Soccer Capsules: Guadalajara stays on top in Mexico
MEXICO CITY — Guadalajara stayed top of Mexico's Clausura tournament after a 0-0 home draw against Pumas UNAM on Saturday. Pumas has failed to win at Chivas in 28 years.
Guadalajara has 25 points from 10 matches. After starting with a record-breaking eight wins to open the season, Chivas is now winless in its last two matches and is looking over its shoulder at defending champion Monterrey.
Monterrey plays Sunday at Puebla and could move even on points with Chivas with a victory.
In Saturday's other games, it was: Pachuca 0, Santos Laguna 3; Atlante 2, America 2; Chiapas 1, San Luis 1; Queretaro 1, Morelia 1; Tigres UANL 0, Atlas 1.
Santos Laguna improved to 24 points with the victory, just a point behind Chivas.
Colombian striker Carlos Quintero gave Santos Laguna a 1-0 lead in the 54th and Juan Pablo Rodriguez made it 2-0 in the 61st with a penalty. Argentine Daniel Luduena scored the final goal in the 88th.
America let a great chance slip away with its draw at Atlante. Looking to win three straight for the first time in a year, America went up 2-0 through goals from Luis Alonso Sandoval (35th) and Daniel Marquez (71st). But the victory slipped away as Atlante got late goals from Christian Bermudez (77th) and Peruvian Johan Fano (81st).
Chiapas went ahead in the 30th through Colombian Jackson Martinez, but San Luis equalized in the 64th on a penalty converted by Argentine Alfredo Moreno.
Queretaro got an equalizer from Isaac Romo in the 88th to salvage a 1-1 draw against Morelia. Romo missed a penalty in the third minute. Chilean Hugo Droguett scored in the 27th for Morelia.
Atlas' winner at Tigres came from Uruguay's Gonzalo Vargas in the 35th.
Paraguayan Cabanas recovering from shooting
MEXICO CITY — Paraguayan forward Salvador Cabanas, shot in the head in January, said on Friday that he's almost recovered.
"I'm almost ready," Cabanas said in an interview for Televisa, the company who owns his Mexican club America.
Cabanas was sitting during the interview and barely moved, but the report showed footage of him playing table tennis.
"I will be back soon...I just need to recover....I miss the fans, the cheers that they always give me", added Cabanas.
The 29-year-old was shot in the head at point-blank range after a barroom argument on Jan. 25. He was transferred two weeks ago from Mexico City's Angeles del Pedregal Hospital to a clinic for his rehabilitation.
"I'm working very hard on my recovery at the clinic. I'm very thankful because I'm already on my way out of this...I'm happy to be alive," Cabanas said.
Cabanas had been expected to play for Paraguay at this year's World Cup. Doctors have not ruled out that he may return to play, though they have repeatedly said it is too early to make predictions.
The main suspect in the shooting remains at large.
The bullet which lodged in his head was not removed for fear of complications.
U.S. Soccer
Real Salt Lake signs striker Alvaro Saborio
SANDY, Utah — Real Salt Lake has signed Costa Rican forward Alvaro Saborio for the 2010 Major League Soccer season.
Saborio was contracted to Swiss club Sion, but has more recently been on loan to English club Bristol City.
The club announced the move Saturday and financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Saborio has already joined Real Salt Lake at its preseason training camp and will be eligible for the team's Carolina Challenge Cup game Sunday against D.C. United.
The 27-year-old Saborio starred for top Costa Rican club Saprissa from 2001-06, scoring 95 goals in 149 games, helping the club to CONCACAF Champions League finals in 2004 and 2005.
Heavy rain, wind force Red Bulls postponement
HARRISON, N.J. — The soft opening of the new Red Bulls Arena has been postponed.
The New York Red Bulls announced Saturday that heavy rain and high wind caused it to postpone a game between its Under-18 Academy team and the United States Under-17 Men's National Team.
Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover said the inclement weather made it dangerous for players and fans. The match will be rescheduled.
The Red Bulls will play their final exhibition match and open the new stadium next Saturday against Santos FC of Brazil. Barring a strike, New York's first MLS game in the stadium will be the following Saturday against Chicago.
The MLS and players' union are in mediation over a new collective bargaining agreement. The season is scheduled to begin March 25.
League News
Chelsea, Arsenal win to go 1-2 in Premier League
LONDON — Chelsea beat West Ham 4-1 on Saturday to retake the provisional lead in the Premier League, while Arsenal drew level on points after a stoppage time winner by Nicklas Bendtner earned a 2-1 victory at 10-man Hull.
Didier Drogba scored twice for Chelsea and Alex and Florent Malouda also hit the target at Stamford Bridge against lowly West Ham.
"We had a lot of chances and played well and we maintained a good control of the game also when we were level," said Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti. "We had a good performance."
"It will be a long race to win this title. They are strong teams, Manchester United and Arsenal, so we have to maintain our confidence, our play. We want to play our best every game."
Arsenal appeared headed for a draw at Hull after Jimmy Bullard converted a penalty for the home side following a foul by Sol Campbell on Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. The spot-kick canceled out Andrey Arshavin's early strike for Arsenal.
Hull had George Boateng dismissed in first-half stoppage time for his second yellow card and spent almost the entire second half on defense.
But Bendtner netted the winner after Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill had failed to hold a shot from Denilson and the results mean Arsenal and Chelsea are level on 64 points.
Manchester United, which led going into Saturday's games, has 63 points and faces Fulham on Sunday.
In Saturday's other games, Tottenham beat Blackburn 3-1, Birmingham and Everton drew 2-2, Stoke and Aston Villa finished 0-0, Wolves won 2-1 at Burnley and Bolton outplayed Wigan 4-0.
Roman Pavlyuchenko scored twice in Tottenham's victory over Blackburn as Harry Redknapp's team held on to fourth place.
After Blackburn had lost its former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson with a leg injury, Jermain Defoe turned the ball home from a corner in first half stoppage time and Pavlyuchenko added two more goals in the second half, his first a shot that went under the body of replacement 'keeper Jason Brown.
The victory gurantees Tottenham stays fourth on the day which would mean a shot at next season's Champions League if it stays there until the end of the campaign.
"People have always got doubts about everything, all I've said is we have got a chance," said Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp. "It's not impossible, we have had a great year."
It was Blackburn's 11th away defeat of the season but Sam Allardyce's mid-table team appears to be clear of relegation trouble.
Aston Villa's hopes of catching Tottenham for fourth were hit by a goalless draw at Stoke. Villa remains six points behind Spurs, although Martin O'Neill's team has two games in hand.
Manchester City, which is also in contention for fourth, goes to Sunderland on Sunday and sixth place Liverpool, which is four points behind Tottenham, faces last place Portsmouth on Monday.
Wolves revived its survival chances with the victory at Burnley.
Matt Jarvis fired the visitor ahead in the 26th minute before a shot from Adlene Guedioura that took a deflection off Clark Carlisle for a 47th minute own goal made it 2-0. Although Burnley hit back with a 73rd minute header by Steven Thompson, his team remains in the relegation zone with Wolves just outside.
Bolton moved further away from danger with a 4-0 triumph over Wigan which keeps the visitor in trouble. Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies, Fabrice Muamba and Matt Taylor all found the net.
Birmingham rallied from two goals down to draw with an Everton side which appeared in control after two first half strikes in four minutes by Victor Anichebe and Ayegbeni Yakubu. Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner hit back for the home side.
In the race for promotion to the top-flight, League Championship leader Newcastle was held 2-2 by Middlesbrough in a northeast derby and its lead at the top was cut to four points by West Bromwich Albion, which beat Blackburn 3-2. Two teams go up automatically.
Third place Nottingham Forest lost ground with a 3-2 defeat at Preston and is nine points behind Newcastle and five behind West Brom.
-- Robert Millward
Sevilla draws 1-1 with Deportivo La Coruna
MADRID — Fourth-place Sevilla drew 1-1 with Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league Saturday while fifth-place Mallorca lost 3-0 to Getafe to damage its chances of earning a Champions League spot.
Federico Fazio put Sevilla ahead in the 21st minute, heading in a free kick from fellow Argentine Diego Perotti.
Adrian Lopez equalized in the 25th, sliding in to meet Andres Guardado's cross.
Sevilla is on 44 points with Mallorca on 43. La Coruna is sixth on 42 points.
Daniel Parejo put Getafe ahead in the 31st minute in the team's Alfonso Perez Stadium, heading in Jaime Gavilan's cross from the left. Parejo turned provider in the 80th, as Nicolas "Miku" Ladislao latched on to his through pass to score, two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Manuel del Moral converted a penalty in the 86th after Mallorca's Jose Carlos Nunes was sent off for handling the ball in the area.
"Our ambitions remain intact," said Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano. "It was a chance to accumulate more points. But it wasn't to be and next Sunday against Atletico Madrid we must put this behind us."
At Sevilla's Sanchez Pizjuan, both sides pressured in midfield and struggled to create chances until La Coruna's Juan Rodriguez managed to fire a shot straight at goalkeeper Andres Palop after 15 minutes.
Despite its Champions League meeting with CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, Sevilla looked increasingly lively, with Perotti and Jesus Navas attacking down the wings.
The two first-half goals opened up the game and each team started to threaten more.
Perotti blasted a free kick just wide in the 28th and the visitors responded immediately when Juan Carlos Valeron set up Guardado, whose fierce shot hit the side netting.
Sevilla's players appealed for goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia to be sent off after the ball appeared to strike his arm outside the area when Navas was charging on goal. The winger received a yellow card for protesting.
"It hit my shoulder," said Aranzubia. "I didn't do anything wrong."
Early in the second half, Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano replaced Alvaro Negredo, who had been having a disappointing game and appeared to be carrying a leg injury.
Fabiano's introduction had an immediate effect and the Brazil striker hit the crossbar with a header in the 62nd. Minutes later he threaded a ball through to Frederic Kanoute in the area, although the Mali forward failed to connect.
Sevilla pressured until the end yet could not find the winner.
Mallorca has been close to the four Champions League spots in recent weeks due to its impressive home record of 11 wins in 12 games. However, outside the Ono Estadi it has been poor and this was the team's eighth league loss away from home.
Parejo's goal settled Getafe, which started to control the midfield.
At halftime coach Manzano reshuffled his lineup, replacing Victor Casadesus and Julio Alvarez with Felipe Mattioni and Jose Luis Marti.
However, Getafe continued to pressure. Dudu Aouate kept Mallorca in the game by saving shots by Francisco Casquero and Pedro Leon early in the second half, before the hosts' late goals made sure of the result.
Also Saturday, Sporting Gijon drew 0-0 with Athletic Bilbao.
In a tightly contested game at Gijon's El Molinon Stadium, David Barral nearly put the hosts ahead in the second minute when his shot was intercepted by Fernando Amorebieta.
Gijon had several more chances, with Jose Angel Valdes drawing a fine save from Gorka Iraizoz early in the second half.
For Bilbao, Gaizka Toquero was a constant threat, setting up a Markel Susaeta strike that went just wide before heading a cross wide himself in the 55th.
Five minutes later, Gijon's Juan Pablo Colinas saved a penalty taken by Igor Gabilondo after Valdes was ruled to have brought Toquero down in the area.
Bilbao is seventh on 41 points and Gijon is 10th on 32 points.
On Sunday, league leader Real Madrid visits Valladolid and Barcelona, level on points at the top, hosts Valencia. Also, it's: Villarreal vs. Xerez; Tenerife vs. Espanyol; Racing Santander vs. Zaragoza; and Almeria vs. Malaga.
On Monday it's Atletico Madrid vs. Osasuna.
-- Guy Hedgecoe
Robben scores twice as Bayern beats Freiburg 2-1
FRANKFURT, Germany — Arjen Robben scored two late goals Saturday to help Bayern Munich rally for a 2-1 win over Freiburg to regain the Bundesliga lead.
Cedrick Makiadi had given the visitors a surprising lead in the 31st minute, taking a pass from Yacine Abdessadki and blasting the ball into the upper right corner from 17 yards.
Freiburg's compact defense then kept an under-strength Bayern at bay until the 76th minute, when Robben converted a free kick.
Bayern, which was without Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez, then took the lead after Ivica Banovic fouled Thomas Mueller in the area and Robben converted the penalty in the 83rd.
"We didn't play very good in the first half," Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said. "We didn't have a lot of creativity. But I think this team can play better and the team proved that in the second half."
Munich improved to 56 points from 26 rounds for a two-point lead over Schalke, which had taken the provisional lead Friday with a 2-1 victory at home over Stuttgart.
"We don't want to give up the lead again," Bayern captain Mark van Bommel said. "We have had a lot of confidence since November. And I hope we continue playing this way."
Third-place Bayer Leverkusen hosts fifth-place Hamburg on Sunday.
Freiburg remained in the relegation zone in 17th place with 20 points.
Last-place Hertha Berlin moved closer to relegation by losing 2-1 against Nuremberg, it's 12th Bundesliga home game in a row without a win.
Berlin wasted a number of scoring opportunities and a first-half lead and is now nine points from moving out of the relegation zone.
"I still believe in miracles," Berlin midfielder Pal Dardai said. "We cannot give up and have to continue to work and believe that there are miracles. We played a really good first half but could not keep it up in the second."
Berlin started the game on the attack, and twice hit the goalframe before Theo Gekas gave the hosts the lead in the 36th. But Nuremberg equalized in the 61st through Albert Bunjaku, and Angelos Charisteas gave the visitors the win by scoring a minute into stoppage time.
Hannover secured its second straight win by beating nine-man Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1, but remained in the relegation zone in 16th place with 23 points from 26 games.
Berlin has just 15 points in last place in the 18-team league.
Leon Andreasen gave Hannover the lead after 14 minutes and Halil Altintop equalized in first-half stoppage time. Frankfurt went a man down in the 54th minute when Selim Teber was sent off with his second yellow card.
Sergio Pinto then put Hannover back in front by scoring three minutes later, and Frankfurt was reduced to nine men in stoppage time when Maik Franz received his second booking.
Borussia Dortmund climbed to fourth with a comfortable 4-1 home victory against local rival Bochum, who played the final 57 minutes with 10 men.
Bochum's Marcel Maltritz scored an own goal after 18 minutes and Mohamed Zidan made it 2-0 for Dortmund in the 27th.
Bochum then went a man down in the 33rd as Milos Maric was given a red card, but Lewis Holtby pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 53rd.
Lucas Barrios then scored two goals within three minutes to seal the win for Dortmund.
Defending champion Wolfsburg earned its fourth straight win by easing past Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-1, getting two goals from Edin Dzeko. Zvjezdan Misimovic and Christian Gentner struck also scored for Wolfsburg.
Ten-man Mainz beat Cologne 1-0 thanks to Andre Schuerrle's goal in the 57th, despite Aristide Bance already having been sent off.
Bordeaux draws 0-0 with Monaco in French league
PARIS — Defending champion Bordeaux's poor form continued when it was held to a 0-0 draw Saturday away to Monaco.
Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc sought to shake his team up by leaving top scorer Marouane Chamakh and France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff on the bench, but even when they came on Bordeaux could not break down Monaco's defense.
Bordeaux stayed top because second-place Montpellier drew 1-1 at home with third-place Auxerre. Bordeaux is level with Montpellier with 53 points but has a better goal difference and has played a game less. Auxerre is one point behind them.
"Despite the difficult spell we have been in, we can still rise to the challenge in the league, the Champions League and the League Cup final," Blanc said. "I was impressed with the way the players stuck together tonight."
Bordeaux has won only one of its last six league games, and the pressure is on Blanc's team ahead of next week's match against Olympiakos in the return leg of the Champions League last 16.
Lyon, which knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League in midweek, needed a late goal from Argentina striker Lisandro Lopez to scrape a 1-1 home draw against local rival Saint-Etienne.
Lyon missed the chance to move level on points with Bordeaux in a title race which is now wide open.
Lopez headed home a cross from Jeremy Toulalan in the 78th minute for his 12th league goal of the season. Emmanuel Riviere had put the visitors ahead in the 38th with his sixth goal of the season after being set up by Gonzalo Bergessio.
Lyon stays two points off the lead but has played 28 games, one more than Bordeaux.
Bordeaux, which lost 2-1 at home to Auxerre in midweek, had seemed in total command when it led Montpellier by 10 points and Lyon by 13 at the winter break, and expectation was high that the team could win the domestic treble.
But since January, the growing speculation whether Blanc will replace Raymond Domenech as France coach after this year's World Cup, the poor form of Gourcuff and Chamakh's on-off transfer to Arsenal have been factors in Bordeaux's dip.
Auxerre and Montpellier have emerged as surprise challengers, while Lyon's resurgence has seen it close the gap.
Auxerre took the lead on the stroke of halftime when Kenya striker Dennis Oliech finished confidently after running onto a pass from Daniel Niculae.
Alberto Costa equalized for Montpellier midway through the second half with a firm shot from outside the penalty area that found the bottom corner. Costa had also salvaged a point for Montpellier when it drew 1-1 at Bordeaux last week.
"We're not disappointed, Auxerre are title challengers as well, and we held them to a draw," Montpellier coach Rene Girard said.
Auxerre had several chances to win, with Poland striker Irineusz Jelen missing a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, spurning an open goal and wasting four other chances.
"Against Bordeaux he had two chances and took both, tonight he had six and scored none ... that's football," Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez said "I spoke to him for 30 seconds in the dressing room afterward and he is livid with himself."
In Saturday's other results, it was: Le Mans 0, Nice 1; Lorient 1, Lens 0; Nancy 1, Boulogne 3; and Paris Saint-Germain 4, Sochaux 1.
Security was high outside Parc des Princes ahead of PSG's match after violent clashes before the previous home game against Marseille two weeks ago, when brutal street battles between rival PSG fans left one fan fighting for his life in a coma. Sections of PSG's support from the Tribune d'Auteuil stayed away from Saturday's game.
Paris Saint-Germain raced into a 3-0 lead at halftime, with Turkey forward Mevlut Erding scoring twice and strike partner Guillaume Hoarau adding the other.
Erding completed his hat-trick midway through the second half after Ryad Boudebouz had pulled a goal back for Sochaux from the penalty spot.
Defender Laurent Agouazzi gave Boulogne the lead in the 33rd minute with a powerful free kick, and Nancy equalized in the 41st when Chris Malonga turned in a cross from Reynald Lemaitre.
Boulogne, which is down in 19th place, sealed the win with second-half goals from strikers Matt Moussilou and Alexandre Cuvillier.
Nice secured a vital win its fight against relegation with France striker Loic Remy scoring in the 76th minute. Nice moved eight points clear of the relegation zone, but Le Mans remains in trouble in 18th place, one point above Boulogne.
In Sunday's games, it is: Lille vs. Grenoble; Valenciennes vs. Rennes; and Toulouse vs. Marseille.
-- Jerome Pugmire
Fiorentina comes back to beat Napoli 3-1
NAPLES, Italy — Alberto Gilardino's two goals gave Fiorentina a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Napoli in Saturday's only Serie A game.
Fiorentina was eliminated from the Champions League despite beating Bayern Munich on Tuesday and hadn't won an away game in more than two months.
Ezequiel Lavezzi gave Napoli the lead in the 48th minute and Gilardino hit back in the 60th and 87th. Stevan Jovetic added a third score for Fiorentina into an empty net when Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis rushed forward in a last-ditch attempt to equalize in added time.
Napoli remained seventh with 41 points and Fiorentina is 10th with 38 points.
Napoli threatened more in the first half but Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey stretched out to save a header from German Denis in the 32nd.
Lavezzi found the target with a header from the edge of the area following a cross from Cristian Maggio and the hosts had two more chances in the next 10 minutes before Gilardino headed in the equalizer from a Jovetic cross.
The Italy center forward scored again three minutes from time following a corner, redirecting Jovetic's header slightly with his own head, as Napoli appealed for an offside call that never came.
Keane's 3 gives Celtic 3-0 cup win at Kilmarnock
GLASGOW, Scotland — Robbie Keane scored all three goals as Celtic won 3-0 at Kilmarnock on Saturday to reach the Scottish Cup semifinals and ease the pressure on manager Tony Mowbray.
With Mowbray's team 13 points behind traditional rival Rangers in the league, Mowbray badly needs a cup triumph but had to wait 64 minutes before Keane struck to give his team the lead.
The Irish striker, who is on loan from Tottenham, added two more in the 81st and 82nd minutes to take his scoring run to seven in five games.
"The most important thing is getting the win and getting into the next round," Keane said. "In the first half we didn't play well and the manager said a few things and we were better in the second half.
"I believe in my own ability that, if I get chances, I'll score goals."
Mowbray has come under fire for the team's failure to catch Rangers in the league title race and he was unhappy with his team's first half performance.
"The first half wasn't good enough really and we made the players aware of that at halftime and thankfully we found the right formula to get the right result," he said.
"We needed to be better and we were. Ultimately, this team has to find standards that are very, very high and sustain them for 90 minutes."
In Saturday's other cup games, division one team Ross County twice came from behind to capture a replay after a 2-2 draw at Hibernian, with Michael Gardyne scoring the visitor's second equalizer in the 80th minute.
Raith won 2-1 at Dundee to reach the semifinals, while the other quarterfinal between Rangers and Dundee United is on Sunday.
In league action, Motherwell moved up to fourth with a 3-1 victory over Hearts, St. Johnstone won 2-1 at last place Falkirk and Hamilton edged St. Mirren 1-0.
Olympiakos draws 2-2 against Giannena
ATHENS, Greece — Olympiakos was held to a 2-2 draw Saturday after scoring two own goals against relegation-threatened Giannena, falling further behind in the Greek league title race.
Defenders Avraam Papadopoulos and Olof Mellberg both deflected shots into their own net to cancel out goals by Matt Derbyshire and Lomana LuaLua.
The defending champion now has 54 points, four behind league leader Panathinaikos and two less than second-place PAOK Thessaloniki, which both have a game in hand. Panathinaikos travels to Asteras while PAOK plays crosstown Aris Sunday.
Olympiakos had its first scoring chance in the 10th minute when a cross by Jaouad Zairi forced Giorgos Sikalias to palm the ball away. Three minutes later, Giannena came close to taking the lead when Antonis Nikopolidis punched away a shot by Ibrahima Bakayoko.
The visitors then silenced the 15,000 Olympiakos supporters at the Karaiskakis stadium when Esteban Bujan's shot from outside the area was deflected into the net by Papadopoulos in the 37th.
But the hosts equalized just a minute later when Derbyshire gained the ball in the area to score his fifth goal of the season.
LuaLua then dribbled past two defenders to put Olympiakos ahead in the 44th, only to allow an equalizer 10 minutes later when Costas Kasnaferis's long-range shot was deflected past Nikopolidis by Mellberg.
Mellberg nearly redeemed himself in the 79th, when his header hit the post.
Also Saturday it was: Atromitos 2, Iraklis 1 and AEK 3, Kavala 0.
Braga wins to go level with Benfica in Portugal
LISBON, Portugal — Braga went level with Benfica at the top of the Portuguese league Saturday after beating Rio Ave 1-0.
Andres Madrid scored in the 16th minute to extend Braga's unbeaten home record in the league. It was the first time the team has beaten Rio Ave in three attempts this season.
Braga and Benfica both have 55 points and have been neck and neck for most of the season.
Benfica, which has lost only once away, has a game in hand and can go clear again when it visits Nacional on Sunday.
Also Saturday, third-place Porto beat Academica 2-1, with Cristian Rodriguez scoring the winner four minutes from full time. Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira needed the win after a 5-0 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League midweek and recent poor results in the league.
On Friday Naval beat Leiria 1-0. Also Sunday it's: Olhanense vs. Belenenses; Leixoes vs. Setubal; and Sporting vs. Guimaraes. On Monday it's Pacos Ferreira vs. Maritimo.
Independiente takes lead in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Independiente took the lead in Argentina's Clausura tournament by defeating Chacarita Juniors 1-0 on Saturday.
Veteran defender Eduardo Tuzzio's fourth-minute header was enough to give Independiente its fourth straight victory. Despite pressing for the equalizer throughout, Chacarita suffered its third consecutive loss.
Independiente leads with 20 points, two ahead of Godoy Cruz, which defeated defeated Atletico Tucuman on Friday 2-1. The two leaders are followed by Velez Sarsfield (15), Banfield (15) and Estudiantes (14).
In other Saturday resuluts, it was: Estudiantes 2, Newell's Old Boys 0; Colon 1, Gimnasia 1; Banfield 0, Arsenal 0.
Four game are set for Sunday to complete the ninth round: River Plate vs. Huracan, Rosario Central vs. San Lorenzo, Tigre vs. Boca Juniors, Racing vs. Argentinos Juniors.
Elsewhere
Guardiola says referee lied in match report
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has accused the referee of last weekend's key league game against Almeria of lying in his match report.
Referee Carlos Clos expelled Guardiola from the dugout in the first half of the 2-2 draw for dissent after referee's assistant Jose Luis Gallego overheard the coach's comments about a decision.
The result allowed Real Madrid to replace Barcelona as league leader.
However, television footage appeared to show Guardiola saying "he pushed him, he pushed him," rather than the more offensive remarks noted in the referee's report.
Guardiola said Saturday that Clos and Gallego "lie in the report."
AC Milan's Nesta set for knee surgery
MILAN — AC Milan has announced that defender Alessandro Nesta will have surgery on his right knee on Monday.
Nesta missed Milan's 4-0 loss to Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday and was diagnosed with a torn tendon Friday.
It wasn't immediately clear how long Nesta will be out.
The center back has had several serious injuries in his career, beginning with one to his right knee at the 1998 World Cup. A left foot injury stopped him at the 2002 World Cup and a muscle problem plagued him at the 2006 World Cup. He played only one game last season while he dealt with a bad back.
Real Madrid's Kaka out with leg injury
MADRID — Real Madrid midfielder Kaka will not play against Valladolid in Sunday's Spanish league game due to injury.
Kaka was not included in the squad to travel to Valladolid after he strained a leg muscle in training, Real Madrid said on its Web site on Saturday.
Every other player from last weekend's 3-2 win against Sevilla will be available.
League leader Madrid hopes to bounce back from Wednesday's elimination from the Champions League after drawing 1-1 with Lyon for a 2-1 aggregate at the round of 16 stage.
Nakamura contributes in return with Yokohama
YOKOHAMA, Japan — Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura set up a goal in his first game back with Yokohama F Marinos, helping the J-League team to a 3-0 win over Shonan Bellmare.
Defender Yuzo Kurihara headed in a Nakamura corner in the 22nd minute to give Yokohama a 1-0 lead. Kazuma Watanabe and Kenta Kano added goals in the second half Saturday as Yokohama won its first game of the season.
Nakamura returned to the team eight years after leaving Yokohama to play in Europe.
Nakamura, who had success with Reggina and Celtic in his stint in Europe, returned to Japan last month after a disappointing half season with Spanish side Espanyol.
Hiddink pulls out of Ivory Coast coaching job
AMSTERDAM — Guus Hiddink has pulled out of the race to lead Ivory Coast at the World Cup in June.
Hiddink wrote in his newspaper column Saturday that taking charge of the Ivory Coast temporarily could have affected his commitment to Russia and Turkey, his current and future employers.
Turkey will play friendlies against Ireland, Czech Republic and the U.S. at the end of May.
"If I had signed for Ivory Coast, then I would have missed these games and to tell the truth I don't think that something for me to do," Hiddink wrote in De Telegraaf.
Philippe Trousier is another coach being linked to leading Ivory Coast in South Africa.
