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Order restored in FA Cup as big teams avoid upsets

LONDON — After one of the most startling days in the FA Cup’s 144-year history, three Premier League clubs restored order yesterday (Jan 25) with fourth-round victories to stem the flow of upsets.

Arsenal’s Theo Walcott (second right) celebrates after scoring a goal during the English FA Cup 4th round soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal at the Amex Stadium, Brighton, England, Jan 25, 2015. Photo: AP

Arsenal’s Theo Walcott (second right) celebrates after scoring a goal during the English FA Cup 4th round soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal at the Amex Stadium, Brighton, England, Jan 25, 2015. Photo: AP

LONDON — After one of the most startling days in the FA Cup’s 144-year history, three Premier League clubs restored order yesterday (Jan 25) with fourth-round victories to stem the flow of upsets.

Arsenal, West Ham and Aston Villa beat lower-league opponents a day after Chelsea and Manchester City were among five of the Premier League’s top nine clubs to be ousted.

Juventus and Lyon, meanwhile, tightened their grips on first place in the Italian and French leagues.

A look at the best of the action in Europe’s top leagues:

ENGLAND

Arsenal beat second-tier Brighton 3-2 after being set on their way by early goals from Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil. Tomas Rosicky was the other scorer for Arsenal, which are looking to retain the trophy and as the fifth-place team in the top tier are the highest-ranked club guaranteed a spot in the last 16.

Senegal striker Diafra Sakho came off the bench and scored an 81st-minute header to send West Ham to a 1-0 victory at Bristol City, which is second in English soccer’s third tier.

Villa won at home 2-1 against second-tier leader Bournemouth. Carles Gil, with his first goal since moving from Valencia, and Andreas Weimann scored for the Premier League team.

The draw for the fifth round is today.

ITALY

Paul Pogba scored in the 60th minute and later set up a goal by Stephan Lichtsteiner to send Juventus to a 2-0 victory over Chievo Verona.

Roma, seven points back in second place, drew for the third straight game as it was held 1-1 at Fiorentina.

Palermo had a goal ruled out in a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria, with the home team’s new signing Samuel Eto’o in attendance.

A stoppage-time goal gave Torino a 1-0 win at Inter Milan, their first since 1988. A late goal also saw Cesena beat Parma 2-1 in the relegation race. Hellas Verona downed Atalanta 1-0, with Javier Saviola scoring his first Serie A goal.

SPAIN

Malaga rallied for a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league, four days before the two meet for a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals.

Abel Resino debuted as Granada’s manager in a 2-2 draw at Deportivo La Coruna. The league’s last-place club went a 16th round without a victory.

Bilbao’s Mikel San Jose headed in Markel Susaeta’s corner kick at the near post in the 70th minute. Eight minutes later, Javi Guerra tapped home Miguel Torres’ low cross.

Bilbao stayed in 13th place, their winless run in the league reaching seven rounds. Malaga remained in seventh after four rounds without a victory.

FRANCE

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored for the first time in five league games, blasting home a penalty in Paris Saint-Germain’s scrappy 1-0 win at Saint-Etienne.

The win kept PSG four points behind leader Lyon, which beat 10-man Metz 2-0 with top striker Alexandre Lacazette scoring and getting injured.

PSG moved up to second place, level on points and on goal difference with bitter rival Marseille.

Ibrahimovic’s 60th-minute spot-kick was awarded after midfielder Jeremy Clement was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Earlier, Lacazette scored his league-leading 21st goal — and his 13th goal in the past nine games — to fire Lyon ahead in the 31st.

Two minutes later, he hurt his right hamstring stretching for a high ball, and is expected to miss next Sunday’s trip to fifth-place Monaco — with Lyon hosting PSG the weekend after.

Midfielder Corentin Tolisso added Lyon’s other goal in the 84th. AP

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