Corner kicks

Demarai Gray celebrates scoring Leicester City's third goal to seal a 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round replay win over Derby County after extra time at Leicester's King Power Stadium on Wednesday. Andrew Boyers / Reuters

CHINA

Oscar on the money to secure SIPG's spot

Megabucks import Oscar began repaying some of his hefty price tag when he netted in his competitive debut for Shanghai SIPG on Tuesday, helping it seal a spot in the Asian Champions League group stage.

The Brazil midfielder, who left Chelsea for China in a $65 million deal, rolled in SIPG's opener in a 3-0 playoff victory over Thailand's Sukhothai FC.

Fellow Brazilian Elkeson also got on the scoresheet as SIPG qualified for Group F alongside FC Seoul, Urawa Red Diamonds and Western Sydney Wanderers.

SIPG, coached by ex-Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas, will get a shot at Asia's club crown, won twice by Chinese rival Guangzhou Evergrande in recent seasons.

Shenzhen bids big for Colombian Borja

Shenzhen FC has bid $28 million for Colombia international Miguel Borja, according to media reports.

Borja's agent, Ignacio Martan, earlier this week said his client was close to joining Brazil's Palmeiras after rejecting an offer from an unnamed Chinese club.

But ESPN Brasil said the Atletico Nacional player, 24, has been tempted to change his mind by Shenzhen's offer, which is said to include a monthly salary of over $600,000.

Second-tier Shenzhen is coached by Swedish former Manchester City and England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

ENGLAND

Lallana: Reds must learn to grind it out

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana said his team can learn a thing or two from Chelsea - like the Premier League leader's ability to grind out results even when the team is not at its best.

Liverpool's bid for the title has collapsed in recent weeks as a five-game winless run in the league has seen it drop to fifth, 13 points behind Chelsea.

"You can see they (Chelsea) have a lot of experience and that they are used to winning. They know how to win games even when not at their best. You don't have to always win by scoring five or six," Lallana said on Wednesday.

"Maybe that's an area we need to improve on. We maybe need to realize how good we are at times."

Extra-special Gray fires up Foxes

Leicester City got stunning extra-time goals from Wilfred Ndidi and Demarai Gray to reach the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-1 home win over second-tier Derby County in a replay on Wednesday.

The victory came as a minor relief for reigning champion Leicester, which is one point above the Premier League relegation zone after failing to win a league game this year.

Andy King put the host in front in the 46th minute, but Abdoul Camara's freekick forced the extras.

Ndidi, a January signing from Belgium's Racing Genk, put the Foxes up 2-1 with a powerful run and bullet finish four minutes after being introduced at the end of regulation. Gray then eclipsed that effort by slaloming through the Derby defense to seal the victory.

The Foxes, who like the Rams, fielded a largely second-string side, visit third-tier Millwall in the last 16 on Feb 18 in London.

GERMANY

Leipzig extends its scintillating Swede

RB Leipzig has extended Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg's contract until 2022, the Bundesliga club announced on Wednesday.

Forsberg's impressive form this season includes five goals and nine assists on a club currently second in its debut season in Germany's top tier.

The 25-year-old Sweden international has signed a one-year extension to the five-year deal he agreed to last March.

"Emil is an absolute performer and key figure at RB Leipzig," said Leipzig's director of sport Ralf Rangnick.

"He has had an outstanding Bundesliga season and feels at ease with the club and the city."

Agencies