Soccer Capsules: Ferguson sees fast improvement in MLS
HOUSTON (AP) — Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson is ready to give Major League Soccer its due.
The Red Devils wrap up their American tour at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday against a collection of All-Stars from the MLS, a league that Ferguson said is rapidly gaining worldwide respect. Manchester United beat Philadelphia 1-0 last week, then lost to Kansas City 2-1 on Sunday in its first preseason tour in the United States since 2004.
"The progress is obvious," Ferguson said. "We realized that in the game against Philadelphia and just as much against Kansas City. There's a massive improvement in the organization and standard of play. That would be the reason I think they're ready to play the best teams in Europe now."
Manchester United is playing without several top players, including World Cup participants Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick and Nemanja Vidic. The Red Devils are using the tour to tune up for their Premier League schedule, which begins Aug. 16.
Friendly or not, the MLS players are eager for a chance to validate their league against one of the world's pre-eminent football powers. The All-Stars have won five of six matches against international opponents in previous years, including a 1-0 win over former Premier League champion Chelsea in 2006.
"It's a game where we're representing our clubs and we're representing MLS," said Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando. "We want to put MLS on the map, and we want to come out and beat these teams. That's where the competitive nature comes up, being an American, being an American league, we want to win every game. We're getting the best teams in the world, and to get results is huge for our league."
Los Angeles Galaxy teammates Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, Colombian star Juan Pablo Angel and Argentine standout Guillermo Barros Schelotto are in the All-Star squad, though it's uncertain how much Donovan and Buddle will play. The Galaxy, led by All-Star coach Bruce Arena, was scheduled to play a team from Puerto Rico in a CONCACAF Champions League match on Tuesday night.
"You can't put the players' health at risk," Houston Dynamo coach and All-Star assistant Dominic Kinnear said. "It's a delicate thing that he (Arena) has to handle. He'll be very careful with what he does with his players."
Ferguson, meanwhile, said Mexican star Javier Hernandez may make his Manchester United debut in Houston.
The Red Devils acquired Hernandez, their first Mexican player, in April from Chivas Guadalajara. The Red Devils play Chivas in Mexico on Friday, but Ferguson may play him earlier, depending on Hernandez's conditioning.
The 22-year-old Hernandez scored two goals for Mexico during the World Cup.
"We'd like to use him, one, because I know there is a big Mexican population in Houston and it would be a very exciting attraction for them," Ferguson said. "Secondly, we want to try to integrate him into the team as quickly as possible.
"We would like to play him, but we want to just have a chat with him and see what he has been doing physically. I don't think it would be wise playing him without any real physical preparation for this game."
The Red Devils can't wait to see what the speedy Hernandez can do for them. Earlier this year, he set a Mexican league record with Guadalajara with eight goals in the first eight games of the season.
"I didn't know too much about him before the World Cup," said midfielder Ryan Giggs. "After we signed him, I took an interest. Just like the fans, players are excited when you sign new players. He scored two very good goals in the World Cup and as a forward player, I'm excited to play alongside him."
Manchester United's game on Sunday drew the largest-ever crowd to see a soccer match in Kansas City, and organizers are expecting another huge turnout in Houston, with more than 63,000 tickets sold as of Tuesday afternoon.
The record crowd for the MLS All-Star game was set in 1996, the league's inaugural year, when 78,416 watched at Giants Stadium. The largest attendance figure for a soccer game at Reliant Stadium is 70,550, set in 2006 for an international friendly between Barcelona and Club America.
"There will be no bigger All-Star game in Major League Soccer than the one (on Wednesday)," Kinnear said, "and luckily for me, I'll have one of the best seats in the house."
Ajax, Besiktas, Fenerbahce looking at Altidore
NEW YORK (AP) — Ajax, Besiktas and Fenerbahce have shown interest in acquiring Jozy Altidore from Villarreal in addition to Premier League clubs, and a loan and permanent transfer both are possibilities for the 20-year-old American forward.
A member of this year's U.S. World Cup team, Altidore spent last season on loan to Hull and scored two goals last season as the Tigers were relegated. He is due to start preseason training with Villarreal on Aug. 3.
"A lot of the top clubs around Europe have been in touch, and we're just looking at what's the best for Jozy's career at this point," his agent, Lyle Yorks, said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "It's important to find a home for himself where he's going to get games, continue to develop and really show his abilities."
The European transfer window remains open through Aug. 31, but the Premier League opens Aug. 14 and La Liga on Aug. 28.
"We're not trying to rush into anything at this point," Yorks said. "There are advantages to getting it done early because you obviously have a longer preseason to get into the team, but it's important to get the right fit."
Yorks said he had had discussions with two Premier League clubs he wouldn't identify. Fulham also has held discussions about Altidore, pending a decision on hiring a manager to replace Roy Hodgson, who left the Cottagers to become Liverpool's manager.
Altidore was acquired by Villarreal from Major League Soccer and the New York Red Bulls in June 2008 for about $10 million. He became the first American to score in La Liga but played just six matches before he was loaned to second-division Xerez at midseason. He didn't get into another game that season, then was loaned to Hull for 2009-10.
"If it's a full transfer, then the transfer would have to be agreeable with Villarreal," Yorks said. "They spent quite a bit to get him. If it's a loan, then the pressure's off a little bit."
American midfielder Clint Dempsey, another client, reported back to Fulham following the World Cup, where he scored the U.S. goal in the 1-1 tie against England. Fulham said last August it had extended Dempsey's contract through the 2012-13 season but the 27-year-old may have options to consider.
Yorks said since the World Cup there had been inquiries about Dempsey from fairly large clubs in Italy, Germany and France, and from another Premier League team. The interest levels varied.
"He's prepared to start the season with Fulham, and if there's a right scenario that presents itself where it made sense for the club and for Clint, then he would certainly entertain that," Yorks said.
Defender Oguchi Onyewu intends to remain with AC Milan, a team he joined last summer. Onyewu was limited to one competitive game for the club last season because of a knee injury and in May extended his contract for a season until June 2013 at no extra cost.
"At this point, he's definitely set on staying there," Yorks said. "Various clubs have called regarding a loan situation, but because he missed last season, he's obviously keen to start the situation in Milan."
Yorks and his agent group also are trying to find a new club for midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who left Glasgow Rangers. Yorks said he's exploring the possibility of new deals for midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who is with Denmark's Aarhus, and defender Clarence Goodson, who plays for Norway's IK Start.
-- Ronald Blum
Cherundolo appointed captain of Hannover
HANOVER, Germany (AP) — American defender Steve Cherundolo has been appointed captain of his German club Hannover for the upcoming season.
The club says on its website that coach Mirko Slomka gave Cherundolo the captain's armband during the Bundesliga team's training camp this week in Bad Radkersburg. Former captain Hanno Ballitsch left the team for Bayer Leverkusen in the offseason.
The 31-year-old from San Diego is Hannover's longest-serving player, having been with the club since 1999. He recently signed a three-year contract extension and previously served as a deputy captain.
The team barely avoided relegation from the Bundesliga last season after bringing in Slomka as coach in January.
The new season starts Aug. 21.
Forward Boyzzz Khumalo waived by DC United
WASHINGTON (AP) — South African forward Thabiso "Boyzzz" Khumalo has been waived by D.C. United.
The 29-year-old Khumalo was acquired in September 2008 and made 27 appearances in all competitions. He scored one MLS goal and had three U.S. Open Cup goals for the United, who waived Khumalo on Tuesday.
Mexico Soccer
Chivas, Universidad draw 1-1 in Copa Libertadores
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Omar Arellano scored the equalizer in the second half as Mexican club Chivas drew 1-1 with Universidad de Chile in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals Tuesday.
Rafael Olarra opened the scoring for Universidad with a header at the back post in the 48th minute against the run of play. Arellano headed in Alberto Medina's corner in the 52nd to level the scores.
The return leg will be played next Tuesday in Santiago, Chile.
Universidad goalkeeper Miguel Pinto was satisfied with his team's performance.
"It's a very good result for us," he said. "Scoring an away goal makes us very comfortable. Now we've got to do the right things in Santiago to go through to the final."
Although Chivas is a Guadalajara-based club, the match was played in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to take advantage of Chivas' strong support in the capital.
Brazilian clubs Internacional and Sao Paulo play the first leg of the other semifinal on Wednesday.
After a tight first half, Chivas striker Adolfo Bautista met Omar Bravo's cross with a bouncing header that was tipped over by Pinto at the start of the second period.
Chivas continued to push after the goals, with Medina dragging a shot wide on the turn after swapping passes with Hector Moreno in the 58th minute.
Pinto pushed away Arellano's angled shot in the 74th minute and Bravo wasted two late chances.
The Copa Libertadores is Latin America's top club competition. The tournament took a break after the quarterfinals to make way for the World Cup, restarting at the semifinal stage.
Chivas and Universidad are attempting to reach the final for the first time. Internacional won the title in 2006, while Sao Paulo was champion in 1992, 1993 and 2005.
Mexico names interim coaches for exhibitions
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico soccer officials have named two veteran coaches to handle upcoming exhibition matches, giving the national federation time to find a full-time coach to replace Javier Aguirre.
Enrique Meza will handle the Aug. 11 match at Azteca stadium against World Cup champion Spain, and Efrain Flores will take over for games against Chile on Sept. 4 at Guadalajara, and Colombia on Sept. 7 at Monterrey.
Meza is the current coach of Mexican club Cruz Azul, and Flores is a former coach of Chivas Guadalajara. Neither is considered a candidate for the permanent job.
Aguirre resigned after Mexico was eliminated by Argentina in the second round at the World Cup.
League News
Liverpool, Juventus to make early start in Europe
LONDON (AP) — Just how far Liverpool's fortunes have sunk in the last year will be apparent when its Europa League campaign begins Thursday with a trip to Macedonia in the third qualifying round.
It's a journey Liverpool has described as "a trip into the unknown."
Not only is Rabotnicki — a club from Skopje that Liverpool describes on its website as "minnows" — an unknown opponent for the five-time European winners, but never before have the Reds had to begin a campaign in Europe's second-tier knockout competition so early.
A victory over two legs won't even guarantee a spot in the Europa League group stage, with the winning team then forced to negotiate a playoff next month.
Financially troubled Liverpool is lucky to be competing in Europe this season. The 2009 Premier League runners-up slumped to seventh last season and only qualified because FA Cup finalist Portsmouth was in a worse financial predicament and fell foul of UEFA regulations.
"There's been a lot of negativity and it's been like that for a while," Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said. "It's a rebuilding process again and hopefully we can get ourselves right up there (again)."
The same goes for Juventus. The two-time European champions are still emerging from losing key players after being relegated in 2006 following a match-fixing scandal.
After finishing seventh in Serie A, Juventus is also in action on Thursday, facing Irish side Shamrock Rovers.
"It will be a year of sacrifice," Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said. "We must start from zero and reconstruct the base but this is normal after what happened last year."
Like Liverpool, which has hired Roy Hodgson as manager, Juventus is embarking on its European campaign with a new boss at the helm: Luigi Del Neri.
"A managerial cycle has ended, some players have changed there is much renewal going on and it is normal that time is needed," Chiellini said. "Three years ago, we would have hoped to be on a different level. Last year, we thought we could do well and win something but we know how things went.
"Now we must examine our conscience, understand where we went wrong and work in order to improve ... the supporters must understand it will be a year of reconstruction."
Like Liverpool, Juventus isn't thinking about winning the league this season, instead prioritizing returning to the Champions League in 2011.
"The fact that we are not taking part in it this season really bothers us," Chiellini said. "We must rebuild the group and the team and this will happen only one match at a time and one training session after another. We are learning what the coach wants but we still have a long way to go and he was the first to tell us in a more direct manner."
A lowpoint of last season for Juventus was being ousted from the Europa League at the last-16 stage by Fulham — then managed by Hodgson before his offseason move to Liverpool.
"We know we are under pressure to do well and we're answering the questions as carefully as we can, but we're also very realistic and know there is a big job to do," said Hodgson, whose unfashionable Fulham side was beaten in the Europa League final by Atletico Madrid.
"Rome was not built in a day, we've got that in mind, but the important thing for the fans to know is that we will be working towards the targets they have set for the club."
To avoid an early setback against Rabotnicki, Hodgson could risk playing Steven Gerrard, Carragher, Glen Johnson and new signing Joe Cole — despite the quartet still recovering from their World Cup campaigns with England.
There are 33 other Europa League qualifying third-round matches this week as well as Champions League qualifiers.
-- Rob Harris
Shimizu closes gap on Kashima in J-League
SHIZUOKA, Japan (AP) — Shimizu S-Pulse closed the gap on leaders Kashima Antlers with a 3-2 win over Cerezo Osaka in the J-League on Tuesday.
Akihiro Hyodo scored one goal and set up another to help Shimizu move on to 30 points, one behind the Antlers who were held to a 2-2 draw by Albirex Niigata at home.
Hyodo opened the scoring with a left-footed drive in the 17th minute and set up Jungo Fujimoto with a fine pass 20 minutes later.
Japan international Shinji Okazaki made it 3-0 for Shimizu in the 57th minute before Cerezo pulled one back through an own goal and Martinez added another in stoppage time.
Three-time defending champion Kashima saw its four-game winning streak come to an end when Niigata's Yuta Mikado scored an equalizer 10 minutes from time.
Japan striker Kishi Yano gave Niigata a 1-0 lead just before the break but Kashima replied with second-half goals from Marquinhos and Yuya Osako.
Elsewhere, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vegalta Sendai played to a 1-1 draw.
Anderlecht, Dynamo win Champions League qualifiers
LONDON (AP) — Anderlecht and Dynamo Kiev are in a strong position to advance to the group stage of the Champions League after both won third-round qualifying matches on Tuesday.
Andriy Shevchenko scored in Dynamo's 3-0 victory over Belgium champion Ghent, while Anderlecht's new American signing, Sacha Kljestan, found the net in a 3-1 victory at Welsh club The New Saints.
In Cyprus, Omonia Nicosia held Austrian champion Salzburg to a 1-1 draw. That was also the score in Lovech's match against Slovakian side Zilina in Bulgaria.
Zenit St. Petersburg was held to a 0-0 draw in Romania by 10-man Unirea Urziceni, while Sparta Prague beat Poland's Lech Poznan 1-0.
The winners will contest a playoff next month to reach the group stage.
Elsewhere
Maradona out as coach as Argentina's soccer coach
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Diego Maradona was given the boot as Argentina's soccer coach before he could resign.
His stint as coach of the Albiceleste ended far less successfully than his time as a player with the national team. The Argentine Football Association, which hired the former star in November 2008, said Tuesday that his contract will not be renewed. The decision came 3½ weeks after his team, led by star Lionel Messi, was eliminated from the World Cup with a humiliating 4-0 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals.
"Diego shut himself off to any change," executive committee member Luis Segura said on Argentine television. "Diego has all the right to do what he wants. But so does AFA."
The federation had offered Maradona a four-year contract through the 2014 World Cup, but Maradona said he would do so only if his entire staff remained.
That was unacceptable to AFA president Julio Grondona. He had asked for several assistants to be replaced, including Maradona's close friend Alejandro Mancuso. The federation said its executive committee unanimously decided to not keep Mardona.
AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo called the decision "very painful" but said there was no way to solve the impasse.
"The president said that there was a significant difference between what AFA wanted to achieve and Maradona's aspirations for the future," Cherquis Bialo said. "There was a wide gap, and it was impossible to narrow it."
The spokesman hinted, however, there might be a role in the future for a man with an unpredictable history.
"This marks the end of a first chapter with Mr. Maradona," Cherquis Bialo said. "The doors to this house, as always, will be open to him."
Youth team manager Sergio Batista was appointed interim coach for the Aug. 11 exhibition at Ireland, which will be followed by a Sept. 7 home exhibition against world champion Spain. Possible permanent successors include two club coaches in Argentina: Alejandro Sabella of Estudiantes and Miguel Russo of Racing.
Asked about the full-time coach, Cherquis Bialo said: "The people who were in the meeting have no name in their imaginations. It has just been announced that the contract with the coach will not be renewed. And so, a new stage begins."
The 49-year-old Maradona became Argentina's coach in November 2008, replacing Alfio Basile and taking over a team he led to the 1986 World Cup title and the 1990 final.
He had little coaching experience, and his team absorbed two of the worst losses in the country's history: a 6-1 rout at Bolivia in World Cup qualifying and the World Cup defeat to Germany.
Argentina attacked with flair in South Africa, with Messi setting up scoring strikes by Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez. Maradona, dressed on the sideline in a gray suit, was an enthusiastic cheerleader, but that could not compensate for his team's tactical deficiencies. The loss to Germany exposed frailties on defense and lack of midfield speed.
Messi, widely regarded as the game's best player, left with World Cup without scoring a goal. Maradona never explained why Messi — he was left to roam the field on his own — wasn't scoring.
"Nobody ever told me where to play. So I shouldn't have to tell Messi where to play, either," Maradona said.
Maradona, who has fought cocaine and alcohol addiction, grew up in a Buenos Aires slum, and his escape from poverty has endeared him to many. But he has worn out his welcome in other quarters.
Maradona ruffled the government of President Cristina Fernandez, who twice invited the coach to meet with her. But cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez said Maradona failed to respond or answer the phone, forcing the president's secretaries to leave messages.
Fernandez had been openly supportive of keeping Maradona as coach, and one legislator has proposed building a monument to honor him.
Two weeks ago, the federation offered Maradona the chance to extend his contract. But Maradona put off meeting with Grondona to travel to Venezuela at the invitation of a friend — President Hugo Chavez.
Maradona's relationship with key individuals in Argentine soccer also was tense. He barred federation leaders and businessmen with commercial ties to the organization from practices in South Africa while allowing reporters to enter.
Still, Maradona had many supporters.
"I want Maradona to stay," Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo said Tuesday in an interview on radio La Red. "We will support his decision. If he leaves we will miss him."
Added team trainer Fernando Signorini: "I have no doubt they didn't want him. Maradona is like a stone in the shoe of power."
-- Debora Rey
Argentina announces roster for Ireland exhibition
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Lionel Messi, Javier Macherano and Gonzalo Higuain were among the players selected Tuesday for Argentina's roster for its Aug. 11 exhibition at Ireland, a group announced hours after coach Diego Maradona was fired.
The Argentine Football Association said the roster was selected by Maradona.
Several players left off the World Cup team were picked, including midfielders Jesus Datolo and Fernando Gago, and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Sergio Batista, a coach of Argentina's youth team, will lead the squad.
Audit shows Barcelona financial woes
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona says a change in its accounting policy has turned what had been reported as a $14.3 million profit into a $100 million loss for the Spanish champion last season.
Barcelona's financial vice president Javier Faus says the gap between the two figures emerged from an audit by the accountants Deloitte, who used a different accounting criteria than the one applied by former club president Joan Laporta's management team.
The audit was carried out after Sandro Rosell was elected to replace Laporta in June. The new numbers issued on Tuesday also show that Barcelona's net debt stands at $574 million, up from $428 million a year earlier.
"There is a structural problem which Barca has failed to correct for the past six years," Faus said. "The sporting excellence of recent years has not been reflected in economic excellence."
He stressed that the club is not bankrupt.
Faus said Barcelona, which won the Spanish league last season and following victories in the league, Champions League and Spanish Cup in 2009, has "hidden assets" such as its youth team and real estate holdings, which he estimated are worth $325 million.
"We have the best player in the world, the best coach in the world, and eight players who are world champions," he said, a reference to the Spanish national team core that includes Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. "So, this is not a dramatic issue."
Hodgson says Mascherano wants to leave Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson confirmed Tuesday that midfielder Javier Mascherano wants to leave the club.
The Argentina captain has been linked with a reunion with former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, who has moved to Inter Milan since the end of last season.
Mascherano left West Ham to join Liverpool in 2007, initially on a loan deal that was turned into a four-year contract the following year.
"He wants to leave the club," Hodgson said. "He has made that perfectly clear. I think he wanted to leave a year ago. He wants to leave now but he is contracted to Liverpool so whether he leaves or not will be our decision."
While striker Fernando Torres' Liverpool future remains in doubt, Hodgson expects the Spanish World Cup winner back next week.
"As far as I know he is looking forward to coming back here — he is back on Monday," Hodgson said. "He is enjoying a holiday — a well-deserved break as he has not had one for three years. He is spending a lot of time with his family, keeping a low profile and as far as I know he is not really speaking to anyone.
"But he has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. That is what I know. So other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous."
Bolton signs Spanish defender Alonso from Madrid
BOLTON, England (AP) — Bolton says Spanish teenager Marcos Alonso has joined the Premier League club from Real Madrid on a three-year deal.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle described the left-sided defender on Tuesday as an "exciting young player."
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Having progressed through the ranks at Real Madrid, the 19-year-old Alonso made his full debut in April in a 2-0 win over Racing Santander.
Coyle says that "you don't get through at Real Madrid without having a bit about you."
Alonso is Bolton's third signing of the offseason after attacking midfielders Martin Petrov and Robbie Blake.
Palmeiras set to bring Valdivia back from UAE
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian club Palmeiras says it is set to re-sign Jorge Valdivia, one of its former midfielders and a starter for Chile at the World Cup in South Africa.
Palmeiras has already agreed personal terms with Valdivia and now says it has virtually closed a deal with United Arab Emirates club Al Ain to acquire the 26-year-old playmaker.
Details were not released on Tuesday, but local media reported Valdivia will sign a five-year contract with the four-time Brazilian champion.
Valdivia played for Palmeiras from 2006-2008, scoring 24 goals in 93 matches and helping the club win the 2008 Sao Paulo state championship, when he was also voted the competition's best player.
Chile reached the second round of the World Cup before losing to Brazil.
Brazil cracks down on fan violence in stadiums
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has signed a law aimed at curbing fan violence in football stadiums.
The law signed Tuesday includes fines and prison terms of up to two years for anyone involved in acts of violence inside the stadium or within a radius of up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the venue.
It also makes ticket-scalping a crime.
Stadiums with seating capacities of more than 10,000 will have to install cameras to monitor fan groups that often clash after the games.
A recent study shows that more than 40 people were killed in connection to Brazilian football matches between 1999 and 2009.
Mainz signs Hungarian forward Szalai
MAINZ, Germany (AP) — Bundesliga club Mainz has signed Hungarian forward Adam Szalai from Real Madrid on a three-year contract.
Mainz announced the deal Tuesday but gave no details.
The 22-year-old Szalai joined the German club on loan from Madrid for the second half of last season. He played 15 Bundesliga games and scored one goal.
