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Soccer Capsules: Boca knocked out of Sudamericana by Velez
Comments 0 | Recommend 0MEXICO CITY — Boca Juniors were knocked out of the Copa Sudamericana at the first hurdle on Wednesday after Jonathan Cristaldo's 61st minute goal gave Argentine rivals Velez Sarsfield a 1-0 win in the second leg of their first-stage tie.
The goal gave the Argentine league champions a 2-1 aggregate victory and a place in the round of 16 against Chile's Union Espanola.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, two all-Brazilian matches saw Botafogo and Goias also reach the last 16 with thrilling victories over Atletico Paranaense and Atletico Mineiro respectively.
Botafogo's reward was a round-of-16 meeting with Ecuador's Emelec while Goias will take on Paraguay's Cerro Porteno.
Six-time South American champions Boca needed at least one goal to remain in the competition after drawing the first leg against Velez 1-1 at home in the Bombonera stadium.
Ricardo Noir headed Boca's best chance of the opening half wide in the 33rd after Martin Palermo hooked the ball across goal.
Cristaldo scored what proved the winner on the hour mark when Fabian Cubero clipped the ball through for the striker to fire into the roof of the net.
Boca's chances of equalizing and forcing extra time were hit when captain Palermo was sent off for a two-footed challenge in the 84th.
In Rio de Janeiro, a penalty from Lucio Flavio just before the break and a 60th minute strike from Gabriel gave Botafogo a 2-1 lead over Atletico Paranaense, and they held that advantage with the minutes ticking away.
Wesley had opened the scoring for Atletico after 30 minutes and Nei then scored the 81st minute equalizer that would have put Atletico through on the away goals rule, as the first leg ended scoreless. But Botafogo went ahead to stay through an 85th minute goal from Wellington Oliveira dos Reis.
Penalties were needed to separate Goias and Atletico Mineiro after a 1-1 draw on the night replicated the first leg result.
The goals in normal time were scored by Junior in the 71st for Atletico and Felipe from a 78th minute penalty for Goias.
Chiquinho missed the crucial penalty to hand Goias a 6-5 win in the shootout.
The Copa Sudamericana is South America secondary club tournament after the Copa Libertadores. Argentina's River Plate and Lanus will clash Thursday to decide the final berth in the last 16.
W Connection draw with Pumas 2-2
MARABELLA, Trinidad — Three goals in the last four minutes left Trinidad's W Connection and Mexico's Pumas at 2-2 in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday.
W Connection, winless after two matches, scored first in the 21st minute with a fine goal from Jonathan Fana Frias in the Group D clash at Manny Ramjohn Stadium. The Dominican Republic striker received a right cross from Hughton Hector, chested it and rounded his marker before firing beyond goalkeeper Odin Patino.
Fana Frias had two chances to double the lead in the 60th and 80th but shot wide of Patino's right post on both occasions.
The drama began in the 87th minute when a right corner caused chaos in the Connection defense with the ball ricocheting and finally falling to the feet of Victor Rosales who rifled his shot home.
W Connection thought they'd won it just two minutes later when Renato Pereira rose highest to a left corner and sent a looping header into the Pumas net to regain the lead.
But it was heartbreak for the home side in the first minute of injury time as a right corner was flicked on at the near post and unmarked Francisco Palencia at the far post turned the ball home.
Pumas have endured a miserable domestic season, losing seven of eight games in the Mexican Apertura, but led CONCACAF Group D going into the third rotation after winning their opening two games.
Benitez and Aguilar score for Pachuca
MEXICO CITY — Edgar Benitez and Paul Aguilar scored as Mexican club Pachuca defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 on Wednesday in a CONCACAF Champions League match.
Pachuca has six points in three games in Group A and Houston has four. Arabe Unido of Panama leads the group with seven points.
Benitez scored in the 25th and Aguilar scored on a long-range shot in the 73rd.
Pachuca had two more opportunities to score after the opener. Juan Carlos Cacho came close in the 49th and Argentine Christian Gimenez also missed a good scoring chance off a pass from Damian Manso.
Chivas names Raul Arias new coach
MEXICO CITY — Raul Arias has been appointed coach of Chivas Guadalajara following the resignation of Francisco Ramirez.
Arias takes over a team that is 15th in the Mexican standings, a club regarded as one of the most important in the country along with America of Mexico City.
Chivas, which plays Saturday against Jaguares, has only one victory and two draws in eight games in Mexico's Apertura tournament. Arias' appointment was announced Wednesday. Interim coaches Luis Diaz and Marco Fabian will guide the team on Saturday.
World Cup qualifying
Brazilian Simoe named Costa Rica football coach
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Brazilian Rene Simoes will coach Costa Rica in the last leg of World Cup qualifying.
Simoes was appointed Wednesday, one day after Rodrigo Kenton was fired following three straight losses in qualifying.
Simoes resigned last month after only two weeks as coach of second-division Portuguesa in Brazil, after saying armed men threatened the players in the locker room after a loss. He also coached Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup and Brazil's women's team.
Costa Rica, which once led the North and Central American and Caribbean region, is fourth with 12 points following losses to Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador. The United States leads with 16 points, one ahead of Mexico and three in front of Honduras.
The top three teams qualify and the No. 4 team faces a playoff with the fifth-place team in South America.
Costa Rica has two qualifiers left, hosting Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10, then closing four days later in the United States.
Simoes said he believes Costa Rica still has a good chance of qualifying.
"A team that has 12 points in five games has to be strong," he said. "South Africa 2010 is possible because Costa Rica has a strong team."
He expressed his "great admiration for the team and the country" and asked fans to be patient with his Spanish.
MLS
MLS to take 2-week break during World Cup
NEW YORK — Major League Soccer will take a two-week break during the group phase of the World Cup for the first time next summer.
MLS announced on Wednesday it will not play any games from June 11-25. The league also does not plan to schedule games on the days of the World Cup semifinals and final.
"The league has changed; the country has changed," MLS president Mark Abbott said. "There's a large and growing fan base for professional football."
The length of the MLS season will not change. Each team will probably play an additional midweek game to make up for the missed time.
Elsewhere
Eduardo scores Arsenal winner; Inter holds Barca
LONDON — Two days after his two-game ban was overturned, Eduardo da Silva scored Arsenal's winner in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Standard Liege in the Champions League on Wednesday, while defending champion Barcelona was held to a tame 0-0 draw by Inter Milan.
Five-time champion Liverpool labored to a 1-0 victory over debutant Debrecen, while Dynamo Kiev, Lyon and Sevilla also won their first group games and Olympiakos celebrated the arrival of new coach Zico with a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar.
Arsenal trailed by two goals after only five minutes in Liege. Eliaquim Mangala scored with a low shot in the second minute and Milan Jovanovic drove home a fifth-minute penalty after he had been brought down by William Gallas.
Nicklas Bendtner pulled a goal back in the final minute of the first half, Thomas Vermaelen scored a scrappy equalizer in the 78th and Eduardo scored the winner in the 81st by turning home a corner with his knee.
At the start of the week, the Croatia striker was set to miss this group game and the next one after being found guilty by a UEFA disciplinary committee of deceiving the referee by diving to get a penalty in a qualifying-round victory over Celtic. But Arsenal won its appeal on Monday and he was free to play.
"It was fantastic. He always comes up with goals at important times," Bendtner said. "It's pleasing for him and pleasing for us."
Greek champion Olympiakos appointed former Brazil star Zico as its new coach after firing Temuri Ketsbaia on Tuesday and he watched from the stands as the club captured three points in the other Group H game. Vassilis Torosidis headed the winner against AZ Alkmaar in the 79th minute.
Barcelona's first game as defending champion took it to Italian champion Inter Milan, which is now guided by former Barca assistant coach Jose Mourinho.
"We had a great chance go over the bar from (Dejan) Stankovic and then (Davide) Santon was pulled back when through on goal," Mourinho said. "If we had scored, we would have won, but we wouldn't have deserved it as Barcelona was better.
"A match against Barcelona is a great training session, against the European champions. With a bit more luck we would have won, with a bit less we would have lost."
Although the Spanish team dominated possession at San Siro, it was generally stifled by Mourinho's tactics and the two teams gained a point each.
That means both are behind Dynamo Kiev which came from behind to beat Russian champion Rubin Kazan 3-1.
Alejandro Dominguez fired the visitor ahead in the 25th minute in Kiev but Ayiila Yussuf, Gerson Magrao and Oleg Gusev turned the game around.
Liverpool struggled to overcome Hungarian champion Debrecen which was making its first visit to Anfield and its only goal came in first half injury time from Dirk Kuyt.
"We were a little bit nervous because it was only 1-0 but I thought the most important thing was to get the points," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "We had three or four very good chances. But credit to (Debrecen), they were very organized. It was not as easy as people expected because they showed that they are not bad."
Lyon also edged Fiorentina 1-0 with a 76th minute goal by Miralem Pjanic and that means the French and English sides share first place. Fiorentina played the entire second half with 10 men after striker Alberto Gilardino was sent off for elbowing Jeremy Toulalan in the face.
Brazilian stars Luis Fabiano and Renato scored to give Sevilla a 2-0 victory over Romanian champion Unirea Irziceni.
The Spanish side tops Group G because VfB Stuttgart and Scottish champion Rangers drew 1-1.
Pavel Pogrebniak gave Stuttgart the lead with a powerful right foot shot in the 18th minute but Madjid Bougherra equalized in the 77th.
Among Tuesday's games, four former champions began the group stage with away victories.
Nine-time winner Real Madrid started with 5-2 victory at FC Zurich with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice from free kicks. In another Group C game, seven-time champion AC Milan captured a 2-1 triumph at Marseille with strikes by Filippo Inzaghi.
Manchester United, winner three times and runner-up to Barcelona last year, won 1-0 at Besiktas although debutant Wolfsburg tops Group B on goal difference after beating CSKA Moscow 3-1.
Bayern Munich, a four-time champion but not since 2001, triumphed 3-0 at Maccabi Haifa with Group A rivals Juventus and Bordeaux drawing 1-1.
Chelsea, which has not won the title but was runner up to Manchester United in 2008, edged FC Porto at home. Apoel Nicosia marked his debut by capturing a 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid.
-- Robert Millward
Maradona's physician denies drug relapse
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Maradona's personal physician dismissed speculation Wednesday that his client is being treated for drug use.
"Maradona has not relapsed into using drugs," Alfredo Cahe said on the cable news station C5N.
Maradona checked into a clinic in northern Italy this week, where his doctor said the former football great will be treated for weight gain and stress. His departure from Argentina, after damaging losses to Brazil and Paraguay in World Cup qualifying games, prompted immediate speculation about his widely reported battle with drugs.
With two qualifying games remaining next month, Argentina is in danger of missing its first World Cup since 1970, and Maradona is taking much of the blame.
Five years ago, Maradona was near death on a respirator after suffering a heart attack attributed to a cocaine overdose. He says he's been clean since. He has also had a gastric bypass to lose weight.
Cahe said the trip to the spa-clinic in Merano, Italy, had been planned before the losses to Brazil and Paraguay.
"This was not something improvised at the last moment," Cahe said. "His (partner) Victoria chose the place."
Cahe acknowledged the move was also designed to get Maradona away from the highly critical Argentine media, putting him in isolation where he can concentrate on his diet and relaxation.
Adebeyor accepts violent conduct charge
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor is facing at least a three-match ban after accepting a charge of violent and improper conduct against former Arsenal teammate Robin van Persie in last weekend's Premier League match.
Adebayor "reluctantly accepted" the Football Association charge, City said Wednesday.
Van Persie sustained a cut on his face and claimed Adebayor had acted in a "malicious" manner during City's 4-2 victory on Saturday.
"The player strongly maintains that he did not intend to act in a violent manner," City said. "He apologized on the day to Robin van Persie personally and to the wider public for the outcome of the challenge."
Providing the Togo international's automatic ban is confirmed Thursday when the FA's Disciplinary Panel meets, he will miss Sunday's derby against Manchester United, a League Cup match against Fulham and a Premier League clash with West Ham.
City manager Mark Hughes is now facing a striker crisis for Sunday's match against United, with only Craig Bellamy of his front-line forwards likely to be available.
Robinho, Roque Santa Cruz and Benjani Mwaruwari are all injured and Carlos Tevez is rated extremely doubtful to face his old club.
Adebayor has also been charged by the FA over his goal celebration when he ran the length of the field toward Arsenal fans, who reacted violently and had to be kept under control by police and stewards. City has until Sept. 30 to respond to that charge.
Kenyon to leave as Chelsea chief executive
LONDON — Peter Kenyon is leaving his role as chief executive of Chelsea after more than five years at the Premier League club.
Kenyon, who joined Chelsea from Manchester United in 2004, will vacate the post on Oct. 31, the club said Wednesday.
He will stay on at Stamford Bridge as a non-executive director, which will allow him to continue representing Chelsea on UEFA and European Clubs' Association committees.
"I think we have really built a club, in a relatively short space of time, that can be in the forefront of European football for many years to come. That is a major achievement," Kenyon said in a statement. "I am also delighted that our relationship is not ending and I can continue to make a contribution to keeping Chelsea in that position and to go back to visit friends."
Kenyon moved to Chelsea from United after Roman Abramovich's 2003 takeover of the London club. During his time at Chelsea, the Blues won the Premier League twice and reached the Champions League final for the first time in 2008.
When Chelsea lost to United in the Moscow final, Kenyon was criticized in the British media for going up with the players to collect a runners-up medal.
"Peter has done a fantastic job for Chelsea in the last five-and-a-half years and has been absolutely central to the success on and off the field we have had during that time," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said. "Without his football knowledge and business acumen Chelsea would not be where we are today."
The most pressing issue for Kenyon's successor will be the appeal against a ban on transfer activity until January 2011.
FIFA imposed the punishment after finding Chelsea guilty earlier this month of encouraging 16-year-old French player Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens.
One contender for Kenyon's job could be Karren Brady, who said Wednesday that she will leave Birmingham if a takeover by Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung is completed next month.
CEO, chairman to leave Birmingham after takeover
BIRMINGHAM, England — Birmingham chief executive Karren Brady, the highest-ranking female executive in English soccer, will leave the Premier League club along with chairman David Sullivan if Carson Yeung completes his takeover.
Since taking charge of Birmingham when it was in financial administration in 1993, Brady and Sullivan have turned around the club's fortunes. They announced Wednesday they have rejected Yeung's offer to stay on.
While Sullivan is leaving as chairman of Birmingham's holding company, David Gold will stay on as chairman of the club.
Yeung, the Hong Kong businessman who owns 29.9 percent of the club through Grandtop International Holdings, sent out official offer documents to shareholders on Tuesday. The first closing date of the offer is Oct. 6.
"It was a hard decision for me to make to leave the club after so long but with the new change in ownership I feel the time will be right for me to move on and pursue my other ventures," said Brady, who has accepted a role on BBC show "The Apprentice." ''Grandtop have asked me to retain my position as CEO, but I honestly feel they must be allowed to stamp their own mark on the club and I believe that this is best done without the current board looking over their shoulder.
"I leave with very fond memories of the past 16 years; I arrived with David Sullivan in 1993 and I want to leave with him."
Brady hopes to continue working with Sullivan, who could be on the lookout for a club to invest in.
"I intend to remain in football," Sullivan said. "So following the takeover I will be looking for a new challenge where my experience, my success and sound business acumen will make a difference."
Schalke must save money, but it's not broke
FRANKFURT — Schalke is not broke, although it needs to cut spending, according to the chairman of the board of the Bundesliga club.
"It is tight, because we failed in all competitions last season," Schalke chairman Clemens Toennies told Wednesday's edition of Bild newspaper. "But nobody needs to worry, Schalke is not in an emergency.
"Income and spending have to be brought into balance again, however. We have to increase earnings and reduce spending."
Media reports last month suggested Schalke was in financial trouble and had to sell players, such as Brazilian defender Rafinha. A deal with Bayern Munich was quickly denied but Rafinha was given a special vacation after being booed by fans who thought he wanted to leave.
Toennies, who owns a meat factory, did not rule out selling players but said he was leaving such decision to coach and manager Felix Magath.
"I don't decide about transfers, it's Felix Magath's decision alone," Toennies said. "But we agree that a player would be sold only if the price is right."
Bild said Schalke had failed in its aim to cut its annual wage bill from €55 million ($80.36 million) to €48 million ($70.13 million), but Toennies said there would be no cuts in players' salaries and that their pay slips were being issued on time.
"We are paying punctually and 100 percent," Toennies said. "Schalke is stable."
Bild said Schalke's costs had actually risen to €60 million ($87.67 million) because of Magath's contract and his new staff.
Toennies declined to comment directly, but said it was important to stay "within budget and we are on a good way."
He acknowledged that Schalke had already committed part of the future payments it is due to receive from its main sponsors, the Russian energy giant Gazprom and the German sports apparel maker Adidas.
Magath led Wolfsburg to its first Bundesliga title last season but left to join Schalke, which has not won the championship in 51 years. Schalke also failed to qualify for any European competition last season.
Schalke is now third in the Bundesliga and hosts Magath's old team, Wolfsburg, on Friday.
Grafite hopes for place in Brazil's national team
WOLFSBURG, Germany — Wolfsburg striker Grafite hopes his three-goal performance in his Champions League debut will be a recommendation for Brazil's national team.
"That's my goal and that's what I am working for," Grafite said after scoring all of Wolfsburg's goals in a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old striker also earned the penalty which he converted for his second goal.
"It's really a dream come true — first game in the Champions League and three goals," the Brazilian said.
CSKA coach Juande Ramos said Grafite added a degree of class to Wolfsburg.
"When you have such a striker, you have a certain world class," Ramos said.
Grafite led the Bundesliga last season with 28 goals in 25 games, and had a massive role in Wolfsburg's first championship.
Like his team, Grafite has had a rocky Bundesliga start, with two goals in five games, while Wolfsburg has lost the last three.
"That's the life of a striker, I went three games without scoring," Grafite said. "Now, I am just very happy. I am hoping to play in the World Cup. There are a few more games before the World Cup and I want to be part of (Brazil's) team."
Grafite has played — and scored — in his one game for Brazil, in 2005 against Guatemala.
Wolfsburg's next game in the Bundesliga comes Friday against Schalke and former coach Felix Magath, who left Wolfsburg after the championship season.
Wolfsburg goalkeeper to miss Schalke match
FRANKFURT — Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio has been banned for two Bundesliga games because of red card and will miss Friday's match against Schalke and former coach Felix Magath.
Benaglio, who was brought to Wolfsburg by Magath, got a red card for a rough tackle in the previous round's 3-2 loss at home against Bayer Leverkusen and the German football federation banned him Wednesday for two games.
Magath left Wolfsburg after leading the team to its first Bundesliga title and then took over at Schalke.
Luca Toni ready for Bayern Munich comeback
MUNICH — Striker Luca Toni is ready for his Bayern Munich comeback — in Germany's third division.
The striker, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, has not played this season because of Achilles' tendon problems. He started practicing recently with the rest of the team.
"I promised him that he would play Friday if everything goes well in practice," Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said after Tuesday's 3-0 victory at Maccabi. "Maximum 45 minutes, then we'll see."
Bayern's reserve side plays in Germany's third division and Friday's opponent is Jahn Regensburg.
Toni had no qualms about playing for the reserves.
"I have a great desire to play," the 32-year-old Italian said. "I want the competition."
Bordeaux goalkeeper doubtful for next league game
BORDEAUX, France — Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso and defender Marc Planus are doubtful for their team's next French league game after picking up slight injuries during Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Juventus in the Champions League.
Carrasso, who was replaced by Ulrich Rame in the 55th minute following a collision with Vicenzo Iaquinta, has a left-thigh injury, Bordeaux said Wednesday.
The player didn't take part in Wednesday's training and is set to undergo further medical exams in the next couple of days. Planus picked up a right-thigh injury and didn't train either.
Bordeaux leads the French league standings and plays promoted Boulogne on Saturday.
Toure getting better after contracting malaria
LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Bayer Leverkusen defender Assimiou Toure contracted malaria while playing for Togo earlier this month.
The disease was diagnosed early after Toure played in Togo's 1-1 draw with Morocco on Sept. 6 and he is already getting better, the Bundesliga club said Wednesday.
Aristide Bance, Mainz's Burkina Faso striker, also picked up the disease at the start of the season. He is now starring for his team.
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