(CMC):

Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines played to a bizarre draw on Friday night, but Barbados, along with Trinidad and Tobago still ensured their qualification for the World Championships in Fiji next year.

Despite leading throughout all three quarters, Barbados still allowed SVG back into the game as the encounter finished locked 46-46 at the final whistle.

Trinidad & Tobago also booked their tickets for Fiji when they easily dismissed the threat of Antigua & Barbuda 59-29.

(Reuters):

Reading overturned a two-goal deficit yesterday and beat Middlesbrough 3-2 in its first ever English Premier League match on the opening day of the season.

Sheffield United, another promoted club, was denied a victory over Liverpool by a disputed penalty and wound up with a 1-1 draw on its return to the top flight for the first time in 12 years.

Arsenal needed an equaliser from Gilberto Silva six minutes from the end to capture a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at the Gunners' new Emirates Stadium.

Portsmouth, which only just escaped relegation last season, outplayed Blackburn 3-0.

Everton edged promoted Watford 2-1 with goals by Andy Johnson and Mikel Arteta.

Kevin Davies and Ivan Campo scored in the opening 13 minutes as Bolton began with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham.

Newcastle began with a 2-1 victory over Wigan with Scott Parker scoring a rare goal for the Magpies, and West Ham came from behind to beat Charlton 3-1.

- Reuters
Evander Holyfield of the U.S. waves at the crowd after fighting compatriot Jeremy Bates in a non-title heavyweight boxing match in Dallas, Texas, on Friday.

(Reuters):

Smiling and hardly sweating after only five minutes and 56 seconds in the ring, Evander Holyfield hoped all his doubters would start believing what he's been saying the last two months: It really was bad health, not old age, that had caused him to fight so poorly in recent years.

Holyfield beat Jeremy Bates in a technical knockout with four seconds left in the second round Friday, overpowering his hand-picked foe for the start of his latest comeback bid after taking only a few hard shots himself.

Holyfield looked pretty good for a 43-year-old who'd lost his last three fights and hadn't fought anyone in nearly two years, although it was hard to tell much considering his foe was an insurance agent from West Virginia who was shorter and lacked Holyfield's technical polish.

(Reuters):

Mali midfielder Mahamadou has said he is delighted that five-times French champions Olympique Lyon have given into his wishes and agreed to sell him to Real Madrid.