Soccer Capsules: Cherundolo returns from injury for U.S. in Gold Cup

SEATTLE - Leave it to the most experienced international veteran on the U.S. Gold Cup roster to give this tournament perspective.

U.S right back Steve Cherundolo has been hurt since November. He had hip surgery in April. The 30-year-old defender was home last month while the Americans shocked top-ranked Spain in the Confederations Cup in South Africa, then led Brazil by two goals before losing 3-2 in Sunday's final.

So for Cherundolo, getting back his starting job by playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup is as big as playing Spain or Brazil last week would have been. Right?

Uh, no.

"Our goal is obviously to win the tournament. Anyone who doesn't have that goal shouldn't be here," said Cherundolo, who has 51 appearances with U.S.

He joins veteran scorer Brian Ching as the two regular national team starters returning from injury to join the Americans' quest for a third consecutive regional championship for North and Central American and the Caribbean. The 12th-ranked U.S. opens Saturday night against Grenada, a tiny island nation ranked 88th in the world.

"It's a different tournament," Cherundolo said. "I don't think it's comparable at all. There's a lot more travel involved between games within the country. The teams are different, the level of competition is, as well.

"But our goal is to win."

The Americans have never lost in Gold Cup group play, going 21-0-1. The tie was on July 12, 2005, with Costa Rica in Foxborough, Mass. That's where the U.S. will play its final match of the opening round, on July 11 against Haiti. That will follow Wednesday's game in Washington, D.C., against Honduras.

Haiti and Honduras play the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Qwest Field, home of Major League Soccer's expansion Seattle Sounders.

Coach Bob Bradley has given most of the national team's regulars the next few weeks off before the start of the European preseason or allowed them to return to their MLS teams. Only four of the 23 players on the original Gold Cup roster were at the Confederations Cup before CONCACAF allowed the travel-weary Americans to add seven more players Thursday. Charlie Davies was the only one of the four who played in South Africa.

"We know that at times there are many different factors that get considered when putting a roster together," Bradley said. "But once we are together, our focus is to go about our business and the way we play. This is an important tournament, the championship of our confederation. We are excited about defending our title."

Cherundolo, who grew up in San Diego, is just excited to be back. And relieved. He played through pain for months after colliding with a Hannover teammate during training last fall. He eventually missed the second half of the Bundesliga season plus five World Cup qualifiers and Confederations Cup following surgery April 20 to remove a calcification in his hip. He had to wait that long because the joint was too swollen to operate on it.

He said he needs to improve his in-game fitness, and Bradley said he isn't sure when Cherundolo will be able to play a full game again.

Jonathan Spector has become the recent starter at right back. Cherundolo views the Gold Cup as a path back to his starting jobs, with the World Cup less than a year away and a little more than a month to Hannover's Bundesliga opener at Hertha Berlin on Aug. 8.

"Everybody here has to take advantage of every game he has, every minute he has," he said. "Yes, of course I see it as an opportunity - as well as a chance to get back in the mix regularly.

"In professional soccer, in professional sports, things go quick. One day you can be the starter, the next day someone else can take your spot."

Bradley has a plan for Cherundolo, who with Jimmy Conrad and Santino Quaranta are the three members of this U.S. team who played on the 2005 Gold Cup champion.

"It's great to have him back. That's first," the coach said. "We'll need to be smart on how we will use him, but the idea certainly is to get him some games so that when he gets back to Hannover that he's moving the ball well, and that gets him back into play for (World Cup) qualifying coming up."

Canada edges Jamaica in opener

CARSON, Calif. - Ali Gerba scored in the 75th minute to give Canada a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the opening game of the Gold Cup on Friday night.

Gerba volleyed Mike Klukowski's left-wing cross inside the left post from 7 yards while being marked tightly by Jamaican defender Claude Davis.

Goalkeeper Greg Sutton kept Jamaica scoreless with two saves in a 10-minute span. In the 54th minute, Sutton dived to his right to stop Damion Stewart's 13-yard line drive.

Then in the 64th minute, Sutton blocked Ricardo Fuller's 14-yard shot off a breakaway. Sutton, released recently by Toronto FC of MLS, finished with four saves.

Canada took the lead in Group A thanks to Gerba's fifth Gold Cup goal.

On the winning score, Klukowski dribbled down the left side before sending a perfect pass to Gerba, whose brilliant volley skimmed past keeper Donovan Ricketts.

Jamaica received five yellow cards in the match.

CONMEBOL says Copa final on despite swine flu

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Next week's first-leg match in the finals of the Copa Libertadores will go ahead in Argentina despite a swine flu outbreak that is blamed in the deaths of at least 44 people in the country.

CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, said on Friday the match between Argentine club Estudiantes and Brazilian club Cruzeiro would be played in La Plata on Wednesday.

It said the second-leg game would be played as scheduled on July 15 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to determine the winner of Latin America's most important club competition.

Cruzeiro said in a statement that it intended to play the match unless Argentine health officials stepped in to stop it.

Cruzeiro reached the final on Thursday after eliminating fellow Brazilian club Gremio 5-3 on aggregate over two games. Estudiantes eliminated Uruguay club Nacional on Wednesday.

Two months ago, South American clubs Sao Paulo of Brazil and Nacional declined to play Copa Libertadores matches in Mexico during an outbreak of swine flu in that country.

"We're sorry about the situation the country is going through, but the dates are set," Estudiantes vice president Marcelo Malaspina said. "All precautions are being taken so the game can be played in a relaxed atmosphere."

Owen joins Man United with 2-year deal

LONDON - Michael Owen joined English champion Manchester United on Friday, a striking reversal of fortune for an injury-plagued forward who has been dropped from the national team by manager Fabio Capello.

The 29-year-old, who has 40 goals in 89 international appearances, signed a two-year contract. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid player was a free agent after his contract expired Tuesday at relegated Newcastle.

"I never though it in my wildest dreams really. When I got the call from the manager to come and meet him, it was a shock," Owen said. "I know there will be a few people saying the manager shouldn't have bought me."

Owen's agent had been so concerned about finding him a new club that he sent a 32-page brochure to teams around Europe trumpeting his enduring qualities and rebutting fitness fears.

United has watched Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez depart since losing the Champions League final to Barcelona.

"Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goal-scoring record at the highest level, and that has never been in question," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish."

Owen underwent stringent medical examinations on his troublesome right knee before the contract was signed.

"I'm sure a club like this can re-ignite my career," Owen said. "I do not feel that I am injury prone."

He scored 10 goals in 32 matches last season at Newcastle, which finished 18th at 7-18-13, and had 30 goals in 79 games since joining the club in 2005.

-- Rob Harris

Chelsea rejects new Man City bid for captain Terry

LONDON - Chelsea said Friday that John Terry is not for sale after rejecting a new offer for its captain from Manchester City.

The bid of reportedly 30 million pounds ($49 million) for the 28-year-old defender followed an approach last season from City, which is seen as having greater financial resources than its Premier League rival since it was bought by an Abu Dhabi group last year.

"We have completely rejected an offer from Manchester City for John Terry," Chelsea said. "It was made clear to City, for a second time following an approach last season, that we would not entertain any conversation on the subject.

"At the time John also reiterated his total commitment to Chelsea. We would like to make it clear, and will not do so again, that John is not for sale."

Terry committed his future to Chelsea as Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti takes charge of the FA Cup champions.

"Next season we need to make sure we start a lot better than we did last year and really push for the Premier League because I would love to win that trophy again, as well as being back in the mix for the Champions League," Terry said. "It is important that we realize Ancelotti is going to be here for a good few years, he is going to bring in his own players, staff and training methods.

"We need to adapt to that and move Chelsea in the right direction."

Ancelotti is Chelsea's fifth manager in two years.

"The players have coped with it (managerial turnover) very well," he said. "It is important that we get a bit of stability under Ancelotti for two or three years.

"We must get a settled team and a settled manager and really build and move things in the right direction."

Chelsea signs striker Sturridge from Man City

LONDON - Chelsea has signed English striker Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City on a four-year contract.

The deal for the 19-year-old Sturridge was completed by Chelsea on Friday hours after the Premier League club had rebuffed City's attempt to entice John Terry in the opposite direction.

Chelsea said Terry is not for sale after rejecting a new offer for its captain from City.

The bid of reportedly 30 million pounds ($49 million) for the 28-year-old defender followed an approach last season from City.

Financial details of Sturridge's move were not disclosed.

Dalgish back at Anfield in academy, business roles

LONDON - Former Liverpool striker and manager Kenny Dalglish returned to the club Friday to help lead the youth academy and act as a commercial ambassador around the world.

Manager Rafa Benitez wants to draw on the expertise of the coach who masterminded Liverpool's last English championship triumph in 1990.

"We were looking for someone who has a knowledge and a passion for the club and Kenny is the perfect choice," Benitez said. "Kenny has played for the club, he's managed the club, he's done everything. He's a fantastic signing."

In his senior role at the academy, the 58-year-year-old Dalglish hopes to unearth talent that can one day make the first team.

"For the boss to put his trust in me is a great compliment and I am coming back as a very lucky person," Dalglish said. "Hopefully we can start producing players to challenge for a place in Rafa's plans - it won't happen overnight."

In his moneymaking capacity, Dalglish will travel the world as an ambassador for the club.

Despite being English football's most decorated club, the five-time European champions lag behind their global rivals in terms of generating revenue and recent success on the field.

"If you're looking for somebody to go around the world on behalf of Liverpool Football Club then I don't know anybody better than Kenny," Benitez said.

Dalglish joined Liverpool as player in 1977 and went on to score 172 goals in 515 games as the Reds won the European Cup three times.

Dalglish had already won the English league five times when he was promoted to player/manager from the 1985-86 season and won a further three before resigning in 1991. Liverpool's record haul of 18 titles was matched by Manchester United in May as it finished four points ahead of the Reds in the Premier League.

Dalglish went on to manage Blackburn, where he also won the league title, Newcastle and Celtic.

-- Rob Harris

Wichniarek returns to Hertha Berlin

BERLIN - Striker Artur Wichniarek is returning to Hertha Berlin from Arminia Bielefeld on a two-year contract.

Hertha announced the 32-year-old Pole's return on Friday. Wichniarek played for the club from 2003 to 2006.

Berlin needed to reinforce its attack after losing strikers Andriy Voronin and Marko Pantelic at the end of last season.

Wichniarek scored 49 goals in 196 Bundesliga appearances for Hertha and Bielefeld, which was relegated last season.

Ze Roberto joins Hamburg

HAMBURG - Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto has joined Hamburg on a two-year contract.

The 34-year-old former Brazil international signed for Hamburg on Thursday, the club said. Ze Roberto was a free agent after turning down Bayern Munich's offer of a one-year extension to his contract there.

Ze Roberto played for Bayern between 2002-06 and again between 2007-09, winning four Bundesliga titles and four German Cups.

"He is a technically outstanding player and brings incredible experience with him," Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia said.

He also played four seasons at Bayer Leverkusen, had a season at Real Madrid, and spells with Santos, Flamengo and Portuguesa in his homeland.

Hannover loans Zizzo to Duesseldorf

HANNOVER, Germany - Bundesliga club Hannover says it is loaning American midfielder Salvatore Zizzo to second-division Fortuna Duesseldorf for a year.

Hannover announced the move Thursday. The 22-year-old Zizzo, who holds U.S. and Italian citizenship, joined Hannover two years ago from UCLA but has had only limited appearances for the German club.