World Online Soccer

   Fernando Torres struck twice in three minutes as Liverpool comfortably eased past Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Torres slid home Robbie Keane’s cross after 59 minutes then pounced on a loose ball to score from close range after Phil Jagielka tackled Dirk Kuyt.

Tim Cahill had Everton’s best chance after 13 minutes but mis-kicked from Mikel Arteta’s corner.

Everton’s misery was complete when referee Mike Riley sent Cahill off for fouling Xabi Alonso after 80 minutes.
It was a victory that gives Liverpool their best start to a Premier League season - with star striker Torres ending a barren six-game sequence in style and keeper Pepe Reina not having a save to make in the match.

But Everton’s struggles continue as this marked their third home defeat in three league games this season - and they now face a pivotal Uefa Cup clash with Standard Liege in Belgium on Thursday with the tie locked at 2-2.

Everton recalled Tony Hibbert for the first time this season after knee surgery, allowing Phil Neville to push into central midfield alongside £15m club record signing Marouane Fellaini.

Liverpool dominated possession for lengthy periods of the first half, but failed to test Everton keeper Tim Howard.

Everton’s Cahill had the best chance after 13 minutes when Arteta’s corner squirmed through to find him unmarked, but the Australian midfield man could not make proper contact when unmarked only eight yards out.

Torres was unhappy at what he clearly felt was an over-physical approach from Everton’s defenders, and his frustration increased when he saw a goal-bound shot on the turn blocked by Jagielka.

 
The Spanish striker finally tested Howard with a tame effort after 51 minutes, and Steven Gerrard was only inches off target seconds later with an angled drive that had Howard scrambling.

Torres finally got it right after 59 minutes when he was allowed to escape at the far post to expertly steer in a perfect cross from Keane.

And he slammed in a second from close range three minutes later when he pounced after Jagielka’s excellent tackle denied Kuyt right in front of goal.

He thought he had completed a five-minute hat-trick when he beat Howard again from close range, but referee Riley awarded a free-kick against Kuyt.

Everton had barely threatened the Liverpool goal, but they almost pulled one back with 13 minutes left when Joleon Lescott’s cross flew across the face of goal with Fellaini and Yakubu unable to apply the finishing touch.

And Everton’s miserable afternoon got worse a minute later when Cahill was shown the red card by Riley for a foul on Alonso.

Everton substitute Louis Saha shot just wide with seconds remaining - but it was a minor inconvenience to Liverpool keeper Reina on what was otherwise an afternoon of dominance for Rafael Benitez’s side.

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Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Saha 63), Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Neville, Fellaini, Osman, Cahill, Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Baines, Castillo, Vaughan, Nuno Valente, Rodwell.

Sent Off: Cahill (80).

Booked: Fellaini, Yakubu, Neville.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena, Kuyt, Alonso (Leiva Lucas 86), Gerrard, Riera (Aurelio 67), Torres, Keane (Pennant 86).
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Agger, Babel.

Booked: Alonso, Torres, Arbeloa.

Goals: Torres 59, 62.

Att.: 39,574

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

VfL Wolfsburg and KSC outclass lower division opponents in the German Cup. HSV win the Bundesliga clash in the 2nd round. SV Wehen Wiesbaden KO Alemannia Aachen. Dortmund put out Berlin.
FC Oberneuland - VfL Wolfsburg 0:7 (0:3)

VfL Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko was too much for the amateurs of Oberneuland, scoring four in the Wolves’ 7:0 away win. His goals (15., 20., 57. und 75. Minute) made him coach Felix Magath’s man of the match. There were goals, too, from Marcel Schäfer (26), Ashkan Dejagah (67.) und Caiuby (89.).

For 15 minutes, Oberheuland held their own, but were later crushed by their opponents’ superior skills and experience.

Borussia Dortmund - Hertha BSC 2:1 after extra time (1:1,1:1)

Borussia Dortmund put out Bundesliga rivals Hertha BSC in extra time to go into the third round of the Cup. Last season’s losing finalists went ahead through an Alexander Frei penalty after seven minutes but were pegged back when Marko Pantelic (22.) equalised. After a goalless second half, substitute Diego Klimowicz settled matters for Borussia 13 minutes into extra time.

Coach Jürgen Klopp’s side, missing six players through injury, created early chances only for Berlin to come back into the game as the game progressed. Andriy Voronin hit the bar after a bad mistake from Dortmund’s keeper in the 26th minute. The game flagged in the second half, with the few chances there were going begging. Swiss international Frei looked dangerous but failed to find the goal from two chances.

Hamburger SV - VfL Bochum 2:0 (1:0)

Mladen Petric put Hamburger SV into the last 16 of the Cup, scoring both the goals (9. und 90.+2) that sunk VfL Bochum in front of more than 33,000 spsectators.

The hosts started off playing fast, positive football that kept the visitors pinned in their own, but achieved nothing after the opening early goal until almost the final whistle. Bochum rarely threatened. A David Jarolim shot that could have settled matters nine minutes before time clattered the crossbar.

Kickers Offenbach - Karlsruher SC 0:2 (0:1)

Karlsruher SC have made into the last 16 ofd the cup for the first time in 8 years and reversed a run of three defeats at the expense of third division Kickers Offenbach. Wingman Alexander Iaschwili put the hosts in front just before the interval. Massimilian Porcello settled matters in the 58th minute.

The result was sweet revenge for KSC. Offenbach put them out of the cup in 2002 and 2005. They put the home team under pressure from the start and should have scored more.

SV Wehen Wiesbaden - Alemannia Aachen 1:0 (0:0)

Second division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden are into to the third round of the Cup for the first time ever, putting out 2.Bundesliga rivals Alemannia Aachen 1:0. The only goal came in the 72. Minute through Ronny König .

The hosts dominated the first half with Benjamin Siegert (35.) and Sanibal Orahovac (40.) both missing goal chances, as did match winner König in the 54th minute.