Thursday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on soccer, rugby, golf, tennis, and racing.

SOCCER

Liam Rosenior's first home game as Chelsea boss ended in defeat.

His side were beaten 3-2 by Premier League leaders Arsenal in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.

The second leg is at the Emirates Stadium at the start of next month.


Hearts beat St Mirren 2-nil to move 6 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Reigning champions Celtic are up to second in the table after a 1-nil victory at Falkirk.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson was watching on as Troy Parrott scored his latest hat-trick last night.

The 23-year-old's treble helped AZ Alkmaar to hammer Ajax 6-nil in the last-16 of the Dutch Cup.

Parrott has now scored 24 goals for club and country this season.

RUGBY

Scott Robertson has stepped down as New Zealand head coach after just two years in charge.

Speculation had been rife about the former Crusaders' boss' future, amid speculation that he'd fallen out with senior players.

Robertson says coaching the All-Blacks has been the honour of his life, but he's "gutted by the outcome".

New Zealand Rugby's president David Kirk says the midway point of a World Cup cycle was the right time for change and they've already begun searching for a successor.

GOLF

Rory McIlroy leads on day one of golf's Dubai Invitational.

The Masters champion is four-under-par after eight holes of his opening round.

Shane Lowry, who is playing alongside McIlroy, is two-under-par - while Padraig Harrington is one-over through seven.


TENNIS

Jannik Sinner will begin his Australian Open title defence against Hugo Gaston, while Carlos Alcaraz starts against Australia's Adam Walton.

Emma Raducanu could face world number one Aryna Sabalenka as early as the third round.

44-year-pld Venus Williams is set to become the oldest women to ever compete in a Slam, and could play Coco Gauff in round two.

RACING

There's an eight-race meeting at Fairyhouse today from seven-minutes-to-12.