Hamburg - Champions League hopefuls Chelsea suffered an unexpected defeat Tuesday on a night of surprises in the lucrative Champions League.

Also on the night Inter Milan and Liverpool had to come from behind to snatch late draws in their group matches, while Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon became the first clubs to go through after making sure of finishing in the top two positions in Group C.

Last year's finalists Chelsea lost their Group A game in Italy against AS Roma 3-1 and had Portuguese international Deco sent off, while Liverpool needed a last-minute penalty in their Group D game against Atletico Madrid for a 1-1 draw at home.

Buenos Aires - Former Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona, officially appointed to coach Argentina Tuesday, said the new position was "a dream come true".

"For me it is an honour and a dream come true to be the coach of the Argentine national team, at the side of Carlos Bilardo. I will give my everything so that things go well for us," Maradona said in a press conference.

London - Ashley Young, regarded as one of England's rising stars, has extended his contract with Aston Villa, the club confirmed on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old forward, who has won three England caps, signed a new four-year deal, tying him to Villa until the summer of 2012.

Young joined Villa in January 2007 from Watford for almost 10 million pounds (16.1 million dollars).

Hamburg  - Former Germany winger Pierre Littbarski was on on Tuesday appointed coach and sports director at Liechtenstein football club Vaduz.

Milan - Serie A newcomers Chievo Tuesday announced the signing of coach Domenico Di Carlo to replace Beppe Iachini after 10 league games.

Milan - AC Milan have reacted with a mix of surprise and pride to their rise to the top of the Italian Serie A, a place they last occupied more than four years ago.

Their start to the season was a nightmare with two defeats, at home to promoted Bologna and at Genoa, but the following seven wins and one draw have now pushed them to the top on a 22-point tally from 10 games.

A lucky 1-0 win over Napoli, who were down to 10 men and hurt themselves with an own goal, allowed the Devils to leap ahead of Udinese, Napoli, and, probably msot important, champions Inter Milan.