Los Angeles  - The NBA trade deadline expired Thursday afternoon, and the tradewinds of superstars rumoured to be changing addresses turned out to be nothing but hot air.

Shaquille O'Neal and fellow-Phoenix Suns all star Amare Stoudemire were rumoured to be leaving the desert.

High-flying Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets, the Washington Wizards' Antawn Jamison and Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors were also shopped, but talks proved fleeting.

A deal that would have had O'Neal play alongside LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers died. It would have send a message to let the Boston Celtics know they are serious contenders to knock off their NBA crown.

Hamburg - English clubs suffered mixed fortunes in UEFA Cup round of 32 first-leg ties Thursday as Tottenham Hotspur conceded two late goals to go down to Shakhtar Donetsk while Manchester City drew away to FC Copenhagen.

Spurs paid the price for some poor defending in the Olympiyskiy Stadium when substitute Yevgen Seleznov was able to head Brazilian midfielder Jadson's free-kick past goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes 11 minutes from time to put the home side in front.

Hamburg  - Lech Poznan came from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Udinese in their UEFA Cup round of 32 first-leg tie Thursday.

After a goalless first period, Udinese wasted no time in the second half, going in front five minutes after the restart when Fabio Quagliarella headed home a Gaetano D'Agostino free-kick.

The Serie A side doubled their lead five minutes later when Lech goalkeeper Turina blocked a strike from Gokhan Inler only for the ball to rebound off defender Manuel Arboleda and into his own net.

Madrid  - Spanish news agency EFE announced on Thursday night the birth of a son to Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero - and of a grandson to Diego Maradona.

Giannina Maradona, one of the daughters of the Argentine national manager, gave birth to a healthy baby boy in a private hospital on the outskirts of Madrid on Thursday evening.

Giannani Maradona is married to Atletico idol Aguero, 20.

This is the first child of the couple and the first time that Diego Maradona, who was present at the hospital, has become a grandfather. According to Aguero, the boy will be called Benjamin Leonel.

London  - Arsenal striker Eduardo will miss the next fortnight with a hamstring injury, the club confirmed on Thursday.

The Croatia international scored twice in Arsenal's 4-0 win over Cardiff City in the FA Cup on Monday, his first game back after a year out with a broken leg.

He was substituted after 67 minutes.

"Eduardo is out for two weeks," manager Arsene Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

"He picked up a hamstring injury two minutes before I took him off. What a nightmare.

"Nobody knows how it happened but I knew straight away after the game it would be a two-week job.

Rome - Seven drunken fans of Ajax have been arrested in Florence f