PARIS-- Brazilian striker Brandao's double helped Olympique Marseille reach the French League Cup final with a 2-1 win after extra time at Toulouse on Wednesday.
Brandao first scored a late equaliser for Marseille to send the game into extra time after a second-half header by France forward Andre-Pierre Gignac had put Toulouse in front.
The winner came just before the extra time interval with Brandao scoring with a powerful shot.
Marseille, who have never won the League Cup, will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Lorient and holders Girondins Bordeaux on March 27 at the Stade de France.
Lorient and Bordeaux play on Feb. 17.
Marseille created more of the limited chances in the first half but both Argentine midfielder Lucho Gonzalez's long range effort and Senegal striker Mamadou Niang's header went wide.
Both teams played at a higher pace after the break and the home side broke the deadlock thanks to a Gignac header at the far post from an Albin Ebondo cross just before the hour.
Brandao headed home the equaliser from a Hatem Ben Arfa cross four minutes from the end of normal time.
Two French Cup round of 32 games were also played on Wednesday and Ligue 1 strugglers St Etienne needed a penalty shootout to overcome fourth-division Villefranche after a 2-2 draw.
Sochaux also qualified with a 3-0 demolition of Le Mans at home in an all-Ligue 1 tie.
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands-- Heerenveen coach Jan de Jonge has stepped down after a series of disappointing results, the Dutch club said on their official website on Wednesday.
The club appointed De Jonge, who was head of the club's youth set up, in September 2009 after Trond Sollied was sacked.
"It didn't work out, that is why I gave back the assignment to the board," De Jonge was quoted as saying.
Heerenveen suffered their 13th league defeat of the season on Tuesday, losing 3-1 at VVV Venlo, and are 13th in the 18-team league with 20 points after 21 matches.
DAVIE, Florida-- When New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams urged his players to give Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning some 'remember me' shots in Sunday's Super Bowl he must have expected a response.
While the media have responded predictably, giving plenty of attention to the comments, Manning himself was not rising to the bait on Monday.
"I don't have (a response). I didn't hear it. I guess I have been playing long enough that I don't have any reaction to a comment like that," he told reporters.
In a radio interview Williams remarked that given Manning released the ball so early, the Saints had to "do a good job finding ways to get to him, and when we do get to him, we're going to have to make sure he gets a couple 'remember me' shots when we get there."
Saints defensive end Will Smith believes there is nothing wrong in what his coordinator urged.
"I think it got misinterpreted. Gregg has never once told us to go out and hurt any quarterback, especially Peyton," Smith said.
"You've got to go out and if you can get a sack and hit him, that's part of the game. Nobody ever talks about how hard people hit the running backs and the receivers.
"It's just part of the game. You have to go out there and play. Never go out and intentionally try to hurt somebody. Go out and play the game the way everybody else plays it."
Saints safety Darren Sharper agreed.
"The thing about 'remember me shots'... I don't know if you think it means the quarterback or whoever is not going to get back up, he can still get back up, but it's 'remember me' because he is going to remember he just got his bell rung," Sharper said.
"You can always get those types of shots on whoever is playing the game once they step between the white lines. The quarterback can always get hit. It's just how they get hit."
Sharper said Williams' comments had not caused surprise in the Saints locker room and that, in any case, all the coordinator was talking about was the need to get physical.
"He was saying that we're going to play physical and any chance we get to hit the quarterback, we're going to maximize that opportunity," he added.
"We think, come later in the game, even though Peyton Manning is probably the best fourth-quarter quarterback in the league, that it could change how they play."
However, the Saints safety knows how tough a task his team faces to disrupt Manning.
"He's been around so long and played in so many big games. He is very mentally tough and has seen it all," Sharper said.
"He prepares harder than anyone prepares in this league. He is tough and has been a starter in every game he has had a chance to start.
LONDON-- Premier League leaders Chelsea could only draw 1-1 at relegation-threatened Hull City on Tuesday as they squandered the chance to move four points clear of Manchester United in the title race.
Didier Drogba's free kick shortly before halftime cancelled out Hull's opener scored by Steven Mouyokolo but Chelsea could not force the winner after the break despite late pressure.
Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea have 55 points from 24 games with champions United on 53. Third-placed Arsenal, who play at Chelsea at the weekend, are on 49 points.
Hull, one of four sides on 21 points near the foot of the table, remain in the relegation zone on goal difference.
While Chelsea's form at Stamford Bridge has been immaculate with just two league points dropped all season, they have been far less impressive away from home and they were not at their best again on Tuesday.
Chelsea began well with Frank Lamaprd and Michael Ballack both forcing Hull keeper Boaz Myhill into early action but they lost their way as the first half wore on and fell behind to the kind of set piece that has troubled them all season.
Stephen Hunt swung in a corner and Mouyokolo found himself unmarked to head past Petr Cech from close range.
The goal stung Chelsea into action and Hull's joy was cut short three minutes before halftime when Drogba curled in a free kick for his first goal since returning from African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast.
Anthony Gardner missed a great chance to put Hull back into the lead while Daniel Sturridge nearly grabbed a vital win for Chelsea with a late effort saved by Myhill.
Chelsea skipper John Terry, who is mired in controversy after newspaper allegations about his private life, had a quiet night although he was subject to abuse by Hull fans.
Terry's future as England captain could be decided this week by coach Fabio Capello.
NEW YORK-- Triple Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt will compete in the 100 metres at the New York Diamond League meeting on June 12, organisers announced on Tuesday.
The meeting, the fifth on the new Diamond League circuit, is the first race to be announced for Bolt in 2010.
Bolt, the world record holder at 100 and 200 metres and a member of Jamaica's world record 4x100 relay team, set his first 100 world mark in New York in 2008.
"The track is lightning fast and the fans, well, they sat through an entire thunderstorm in 2008 just to watch the 100 metres so I know they appreciate speed," Bolt said in a statement. "I am looking forward to returning to the Big Apple in June."
