Late pen settles fiery derby

Higuain celebrates his dramatic late winner.

MADRID, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Gonzalo Higuain scored an injury-time penalty to earn Real Madrid a 2-1 away victory over Atletico Madrid in the city derby on Saturday.

The Argentine buried a spot kick in the last minute, just after Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa had grabbed an 89th-minute equaliser for Atletico with a freekick.

Atletico have not beaten their neighbours since June 1999 and were trailing after only 40 seconds when the Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy netted from distance.

The home side had defender Luis Perea sent off, and Van Nistelrooy followed him for another red card before the break.

With both sides reduced to 10 men, Atletico pressed hard and looked to have at least grabbed a point at the end, before John Heitinga tripped Royston Drenthe in the area for the penalty in the 97th minute.

"We have proven many times that we are capable of scoring goals right up to the last minute," said Real coach Bernd Schuster, who went on to criticise the referee.

"Van Nistelrooy's sending off was clearly a case of compensating the other side. It was because of the referee we didn't win 5-1."

Real made it six unbeaten matches in the league, while Atletico have now slumped to three defeats in a row.

In the late game, Villarreal were held to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol that put them one point clear at the top, ahead of Real and Valencia. Valencia host Numancia on Sunday when Barcelona visit Athletic Bilbao.

At the Calderon, there appeared to be little on for Van Nistelrooy when he received the ball with his back to goal in the first minute, but he was given space to turn and surprised Leo Franco at his near post.

Wesley Sneijder then hit the bar and Sergio Aguero replied for the home side hitting the post soon after. The game was thrown open when Perea was red-carded after he caught Sneijder in the face with a flailing arm.

But Van Nistelrooy soon followed after the referee harshly showed him a red for clumsily upending Maniche.

Atletico pressed on after the break but struggled to beat Iker Casillas until they won a freekick on the edge of the area at the end. Simao curled it over the wall to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.

But it only lasted a few minutes and there was a sense of inevitability as Atletico went on to concede the penalty deep into injury time.

"Simao's goal was just reward for our audacity after the break, but it is devastating to concede a goal in the first and 96th minutes," said Atletico coach Javier Aguirre.

Hamburg SV 1-1 Schalke 04

HAMBURG, October 19 (Bundesliga) - Hamburg returned to the top of the Bundesliga with a draw at home to Schalke on Sunday.

Piotr Trochowski gave Hamburg the lead after 29 minutes but substitute Benedikt Howedes equalised for Schalke shortly after half-time.

Martin Jol's side remain undefeated at home this season in improving to 17 points, one point ahead of Hoffenheim.

Jol's Dutch compatriot Fred Rutten is still waiting for his side's first victory away from home this season, but the point moves them up to sixth on 13 points.

Hamburg enjoyed the better start and nearly went ahead after five minutes but Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer got a hand on Ivica Olic's header to push it over the crossbar.

At the other end, Hamburg keeper Frank Rost was forced to bat away a fine shot by Halil Altintop two minutes later.

The hosts continued to pressurise but Olic was just off target in the 10th minute and Jose Paolo Guerrero failed to convert a fine chance six minutes later.

The pressure told just short of the half-hour mark when David Jarolim released Trochowski who ran on to the ball and hit a first-time shot into the far left corner.

Schalke equalised just three minutes after the break, though, when Jefferson Farfan sent a high free-kick into the area where Howedes out-leapt Thimothee Atouba and headed home from 13 yards.

Hamburg almost immediately broke down the other end but Jonathan Pitroipa's strike from 16 yards flew into the side-netting, and Mladen Petric wasted a glorious opportunity in the 64th minute when he struck the right post from just three yards out.

Trochowski could have grabbed all three points for the hosts with two minutes remaining but Neuer was equal to his shot.

AC Milan 3-0 Sampdoria

MILAN, October 19 (Serie A) - AC Milan continued their recovery from a rocky start to the season with victory over Sampdoria on Sunday, but it was not always as straight forward as the final score suggests.

Although missing several players through injury and suspension, Sampdoria put up a good fight until Stefano Lucchini handled Ronaldinho's shot inside the area to earn a second yellow card in the 54th minute.

Ronaldinho scored the resulting penalty, then added a second in the 66th minute before Filippo Inzaghi capped the victory in the final minute.

Milan did not have it all their own way in the first half however.

After Marco Borriello had missed from close range for the hosts, Samp took control of the game.

In the sixth minute, Antonio Cassano raced into the area before forcing a good save from Christian Abbiati.

A minute later Cassano turned provider, but Jonathan Bottinelli's header was just wide.

Marco Padalino then tried to set up Gennaro Delvecchio but Paolo Maldini made a timely intervention as Delvecchio prepared to pull the trigger.

In the 21st minute, Delvecchio struck a superb volley which flew just past the right-hand post.

At the other end, Marek Jankulowski combined with Ronaldinho to break through on goal, but his shot was tame and Luca Castellazzi held on.

A minute later the goalkeeper was in action again to save Ronaldinho's free-kick.

Alexandre Pato should have put Milan ahead in the 35th minute but scuffed a good chance from close range after more good work from Ronaldinho.

Samp were back on the attack in the 39th minute but Abbiatti was able to parry Cassano's drilled shot.

Having been on the back foot for much of the first half, Milan looked a different team after the break.

Just a minute after the restart, Kaka skimmed the left-hand post with a shot from the edge of the area.

The game then turned in the 54th minute as Lucchini handled to give Ronaldinho the chance from the spot.

Cassano tried to respond to the opener but could not beat Abbiati in the 62nd minute, and moments later Milan doubled their advantage as Kaka went on a superb run before finding Ronaldinho who applied the finish from the edge of the area.

Borriello wasted a fine chance to make it three in the 69th minute as Kaka went on another fine run, only for the young striker fire wide.

A third goal looked as though it would only be a matter of time as Ronaldinho's free-kick hit the crossbar on its way over and Emerson too found the woodwork with a header from Kaka's corner.

Ronaldinho could have had a hat-trick five minutes from time but Castelazzi saved his volleyed shot.

The finishing touch came in the final minute as Invaghi rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home from a tight angle.

Valencia 4-0 Numancia

Valencia opened up a two-point gap at the top of the Primera Liga following a 4-0 victory over struggling Numancia at the Mestalla on Sunday.

An early goal from David Villa put the hosts firmly in control and, though the Soria-based outfit held back the floodgates for more than an hour, late strikes from Juan Mata, Vicente and a second for Villa applied the gloss to an easy afternoon's work for Unai Emery's men.

Numancia came into the game without a win in five but they started positively by winning a corner inside the opening minute and creating the game's first chance.

Txomin Nagore met Jose Barkero's centre on the half-volley and the ball would have hit the back of the net had Raul Albiol not managed to block it.

However, that was as good as it got for the visitors because within four minutes the hosts were ahead and cruising.

Villa, fresh from scoring a last-gasp midweek winner for Spain in Belgium, tried his luck with a ferocious shot from distance.

The ball ricocheted off a defender and into the face of Fernando Morientes, rolling kindly back into Villa's path and he effortlessly slotted home from 12 yards.

Morientes was left grounded while the rest of his colleagues celebrated but there was no harm done and he was able to continue moments after play had restarted.

For Valencia, it was a lucky break that allowed them to relax and enjoy their football as they spent the remainder of the first half creating numerous half-chances without ever really getting out of second gear.

Portugal full-back Miguel was particularly keen to get his name on the scoresheet, bursting into the box on three occasions but firing high and wide each time.

It should have been 2-0 midway through the half when Villa sprung the offside trap and fired home following some neat build-up play from Joaquin and Mata but the linesman raised his flag, much to the annoyance of the striker who it seemed had timed his run to perfection.

For half-an-hour either side of the break, the visitors did give Brito Renan plenty to do in the Los Che goal but the Brazilian keeper was never really called upon to make anything other than routine saves.

If nerves were beginning to creep into Valencia's game while the teams were still only separated by one goal, they were dispelled on 72 minutes when Mata prodded home a gift from Cesar Palacios.

A slide-rule pass from Villa seemed harmless enough but the defender's desperate lunge merely directed the ball into the Mata's path and he made no mistake with an instant finish beyond the despairing Juan Pablo.

The visitors lost all of their resolve from that moment and they were soon made to pay as Vicente smashed home a third at the back post on 83 minutes.

Villa then completed the scoring in the dying moments by hooking home a through ball from Manuel Fernandes with Juan Pablo stranded off his line.

Sorry Spurs lose again

NealSimpson/Empics

Rory Delap celebrates after scoring the winner against Spurs

Tottenham are in danger of becoming marooned at the foot of the Premier League table after losing 2-1 at Stoke City. Their disastrous start to the season is now the worst in the club's history and defeat was compounded by red cards for Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson. Darren Bent had levelled Danny Higginbotham's penalty but Rory Delap grabbed the winner. Ricardo Fuller also missed a late spot kick.

Stoke 2-1 Tottenham: Ramos rocked

Michael Dawson gets his marching orders

Juande Ramos endured fresh horrors as Tottenham's nightmare start of the season plumbed new depths with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Stoke.

Spurs sunk to their sixth defeat in eight games to stoke up the pressure on their Spanish manager, who left the Britannia Stadium pitch grim-faced.

• Ramos remaining positive

It was the worst of matches for Tottenham and Ramos - a bitter defeat, two red cards and, not least, Croatian defender Vedran Corluka suffering a serious-looking head injury.

It started badly and rarely looked up for the visitors: Gareth Bale conceded a penalty and was red-carded 17 minutes into the game.

Danny Higginbotham scored from the spot and although Darren Bent equalised, Rory Delap grabbed the winner to leave Tottenham with two points from eight matches, their worst ever start to a season - worse still than 1912, the year the Titanic sunk, when they at least had three points from the opening eight games.

Ramos had to do without Ledley King, a major blow for the 20th-placed side against the team one above them in the table.

Alan Hutton did return at right-back however, the Scot's first appearance since May 11,

''You're going to be sacked in the morning,'' sang the Stoke supporters, and the Spurs players looked nervous in the opening exchanges.

The tension was increased when Delap burst through the middle after good play by Mamady Sidibe and Dave Kitson.

He shaped to shoot but instead laid the ball across to the unmarked Tom Soares who should have scored but hit his shot too close to Heurelho Gomes.

Bent managed a header on target before Tottenham's troubles deepened.

Bale made a complete hash of clearing Higginbotham's free-kick, Soares was onto him in a trice and took possession. The young Welshman lunged desperately to stop him but only succeeded in taking his legs.

Referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot, and produced the red card - and Spurs could have little complaint about either decision.

Higginbotham stepped up to take the penalty - several times as it turned out, because the buffeting wind kept moving the ball off the spot - and kept his composure to beat the diving Gomes low to the keeper's left.

In the 24th minute Tottenham finally enjoyed a slice of good fortune. Hutton's shot was blocked with two Spurs players offside and the ball found its way through to Bent, who poked home from close range.

The reversal in fortunes invigorated Ramos' side and Aaron Lennon went on a promising run but his shot was tame, then David Bentley curled a long-range effort but too high.

Luka Modric was next to try his luck after cutting in from the right but his drive sailed wide, before Thomas Sorensen was forced into a one-handed save to keep out Lennon's fierce 20-yard strike.

Spurs had shot their bolt though and Stoke began the second half with more purpose.

It was Delap who hit the equaliser seven minutes into the second half after Stoke - who had until then relied on direct tactics - finally put together a decent passing move.

The ball was worked through central midfield and then out to Sidibe on the right who struck a peach of a centre leaving Delap with a straightforward finish at the far post.

This time, Stoke kept up the pressure and Ramos made his only possible change, sending on Roman Pavlyuchenko for Bentley, who again had been disappointing, but to no avail.

Seyi Olofinjana brought a sprawling save out of Gomes from 25 yards before Stoke were forced into a change with Steve Simonsen coming on in goal for Thomas Sorensen after the Dane had been caught by Hutton.

There was an incident of real concern when Corluka was carried from the field after twice being caught by his own keeper within a minute as Gomes tried to deal with Stoke's set plays.

First the Croatian suffered a blow to the ribs and then caught the keeper's knee full on his chin. Lengthy medical attention on the pitch followed before the Spurs defender left on a stretcher wearing on an oxygen mask and was taken straight into a pitch-side ambulance.

Tottenham had hope when Bent won a free-kick 20 yards out but Jermaine Jenas' effort was woeful.

Soares should have wrapped it up when he seized onto Didier Zokora's hesitation but he scooped over.

Corluka's injury left 11 minutes of injury-time to be played and Stoke contrived to hit the woodwork three times.

Soares won a penalty after being fouled by Woodgate, Fuller hit the post and Delap's follow-up struck the bar, before Fuller again hit the angle.

And in the closing seconds substitute Michael Dawson rounded off Ramos' bad dream with another straight red card for a foot-up challenge on Sidibe.

Tigers roar back into third

Michael Turner heads in the Tigers' winner

Londoner Michael Turner emerged as the latest hero of Hull's remarkable Premier League season as his 51st-minute header at the KC Stadium proved enough to inflict more capital carnage.

Following stunning wins at Arsenal and Tottenham, the Lewisham-born Turner struck to sink Gianfranco Zola's ailing West Ham 1-0 and send the Tigers roaring back up to third place.

Confidence oozing from every pore, the home side deserved their latest win for their attacking intent and Phil Brown's men looked dangerous on the counter-attack right up to the final whistle.

• Dancing Tigers jig of joy

IThe optimism and belief surging through the home side is in stark contrast to the Hammers, who were left to rue two Carlton Cole misses but summoned little by way of their quest for an equaliser.

Cole hit a simple first-half effort straight at Hull goalkeeper Bo Myhill when he should have scored, then scythed an even better chance against the underside of the bar moments after the restart from Turner's goal.

Recent defeat to Bolton, plus fresh financial concerns, had hardly sent the Hammers bounding north in the best of moods, but boss Zola had the bonus of handing Craig Bellamy his first league start of the season.

The Welshman had his moments in the opening period but the Hammers laboured early and the home side started brightly, exuding the confidence which had swept them to such lofty heights.

Daniel Cousin posed a constant danger down the right flank while Marlon King, returning from the back injury which ruled him out of midweek international duty, saw a low shot grasped by Hammers keeper Robert Green.

King headed straight at Green from a Paul McShane cross in the 11th minute as the Tigers continued to dominate and Zola's men struggled to find a route out of their own half.

But the momentum began to change after a quarter of an hour when Bellamy, in his first contribution, raced across the halfway line and teed up Cole to side-foot the simplest of chances straight at Myhill.

Then Herita Ilunga could consider himself unfortunate for being penalised by referee Chris Foy after charging down an attempted Myhill goal-kick, and overhead-kicking the loose ball into the net.

Dean Marney volleyed just wide from King's cross but the Hammers continued to get into the game and Ilunga came even closer when he headed Scott Parker's corner just the wrong side of the post from point-blank range.

The visitors were starting to enjoy far more possession in dangerous areas with Bellamy's low cross almost catching out a hesitant Hull defence, and Valon Behrami firing wide from long range.

The already-booked Ilunga looked lucky to escape a second yellow card after scything down Marney on the Tigers right as the lively action continued with goals still looking likely.

The opener almost came from Bellamy, who blazed high and wide from a tight angle after Cole's clever knock-down in first-half injury time.

But in the end it came for the home side six minutes into the second half, when Turner outjumped Matthew Upson to head home the impressive Andy Dawson's corner from the right.

The Hammers had a golden chance to equalise two minutes later when Valon Behrami got round the back of the Hull defence and set up Cole on the edge of the six-yard box, but the striker scythed his shot against the underside of the bar.

Having survived that scare, the home side grew in confidence and Kamil Zayette came close in the 56th minute when he steamrollered out of defence before lashing a long-range effort just over the bar.

The home side were continuing to knock the ball around with aplomb, although Cole remained a threat and his cross in the 68th minute resulted in Matthew Etherington volleying into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Zola's men were left looking short of ideas and summoned little by way of threat in the closing stages, with the home side hanging on with ease to claim their fifth top flight victory.

Dancing Tigers jig of joy

Hull City boss Phil Brown admitted his side were ''dancing in the dressing room'' after Michael Turner's winner against West Ham sent the Tigers roaring back to third place in the Barclays Premier League.

Hamburg held at home to Schalke

BERLIN, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Hamburg SV edged back top of the Bundesliga with a 1-1 draw at home to Schalke 04 on Sunday, but the result will have cheered struggling champions Bayern Munich more than anyone.

Piotr Trochowski put Hamburg ahead in a first half they dominated but Schalke equalised straight after the break through defender Benedikt Hoewedes.

A draw means Hamburg reclaim the league leadership with 17 points from eight matches, one clear of Hoffenheim after the wealthy village team enjoyed a 5-2 win at Hanover on Saturday.

Hamburg will nevertheless be frustrated at missing a chance to go seven points clear of their three most serious title rivals.

As it is, Schalke move up to sixth on 13 points, while Werder Bremen and Bayern are a point further back in 10th and 11th respectively.

Werder drew 3-3 at home to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, while Bayern had a late strike from Miroslav Klose to thank for a 1-0 win at Karlsruhe.

Considering that it was a first win in four Bundesliga matches, Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann can be quietly pleased that they are only five points behind the leaders.

MIDFIELD MISTAKE

Hamburg were much the better team for the first half against Schalke and they took the lead with around half an hour gone.

David Jarolim stole the ball from Orlando Engelaar in midfield and played in Trochowski to shoot across the keeper and in from the left.

Schalke nicked an equaliser when Hoewedes headed home from a free kick and Kevin Kuranyi missed a good chance to put the visitors in front when he headed over the bar from another free kick soon afterwards.

Hamburg were soon back in control but they had few clear chances to reclaim the lead in an unmemorable match.

Ronaldinho brace as Milan sink Sampdoria

ROME, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Ronaldinho struck twice and Filippo Inzaghi was also on target as AC Milan beat 10-man Sampdoria 3-0 at the San Siro on Sunday.

The Brazilian stepped up to convert a 55th-minute penalty conceded for handball by Sampdoria defender Stefano Lucchini, who was sent off, and he doubled the lead 11 minutes later after some nice interplay with his compatriot Kaka down the left.

Inzaghi dodged past keeper Luca Castellazzi to slip the ball home in stoppage time and make sure Samp stayed without a league win.

Catania beat Sicilian rivals Palermo, who played the second half with 10 men after Moris Carrozzieri was sent off for a second yellow, 2-0 to earn themselves a share of the Serie A top spot.

They have 14 points from seven games and are level with Udinese, who came from 2-0 down to salvage a 2-2 draw at Lecce, and Napoli, who beat Juventus 2-1 on Saturday.

Milan are one point behind the trio, as are champions Inter Milan, who can go two points clear if they win at struggling AS Roma in Sunday's late game.

Premier League XI on shortlist for Ballon d'Or

England internationals Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are among 11 Premier League players shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or.

The trio are the only British representatives for the award alongside the likes of Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo - the clear favourite - and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

France Football magazine today revealed the condensed list of 30 contenders for their European golden ball award, with Barcelona striker Thierry Henry and AC Milan's Ronaldinho - who received the accolade in 2005 - absent after disappointing campaigns last season.

Portugal international winger Ronaldo is the clear favourite to win the award on December 2 with Barca talisman Lionel Messi and 2007 winner Kaka (AC Milan) also in contention.

Rooney won the Champions League with Manchester United in May while Lampard played in the final for Chelsea. Liverpool's Gerrard impressed as they reached the tournament's last four before losing to Chelsea in the semi-finals.

Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba (both Chelsea), Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic (both Manchester United) and Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) are the other Premier League stars on the list, which has been cut down from 50.

Spain are represented by seven players after winning Euro 2008 in the summer - Torres and Fabregas being joined by Marcos Senna, Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, David Villa and Xavi.

Only three Serie A players have been nominated - Kaka, Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon - with Spain's Primera Division matching the Premier League with 11 nominees.

Previous Ballon d'Or winners Andriy Shevchenko and Fabio Cannavaro have missed out.

Nominees

Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar (all Manchester United), Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack (all Chelsea), Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres (both Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor (both Arsenal), Iker Casillas, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rafael van der Vaart, Sergio Ramos, Pepe (all Real Madrid), Lionel Messi, Xavi, Samuel Eto'o (all Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), David Villa (Valencia), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Kaka (AC Milan), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Franck Ribery, Luca Toni (both Bayern Munich), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow). Karim Benzema (Lyon)

Valencia clear at the top as Villa shines

MADRID, Oct 19 (Reuters) - David Villa made it eight goals from seven games with a brace in Valencia's 4-0 hammering of promoted Numancia, that put them clear at the top of the Primera Liga on Sunday.

The Spain striker, who has also bagged five for the European champions in World Cup qualifying, netted after only five minutes at the Mestalla.

He then helped set up the second for Juan Mata midway through the second half, and after substitute Vicente had made it 3-0, Villa stole a fourth at the end.

Unai Emery's side stretched their unbeaten start to seven and they lead the standings with 19 points, two ahead of local rivals Villarreal, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol on Saturday.

Champions Real Madrid are third with 16 points after a last-gasp penalty earned them a 2-1 away win in the city derby against Atletico Madrid, also on Saturday.

Later on Sunday, Barcelona were playing away to Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla were at Almeria.

Real Betis hauled themselves off the foot of the standings and eased the pressure on coach Paco Chaparro with their first victory of the season, beating Real Mallorca 3-0 at home.

Promoted Sporting Gijon spoiled Jose Antonio Camacho's debut as new coach of struggling Osasuna, sending the visiting Navarrans to a 2-1 defeat.

colari thrilled by Blues' strength in depth

Luiz Felipe Scolari brushed aside Chelsea's injury problems after seeing his side do just that to Middlesbrough.

The Brazilian headed for the Riverside Stadium yesterday with a collection of world stars remaining behind in the treatment room and some of his so-called lesser lights having to step up to the plate.

But despite the absence of the likes of Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Ashley and Joe Cole, they emerged on the right end of a 5-0 romp with their position at the top of the Premier League further enhanced.

The performance and result were testament not only to the depth of owner Roman Abramovich's pockets and Scolari's wealth of experience, but also to the motivation of a series of players who have had to remain stoically patient in the wings at Stamford Bridge.

No-one typified the determination to take the opportunity to impress more than Brazilian utility man Juliano Belletti, who was a revelation in a fluid midfield which tore woeful Boro to shreds.

Scolari said: "Saturday was fantastic for us because I had some players who have not played many games and they showed to me and to the people that they are in good condition to play for Chelsea.

"This is a group, this is a team, it is not only 11 players, and that is what I want.

"If Chelsea bought these players, if Chelsea think those players are good, why should I be afraid if one or two players are missing?

"I have confidence in these players. It sends a message to me - 'I am here, I want to play for Chelsea, I have ability, please look at me'.''

Chelsea's injury list had sparked an air of optimism on Teesside in the run-up to the game.

The absence of key names on the Boro team-sheet - the injured Robert Huth and Justin Hoyte joined suspended skipper Emanuel Pogatetz on the sidelines, while record signing Afonso Alves was named only among the substitutes - might have tempered that belief.

However, the ease with which Boro were taken apart was as sickening for the home fans as it was pleasantly surprising for their travelling counterparts.

It took just 14 minutes for the Blues to get their noses in front, Salomon Kalou firing home from close-range after Belletti's shot had been blocked.

Just how Frank Lampard failed to convert Florent Malouda's cross in front of goal 10 minutes later remains a mystery, and the second goal did not arrive until six minutes after the break.

It was worth the wait, however, Belletti smashing an unstoppable 35-yard missile past the despairing Ross Turnbull, whose afternoon in the Boro goal was to take several more turns for the worse.

Turnbull was helpless as Kalou's shot two minutes later went in off David Wheater's chest, and he was horribly exposed when Lampard dived to head the Ivory Coast international's 63rd-minute cross home.

The keeper was culpable as Malouda helped himself to a fifth, spilling Anelka's shot on to the post to set him up, and although he redeemed himself with a fine save from Anelka, it was a day he, like the rest of his team-mates, will want to forget in a hurry.

Scolari was at pains not to get too carried away, and insisted his players still have much to learn.

He said: "All the time, we have to improve and learn lessons if we want to get better. That's life.''