Sporting news in brief...

Bundesliga: Lars Ricken struck twice to give Borussia Dortmund a 2-1 win at home to Cologne yesterday, a first victory of the season for the former European champions. Ricken fired in a penalty in the 25th minute and made the game safe with a header midway through the second half. Hertha Berlin shook off their mediocre form in yesterday's other game, clinching a 3-0 win at home to Wolfsburg.

Real Madrid: England midfielder David Beckham and defender Francisco Pavon were included in Real Madrid's 20-man squad to face Olympique Lyon away in their opening game of the Champions League tomorrow. Both players were substituted due to injury during Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Celta Vigo and missed training yesterday, though their injuries are not considered serious.

Drogba: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has threatened to stop playing for Ivory Coast following reaction from angry fans to the team's home defeat by Cameroon in a World Cup qualifier. The Ivory Coast players were insulted and threatened by some of their supporters after losing 3-2 to Cameroon yesterday week in Abidjan. "If such events should occur (again), I would no longer take the risk to come and play for the national team," Drogba said.

In France: Ligue 1 - Lens vs Bordeaux 1-1; Sochaux vs Marseille 0-1.

Cricket: Australia's Ashes hopes were hanging in the balance after Andrew Flintoff produced a thundering performance in murky conditions to turn the fifth and final test on its head yesterday. The world champions, needing to win at The Oval to retain the Ashes, looked set for an imposing first-innings lead but lost their last seven wickets for 44 runs in 15 overs during a stop-start fourth day to crash to 367 all out. That gave the home side an improbable six-run lead which they extended to 40 for the loss of Andrew Strauss.