padang yang banjir paras keting. Dalam perlawanan itu pemain lebih banyak sepak air dari sepak bola. Pemain juga tidak perlu minum air minuman kerana ramai yang terminum air jus rumput.

Dari segi ball possession utp mengusai 60% namun tak banyak percubaan bahaya ke pintu gol lawan. Yusri che lah muncul wira di separuh masa pertama apabila membuat aksi syahid sliding depan gol ketika pintu gol sudah terbuka luas.

Second half tukar padang sebelah. Tapi masih bola sangkut-sangkut. Namun nasib lebih menyebelahi lawan apabila Berjaya sepak masuk bola yang sangkut dalam kotak penalty. Gol itu kekal sampai tamat. Utp pula terlepas 2 peluang keemasan dari Fatimie. Takde luck. Gol sham lebam pula dibatalkan. Dia kabo kalau dia jumpa referi tu kat lambor memang tak balik ipoh le dah. Kesungguhan sham amat jelas kelihatan sehinggakan dia menghalau faiz keluar padang kerana hanya berjalan-jalan saja dan tidak kejar bola. Ada pemain lain kasi tau kat wartawan yang sham memaki bola setiap kali sangkut dalam air.

Akhir kata team lawan ajak repeat kat stadium batu gajah. Kita kena beri tarikh pada mereka.

Yusri che lah cuba dibeli oleh pasukan murata semalam tetapi terpaksa menolak tawaran kerana masih setia bersama UTP.

p/s: cermin mata dah jumpa. Ada terselit dalam tuala rupanya….