Aston Villa 1 - Portsmouth 3 (Premier League, December 8, 2007) (YouTube highlights here.) Seventh met sixth in the Premier League, and despite Villa dominating possession the first-half, Pompey managed to take a two goal lead into the break. Smart passing into the box forced Craig Gardner to intercept a ball which unfortunately resulted in an own-goal. A spectacular left-foot shot by Sully Muntari into the top right-hand corner doubled the lead, and Muntari netted his second incredible goal of the game after freeing himself with a nutmeg, before curling a strike with the outside of his left boot past Carson. Villa captain Barry pulled a goal back from the spot after sub-Harewood was brought-down by Distin.

Chelsea 2 - Sunderland 0 (Premier League, December 8, 2007) (YouTube highlights here.) Kalou came close to giving Chelsea the lead but his header hit the bar. But Kalou then delivered a fabulous cross to Shevchenko, whose flying header gave the Blues the lead. Chelsea failed to build on their advantage, and it was a relief when Lampard converted a second-half penalty after Alex had been brought down in the box. Sunderland, who contained Chelsea for most of the game, were reduced to 10-men when Liam Miller put his hands in Pizarro’s face in front of the ref. Lampard hit the post in injury-time.

Manchester United 4 - Derby 1 (Premier League, December 8, 2007) (YouTube highlights here.) (Longer highlights here.) Ronaldo made space for himself against but he dragged his shot past the post. Giggs then tried to score his first goal at Old Trafford in almost a year, but his free-kick went over the bar. United’s pressure was almost rewarded, but Derby’s defence stopped Rooney connecting with Ronaldo’s cross. Tevez was the next to come close, but the deadlock was finally broken with Ryan Giggs’s landmark 100th goal for United, collecting a rebound from Ronaldo’s shot. Tevez doubled the lead when he finished well after an initial air-shot. And Rooney was unlucky not to add to the score when his shot hit the post. Derby had a couple of half-chances to score, but United responded when Brown fed Tevez, who crisply strike home the third. United kept on looking for goals, but it was the Rams who scored next, recording their first away goal of the season, when Howard slid in to luckily divert the ball into the net. Ronaldo finished the rout from the spot after diving in the box.

Everton 3 - Fulham 0 (Premier League, December 8, 2007) (YouTube highlights here.) Ayegbeni Yakubu was the hero scoring a hat-trick. His first came off a rebound from Cahill’s volley. His second was a simple header from Mikel Arteta’s inswinging corner, and his treble was completed with a cool finish into the bottom corner after 78 minutes.

Reading 3 - Liverpool 1 (Premier League, December 8, 2007) (YouTube highlights here.) (Longer highlights here.) Torres tested Hahnemann early on, but it was Reading who took the lead in hugely controversial circumstances as Carragher felled Gunnarsson outside the box, but Hunt stepped up to convert the resulting penalty. Liverpool hit back quickly as El Nino expertly controlled and found Gerrard, who burst into the box to level. Voronin forced a good save just before the break. But after the break the Royals went back in the lead when Doyle got a faint header off Shorey’s free-kick, and then they opened a two goal cushion when James Harper, who ran from his own half, collected Convey’s pass before coolly rounding Reina and slotting home. Riise forced Hahnemann into an excellent save from his thunderous free-kick, and Reading fending off Liverpool’s attacks to condemn them to their first defeat of the season.

Newcastle 2 - Birmingham 1 (Premier League, December 8, 2007) (YouTube highlights here.) Sam Allardyce guided his team to the necessary win following the point against Arsenal. But it was hard work after Rozehnal made a hash of clearing his lines and Jerome benefited to beat Given. Martins levelled after his brought down for a penalty and in the 90th minute Beye headed past Taylor to spark wild celebrations.

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Hannover 4 - Werder Bremen 3 (Bundesliga, December 8, 2007) Mike Hanke scored a hat-trick as Bremen suffered their first defeat since September. Rosenberg gave Bremen a 10th minute lead but Hanke’s brace and Baumann’s own-goal put the home side in control. Diego pulled one back from the spot and Rosenberg brought the scores level, before Hanke settled the issue with the 77th minute winner.

Bochum 2 - Karlsruher 2 (Bundesliga, December 8, 2007)

Bayern Munich 0 - Duisburg 0 (Bundesliga, December 8, 2007) Bayern stayed top of the Bundesliga despite being held to a surprise home draw by strugglers Duisburg.

Bochum 2 - Karlsruhe 2 (Bundesliga, December 8, 2007) Sestak put the hosts ahead after 18 minutes. But Hajnal equalised six minutes later and Freis put them ahead early in the second-half, before Sestak found an immediate reply to earn Bochum a point.

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Athletic Bilbao 0 - Real Madrid 1 (La Liga, December 8, 2007) (Longer highlights here.) Ruud van Nistelrooy curled a fantastic 55th minute winner as champions Real opened up a seven-point gap on Barcelona.

Osasuna 0 - Valencia 0 (La Liga, December 8, 2007)

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Palermo 2 - Fiorentina 0 (Serie A, December 8, 2007) Miccoli and Simplicio moved Palermo up to seventh in the Serie A.

Lazio 2 - Catania 0 (Serie A, December 8, 2007) Rocchi and Pandev scored to pull Lazio away from the relegation zone.

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Marseille 2 - Monaco 0 (Ligue 1, December 8, 2007) Marseille warmed up nicely for their Champions League decider against Liverpool as Rodriguez scored with a rebound following Cheyrou’s volley which bounced off the crossbar. Cana wrapped up the win when he headed home from a corner.

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Fenerbahce 2 - Galatasaray 0 (Super Lig, December 8, 2007) Turkey’s top two clubs met and it was Fener who got off to the quick start as Senturk beat the keeper through his legs. De Souza then doubled the lead in the second-half with a scuffed shot from a deflected Carlos free-kick.

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Olympiakos 4 - Levadiakos 0 (Super League, December 8, 2007) Olympiakos took the lead through a stunning volley by Stoltidis, and Kovasevic made it 2-0 with a header off a cross by Djordjevic. Djordjevic then converted a penalty before Mitroglou sealed the victory.

PAOK 2 - Veroia 0 (Super League, December 8, 2007) PAOK won thanks to goals from Gonzalez and Salmon.

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Excelsior 0 - NAC 3 (Eredivisie, December 8, 2007) Goals from Zwaanswijk, Amoah and Elshot extended NAC’s unbeaten league run to five games and moved up to fifth.

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Leixoes 4 - Torreense 0 (Taca de Portugal, December 8, 2007)

Belenenses 2 - Pacos Ferreira 2 (Taca de Portugal, December 8, 2007)

Nacional 5 - Cova De Piedade 0 (Taca de Portugal, December 8, 2007)

Sporting Lisbon 4 - Louletano 0 (Taca de Portugal, December 8, 2007)

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Melbourne Victory 2 - Adelaide United 2 (A-League, December 8, 2007) Paul Agostino did the damage for the visitors and scoring both goals, but a Kevin Muscat penalty and a Alagich own-goal header deep into injury time saw Melbourne salvage a draw.

Content courtesy of 101GreatGoals.com