Dortmund, Germany  - Borussia Moenchengladbach was defeated 2-1 at home by its local rival Borussia Dortmund Friday night despite nearly one hour of playing with a man advantage.

The win keeps Dortmund in sixth place in the German Bundesliga and in the hunt for a UEFA Cup spot after 17 matches. Moenchengladbach has lost four straight and will end the year in last place.

Dortmund's Mohamed Zidan struck first for the visitors on the 35th minute. But three minutes later Tamas Hajnal was sent off for a second yellow-card foul.

The advantage was not enough for Moenchengladbach before a home crowd of 79,000 fans. Substitute Nuri Sahin eased Dortmund supporters' minds with an insurance goal in the 56th minute.

Los Angeles - The Boston Celtics have never been better to start a season, but they're looking for an even bigger finish.

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scored 22 points apiece as the Celtics rolled to their season-high 13th consecutive victory, 122-88 over the woeful Washington Wizards on Thursday night.

With their most lopsided victory of the season, the Celtics improved to a league-best 21-2 mark - a record start for the famed franchise, which has won 17 NBA titles.

"It's always nice to make history when you're part of a storied franchise," Pierce said. "There aren't a lot of record-breaking opportunities with the Celtics with the history that we have.

Karachi, Dec 12 : Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik believes his team can become a potent force in world cricket with the return of strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

Pakistan have been missing the services of both Shoaib and Asif in recent times due to injury or suspension, The News reported.

Shoaib is on a comeback trail after settling some issues with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is recovering from injury problems.

London, Dec 12 : Liverpool manager-cum coach Rafa Benitez has written off his team's title chances, admitting that it is not going to happen.

The Reds are top of the Premier League going into tomorrow's trip to Hull.

"For us to win the league we need Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal to mess up their season. It is very rare that three teams all mess up," Benitez said.

"So there's no point waiting for our direct adversaries to slip up, because it won't happen. They all have a lot greater financial means than us," he added.

It is an astonishing admission from Spaniard Benitez, which will not go down well in the corridors of power at Anfield, The Sun reported.

Melbourne, Dec 12 : Australian spin legend Shane Warne played an unlikely cupid for a man who has turned his eventful life into a hit stage musical.

Warne put his own spin on things when cabaret star Eddie Perfect proposed on Tuesday to his girlfriend of two-and-half-years, Lucy Cochran, the Herald Sun reported.

Perfect, who stars as the cricketer in "Shane Warne the Musical", popped the question by showing Cochran a series of photos of their cat, Moloko, with one-word signs around its neck.

London, Dec 12 : Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been accused of being too angry for his own as he might face a possible Champions League ban.

Rooney is in hot water with the UEFA after being accused of stamping on Aalborg's Kasper Risgard. European football's governing body is studying video evidence before deciding whether the Manchester United striker should be punished.