Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday, Jan 2
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Friday: - - - - SOCCER FA Cup Third round Cardiff City (II) v Colchester United (III) (1945) Second round Milton Keynes Dons (III) v Chesterfield (III) (1945) Copy on merit LONDON - We continue the build-up to the weekend's third-round matches, including a repeat of last year's final between Arsenal and Hull City. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, expect stories throughout) Gerrard to leave Liverpool Gerrard to leave Anfield at end of season LONDON - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard wil leave the Premier League club at the end of the season. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/GERRARD, moved, 400 words) We have also moved a reaction factbox and a profile of Gerrard. Asian Cup, Australia, Jan. 9-31 We conclude our extensive preview package for the region's biggest soccer tournament with profiles and factboxes of the eight teams that comprise Group C and Group D. Hosted by Australia for the first time, this year's Asian Cup is considered wide open with several sides believing they have a chance of emerging victorious in Sydney on Jan. 31. - - Group C UAE, Iran, Bahrain and Qatar. Group D Japan, Jordan, Palestine and Iraq. - - Coach's off-field problems overshadow Japan's title hopes The off-field controversy surrounding coach Javier Aguirre is an unwelcome distraction for Japan as they seek to shake off the disappointments of a poor World Cup with a record extending fifth Asian title. (SOCCER-ASIA/JAPAN, moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 400 words) Also moved are profiles and factboxes of the eight finalists listed above with similar items involving the teams in Groups A and B having already moved on Thursday. - - CRICKET New Zealand v Sri Lanka, second test, Wellington (to 7) Forget last year, NZ need to keep improving - McCullum WELLINGTON - Fresh off New Zealand's most successful test year, captain Brendon McCullum is urging his team to start 2015 in the same fashion when they face Sri Lanka in the second game of their two-match series on Saturday. (CRICKET-ZEALAND/, moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 400 words) - - South Africa v West Indies, third test, Cape Town (to 6) West Indies reach CAPE TOWN - West Indies, 1-0 down in the three-match encounter, won the toss and reached 172-4 at tea on the first day. (CRICKET-SAFRICA/ (PIX), moved, by Mark Gleeson, 300 words) - - - - BASKETBALL Euroleague Red Star clash with Real Madrid BELGRADE - Red Star Belgrade are at home to eight-time Euroleague winners Real Madrid as the continent's premier club basketball competition enters the second group stage. Fenerbahce entertain CSKA Moscow in the other outstanding fixture (EUROLEAGUE-BASKETBALL/ by Zoran Milosavljevic, 400 words, expext story by 2300 GMT) - - - - NBA Grizzlies aim to maul struggling Lakers The Southwest Division-leading Memphis Grizzlies (23-8) will bid for a third straight win when they visit the struggling Los Angeles Lakers (10-22) in one of 11 games on the schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0700 GMT/2 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 600 words) - - - - NHL Ducks eye a rebound win against Cardinals The Western Conference-leading Anaheim Ducks (24-9-6) look to rebound from a 3-0 loss at home to the San Jose Sharks on New Year's Eve when they host the St. Louis Cardinals (22-12-3) in one of eight games on the schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0700 GMT/2 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0101 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Europe desk editor: Ed Osmond)
