BLUES HIT SEVEN, UNITED FOUR

Deco congratulates Frank Lampard on his goal.

Chelsea's cruise through their pre-season tour of Asia continued as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side eased to a 7-0 victory against Chinese Super League side Chengdu Blades.

Nicolas Anelka, Solomon Kalou and Frank Lampard handed the Blues a comfortable half-time advantage before Joe Cole (2), Franco Di Santo and a fortunate Shaun Wright-Phillips effort wrapped up the second rout in four days.

Their likely Premier League title rivals Manchester United lifted the Vodacom Challenge trophy in South Africa thanks to a 4-0 victory over Kaiser Chiefs thanks to goals from two senior professionals and two rookies.

Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney both found the target at the Loftus Versfeld as did Tom Cleverley and Fraizer Campbell.

It was a comfortable victory for United as the opposition looked weary after defeating Orlando Pirates on Thursday.

Calvin Zola hit a hat-trick as Premier League new-boys Hull were thrashed 4-0 by League One Crewe.

Zola put Alex ahead in the second minute from close range before the same player hit a 25-yard shot into the net.

The Tigers had a chance to get back into the game but Bernard Mendy saw his penalty - awarded for a foul on Nick Barmby - saved by Steve Collis.

The hosts took a three-goal lead when Nicky Maynard hit an unstoppable penalty with Zola completing the scoring before half-time with another spot-kick which Mendy conceded.

Manchester City's preparations for their UEFA Cup qualifier were dealt a blow as they lost 1-0 to Hamburg.

Midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa scored the only goal of the game after he took control of a loose ball in the box and slotted it past City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Pitroipa proved to be a constant threat to the City defence and the Burkino Faso international could have doubled the German side's lead six minutes later but he failed to take advantage of a mistake by Richard Dunne.

Mark Hughes' side came out stronger in the second half but failed to take their chances.

Newcastle slipped to their first defeat of pre-season after Doncaster substitute Stuart Elliott gave his side a 1-0 victory at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The Magpies included French trialist Sebastien Bassong in their starting XI while Geremi captained the side.

But it was the Coca-Cola Championship side who claimed victory after Jose Enrique showed hesitancy in the 87th minute which allowed Elliott to steal in and curl the ball round United goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Zoltan Gera's first goal for Fulham gave the Cottagers a 2-1 victory over Ulsan Hyundai in Korea.

After good work from Seol Ki-Hyeon down the left, Gera netted from inside the box with 11 minutes remaining, opening his account for the club he joined earlier this summer from West Brom.

Earlier Simon Davies had pulled Fulham level in the Big Crown Stadium after the visitors had fallen behind.

Blackburn's Portuguese tour ended in defeat as Sporting Lisbon came from behind to beat Paul Ince's men 2-1.

Rovers, who themselves staged a comeback against Benfica 24 hours earlier, took the lead 20 minutes in when Benni McCarthy was brought down for a penalty, which he himself converted.

Sporting levelled immediately with a stunning Pedro Silva free-kick and netted the winner 17 minutes from time thanks to Tonel's neat finish.

Peter Crouch scored twice as Portsmouth inflicted a 5-0 trouncing on Nigerian champions Kano Pillars in Abuja.

John Utaka, Ben Sahar and Kanu were the other scorers as Pompey eased to a comfortable win at the Abuja Stadium.

Pedro Mendes also hit the post while Jermain Defoe came close but the south coast club did not add to their tally.

West Brom's winless pre-season run continued with a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich at Portman Road.

Ishmael Miller put the Baggies in the 40th minute with a superb strike from 20 yards, but the lead was short-lived as the hosts were awarded a penalty three minutes later.

Jonathan Greening was adjudged to have handled in the box and Tommy Miller tucked away the spot-kick for Town, who won it when substitute Kevin Lisbie got away from his man to smash home from 15 yards.

Rangers suffered a serious blow in the final warm-up for their Champions League campaign when Carlos Cuellar pulled up during their 2-1 victory over Raith at Starks Park.

The Spanish defender was playing his first pre-season game after being troubled by a calf injury, but he lasted just 29 minutes.

Rangers then fell behind to a Kevin Smith goal but substitutes Nacho Novo and Daniel Cousin spared their blushes in the final quarter.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink proved Celtic's super-sub for the second time this week as the Scottish champions' tour of Portugal ended on a high.

The Dutch striker, who came off the bench to head in a stoppage-time equaliser against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, scored in almost identical fashion to secure a 1-0 friendly win over Porto.

Lionel Messi claimed a hat-trick as Dundee United became the second Scottish side this week to be handed a footballing lesson by Barcelona, who beat them 5-1.

Craig Levein's men took the lead through Prince Buaben before Thierry Henry restored parity for the Catalan giants.

Messi then transformed the game when he was introduced as a substitute and netted three goals, with out-of-favour Samuel Eto'o also adding his name to the scoresheet.

Chris Iwelumo enjoyed a successful return to Kilmarnock as he netted his first two goals for Wolves in a 3-0 win.

The summer signing from Charlton, who grew up in the Ayrshire town, headed home Michael Gray's free-kick midway through the first half.

Sam Vokes soon made it two when he was set up by Matthew Jarvis following a short backpass by Jamie Hamill, and Iwelumo glanced home another header from a David Jones cross 11 minutes after the break.

Motherwell secured their first pre-season victory in resounding fashion with a four-goal first-half demolition of Stuart McCall's Bradford.

The home win was never in doubt from the first minute when David Clarkson converted Keith Lasley's cross.

Chris Porter converted a penalty and Darren Smith raced down the left before firing the third in the 31st minute and Smith then set up Bob Malcolm to stroke home from 10 yards five minutes before the break.

Simon Mensing capped a second-half fightback against Huddersfield with a solo effort as Hamilton moved into the final of Hartlepool's centenary tournament with a 2-1 victory.

After a competitive first half at Victoria Park, a strong Accies side fell behind when Andy Booth diverted a cross home.

But the Lanarkshire side soon levelled when James McArthur fired home and Mensing struck the winner.

John Stewart boosted his bid to rescue his Falkirk career by volleying home as the Bairns saw off QPR 2-0.

The striker, who spent last season on loan to St Johnstone and Queen of the South, converted Neil McCann's corner a minute after Damion Stewart had turned a Gerard Aafjes cross into his own net.

Rangers suffered a major fitness concern when Matt Connolly was carried off with a suspected ankle injury.

St Mirren retained the Renfrewshire Cup but needed penalties to defeat Morton at Cappielow.

Iain Russell put the home side ahead midway through the first half but Marc McAusland soon levelled.

The Clydesdale Bank Premier League side came out on top 5-4 in the shoot-out that followed the 90 minutes to win the trophy for a third successive year.

Cameron Jerome and Martin Taylor scored as Coca-Cola Championship promotion contenders Birmingham continued their fine pre-season form with a 2-0 win over League Two Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium.

Freddy Eastwood scored twice on his debut following his transfer from Wolves as Coventry claimed a 3-1 win at Cambridge.

Danny Fox was also on target for the Sky Blues with Ben Farrell hitting a consolation penalty for the hosts.

Scott Dobie scored twice as Carlisle played out a 2-2 draw with Preston.

Dobie put the League One side ahead, Preston went 2-1 up through Neil Mellor and Simon Whaley before Dobie intervened for a second time.

Chris Dickson scored the only goal as Charlton won 1-0 at Brighton.

Brentford and Watford played out a 1-1 draw with Tommy Smith opening the scoring for the Hornets before Charlie MacDonald equalised.

Leon Clarke scored twice as Sheffield Wednesday maintained their good pre-season form with a 2-0 win at Bury.

Burnley eased to a 3-0 win at League Two Accrington Stanley with goals from Joey Gudjonsson, a fine solo effort by Albania international Besart Berisha and Robbie Blake.

Theo Lewis scored a late equaliser for Cheltenham against Southampton after Bradley Wright-Phillips had given the Saints a first-half lead.