United Arab Emirates striker Ali Mabkhout scored after 14 seconds in one of the fastest goals in Asian Cup history on Thursday to propel his side towards a 2-1 win over Bahrain.

The Group C victory in Canberra marked the first time UAE had won their opening two matches at the tournament and put them on the brink of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

English Premier League giants Liverpool are monitoring Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan as they look to bolster competition for struggling number one Simon Mignolet, according to reports.

Two US free climbers reached the top of an iconic rock formation in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, after spending nearly three weeks inching up a sheer 900-meter (2,950-feet)-high cliff face.

Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson began their record-breaking climb up the Dawn Wall of El Capitan, a massive rock face seen by millions of tourists every year, in late December.

Swashbuckling Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori has his sights set on not only a Grand Slam title but a further climb through the rankings as he gears up for what could be a defining year.

The 25-year-old has moved to a career-best five in the world from 17 at the beginning of 2014 after a breakout season in which he won four titles and reached the U.S. Open final, losing to Marin Cilic.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino saluted his players' spirit after they roared back from two goals down to reach the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-2 win over Burnley.

Pochettino's side were in danger of a surprise exit when Burnley scored twice in the first eight minutes of Wednesday's third-round replay at White Hart Lane.

Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro came from a set down to dump top seed Fabio Fognini out of the Sydney International and advanced to the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The Argentine Grand Slam champion has won his first two matches in 10 months at the tournament following wrist surgery as he fights his way back to the top echelon of men's tennis.

North Korea scored their first Asian Cup goal in 23 years on Wednesday but Saudi Arabia dashed hopes of an upset by storming back for a 4-1 win.

A second defeat in Group B left the North Koreans on the brink of elimination while breathing new life into a Saudi campaign that had been flagging after they were stunned 1-0 by China in their opening game at the weekend.

Japan's Kei Nishikori and Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco scored a pair of opening victories amid a "little typhoon" to begin final Australian Open preparations at the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday.

U.S. Open finalist Nishikori fought past a tough Australian challenge from Jordan Thompson to post a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) result while Verdasco beat Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).

Jordan lodged a formal protest at the Asian Cup on Wednesday after claiming a bungled doping test had made one of their players be sick.

Striker Ahmad Hayel could miss the game against Palestine Friday after he was made to drink "several liters of water" as a result of being unable to provide a urine sample following Monday's 1-0 defeat by Iraq.

World number two Maria Sharapova will spearhead Russia in their Fed Cup opening round match against Poland in Krakow from February 7-8, national Olympic team manager Vladimir Kamelzon said Tuesday.

Four-time champions Russia are trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2014 season, when they lost 4-0 to Australia in their opening round clash.