Sports News Update – Europa League Qualifiers and England Cricket

England Test CricketEngland & India begun the 4th Test at the Kia Oval on Thursday despite England having already wrapped up the series there was still a lot to play for. India were playing for pride and England were looking for a series whitewash however Day 1 became a washout rather than the beginnings of a series Whitewash. England did start the day well reaching 75-0 but when the play stopped for lunch they would not return. Andrew Strauss ended the day on 38 and Alastair Cook on 34 who will both be hoping for a dry 2nd day where they can post an imposing total to win the series 4-0 and show the world they really are the number 1 test team. 

Moving away from Cricket news and onto the latest football news their were 7 British clubs in action in Europa League qualification with one more win over 2 legs giving the winner entrance into the Europa League. Stoke were the first British team to kick off when they faced FC Thun of Switzerland in Switzerland and they will take a small lead back to the Britannia next Thursday. Stoke will take a vital away goal thanks to Danny Pugh’s first half strike, FC Thun did have a couple of chances to level the tie the game but the tie ended 1- 0 to Stoke.

Fulham who have had the longest qualification process of all the British teams look to have secured there qualification onto the Europa League with a victory over the Ukrainian side Dnipro. Fulham won the game 3nil with one goal from Aaron Hughes & a goal either side of half time from American Clint Dempsey.

Tottenham have also effectively secured their way into the Europa league after a dominate 5-nill win at Tynecastle over Hearts. Van der Vaart, Defoe, Jake Livermore, Bale & Lennon were all on the score sheet as Spurs demolished there Scottish opponents. The final English team in the tournament will be happy with there nights work after the game ending in a goalless draw with Portugeise side Nacional.

What was a good night for the English sides was not so good for the Scottish teams with Rangers being defeated by a late strike to lose the away leg of their tie to NK Maribor 2-1 but still managed to get a vital away goal. Whilst Celtic could only manage a goalless draw at home against the Swiss side FC Sion and will need a result next Thursday in Switzerland.

However all the British sides aside from Hearts still have a great chance of reaching the Europa League and we will find out when all teams make their return legs next weekend.

In Tennis news Andy Murray reached the last 8 of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati with a straight sets victory over American Alex Bogomolov Jr 6-2 7-5. Bogomolov Jr had already beaten Murray earlier this year but a repeat never looked possible with the Scot firmly in charge of the game from the opening set. Murray will now go on to face either Spain’s David Ferrer or Frances Gilles Simon in the Quarter Final.

That wraps up our look at Thursdays sports news making the stories on sporting events and be sure to check back for more at Real Sporting News.

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