Soccer: Mourinho sent packing

Strikers Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman scored in extra time to give Chelsea a 3-2 comeback victory over Liverpool in a roller-coaster League Cup final.

Chelsea's controversial Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho spent the entire extra time period in the depths of the Millennium Stadium after being sent from the dug-out for appearing to gesture at Liverpool fans with the scores at 1-1.

He said the gesture, holding a finger to his lip, had been aimed at the English press and expressed his surprise that it had been a policeman who intervened.

"For me it is unusual to be sent off by the police and not by a fourth official," Mourinho said.

John Arne Riise gave Liverpool the lead after just one minute. It was not until the 80th minute Chelsea drew level when Liverpool captain Steve Gerrard scored an own goal. After Drogba and Kezman had taken Chelsea to a 3-1 lead, Antonio Nunez scored a late consolation for Liverpool.

Chelsea's victory provided a tonic for their fans after defeats by Newcastle and Barcelona and earned billionaire owner Roman Abramovich his first silverware since buying the club in 2003.

Chelsea still hold a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand over Manchester United.

In Spain a second successive defeat for Real Madrid meant Barcelona extended their lead to eight points despite being held to a 1-1 draw at bottom club Numancia.

Real never recovered from a fast start by Deportivo Coruna, who eased to a comfortable 2-0 home win.

Barcelona head the table with 58 points from 25 games and Real follow on 50.

Sevilla are third on 42, one point ahead of champions Valencia whose 2-1 win over Real Betis gave new coach Antonio Lopez a good start after Claudio Ranieri's sacking.

Barcelona never warmed to the task in the freezing conditions at Los Pajaritos and were unable to settle into their usual slick passing game.

Real, missing forwards Ronaldo and Raul as well as centre-back Ivan Helguera, looked even more uncomfortable at the Riazor, where they had not won for over 13 years.

Deportivo took the lead in the eighth minute when forward Albert Luque fired a header past keeper Iker Casillas. Real barely had time to draw breath before they found themselves two goals down, centre-back Francisco Pavon looping a header over Casillas and into his own net.

A 74th-minute goal from Brazilian Kaka gave AC Milan a 1-0 victory in the Milan derby in the Italian Serie A and handed Inter their first defeat of the season.

Milan remained joint top of Serie A with Juventus on 57 points. Inter, previously unbeaten in 38 league and cup games, slipped 14 points behind the leaders and virtually out of the title race in fourth place.

Kaka turned a low drive from Gennaro Gattuso past Inter keeper Francesco Toldo to give Carlo Ancelotti's side victory.

Inter's best chance came on the stroke of halftime when Milan's Brazilian keeper Dida kept out a fierce shot from Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron.

Earlier, Juventus beat Siena 3-0 at the Delle Alpi stadium, helped by two goals from Alessandro Del Piero.

The top two are 13 points clear of third-placed Sampdoria, 1-0 winners at Brescia.

In the Bundesliga Schalke 04 kept up the pressure on leaders Bayern Munich with a 1-0 victory over Hanover 96 thanks to a Mike Hanke header in the 65th minute.

Schalke are level with Bayern on 47 points and trail the leaders on goal difference. Bayern beat lowly SC Freiburg 1-0.

Cacau scored a penalty with time running out to give VfB Stuttgart a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen.

The championship now heads into a decisive phase with Bayern to face in-form Werder Bremen, in third place on 43 points, and then Schalke.

Bayern midfielder Sebastian Deisler scored the game's only goal from long distance to sink Freiburg.

In France Olympique Lyon look well on the way to retaining their title after a 3-2 victory over St Etienne. Lyon's closest rivals, Olympique Marseille and Lille, were held to draws on Sunday and the champions are eight points clear.

Lyon scored three goals in five minutes either side of halftime against St Etienne who had not lost in their previous 13 league games.

Lyon lead the standings on 56 points with Marseille on 48 and Lille on 47. Monaco, beaten at Nice 2-1, are fourth.

- REUTERS