Berlin  - Marko Pantelic shot Hertha BSC to a place in the Champions-League Friday, spoiling with a 2-1 win Christoph Daum's anniversary celebration as a Bundesliga coach.

London  - Manchester United confirmed on Friday that they had been granted a work permit for Serbia winger Zoran Tosic.

Paris  - The European Union's sport ministers called Friday on the European Commission to study whether a proposed "6+5 rule" in football is compatible with European law.

Joseph Blatter, president of football ruling body FIFA, has been pressing for the rule which would force clubs to name a minimum of six home-grown players in their starting line-ups.

The ministers in Nice asked the Commission to look at "the compatability of a minimum requirement to field players eligible for the national team with European law," French sports minister Bernard Laporte said.

FIFA has been told the proposed rule would be illegal under EU law which allows free movement of workers within member states.

Hamburg  - The concept of total football was nowhere to be seen, but Thursday night's 1-0 victory at SV Hamburg was a sign that Ajax Amsterdam are coming back to life.

The outcome of the UEFA Cup group match all but assured the Dutch club of a place in the knockout stages, as a domestic and international slump could be nearing its end.

"The victory was very important. We haven't had a lot of success in Europe lately," said coach Marco van Basten.

Hamburg  - A late strike from Filippo Inzaghi was enough to salvage a 2-2 draw for AC Milan away to Portsmouth in the UEFA Cup Thursday and book the Serie A side's place in the tournament's knockout stages.

CSKA Moscow also progressed thanks to a 2-1 win over Lech Poznan while Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester and Standard Liege moved a step closer with victories.

Milan found themselves behind when Younes Kaboul headed home a Glen Johnson cross and looked to be heading for certain defeat when Kanu made it 2-0 for Pompey.

London  - Liverpool confirmed Thursday that striker Fernando Torres will be out of action for two to three weeks after suffering a hamstring strain in Wednesday's Champions League win over Marseill