City draw a blank in the Cup
Manchester City came unstuck to a Rory Delap long throw as they were held to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup fifth round. City had taken an early lead after Shaun Wright-Phillips capitalised on a Ryan Shawcross error in the heart of Stoke’s defence. However, the Potters equalised 10 minutes into the second half when Ricardo Fuller got his head on the end of a trademark long throw from Delap. The game will now be replayed on 24th February.

UAE out of Twenty20
The UAE national cricket team fell at the final hurdle in their bid to reach the World Twenty20 finals in the West Indies after losing to Afghanistan at the International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. The Afghans won by four wickets, restricting UAE to 100-9 off their 20 overs and then reaching their target in 19.3 overs. Afghanistan will now face Ireland in the final qualifying match with the winner joining India and South Africa in Group C in the finals while the runner-up will enter Group D with the West Indies and England.

Ultimate Fighting tickets on sale
Tickets went on sale this week for the hotly anticipated UFC 112 to be held at Yas Marina on 10th April. A total of six different pricing categories ranges from AED 395 for the Upper Grandstand to AED 3,695 for ringside Platinum floor tickets. A brand new 12,000 seat outdoor stadium is being custom-built for the event in just six weeks at the concert arena outside Ferrari World on Yas Island.

Champ eyes triathlon glory
Endurance racing legend Richard Ussher, who recently completed a hat-trick of wins in December’s Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, has now set his sights on the inaugural $250,000 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon (ADIT) to be held on 13th March. Having made his mark as a long-distance, multi-discipline endurance racer, Ussher is confident that he can adapt his style to meet the ADIT’s higher-pace, shorter-term requirements of a 3km swim, a 200km cycle ride and a 20km run. “I’ll definitely be aiming to be in the prize money, although it will depend on who is there and their form,” he said. “However, if I have a good day anything is possible!”