UEFA Cup: Austria Vienna secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup yesterday when they fought their way back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao. The Austrians, who were held to a 0-0 draw in the snow-delayed first leg on Thursday, will now play another Primera Liga side, Real Zaragoza, in the next round. Roared on by a 38,000 crowd at San Mames, Athletic took the lead when midfielder Fran Yeste converted a 20th-minute spot kick after defender Ernst Dospel had been penalised for a handball inside the area. But the Austrians grabbed a crucial away goal just before the break through midfielder Libor Sionko. The lively Sionko then made sure of victory for the Austrians when he drilled a low shot inside the far post 20 minutes from time.
Klinsmann's appeal: Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann appealed to the German Football Federation (DFB) to hire Berti Vogts as technical director and chief scout as soon as possible, saying he was opposed to any delays in the appointment. Klinsmann told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Vogts, who coached Germany from 1990 to 1998 and quit as Scotland manager in November, was ideal for the job. Vogts told the Sunday newspaper that he was interested in the job, which reportedly includes a €500,000 annual salary, but would not accept it if it did not begin until 2006. "I've made it clear that I won't be available in 2006," Vogts said. "I can't, and won't, accept that."
Referee suspended: A top-flight English referee has been suspended over his involvement in an online racehorse syndicate site, a British Sunday newspaper said. It quoted the Premier League as saying referee Mike Dean had been suspended indefinitely by the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd who provide all officials for leading fixtures. Dean had been due to referee yesterday's Premier League match between Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers. The syndicate is called Arbitros Racing. Arbitros is Spanish for referees.
Schalke 04 Win: Schalke 04 stayed hard on the heels of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with a 1-0 victory over Hanover 96 yesterday. Mike Hanke headed the 65th-minute winner for Schalke, who drew level with Bayern on 47 points and trail the leaders only on goal difference. Bayern beat lowly SC Freiburg 1-0 on Saturday. In yesterday's other match between two teams licking their wounds from European disappointments, Cacau scored a penalty with time running out to give VfB Stuttgart a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen.
In France: Ligue 1 results yesterday - Sochaux vs Metz postponed; Auxerre vs Toulouse postponed; Lille vs Stade Rennes 0-0; Marseille vs Istres 1-1.