Most Viewed Stories
Soccer Capsules: Mexico beats Chile 1-0 in warmup for World Cup
MEXICO CITY — Alberto Medina scored in the first half Sunday to give Mexico a 1-0 win over Chile in its last warm-up match at home before heading to Europe to prepare for the World Cup.
Medina took a pass from veteran playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco and hit a left-footed shot on the turn past Marin in the 14th minute to give Mexico its sixth win in eight unbeaten games this year. Mexico has not conceded a goal in seven of those matches.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre fielded a strong team, spearheaded by new Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez and Blanco.
Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa selected a more experimental lineup, including fringe players such as goalkeeper Luis Marin and forward Jaime Valdez. Aguirre lamented not scoring more goals, acknowledging it may be a problem.
"I think we're headed in the right direction, but we have to fine tune," he said. "Everyone would like to win 8-0 or 6-0, but it's not always possible. The important thing is we are generating chances. We had 10 or 12. We need to improve our percentage. We did enough today to win 2-0 or 3-0."
Both coaches have until the FIFA deadline of June 1 to announce their final 23-man squads for the tournament in South Africa.
"El Tri" — as the Mexican side is called — will travel to Europe on Tuesday to play four more warmup games against England, Netherlands, Gambia and Italy before kicking off the World Cup on June 11 against host South Africa.
North Korea was the only team to score against Mexico, on March 17. Since then, the defense has been reinforced further still after PSV Eindhoven defenders Carlos Salcido and Francisco Rodriguez, plus Stuttgart's Ricardo Osorio joined up with the squad.
Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez is among the remaining players to link up with squad in Europe.
The defeat was Chile's first in its World Cup preparations. Bielsa's team will move on to play Northern Ireland, Israel and New Zealand before its first match in South Africa against Honduras on June 16.
Mexico dominated possession against a disjointed Chile side, with Efrain Juarez's long-range shot deflected off target in the 11th minute.
The goal came soon after, when Blanco cut in from the left and fed Medina to score with a low shot.
Mexico could have extended its lead soon after when Paul Aguilar advanced down the right flank and laid the ball off to Medina, but his cross to the back post was scooped over the bar by Hernandez.
Chile's first opportunity came in the 25th minute when goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa dealt comfortably with a strike from 20 yards out by Jorge Valdivia.
The Chilean side improved after the break. Halftime substitute Jean Beausejour — who plays in Azteca stadium with Mexican club America — burst through shortly after entering the fray, but his clubmate Ochoa stuck out a leg and diverted the shot wide.
Chile was reduced to 10 men in the 60th minute when Manuel Iturra was sent off for a foul challenge from behind on the halfway line that caused Andres Guardado to leave the pitch as a precaution against injury.
Boosted by the extra man, Mexico finished strongly. Efrain Juarez released Hernandez in the 63rd minute, but the Manchester United recruit lost his balance and could only hit the post after rounding Marin.
Substitute striker Adolfo Bautista had Mexico's final chance, but Marin blocked his shot from close range in the dying minutes of the match.
U.S. Soccer
Bedoya to report late for World Cup training camp
PRINCETON, N.J. — Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya was given permission to remain with Sweden’s Orebro for Monday’s match before reporting the following day to U.S. training camp ahead of the World Cup.
Players began arriving Saturday, and many went to Philadelphia on Sunday to take physicals.
Midfielder Benny Feilhaber was to head to Princeton after entering as a substitute Sunday for AGF Aarhus in a 3-0 loss to Odense. The defeat ensured relegation for Aarhus after 65 consecutive seasons in Denmark’s top league.
Defender Clarence Goodson also was due in Monday after playing the whole game Sunday for Norway’s IK Start.
The U.S. Soccer Federation said that after forward Eddie Johnson arrived, he had an MRI that determined he had a grade one hamstring strain sustained Wednesday while playing for Aris in the Greek playoffs. Grade one is considered minor. Johnson’s progress will be monitored daily, team spokesman Michael Kammarman said.
Workouts begin Monday. The U.S. must cut from 30 players to 23 by June 1.
World Cup
England's World Cup bid chief quits after sting
LONDON — The chairman of England's World Cup bid and soccer federation quit both jobs Sunday after accusing 2018 bid rivals Spain and Russia of bribery.
David Triesman insisted he was a victim of "entrapment" and his comments were "never intended to be taken seriously."
Triesman was secretly taped by The Mail on Sunday newspaper suggesting Spain was planning to bribe referees at the upcoming World Cup with the help of Russia, which didn't qualify, and then support the Russians' bid.
"Entrapment, especially by a friend, is an unpleasant experience both for my family and me, but it leaves me with no alternative but to resign," Triesman said in a statement. "I have immediately informed The FA Board of my decision."
The newspaper taped Triesman while talking two weeks ago with Melissa Jacobs, a former aide from his time as a government minister.
"A private conversation with someone whom I thought to be a friend was taped without my knowledge and passed to a national newspaper," Triesman said. "That same friend has also chosen to greatly exaggerate the extent of our friendship. In that conversation, I commentated on speculation circulating about conspiracies around the world. Those comments were never intended to be taken seriously, as indeed is the case with many private conversations."
England's bid team faxed letters of apology Sunday to the Spanish and Russian soccer federations and soccer's governing body, saying it didn't support the bid chairman's allegations.
"The views expressed were not the views of the 2018 bid board or the FA," Triesman said. "Nobody should be under any misapprehension that the FA or 2018 bid board are disrespectful of other nations or FIFA, and I regret any such inference that may have been drawn from what has been reported."
Russian bid chief Alexey Sorokin called the allegations as "absurd" and urged FIFA to "take appropriate measures."
England had been the favorite to win the vote by FIFA's 24-man executive committee in December and host its second World Cup and first since 1966.
Triesman joined former England captain David Beckham at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Friday to hand over the official bid book to president Sepp Blatter.
Spain is bidding with Portugal to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, as are Belgium and Netherlands, while England and Russia are standing alone. Australia and United States are also bidding for either tournament. Japan, Qatar and South Korea are concentrating on 2022, believing a European nation is favored to win for 2018.
Triesman claimed in the Mail's recordings that Russia has "absolutely nothing at all to lose" and would cut deals to host the tournament for the first time.
He also offered an assessment of England's chances.
"I think the Africans we are doing very well with. I think we're doing kind of well with some of the Asians. Probably doing well with Central and North America," Triesman was quoted as saying. "My assumption is that the Latin Americans, although they've not said so, will vote for Spain.
"And if Spain drop out, because Spain are looking for help from the Russians to help bribe the referees in the World Cup, their votes may then switch to Russia."
England had been the favorite to win the vote by FIFA's 24-man executive committee and host its second World Cup and first since 1966.
"It is not good for the organization and it would be ludicrous to pretend otherwise, but the fundamentals that underpin the bid are as strong as ever," new Britain sports minister Hugh Robertson said.
Triesman's resignation comes less than a month before England's World Cup campaign opens against United States on June 12 and with The FA still searching for a new chief executive after Ian Watmore quit in March following a power struggle.
The FA Board installed David Sheepshanks and Roger Burden as acting joint chairmen, while the 2018 bid board appointed Geoff Thompson as chairman. Thompson is a vice president of FIFA and UEFA, and served as FA chairman for nine years before Triesman.
-- Rob Harris
SAfrica secures morale-boosting win
NELSPRUIT, South Africa — South Africa began its final round of World Cup warmup games with a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Thailand at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.
The World Cup host scored three goals in 11 first-half minutes to mark its first match at the new venue in the northern city of Nelspruit.
Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala rewarded a boisterous home crowd when he curled in a 22nd-minute free kick for the game's opening goal. Striker Katlego Mphela then added two in three minutes as Carlos Alberto Parreira's Bafana Bafana dominated an understrength Thailand team, now coached by former England captain Bryan Robson.
FC Twente forward Bernard Parker, a second-half substitute, added the fourth in the 90th minute.
South Africa came flying through the test, as did the Mbombela after doubts earlier this year about the quality of the pitch. Mbombela's grass was dug up three times and rescued by pitch experts after the original surface failed to meet FIFA standards.
"The pitch didn't play too badly. I thought it was quite good. They had it just right for the players," Robson said.
"The atmosphere was terrific," Robson said of the 30,000 home fans who produced a deafening noise throughout the match, aided by their vuvuzelas, the plastic trumpets which are sure to upset more of South Africa's opponents in the next two months. "In fact the atmosphere was too good because trying to shout to your players, to get information to them — impossible."
Parreira's team produced a dominant display, albeit against an inexperienced Thailand side, after a lackluster buildup to their home tournament.
"There were a lot of points that were very positive in the game. I don't care who the opponents are. Very positive, a big improvement," Parreira said.
"It's the culture of the country," Parreira said of the constant hum of vuvuzelas. "We will not change it. We will stress it. We want it louder and louder and louder."
South Africa's official opening of Mbombela, which takes its inspiration from the famous Kruger game park nearby, should have produced more goals for the home team.
Under giraffe-like stadium structures, and surrounded by zebra-patterned seating, Surprise Moriri wasted an early chance when he miskicked after a Tshabalala cross.
But Tshabalala hit the target with a dipping free kick that squeezed inside Kawin Tamasatchanan's near post.
Mphela grabbed the first of his double when Bongani Khumalo flicked on a corner in the 30th minute.
Tshabalala and captain Teko Modise were then involved in slick interplay in midfield and Modise's pass allowed Mphela to score his second, as his shot sneaked in off the post.
Mphela had three clear chances in the second half to record a rare international hattrick by a South African, as the Thais were trapped in their own half for large parts of the game.
Parreira made six changes, and veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvethe had a goal disallowed for offside before Parker scored the fourth.
"This was an important game because it was the first one back," said Parreira, whose team play four more warmup games before its World Cup opener against Mexico on June 11.
Gallas doubtful for World Cup
PARIS — France coach Raymond Domenech confirmed Sunday he won't take William Gallas to the World Cup if the Arsenal defender is not fit by the end of May.
Domenech, who will cut his World Cup squad to 24 players on Monday, told French TV channel TF1 that Gallas has to recover from a calf injury before the team travels to Tunisia for a training camp on May 27.
Gallas arrived in the French Alps resort of Tignes on Saturday, where he is working on his fitness with France doctor Robert Duverne. The rest of the team will arrive at the Tignes training camp on Tuesday.
Domenech said Gallas will be one of the 24 players named on Monday, but that the 32-year-old center back "will not go to Tunisia if he is not ready to play."
Gallas scored the winning goal in a two-leg playoff win over Ireland last year that sent France to the World Cup.
But Domenech is eager to avoid a repeat of the Euro 2008 fiasco, when he had called up an injured Patrick Vieira to his squad only to see the former France captain sidelined for the whole tournament as the team crashed out in the group stage.
"We don't know exactly about Gallas' form," Domenech said Sunday. "He will not go to Tunisia if he is not ready to play and to train normally."
Franck Ribery is expected to attend the camp regardless of whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns a three-match ban that would prevent the Bayern Munich winger from playing in the Champions League final.
Domenech said Ribery will be allowed to leave the camp to watch his teammates even if his ban is not overturned.
"If he is suspended, he will come with us," Domenech said. "But we will allow him to leave us so he will be able to enjoy the final with his teammates."
Bayern, which is challenging UEFA's decision to ban Ribery for three matches for his foul on Lyon's Lisandro Lopez that earned the winger a red card in the semifinal first-leg match, plays Inter Milan in the final on May 22 in Madrid.
Domenech, who announced his 30-man provisional World Cup squad earlier this week, said he will call the players he will cut before announcing the squad.
Vieira, who isn't on the provisional list, criticized Domenech for his poor communication skills and said he was upset the coach didn't call him in advance. Vieira, who made 107 international appearances, won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.
"I can understand how he felt," Domenech said. "Considering the respect I have for him and his record with France, it's true I could have called him one hour before. But why him and not the others?"
Loathed by many fans who boo him at every France game, Domenech will step aside after the World Cup and is likely to be replaced by Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc.
"I'm not the one who decides on this," Domenech said. "He (Blanc) proved he was able to be in charge at club level. But coaching a national team is a different job. He will have to be ready immediately because the (Euro 2012) qualifying campaign starts in September."
France will start its World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 11.
-- Samuel Petrequin
Robson says fanatical support will lift WCup host
NELSPRUIT, South Africa — Former England captain Bryan Robson believes South Africa's boisterous supporters will give their team a huge advantage during the World Cup.
A crowd of 30,000 South Africans marked the opening of the Mbombela Stadium with 90 minutes of blaring, earsplitting noise from their vuvuzelas — the plastic trumpets synonymous with the country's football followers — during a 4-0 win over Thailand in a World Cup warmup match on Sunday.
Robson, who is the coach of Thailand, had a message for South Africa's first opponent in the World Cup after experiencing at first hand the effect of the host nation's fans — "Good luck Mexico."
"If the atmosphere is like that ... it will really raise the level of the players," Robson said.
-- Gerlad Imray
League News
Barcelona retains Spanish league title
MADRID — Barcelona retained the Spanish league title on Sunday, crushing Valladolid 4-0 at Camp Nou stadium in its final game of the season to win the championship for a 20th time.
Lionel Messi scored twice in the second half, adding to Luis Prieto's own goal and a strike from Pedro Rodriguez before halftime.
Barcelona finished its campaign with a record Spanish league tally of 99 points from 38 games, with coach Pep Guardiola celebrating the second league title in his two seasons in charge.
"It's true that we got a load of points; Real Madrid has had a good season and has made it really difficult for us. We battled and we achieved it," Barcelona captain Carles Puyol told Canal Plus.
Messi's goals took his league tally to 34 and his total in all competitions to 47 this season, equaling the club record set by Brazil's Ronaldo in 1996-97.
The Argentina international, who was the 2009 World Player of the Year, finished the season as the Spanish league's top scorer and won the Golden Boot, a prize awarded to Europe's top marksman.
Real Madrid drew 1-1 at Malaga to finish three points behind Barcelona. It is the second straight season that Madrid has failed to win a major trophy despite spending more than €250 million ($309 million) on players.
"We should congratulate Barcelona, a worthy champion. There were two teams who mounted tremendous runs, beating all the records but one started with a clear advantage today and was able to take advantage," Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano said.
Barcelona celebrated its title with fireworks, light and music at the stadium, with the players introduced individually to loud cheers from ecstatic fans.
Greeting the crowd, Guardiola said Barcelona's triumph was due "above all to the players."
"They are unrepeatable. You've got to believe that they're unrepeatable. They make work easy," Guardiola said.
Guardiola later added that Barcelona's points record was the result of the pressure exerted by Madrid, whose 96-point total is the second highest in Spanish league history.
"If Madrid hadn't got so many points, we wouldn't have got so many. Madrid had an exceptional season," Guardiola said.
Valladolid's defeat meant it was relegated into the second division, along with Tenerife and Xerez.
Valladolid, led by former Spain coach Javier Clemente for the past month, made a bright start against a Barcelona side missing suspended playmaker Xavi Hernandez.
The home team then took control, coming close to taking the lead on several occasions before Valladolid defender Prieto inadvertently turned Pedro's low cross past his goalkeeper Jacobo Sanz in the 27th minute.
Barcelona doubled its lead four minutes later when Pedro fired his 12th goal of the season following a trademark burst by Messi.
The Argentina forward turned the ball home from close range for Barcelona's third goal in the 62nd after Yaya Toure beat two defenders in a charge into the area and fired a center across the face of the goal.
Messi doubled his tally 14 minutes later to crown a brilliant season, again receiving a pass from Toure before jinking past two defenders and slotting the ball home.
The introduction of Andres Iniesta as an 86th-minute substitute following a month's absence delighted Barcelona's jubilant supporters even further.
The match marked a happy finale for Barcelona president Joan Laporta, whose term of office is about to end. The club is holding elections on June 13.
"I feel really emotional because Barcelona and its supporters are experiencing great happiness. Personally, this title, because of all it signifies, touches me," Laporta, who became president in 2003, was quoted by Barcelona's Web site as saying.
Madrid, needing to achieve a better result than Barcelona to win the title, made a dismal start when Sergio "Duda" Barbosa sent a half-hit shot past goalkeeper Iker Casillas after playing a one-two with Felipe Caicedo in the ninth minute.
The visitor equalized in the 48th when Rafael van der Vaart, receiving Marcelo's pass, wriggled to escape the attention of Malaga defenders before shooting home.
Madrid's disappointing final game may have been the last in charge for its Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini, who hinted on Saturday that he may be sacked in the near future.
Valladolid and Tenerife finished 36 points, two more than last-place Xerez.
Tenerife went down to Alexis Ruano's late goal at third-place Valencia, which ended the season with 72 points. Antonito Ramiro's 60th-minute equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Osasuna could not save Xerez.
In Sunday's other game, Racing Santander avoided relegation by beating Sporting Gijon 2-0 on Mohamed Tchite's goals in the 34th and 53rd minutes.
On Saturday, Sevilla claimed a place in next season's Champions League with a 3-2 win at Almeria, while Mallorca and Getafe won berths in the Europa League after beating Espanyol 2-0 and Atletico Madrid 3-0 respectively. Also, it was: Zaragoza 3, Villarreal 3; and Athletic Bilbao 2, Deportivo La Coruna 0.
-- Stephen Mackey
Inter seals 5th consecutive Serie A title
ROME — Inter Milan beat Siena 1-0 Sunday to seal its fifth consecutive Serie A title and move two-thirds of the way to a possible treble.
Diego Milito took a pass from Inter captain Javier Zanetti and scored his 22nd goal of the season to break the deadlock in the 57th minute at Siena's Artemio Franchi stadium.
Inter finished with 82 points, two more than AS Roma, which won 2-0 at Chievo Verona. Roma scored both of its goals in the first half and had its hands on the title before Milito saved Inter.
Inter beat Roma in the Italian Cup final, and Jose Mourinho's side will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League final Saturday as it attempts to become the first Italian club to achieve the treble. Mourinho appeared teary-eyed during the trophy celebration.
"I would have preferred to win it with four or five games to spare," Mourinho said. "Winning it on the final day of the season was almost too much to handle. I've never had a championship go down to the final day like this."
Inter president Massimo Moratti came down to the field to celebrate with his club.
"Let's hope we can complete it all," Moratti said, with reference to the treble. "The entire season was a struggle, right down to the last second.
"If we get the cup on the 22nd, it will be a huge gift. For us, it's the most important thing of the season," Moratti added.
It was Inter's 18th Serie A title, second only to Juventus' 27. Roma coach Claudio Ranieri called Inter "the real protagonist of the season," although he said that his club — which went 24 games unbeaten between October and April — "didn't lose the title."
"We did something fantastic," Ranieri said, recalling the state the club was in when he replaced Luciano Spalletti after Roma opened the season with two losses.
Also Sunday, Sampdoria beat Napoli 1-0 to clinch fourth place and the final Champions League berth. Giampaolo Pazzini scored with a header in the 51st minute for Samp, redirecting a free kick from Reto Ziegler for his 19th goal of the season, and Sampdoria goalkeeper Marco Storari made two good saves from shots by Fabio Quagliarella to preserve the lead.
Afterward, Sampdoria celebrated to the tune of the Champions League music.
Palermo came into Sunday with a chance of finishing fourth but needed a slipup from Sampdoria, rendering its 2-1 win over Atalanta meaningless. Edinson Cavani scored twice for Palermo, including the winner from a penalty five minutes into added time.
Otherwise, all of the key places in Serie A had already been decided. AC Milan, which beat Juventus 3-0 Saturday, finished third while Napoli and Juventus had already clinched sixth and seventh to round out the Europa League places.
Atalanta, Siena and Livorno were already relegated to Serie B. In other games, it was: Bari 2, Fiorentina 0; Cagliari 1, Bologna 1; Catania 1, Genoa 0; and Parma 4, Livorno 1.
The most anticipated games naturally involved Inter and Roma. While its hopes relied on Inter failing to win, Roma took the initiative with first-half goals from Mirko Vucinic and Daniele De Rossi.
Vucinic put Roma ahead with a long-range shot in the 39th minute and De Rossi doubled the lead with a shot from 25 meters (yards) in the 45th. Roma captain Francesco Totti had already hit the outside of the post in the 22nd.
In Siena, the host had a chance when Albin Ekdal sent an effort wide in the sixth minute but Inter dominated otherwise. It had a tough time finding the target, however.
Inter's 18-year-old forward Mario Balotelli was wide from a sharp angle in the 13th and Milito slid the ball past Siena goalkeeper Gianluca Curci a minute later but it rolled just wide of the empty net.
Curci made a reflex save from a header from Milito in the 22nd, then saved a header from Inter defender Walter Samuel in the 30th. In the 38th, Balotelli hit the crossbar with a spectacular bicycle kick and Samuel headed high in the 44th. Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso was then wide with a shot from the edge of the area in the 55th.
Even after Milito's goal, Inter had trouble sealing the victory — and a draw would have given the title to Roma. A shot from Dejan Stankovic skimmed off the top of Siena's crossbar in the 75th.
In the 88th, Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar had some trouble gathering the ball directly in front of his goal, but eventually got control as defender Marco Materazzi stood guard and Inter then waited anxiously before celebrating at the final whistle.
-- Andrew Dampf
Argentinos Juniors win first title in 25 years
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentinos Juniors clinched its first league title in 25 years, beating Huracan 2-1 on Sunday after goals from Juan Mercier and Facudo Coria.
Mercier opened the scoring for Argentinos in the 24th minute with a close-range header, and Facundo Coria grabbed the team's second on a header 12 minutes from time.
The Buenos Aires club — the first professional club of Diego Maradona — finished the 19-game Clausura season on 41 points, one more than Estudiantes, which defeated Colon 4-1. Mauro Boselli scored a hat trick for Estudiantes.
Argentinos had all the play in the first half with four clear chances in the first 10 minutes. The champions were less impressive in the second half, but finally broke through with a second goal. Huracan had two players sent off midway through the second half. Alan Sanchez scored for Huracan in the 88th with the club down to nine players.
The title is special for Argentinos Juniors' popular coach, Claudio Borghi. Borghi played with Maradona in Argentina's World Cup-winning team in 1986 and was a member of the Argentinos side in 1985 — the last time the club won the league.
Borghi is the first person at the club to win titles as both a player and a coach.
"At first we came into the season trying not to be relegated," Borghi said. "Now we are champions. We have to enjoy it all. I think all the players did an extraordinary job ... I'm happy for the club, and today is a special day for me."
This is the eighth different champion in the last eight seasons in Argentina. The two biggest clubs — Boca Juniors and River Plate — have each won once in that period.
The match was soiled at the end inside Huracan's stadium when police needed to use a high-powered water hose to control angry young men, who attacked police and hurled objects at them and opposing players. At least one policeman was struck by his own nightstick after lost it in a run-in with hooligans.
Estudiantes played without its top player midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who was suspended for the match.
Estudiantes is still alive in the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores, the continental club champion. Estudiantes lost the first-leg quarterfinal last week 1-0 to Brazilian club Internacional. They play the second leg this week.
In other results in Argentina on Friday and Saturday in the final round of play: Arsenal 1, Godoy Cruz 2; San Lorenzo 2, Newell's Old Boys 1; Banfield 3, Boca Juniors 0; Gimnasia 3, Atletico Tucuman 3; Chacarita 1, Racing Club 2; Independiente 1, Lanus 0; Rosario Central 0, Velez 0; River Plate 1, Tigre 5.
In Argentina, the two teams with the worst records over the last three years are demoted. River Plate will begin next season at the bottom of the relegation table and could face relegation at this time next season.
River, Boca Juniors and Independiente are the only three teams that have never been relegated to the second tier.
-- Stephen Wade
Basel beats rival Young Boys to win Swiss league
BERN, Switzerland — FC Basel clinched the Swiss league title by beating Young Boys 2-0 in a winner-take-all final match of the season Sunday. Valentin Stocker and Scott Chipperfield scored for Basel to finish three points ahead of its rival from Bern.
Young Boys led the standings for most of the season until losing 5-1 at Lucerne last Thursday.
"This was very special," Chipperfield said. "We had a bad start to the season and we were 13 points behind. Deep down you think it's finished. As the season went on we got stronger."
Both teams will enter next season's Champions League in the third qualifying round, needing to beat two opponents to reach the group stage. Basel will play against other title-winners from Europe's smaller leagues. Young Boys enters the non-champions path and must face teams from Europe's strongest football nations.
It is Basel's 13th championship and completes a league-Swiss Cup double in German coach Thorsten Fink's first season in charge. Stocker scored in the 39th minute when he flicked the ball over advancing goalkeeper Marco Woelfli. Australia international Chipperfield sealed victory with a 60th-minute header off Stocker's left-flank cross.
Young Boys looked poised to win its first league title since 1986 thanks to a 30-goal season from Seydou Doumbia. The 22-year-old Ivory Coast forward now leaves to join CSKA Moscow.
PAOK beats AEK 1-0 in Greek playoffs
ATHENS, Greece — Zlatan Muslimovic scored a 51st-minute winner as PAOK beat AEK Athens 1-0 to extend its lead at the top of the Greek league playoff for European competitions.
Three minutes after AEK striker Nacho Scocco had a penalty saved by Dario Kresic, Muslimovic volleyed home a pass by Giorgos Fotakis to give PAOK the victory.
PAOK clinched its passage into the third qualifying round of the Champions league last week when it took an unassailable six-point lead in the four-team competition. With one round left in the six-game playoffs, PAOK has 16 points, Olympiakos 8, AEK 6 and Aris 5. Olympiakos, AEK and Aris will play in next season's Europa League.
In a lackluster game earlier Sunday, Olympiakos was held to a goalless draw by visiting Aris, with each team squandering one major scoring opportunity. Olympiakos' chance came in the 76th minute when Lomana LuaLua drew a save from Michalis Sifakis with a shot from inside the Aris area. In second-half injury time, Aris almost grabbed the winner when an effort from Javier Campora inside the six-yard box flew just over the crossbar.
On Wednesday, it's Aris vs. PAOK and AEK vs. Olympiakos.
Kashima defeats Nagoya to move up in J-League
TOYOTA, Japan — Shinzo Koroki, Marquinhos and Masashi Motoyama scored in the second half Sunday as Kashima Antlers defeated Nagoya Grampus 4-1 to move within four points of J-League leaders Shimizu S-Pulse.
Takuya Nozawa and Nagoya's Australian striker Josh Kennedy exchanged first-half goals but Koroki gave defending champions Kashima the lead for good with a left-footed shot eight minutes into the second half.
Marquinhos extended the lead with a blast from 19 meters midway through the second half and Motoyama completed the scoring in the final minute of regulation. Kashima moved into third place with 21 points, four back of Shimizu, which squandered a two-goal lead Saturday and settled for a 2-2 draw with FC Tokyo.
Yasuhiro Hiraoka and Jungo Fujimoto put Shimizu ahead but two goals in the last five minutes from Yuto Nagatomo and Toshihiro Matsushita salvaged a share of the points for Tokyo. Kawasaki Frontale missed a chance to gain ground after a 3-1 loss to Jubilo Iwata and is fourth on 20 points, two back of Nagoya in second.
Marcio Richardes, Isao Homma and Cho Young Cheol all scored as Albirex Niigata come from behind to beat Montedio Yamagata 3-1 for its fourth consecutive win. Takumi Miyayoshi scored a late equalizer to earn Kyoto Sanga a 2-2 draw at Yokohama F Marinos.
North Korean forward Ryang Yong Gi scored in Vegalta Sendai's 1-1 home draw with Urawa Reds while Shinji Kagawa's goal in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time earned Cerezo Osaka a 2-1 win at home to Vissel Kobe.
Zenit St. Petersburg wins Russian cup
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Roman Shirokov scored from the penalty spot to lift Zenit St. Petersburg to a 1-0 victory over Sibir Novosibirsk and its third Russian cup title on Sunday.
Shirokov's 60th-minute penalty was awarded after midfielder Alexander Makarenko's handball.
Zenit won the UEFA Cup two years ago.
Elsewhere
Inter on track for historic treble
MILAN — With the Serie A title and the Italian Cup already won, Inter Milan is now out to make history by beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League final and completing the first Italian treble.
Coach Jose Mourinho has said Inter has already done enough by reaching the final — but he replaced Roberto Mancini two years ago with the aim of winning the club's first European Cup since 1965.
A fifth consecutive Serie A title was the minimum that was expected this season, and Inter got off to a flying start with a 4-0 win over AC Milan in the second match of the campaign.
That match was Wesley Sneijder's first for Inter, and the Netherlands midfielder rewarded Mourinho by taking control of the game and pulling the strings behind the attacking duo of Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito, something he continued to do for much of the season.
Eto'o and Milito were another pair of crucial signings. Eto'o arrived from Barcelona in exchange for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and €66 million ($93.5 million), while Milito made the move from Genoa.
Eto'o hasn't maintained his early-season form, but his high energy levels allowed Milito to take advantage of the space that opened up in opposition defenses. Cameroon captain Eto'o weighed in with 12 goals overall.
Milito, meanwhile, picked up where he left off last season for Genoa, for which he scored 24 goals. He scored 22 goals in the league for Inter as well as the winner in the Italian Cup final.
Inter's attacking prowess is demonstrated by the fact it scored the highest number of goals in Serie A with 75. The defense, meanwhile, was the tightest in the league with only 34 goals conceded.
Much of that success was down to the partnership formed between Brazil captain Lucio and Argentina international Walter Samuel in central defense. On the right, Maicon has powered up and down the flank to contribute to the defense and attack in equal measure.
Behind them, Brazil's Julio Cesar has quickly become regarded among the world's best goalkeepers with his athletic displays.
Inter captain Javier Zanetti continues to defy the forces of time at 36. The Argentine player has fitted into the team wherever he is needed, most commonly at left back.
For much of the season, Inter looked like it would walk away with the title, especially after the winter break when AC Milan and Juventus began to fall away as challengers.
But as Inter began to focus more on the Champions League, its form started to dip in the league. In five league games between mid-February and mid-March, Inter won once and drew three times.
At the same time, AS Roma was in the middle of a remarkable run of form that saw it go 24 games unbeaten, including a crucial 2-1 win over Inter.
When Inter drew with Fiorentina, Roma's win over Atalanta put it top. The two teams switched positions until Roma lost at home to Sampdoria three games from the end.
A week later, Roma had to rely on city rival Lazio doing it a favor at home against Inter. It didn't happen, and Inter had little difficulty winning 2-0 to set up its charge to league glory.
-- Jeremy Inson
League title is Barcelona's consolation prize
MADRID — Barcelona's 20th Spanish league title came as some consolation in a season where retaining the Champions League at the home of archrival Real Madrid looked to be the top priority.
Barcelona sealed the defence of its league crown by beating Valladolid 4-0 on Sunday. Its tally of 99 points left it three clear of Madrid, whose two defeats to its Catalan rival meant it had no chance of ending a two-year trophyless run even if the two sides ended the season level on points.
Led by the mighty scoring boot of Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola's team managed to hold off Madrid for the second straight year.
Expectations had been high at Barcelona after its treble-winning previous season, especially with the Champions League final being played at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Instead, Inter Milan will play Bayern Munich there on May 22 after knocking Barcelona out in the semifinals.
A season after Barcelona won six trophies, it must take solace in claiming only one. Sevilla will play Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, while the European Supercup and Club World Cup are not available this time around.
"When you have such a high number of points and you reach the Champions League semifinals, you can never say you are a victim of your success," Guardiola said after his side's Champions League exit.
There was no Barcelona comedown after losing out to Inter. It won its next five games to ensure Madrid would not take its record 32nd crown in a season where it spent over €250 ($309 million) on players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.
Lost in the European exit are some spectacular league numbers that may never be matched.
Barcelona ends the season with a record number of league points and 31 league wins while it suffered only one defeat, a 2-1 loss at Atletico Madrid — the only top-flight Spanish stadium where victory has eluded Guardiola after two seasons in charge.
Messi, the 10th Barcelona player to win the "Pichichi" award for the season's top scorer, matched former Brazil striker Ronaldo's club record for league and overall goals in a season. Ronaldo scored 47 in 49 games during the 1996-97 season, with 34 in the league.
Midfielder Xavi Hernandez continued to guide the team with fellow Spain international Andres Iniesta plagued by injuries, while center back Gerard Pique continued his emergence as one of Spain's biggest talents and a perfect complement to the rugged Carles Puyol. Daniel Alves proved decisive again at right back.
But Guardiola is certain to face questions over his decision to swap striker Samuel Eto'o for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a decision the young Catalan coach based on a "feeling" last summer. Eto'o will play in his third Champions League final for Inter, having already won the trophy twice with Barcelona.
Ibrahimovic scored 21 goals overall, 16 coming in the league — including the winner in a 1-0 win over Madrid at the Camp Nou. But the Sweden striker tailed off over the second half of the season despite a two-goal performance against Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Spanish media reports suggest Ibrahimovic may be leaving in the offseason, with Valencia striker David Villa coming in as Joan Laporta's last act before stepping down as president.
The emergence of youth-team players like Pedro Rodriguez and Jeffren Suarez, and the re-emergence of teenage striker Bojan Krkic, could see Thierry Henry depart, although the France striker still has one year left on his contract.
The June 13 elections could be decisive for the Catalan club, with Guardiola ready to sign his one-year extension only if he is pleased with the new president.
Still, the future is bright if Guardiola stays at the helm with next year's Champions League final being played at Wembley — where the former Barcelona midfielder helped the club in 1992 to the first of its three titles in Europe's top-tier competition.
-- Paul Logothetis
Blanc quits Bordeaux, interested in France post
PARIS — Laurent Blanc quit as Bordeaux coach on Sunday and confirmed he wants to succeed Raymond Domenech as France manager after the World Cup.
Bordeaux, which wanted Blanc to see out his contract and stay with the club until June 2011, said Sunday in a statement that it will hold talks with the French federation over compensation.
Blanc, who guided Bordeaux to the French league title in 2009, was part of the France team that won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.
The French federation has already offered Blanc the job and is expected to announce him as Domenech's successor next week after a meeting of its federal council.
"The FC Girondins de Bordeaux have just been informed by their coach Laurent Blanc that he wishes to respond favorably to an offer by the FFF to become the France coach," Bordeaux said.
The 44-year-old Blanc ended Bordeaux's 10-year wait for the French title in just his second season in charge and looked poised for another successful year when his team held a 10-point lead atop the French standings at the winter break.
But a run of poor results saw Bordeaux slump to sixth place and fail to qualify for European competition next year.
Bordeaux criticized the French federation after its president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said earlier this season he would be interested to see Blanc replace Domenech.
Bordeaux said the "damaging statements by members of the FFF have undoubtedly affected the end of the 2009-10 season."
Escalettes said Blanc informed him of the decision to leave in a phone call.
"This declaration of interest rejoices me," Escalettes said in a statement. "Laurent Blanc's sporting past, personality and charisma fit the profile of the coach the FFF is looking for to consolidate France ambitions beyond the World Cup."
Blanc, who told the Bordeaux players of his decision on Sunday morning, is a popular figure among the fans who love the attacking football mentality he developed at Bordeaux, and enjoys strong support from his former France teammates.
Domenech will step aside after the World Cup, ending a troubled six-year reign.
"I'm not the one who decides on this," Domenech said about Blanc's likely appointment. "He (Blanc) proved he was able to be in charge at club level. But coaching a national team is a different job. He will have to be ready immediately because the (Euro 2012) qualifying campaign starts in September."
France will start its World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 11.
As a player, Blanc started out in Montpellier, where he signed his first professional contract in 1983. He also played for Naples, Marseille and Barcelona before ending his illustrious career under Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. He also played for France 97 times, scoring 16 goals.
Blanc replaced Ricardo as Bordeaux coach at the end of the 2006-07 season and led the club to a second-place finish in the French league, winning the coach of the year award.
- Samuel Petrequin
Chelsea prioritizes Champions League after double
LONDON — Chelsea's players set their sights on winning the club's first Champions League title after delivering the London club's first double.
Chelsea defended its FA Cup on Saturday by beating Portsmouth 1-0 — a week after capturing its first Premier League title since 2006. As Chelsea's players paraded the two trophies on an open-top bus parade of west London on Sunday, goalkeeper Petr Cech was focusing on the trophy that has eluded him.
"I hope this is the first achievement of a long cycle, that we will be able to defend the title and compete every year to win the double," Cech said. "As well, we can't forget it is just the Champions League missing for this club. I can see this club going forward again, this is a massive moment and it can give us a lot of confidence for next year."
Cech was part of the Chelsea team that lost the 2008 Champions League final on penalty kicks to Manchester United. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has experience of winning Europe's elite club competition in 2003 and 2007 as AC Milan coach.
"This team has the quality to win the Champions League without any changes," Ancelotti said at the end of his first season at Chelsea.
Neither Deco nor Ricardo Carvalho played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and are likely to leave, while midfielder Joe Cole is yet to agree a new contract, with his current deal ending in the offseason.
"My focus is the World Cup now," Cole said. "I've got an opportunity to go to South Africa, I want to go there and I want to play, so that's where my full focus has to be."
Ballack's scan delayed by swelling
FRANKFURT — Germany captain Michael Ballack's right ankle was still too swollen for a scan Sunday and it will not be conducted before Monday morning.
Ballack will talk with Germany coach Joachim Loew after the scan to decide whether he will join the national team training camp in Sicily or first visit the team's doctor in Munich, the German football federation said.
The Chelsea midfielder was injured in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.
Ballack's injury has raised concern about the 33-year-old captain's fitness for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, but Loew said he was relieved that nothing was broken. Ballack has made 98 international appearances for Germany.
"When we learned the news before the training Saturday we were greatly concerned," Loew said on the federation's website. "But I am not really worried that he could miss the World Cup. The positive news is that nothing is broken. But he is a lot of pain and his mobility is limited.
"Surely he won't be able to train for a few days and we need to see whether he has something wrong with his ligaments."
Germany's incomplete squad has been in Sicily since Friday. Seven players from Bayern Munich will join the team after next Saturday's Champions League final against Inter Milan. Four Werder Bremen players are on the way to the Italian island after Saturday's German Cup final, which Bayern won 4-0.
Germany opens its World Cup campaign against Australia and also plays Serbia and Ghana in its group.
Spurs captain King signs new deal through 2012
LONDON— Tottenham captain Ledley King has signed a new contract that commits him to the north London club until 2012.
The 29-year-old center back has chronic knee problems that limit how much he trains and plays, but he remains a key part of the Spurs defense.
And after helping Tottenham secure a Champions League place for the first time earlier this month, King was included in England's provisional 30-man World Cup squad.
"I have been here since I was a schoolboy and I could never see myself going anywhere else," King said. "This is where I want to continue playing my football."
King, who has made 290 first-team appearances since turning professional in 1998, hopes Spurs can reach the Champions League group stage by winning a playoff in August.
"We've got the prospect of Champions League football to look forward to next season and, with the quality of players we have, I believe we are on the brink of something big," King said. "It is an exciting time for the club with a new training ground being built and plans for a new stadium."
Messi equals Barcelona scoring record
MADRID — Lionel Messi equaled Barcelona's scoring record by netting two goals in the final match of the season to help the club retain the Spanish league title on Sunday.
Argentina forward Messi struck in the 62nd and 76th minutes of Barcelona's 4-0 win over Valladolid at Camp Nou stadium to take his league tally to 34 goals — and his total in all competitions to 47.
Brazil striker Ronaldo scored the same amount of goals for the club in the 1996-97 season.
"Messi is the best I've ever seen. Without doubt. By a long way. He's a one-off," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said.
Only three other players have scored 30 or more league goals in a season for Barcelona — Mariano Martin, Romario and Samuel Eto'o.
Messi, the 2009 World Player of the Year, finished the season as the Spanish league's top scorer and won the Golden Boot, which goes to Europe's top marksman.
Mourinho still won't reveal future
SIENA, Italy — Jose Mourinho has again refused to dedicate his future to Inter Milan, despite clinching his second consecutive Serie A title Sunday.
While he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, Mourinho said he wouldn't address the issue until after Inter faces Bayern Munich in the Champions League final Saturday.
Mourinho told reporters that after the final he's "going to take a vacation. I need two or three days to think about myself."
Before Inter beat Siena 1-0 to clinch its fifth successive title, Inter president Massimo Moratti acknowledged he didn't know Mourinho's plans either.
Moratti said "we don't know what Mourinho is thinking. So I think it's fairly tough to say what will happen."
Mourinho's contract with Inter expires after next season.
Report: Fenerbahce fans attack Turkish police
ISTANBUL — Television reports say Fenerbahce fans threw bottles and stones at police guarding the VIP entrance at the team's stadium after narrowly losing the Turkish league title to Bursaspor.
Private Haber Turk television showed police using water canons to disperse hundreds of fans outside the stadium Sunday. The station said some fans were injured by bottles thrown during the incident.
Fans inside the stadium ripped up seats and threw them on to the field. They also set some seats on fire.
Fenerbahce drew 1-1 with Trabzonspor to allow Bursaspor to win its first Turkish league title after beating Besiktas 2-1.
Inter fans celebrate title in Milan
MILAN — Thousands of Inter Milan fans have invaded Milan's Piazza Duomo to celebrate the team winning the Serie A title.
Waving flags and blasting horns, the fans gathered within minutes of Inter's 1-0 win over Siena on the final day of the season. The team was expected to show up in the piazza by Milan's cathedral later Sunday upon its return from Siena.
