Football news in brief

Narrow victories for Brazil and Norway

Narrow wins for women's world cup hopefuls

LIVERPOOL assistant manager Sammy Lee is reported to have parted company with the club after three years in the role.

The 52-year-old, a former player alongside current boss Kenny Dalglish, returned to Anfield in 2008 at the invitation of Rafael Benitez. He retained his position as assistant manager in January when highly-respected coach Steve Clarke arrived to coincide with Dalglish's replacement of Roy Hodgson. Lee has already been linked to a reunion with Sam Allardyce at West Ham, with the pair having successfully worked together at Bolton.

BIRMINGHAM City owner Carson Yeung was being questioned by Hong Kong police last night in relation to "criminal investigations", the Championship club said.

Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu issued a statement saying: "I have been informed by Birmingham International Holdings (City's parent company] lawyers that Carson is assisting with enquiries that have nothing to do with the operation of BIHL in Hong Kong and therefore nothing to do with the club."

BRAZIL and Norway became the latest tournament favourites to run into stubborn opposition at the women's World Cup yesterday, as both escaped with 1-0 wins against Australia and Equatorial Guinea respectively. Either the gap is closing between nations in women's football or the top sides have yet to hit their stride, as no side has managed more than two goals in their opening game.

LAST NIGHT

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING

Asia: Cambodia 4, Laos 2; Nepal 2, Timor-Leste 1; Mongolia 1, Myanamar 0; Sri Lanka 1, Phillipines 1; Afghanistan 0, Palestine 2; Bangladesh 3, Pakistan 0; Vietnam 6, Macao 0; Malaysia 2, Taiwan 0. .

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

Group D: Brazil 1, Australia 0; Norway 1, Equatorial Guinea 0.

FRIENDLY INTERNATIONALS: Peru 1, Senegal 0; Iraq 1, Syria 2.

TODAY (7.45 unless stated)

UEFA Europa League.

First Qualifying Round. First Leg: AZAL v Minsk (4.00); Aalesund v Neath (6.00); Banants Yerevan v Olimpi Rustavi (4.00); Birkirkara v Vllaznia Shkoder (7.30); Buducnost Podgorica v Flamurtari(8.00); Dinamo Tbilisi v FC Milsami (6.00); FC Banga v Karabakh Azersun (4.30); FC Daugava v Tromso (5.00); FC Honka v Nomme Kalju (5.00); FC Spartak Trnava v Zeta (6.00); Ferencvaros v Uliss Yerevan (6.00); Fulham v NSI Runavik (7.30); IBV Vestmannaeyjar v St Patricks (7.00); IF Elfsborg v CS Fola Esch (5.00); IF Fuglafjordur v KR Reykjavik (7.00); Jagiellonia Bialystock v Irtysh (7.30); Koper v Shakhtyor Karaganda; Rad Belgrade v Tre Penne (4.30); Renova v Glentoran (7.30); Siroki Brijeg v Olimpija Ljubljana; The New Saints FC v Cliftonville (7.00); Trans Narva v Rabotnicki Kometal (4.30); UE Santa Coloma v Paks (6.00); UN 97 Kaerjeng v BK Hacken (7.00); Varazdin v Lusitanos (6.00)

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

Group A: Canada Ladies v France (5.00); Germany v Nigeria.