Soccer Capsules: Real Salt Lake reaches first MLS Cup final

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Real Salt Lake advanced to its first MLS Cup final by beating the Chicago Fire 5-4 on penalty kicks after 120 scoreless minutes in the Eastern Conference final Saturday night.

Ned Grabavoy, a substitute in the final minute of overtime, scored the winning penalty kick in the seventh round as his shot went off the fingertips of Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch.

Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando made three saves in the shootout after stopping six shots through overtime.

RSL, which joined the league in 2005, will meet Los Angeles in the MLS Cup final on Nov. 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Galaxy reached the title game with a 2-0 overtime win against Houston on Friday.

The Fire have lost three consecutive conference finals, and this game was the first to reach penalties since D.C. defeated New England in 2004.

Salt Lake nearly scored in the final seconds of regulation but forward Robbie Findley’s shot from the top of the box was cleared off the line by John Thorrington.

Fire forward Brian McBride saw his header hit the crossbar in the 27th minute, and midfielder Marco Pappa had a shot in the 67th minute saved by a diving Rimando.

This is the second time this season Chicago has lost on penalties. The Fire lost the SuperLiga final 2-1 via the tiebreaker to Tigres of Mexico on June 27

Late Friday

Galaxy headed to MLS Cup after 2-0 win over Dynamo

CARSON, Calif. — Gregg Berhalter and Landon Donovan scored in overtime to put the Los Angeles Galaxy into MLS Cup final with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Friday night.

The Galaxy will play in its first MLS Cup final since 2005 on Nov. 22 in Seattle against the winner of Saturday’s Eastern Conference final match between Chicago and Real Salt Lake.

Los Angeles will make its sixth MLS Cup final appearance since the league began in 1996. The Galaxy won championships in 2002 and 2005.

David Beckham’s free kick set up Berhalter’s goal in the 102nd minute. The Dynamo’s Eddie Robinson tried to clear Omar Gonzalez’s header off Beckham’s free kick but Berhalter poked the ball into the net from 7 yards.

Donovan converted a penalty kick in the 109th minute to set the MLS record for career playoff scoring with 17 goals.

Houston’s Ricardo Clark tripped Alan Gordon in the penalty area. After goalkeeper Pat Onstad dove to his left, Donovan scored his third goal in this year’s playoffs.

The Dynamo’s Brian Ching had the best chance to score during regulation. He headed a 7-yard line drive off Brian Mullan’s right-wing cross but goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts used his right hand to deflect the ball off the crossbar.

Houston’s Andrew Hainault scored on a header off Brad Davis’s ensuing corner kick in the 80th minute but Luis Angel Landin’s foul before Hainault’s shot nullified the goal.

Play was suspended twice after the stadium lights went out because of power dips, a release from the Home Depot Center said. The game was stopped for a 18 minutes in each half.

The Dynamo’s Wade Barrett made his first appearance since Aug. 30 when he started for Mike Chabala at left back. Chabala was suspended for receiving yellow cards in each of the two conference semifinal games against Seattle.

United States

Slovakia beats U.S. 1-0 in World Cup warmup

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — In its first warmup match for next year’s World Cup, the U.S. was missing key starters and lacked sharpness in a 1-0 loss to Slovakia on Saturday.

Marek Hamsik converted a penalty kick in the 26th minute after Austrian referee Stefan Messner called defender Jonathan Bornstein for pushing Vladimir Weiss — the son of Slovakia’s coach — in the penalty area. Hamsik sent a low shot to the right corner, with goalkeeper Brad Guzan diving in the opposite direction.

"Tonight’s a frustrating loss for us. We feel we at least deserved a draw tonight," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "We created some good combinations in the first half, created some good opportunities, but they didn’t go in tonight."

Preparing for its first World Cup appearance as an independent nation, Slovakia is ranked 33rd in the world. The 11th-ranked Americans have qualified for their sixth straight World Cup but used an under-strength roster.

"I thought we did well with keeping most of the possession and creating chances," midfielder Clint Dempsey said. "We just weren’t able to get that goal to open the game up more."

The U.S. was missing Landon Donovan, who scored in California on Friday night to help the Los Angeles Galaxy beat Houston 2-0 in overtime and reach the Major League Cup final. In addition, goalkeeper Tim Howard was given an off day and the Americans were without central defenders Oguchi Onyewu (knee surgery), Jay DeMerit (eye surgery) and Chad Marshall (sprained knee).

Jonathan Spector moved from the outside to central defense for the first time. Right back Steve Cherundolo hobbled off during second-half injury time holding his left knee, but the U.S. Soccer Federation said the initial evaluation indicated no serious injury.

"Jonathan Spector and Carlos Bocanegra played well together and both showed good understanding," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said.

Forward Eddie Johnson made his first national team appearance since June 2008 and Jeff Cunningham, MLS’s leading scorer this season, played for the national team for the first time since September 2005. Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty entered in the 72nd minute as a substitute for his national team debut.

"This match was on opportunity to see some different players," Bradley said. "I think the area tonight that let us down was the sharpness and execution in the attacking part of the field."

The U.S. outshot Slovakia 8-5, although shots on goal were even at four apiece. The Americans had five corner kicks to Slovakia’s one.

"I thought we had the better of the game, to be honest," Spector said.

Both teams started sons of their coaches.

Vladimir Weiss the father played as a second-half substitute as Czechoslovakia routed the United States 5-1 at the 1990 World Cup.

Michael Bradley headed in from close range just two minutes in following a corner kick by Robbie Rogers but was ruled offside.

The U.S. was the more dangerous team early. Dempsey missed wide from 10 yards in the 30th minute, then was saved by goalkeeper Jan Mucha on a swerving free kick in the 37th. Feilhaber’s diving header off Bornstein’s cross was saved by Mucha three minutes before halftime.

Johnson broke in on goal in the 51st minute but missed the net. Mucha denied Sacha Kljestan, another sub, with a fingertip save on a free kick in the 82nd.

"They have an excellent team. They showed why they are 11th in the world," Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said.

The Americans close their 2009 schedule on Wednesday night at Denmark.

"Denmark will be a little different," Bocanegra said. "They like to be on the ball, and they’re not as much of a counterattacking team as Slovakia."

-- Karel Janicek

International

New Zealand, Cameroon, Nigeria reach World Cup

New Zealand reached the World Cup for the first time since 1982, with Cameroon and Nigeria also qualifying Saturday for next year’s soccer showcase in South Africa.

Algeria was seconds from qualifying in Cairo, but Emad Meteab headed in a goal in the fifth minute of second-half injury time, giving Egypt a 2-0 victory over the visitors that forced a tiebreaker playoff between the nations on Wednesday in Sudan.

Egyptian fans greeted the Algerian team at the airport on Thursday by pelting its bus with stones, and Algerian officials said two team members were injured. On Saturday, both Khaled Lemmouchia and Rafik Halliche wore head bandages while playing.

"We played under warlike conditions," Algerian Football Association president Mohammad Rawrawa said. "It was difficult to perform well, but we will win on Wednesday in Sudan because the atmosphere will be calmer."

In the first leg of European playoffs, France won 1-0 at Ireland on a deflected goal by Nicolas Anelka; Portugal beat visiting Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 on a goal by Bruno Alves; Russia won 2-1 at home against Slovenia as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov scored twice; and Greece was held to a 0-0 tie by visiting Ukraine.

"We have seen that the Irish team are a very difficult team to beat," said French forward Thierry Henry, who is bidding to play at his fourth World Cup. "They didn’t lose a game in qualification, so what we did tonight is nice. But it’s still 90 minutes to go, and it’s going to be a tough game for us in Paris."

In the first leg of the South American-North and Central American and Caribbean playoff, Uruguay won 1-0 at Costa Rica on Diego Lugano’s goal in the 23rd minute.

Twenty-six of the 32 World Cup berths are set, with the remainder to be decided Wednesday. The draw dividing the teams into eight first-round groups is Dec. 4.

In a World Cup tuneup, the United States lost 1-0 at Slovakia, which got a 26th-minute penalty kick from Marek Hamsik.

Brazil beat England 1-0 at Doha, Qatar, on Nilmar’s goal early in the second half. European champion Spain won 2-1 against visiting Argentina as Xabi Alonso scored twice and defending World Cup champion Italy was held to a 0-0 tie at home by the Netherlands.

At Wellington, Rory Fallon scored on a header off a corner kick in the 44th minute, and New Zealand held on to beat Bahrain 1-0.

The teams had played a 0-0 tie at Manama on Oct. 10 in the first leg of the home-and-home, total-goals playoff between the Oceania champion and the fifth-place team in Asian qualifying.

Bahrain, which has never appeared in the World Cup, lost a playoff to Trinidad and Tobago four years ago. It could have tied the aggregate score in the 50th minute — and moved ahead on away goals — but Sayed Adnan took a weak penalty kick that easily was saved by goalkeeper Mark Paston, who fell on the ball. It came after Tony Lochhead brought down Abdulla Omar in the penalty area

"I basically just guessed which way he’d go, and the ball ended up in my hands," Paston said. "It’s a bit surreal really."

Cameroon qualified for its sixth World Cup, beating Morocco 2-0 at Fez as Achille Webo scored in the 18th minute and Samuel Eto’o added a goal in the 52nd.

After missing the 2006 tournament, the Indomitable Lions got off to a slow start in the final round of qualifying for 2010, losing to Togo and tying Morocco. But Cameroon (4-1-1) won its final four matches to finish first in Group A with 13 points, four ahead of second-place Gabon (3-3).

The six World Cup appearances for Cameroon are the most among African nations.

Nigeria, which also missed the 2002 tournament, overtook Tunisia on the final day of its World Cup qualifying campaign by coming from behind to win 3-2 against Kenya in Nairobi.

Obafemi Martins scored twice for the Super Eagles, who qualified three straight times starting in 1994 before falling short of the 2006 tournament.

Nigeria (3-0-3) finished first in Group B with 12 points, one ahead of Tunisia (3-1-2), which lost 1-0 at Mozambique.

Dennis Oliech put Kenya ahead in the 16th minute when he beat goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama with a low shot. Martins tied it in the 62nd off a pass from Peter Odemwingie, and Nigeria went ahead three minutes later when Ayegbeni Yakubu hit a post and converted the rebound. Allan Wetende retied it when he scored off a header in the 79th, but Martins scored again in the 83rd.

At Maputo, Dario scored in the 83rd minute as Mozambique thwarted Tunisia, which was sent to its first loss in qualifying since its opener in June 2008. Tunisia has appeared in four World Cups, including the last three.

At Cairo, Amr Zaki scored in the second minute and Meteab, who entered in the 65th, got the goal that forced the playoff. Egypt and Algeria finished tied atop Group C with a 4-1-1 record, nine goals for, four goals against and a 1-1 head-to-head record.

-- Robert Millward

Elsewhere

Maradona to face FIFA over profane rant at media

ZURICH — Diego Maradona faces a FIFA disciplinary panel Sunday that could ban the Argentine coach from games at next year’s World Cup because of his expletive-filled rant.

Maradona has been summoned to the headquarters of soccer’s governing body to explain himself. His outburst, aimed at the Argentine media, came during a news conference last month after his team clinched a spot in the World Cup in South Africa.

Maradona will arrive in Zurich after coaching Argentina in an exhibition game against European champion Spain in Madrid on Saturday. His case will be heard by FIFA’s 17-member disciplinary committee. The panel can consider Maradona’s evidence in person, written statements and video footage of the news conference.

"Much worse things have been said and there are people who do terrible things in football, but ... I said what I said and that’s where things stand," Maradona said in the Spanish sports daily Marca on Saturday. "Sunday I will say what I have to say to FIFA and that’ll be it."

Under one provision of FIFA’s discipline code, the panel must ban Maradona for at least five games if it finds he offended the "dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words."

Maradona would be sidelined until after the quarterfinals if a ban applies to competitive matches instead of exhibition games. But he could be judged by another article in the code relating to "offensive gestures or language," and receive a simple warning or reprimand.

The 49-year-old coach is an iconic figure in his home country, having captained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title and led the team to the final four years later. He is supported by the Argentina Football Association and its longtime president, Julio Grondona.

Grondona, who also serves as FIFA’s senior vice president, implied that Maradona is being singled out because of his status as one of soccer’s greats.

"If it were another coach or player, the matter would not have had such importance," Grondona told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

The AFA has filed a statement to FIFA blaming Maradona’s tirades on tough questions from reporters before the decisive qualifying match in Uruguay, which Argentina won 1-0. Maradona has had a tense relationship with the media since taking over the national team one year ago at Grondona’s invitation.

At the time of Maradona’s appointment, Argentina was midway through a qualifying campaign in which the two-time champion was in danger of missing the World Cup for the first time since 1970.

Maradona’s team lost four of its next six matches — including a 6-1 defeat in Bolivia and a 3-1 home loss to archrival Brazil — before getting late winning goals in its final two qualifiers to clinch.

Maradona attacked his critics in an on-field interview and at the postgame news conference in Montevideo. He accused the Argentine media of treating him "like garbage."

"If someone feels wounded, I’ll apologize if they want. And if not, I’m sorry," he said later, but also insisting he did not regret his comments.

Maradona was punished by FIFA as a player in 1994. He was sent home from the tournament in the United States after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, including the banned stimulant ephedrine.

Youths defy police after Algeria lose

MARSEILLE, France — Youths in the southern French city of Marseille have clashed with police and smashed windows after Algeria lost to Egypt 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

In Marseille, home to many Algeria supporters, youths also set fire to vehicles and burned garbage cans after Saturday’s match. Six small boats in a local port were targeted by smoke bombs, and two of them were sunk.

The Marseille police headquarters says eight people were taken into custody, mostly for throwing projectiles at officers. Nobody was hurt in the clashes. Police say 500 officers were mobilized.