Football: Ikpeba double lifts Monaco;

Ikpeba double lifts Monaco

MONACO boosted their morale prior to Wednesday's European Cup quarter-final home tie against Manchester United with a 2-0 win over the league leaders Marseilles in the third round of the French Cup on Saturday - but they left it very late.

The Nigerian striker Victor Ikpeba scored both goals in extra time, chasing long balls out of defence. "It's a victory that's good for morale, but on Wednesday it's another match, another world, because Marseilles are not Manchester,'' said Ikpeba.

Monaco rested Scotland's John Collins and the France striker David Trezeguet, both nursing injuries, but introduced the playmaker Ali Benarbia in extra time. The libero Franck Dumas was also missing but is expected to face United.

Atletico Madrid, who receive Aston Villa in the quarter-final of the Uefa Cup tomorrow, lost ground on the leaders in the Spanish league with a 2-2 draw against Espanyol while Real Betis, who play Chelsea in a Cup- Winners' Cup quarter-final in Seville on Thursday, won 3-2 at Compostela, the winner coming from Alfonso.

Egypt won the African Nations' Cup, beating the defending champions South Africa 2-0 for a record-equalling fourth title in Burkina Faso on Saturday.