Soccer Capsules: Eight players suspended from Mexico team
MEXICO CITY — Eight players from Mexico’s team for the Copa America were suspended Tuesday for six months for violating team training rules.
Mexican federation officials said at a news conference they would not disclose details. News reports in Mexico said the incidents took place in Ecuador during training and involved players having female guests in their rooms.
The players named are: Israel Jimenez, Nestor Vidrio, Jonathan Dos Santos, Marco Fabian, Jorge Hernandez, Javier Cortes, David Cabrera and Nestor Calderon.
Mexico is fielding a youth team for the Copa America without stars such as Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.
Mexico’s Copa America team defeated Ecuador 1-0 on Saturday in its final warm-up match. The incidents are reported to have taken place after the match.
"I am not going into details of what happened," said Hector Gonzalez Inarritu, director of national teams selection. "The rules were broken, the code of discipline was broken and I have to act."
The players were also each fined $4,100.
"The players confessed," Gonzalez added. "They are very hurt, very sorry and they have said they are sorry to their fans. ... They are assuming the consequences."
Mexico quickly called up eight new players as replacements: Kristian Alvarez (Chivas), Diego de Buen (Pumas), Antonio Gallardo (Chivas), Edgar Pacheco (Tigres), Alan Pulido (Tigres), Ulises Daila (Chivas), Carlos Emilio Orrantia (Pumas), Osvaldo Alanis (Estudiantes).
The Copa America opens on Friday in La Plata, Argentina, with host Argentina playing Bolivia.
Mexico opens play on July 4 against Chile in Group C, which also includes Peru and Uruguay.
A similar incident took play in September 2010 when two players — Carlos Vela and Efrain Juarez — were suspended for six months following a party after an international friendly against Colombia in Monterrey, Mexico. Eleven other players were fined.
The incident involved a late-night party involving unidentified women.
Argentina, Brazil to face Copa America challengers
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — If searching for a team other than Argentina or Brazil to win the Copa America, look across to neighboring Uruguay.
It is the only Latin American country to reach last year's World Cup semifinals, eclipsing the performance of Brazil and Argentina, both losing in the quarterfinals. Chile, Colombia and Paraguay are also real threats to win the South American title.
"We have to capitalize on our experience in the World Cup, correct what we have to, and be prepared," said Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, whose team will be similar to the one at South Africa. That squad was led by Diego Forlan, voted the best player in the tournament.
Host Argentina and Brazil are still the heavyweights in the Copa America, which starts Friday and runs through to July 24. They've played in the last two finals, with Brazil winning both to capture four of the past five titles.
Argentina and Uruguay have won the championship 14 times and Brazil eight times. After that, nobody is close. Paraguay and Peru have two each, with single championships for Colombia and Bolivia. The dominance of the big three is hardly surprising since Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay have combined to win nine of the 19 World Cups.
"I would bet it will be another final between Brazil and Argentina," said former Brazilian national team player Socrates. "This forecast is no surprise, but it's what everyone expects."
The Copa America is widely regarded as third most important international competition behind the World Cup and European Championship. the tournament dates from 1916 — older than the World Cup or European Championship —and has been graced by some of the greatest players in the game: Pele and Maradona, to name just two.
It also comes with a quirk. Two teams are invited as guests to round out the field to 12. This year it's Mexico and Costa Rica. Both will be fielding youth teams, shadows of the squads that competed at the Gold Cup in the United States.
Mexico, which defeated the United States 4-2 in the final, will be without exciting Manchester United striker Javer "Chicharito" Hernandez. The team will be led by Tottenham forward Giovani Dos Santos, who will play with mostly Mexico-based players.
Japan was scheduled to play, but backed out after the deadly March 11 earthquake and tsunami. It was replaced by Costa Rica.
"Because we are playing with youth players, it doesn't mean we will not play well," said Luis Fernando Tena, an assistant to Mexico coach Jose Manuel De la Torre. "We have a good generation of young players, and we are going to compete and try to win the thing."
The final is set for River Plate's Monumental Stadium. However, the venue could now be in doubt after riots on Sunday by River Plate hooligans following the club's relegation to the second division. Vandals ripped out seats, tore up concession areas and left the stadium looking like a war zone.
In effect, the stadium is a crime scene. A prosecutor has ordered the stadium closed until the turnstiles can be inspected. He has suggested the legal capacity of 40,000 people was exceeded by 12,000. He said it will remain closed until his work is done.
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, and the Argentine Football Association insist the final will be played at Monumental as scheduled.
-- Stephen Wade
Revamped Brazil seeks third straight Copa title
SAO PAULO (AP) — Many of the World Cup players are absent, leaving young talent in charge of bringing Brazil its third straight Copa America title.
The South American championship marks the first official competition for coach Mano Menezes since he took over following last year's disappointing elimination in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.
The likes of Luis Fabiano and Kaka from the team that lost to the Netherlands in the World Cup have not made the trip to Argentina, and former stars such as Ronaldinho and Adriano also won't be there.
The team will be led instead by youngsters such as Neymar, Alexandre Pato, Lucas and Paulo Henrique Ganso — who have a chance to brighten the future of Brazil.
"These players need to be ready for the 2014 World Cup and playing in the Copa America will be extremely important to give them some much needed experience," Menezes said. "A good result will be important and we want to win the tournament, but I think one of the priorities for us with these young players will be to gain experience."
Neymar, who led Santos to the Copa Libertadores title last week, is the most talked about player in Brazilian football with clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City reportedly trying to land the 19-year-old forward.
"I've always wanted to play in the most important championships in the world. Playing for Santos and in the national team allows me to fulfill this dream," Neymar said. "My goal is to win a World Cup and I hope it happens in 2014. But there is still a lot of work to do until then."
Ganso, Neymar's teammate at Santos, was not picked by Menezes in the preliminary squad preparing for the Copa America because of a muscle injury in his right thigh. But the 21-year-old playmaker recovered in time and has made the team.
Menezes also will be able to count on AC Milan striker Pato, who injured his right shoulder in the team's final Italian league match but has also healed in time.
Sao Paulo's Lucas is another promising star playing in Brazil, and this year he teamed with Neymar to lead Brazil to the South American Under-20 championship.
Menezes said he will have to mix in some experienced players in the squad, however, in order to have a shot at winning the title.
"It will be a very difficult tournament," Menezes said. "Argentina hasn't won the Copa America in several years and will be under pressure to win it at home, so we can't take it lightly."
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar, right back Maicon, defender Lucio and striker Robinho are some of the experienced players who made the final squad.
Brazil played two friendlies at home before heading to Argentina — drawing with the Netherlands 0-0 on June 4 and beating Romania 1-0 on June 7 in Sao Paulo. The match against Romania marked the farewell for former superstar Ronaldo, who retired from football this year.
Playing at home and with Lionel Messi, Argentina seems to have an edge, but Brazil dominated the competition in the last decade. It has won the last two tournaments and four of the last five since 1997. Colombia won the 2001 Copa America at home to break Brazil's dominance.
Brazil beat Argentina in the last two finals. In Peru in 2004, striker Adriano scored in the last minute of regulation and Brazil won on penalties, while in Venezuela in 2007 the Brazilians routed the rivals 3-0 to clinch the squad's eighth title.
Brazil will be in Group B along with Paraguay, Venezuela and Ecuador. The team's first match will be against Venezuela on Sunday in La Plata. It then faces Paraguay on July 9 in Cordoba and Ecuador four days later, also in Cordoba.
"Argentina is the favorite, there is no doubt," Menezes said. "But that's only in theory, it still needs to be played out on the field. Being the favorite doesn't make you the automatic winner."
-- Tales Azzoni
Pressure on Argentina to win Copa America at home
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Anything less than winning the Copa America will be a disaster for Argentina, an elite football country that hasn't won a major international event since this South American tournament in 1993.
Every ingredient is present for success. Argentina is the host nation, new coach Sergio Batista has handled himself well in the wake of Diego Maradona's acrimonious departure, and the team has the world's best player in Lionel Messi.
"I hope things go well for us," Messi said. "Everyone is very excited about the Copa America. It's been a while since Argentina has won an important title. We need some joy for ourselves and our fans."
Messi will be up against it, too.
He has rarely taken his Barcelona form into international matches. For many Argentines, he is an outsider. He left Argentina for Barcelona as a youth player, spent his formative years in Spain and has never played for one of the country's famous clubs.
His introverted personality also leaves many Argentines cold. He seldom jokes around, seems uncomfortable speaking and lacks the charisma of Diego Maradona or his Argentina teammate Carlos Tevez, who is by far the country's best loved player.
Messi, of course, could win the popularity contest with a few goals and a Copa America title on July 24.
The final is to be played at River Plate's Monumental Stadium, which was closed after Sunday's rioting following River Plate's relegation to the second division. A prosecutor ordered the stadium shuttered — making it a crime scene — to inspect the turnstiles, with suspicions 12,000 people over the 40,000 limit were allowed to enter.
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, and the Argentine Football Association say the venue will be open and repaired for the Copa final.
Argentines need a title and an improved image.
Brazil beat Argentina in the last two finals — 3-0 in 2007 and 4-2 on penalties in 2004 following a 2-2 draw. In addition, Brazil has won four of the last five finals, also defeating Uruguay and Bolivia.
Batista has brought some new faces into Maradona's old team, which was humiliated 4-0 by Germany last year in the World Cup quarterfinals. Two players shunned by Maradona are back — defender Javier Zanetti and Inter Milan teammate Esteban Cambiasso. Others who were not in South Africa include defender Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), midfielder Ever Banega (Valencia) and defender Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow).
Messi, of course, is the key. The questions revolve around who will partner him in attack. It's a long list.
In Argentina's last warm-up, a 4-0 victory over Albania, Batista went with Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli) and Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid) in the first half, and then sent on Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) and Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid) — Maradona's son-in-law — in the second. Messi, Lavezzi, Tevez and Aguero all scored.
Batista, who won Olympic gold for Argentina in the 2008 Olympics, is a great admirer of Barcelona's quick touches and triangulated passes. He's tried to get his team to play that way, which is likely to make Messi more at home.
Few teams have the attacking options of Argentina, which also includes Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid) and Diego Milito (Inter Milan) and midfield depth anchored by Javier Mascherano (Barcelona).
Argentina open on Friday against Bolivia and also faces Colombia and Costa Rica — which is fielding an underage team — in group play. There is little doubt about reaching the July 16-17 quarterfinals with the semifinals looming from July 19-20.
Batista has the advantage of being little-known outside Argentina. But this has not kept him from being criticized by Maradona, who got in the middle of a dispute between Batista and Tevez.
Batista left Tevez off the national team after he declined to play a friendly in November in Qatar against Brazil. Batista was unhappy with Tevez's excuse for not playing, but Maradona sided with Tevez.
That dispute seems to be history. Tevez scored against Albania and was wildly cheered by Argentine fans during the match at Monumental Stadium.
"I was surprised by the reaction I got," Tevez said. "But I am happy to play in front of my people."
-- Stephen Wade
Eight venues set for Copa America
Eight venues are being used for the Copa America, several in smaller cities that are largely unknown outside Argentina. The only match in Buenos Aires is on the final on July 24 at River Plate's Monumental Stadium. Keeping Buenos Aires off the schedule seems odd. Officials have suggested it's an attempt to spread the wealth. Smaller cities may also present fewer security problems.
BUENOS AIRES: The capital and largest city in Argentina, a metropolitan area of 12 million that dominates life — and football life — in the country. However, this time the only match will be the final at Monumental Stadium, considered the national stadium and the home of Buenos Aires club River Plate. The facility was built in 1938 and remodeled for the 1978 World Cup. It's in the leafy northern suburb of Nunez.
CORDOBA: This is Argentina's second largest city, in the center of the northern half of the country. It's about 700 kilometers (420 miles) west of Buenos Aires. Matches will be played at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, which was built for the 1978 World Cup. The city is famous for its pleasant climate, tourism, and views of the mountains nearby.
MENDOZA: This is Argentina's fourth largest metropolitan area. Its fame derives from its wine production. The city is the center of the largest wine producing area in Latin America. It's also near Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere (6,962 meters; 22,841 feet). Matches will be played at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas.
LA PLATA: Located 60 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Buenos Aires, the venue will be the most modern used in the Copa America. The all-seat stadium was opened in 2003 and will host the opening game on Friday between Argentina and Bolivia. A new roof was recently installed and is intended to cover the entire seating area.
SAN SALVADOR DE JUJUY: This is a provincial city in the far northwest near the borders with Bolivia and Chile. It's almost 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from Buenos Aires and one of the centers of Argentina's indigenous culture. The city is near the Andes with an elevation of 1,200 meters (4,000 feet). The multi-use stadium has a capacity for 24,000.
SALTA: The city and province is also in the northwest. The city has an elevation of 1,100 meters (3,600 feet). The province is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful landscape, outdoor possibilities and wine production. Matches will be at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.
SAN JUAN: Another city located slightly at altitude, this time about 640 meters (2,000 feet). Like neighboring Mendoza, it is famous for good wine and the production of olives. Matches will be played at Estadio del Bicentenario.
SANTA FE: About 300 kilometers (200 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe is the center of Argentina's most famous meat and grain producing area. Santa Fe is also known for having the country's best beef and steaks, and the province of the same name is the country's largest producer of soybeans. Matches will be in Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez.
MLS
Kickers upsets Crew in U.S. Open Cup
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Matthew Delicate scored on a header in the 85th minute to lift the minor-league Richmond Kickers to a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Crew in a third-round match of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night.
The Kickers, who play in the United Soccer League Pro division, play in the quarterfinals at Sporting Kansas City of the MLS on July 12.
Columbus, a loser to Seattle in the Open Cup final last season, had a chance to tie in the closing seconds when Bernardo Anor's corner kick found the head of Tommy Heinemann. Delicate appeared to deflect the ball with his shoulder and it went off the arm of teammate Henry Kalungi at the goal line.
The Crew unsuccessfully appealed for a handball and the Kickers avenged a loss to Columbus in 2002, the year Columbus won its only Open Cup.
"We've done it before so it's nothing new to us," Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw said of beating an MLS team in the Open Cup. "The big thing is we've done it on the road."
Heinemann had a right-footed one-timer off Robbie Rogers' goal kick denied by Ronnie Pascale in the 80th minute that would have put the short-handed Crew ahead.
The Crew lost defender Danny O'Rourke to a red card in the 67th minute for a retaliatory hit on Ryan Heins and the Kickers were able to take advantage as extra time loomed.
Second-half substitute Edson Elcock laced a 45-yard ball perfectly to Delicate near the left side of the goal box. He dove ahead of defender Korey Veeder and put the ball into the upper right corner for his third goal of the tournament.
He has nine goals in his Open Cup career to rank fifth in the modern pro era.
Richmond took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute on a bending 18-yarder by Nozomi Hiroyama. The Crew equalized 17 minutes later on Cole Grossman's goal from the right side of the penalty area to complete a six-pass sequence.
"I was actually very surprised how good Columbus was even with the majority of their starters not playing," Cowlishaw said. "We were quite fortunate to be tied (1-1) at half."
That changed in the second half and the Crew, who started five rookies who have seen little of MLS play, fell to 19-11-1 in the Open Cup — a competition that began in 1914 and is open to all teams at the pro and amateur levels in the United States.
"I'm disappointed," Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. "This is a group (of players) fighting for one of the starting positions. I'm so disappointed."
Chicago Fire advance in U.S. Open Cup
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Diego Chaves scored in the 37th minute and the Chicago Fire defeated the Rochester Rhinos 1-0 Tuesday in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup at Sahlen's Stadium.
The Fire, who have allowed two goals in the last seven games, advance to the quarterfinals on July 12. The Rhinos dominated possession in the first half but a lapse on defense allowed Chicago to grab the lead late in the half.
Chicago midfielder Corben Bone sent a hard shot toward the box from 20 yards out. Goalkeeper Neal Kitson dove to punch the ball out, but sent it right to Chaves, who was unmarked at the top of the box. Chaves scored on a bouncing shot.
Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson made one save to earn the shutout for the Major League Soccer club.
Chicago midfielder Corben Bone sent a hard shot toward the box from 20 yards away. Rhinos goalkeeper Neal Kitson dove to punch the ball out but sent it right to Chaves, who was unmarked at the top of the box. Chaves scored on a bouncing shot that beat the out-of-position Kitson.
The Rhinos, of the lower division USL Pro league, had several scoring chances on crosses early in the game but could not get a shot on goal. Rochester forward Kendall Jagdeosingh had a wide-open net from 10 yards away in the 16th minute but sent the ball over the crossbar.
The Fire, who only brought 18 players to Rochester, took control of the game following their momentum-breaking goal.
Chicago outshot the Rhinos 11-2 in the second half and put six of those shots on goal. The Fire also dominated the second half physically, totaling 12 fouls to knock the Rhinos off their gameplan.
Chicago goalkeeper Sean Johnson made one save to earn the shutout. Kitson finished with seven saves for the Rhinos, who won two Cup games earlier this month to advance to the third round.
Fucito and Sounders advance in U.S. Open Cup
TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — Mike Fucito scored a goal in each half Tuesday night as the Seattle Sounders began their pursuit of a third straight U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 victory against the Kitsap Pumas.
The Sounders have won back-to-back Open Cups since joining Major League Soccer in 2009. They are currently tied for second in the MLS West at 8-4-7.
Nikolas Besagno, a former MLS No. 1 overall draft pick by Real Salt Lake in 2005, scored for Kitsap. The Pumas, based in Bremerton, Wash., about an hour west of Seattle, are one of the top teams in the USL Premier Development League.
The Sounders advance to the quarterfinals at home on July 12 against the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.
Fucito put the Sounders on the board in the 39th minute at Starfire Sports Stadium on the grounds of their training complex.
Forward Nate Jaqua, who scored five goals for Seattle in last year's Open Cup, was on the set-up end for this one, heading a cross down to Fucito at the top of the penalty area on the left side. Fucito half-volleyed it into the back right corner past Pumas goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.
Fucito doubled the lead to 2-0 midway through the 62nd minute. He took a through ball from Michael Seamon into the left side of the box, deked his way around Meredith, who had come way off his line, and fired a 12-yarder from the right of the penalty spot into the back left corner.
Besagno half-vollyed a shot off his shoetop and into the roof of the net in the 71st minute for the Pumas.
Kitsap nearly tied it at 2-2 midway through the 83rd minute when second-half substitute Warlen Silva went down the left side on a counterattack, got a wide-open one-on-one chance against Sounders goalkeeper Terry Boss, but drove his shot into the outside of the net.
Having come off two MLS games in four days Thursday and Sunday, the Sounders played just one regular starter (midfielder Osvaldo Alonso) against Kitsap. Seattle's starting 11 on Tuesday included four players seeing their first action of any kind this year.
The Sounders are now 10-0-1 in Open Cup play the past three seasons.
Real Salt Lake advances in U.S. Open Cup
SANDY, Utah (AP) — Tony Beltran and Jean Alexandre scored late first-half goals to help Real Salt Lake advance in the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads on Tuesday night.
RSL took a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute when Beltran took a pass from Jean Alexandre and slotted it home inside the near post. It was the first goal for Beltran in any competition since being drafted by Salt Lake.
"I've been wanting to score for a long time," Beltran said. "I feel like I've been getting closer and closer and more and more confident every game. I'm glad I was able to contribute tonight personally."
RSL coach John Kreis said he has no doubt Beltran will find the net a couple of more times this year. For his part, Beltran credits finally breaking through on the offensive end to a simple case of learning the ropes as a pro soccer player.
"This is my fourth year and I think each year the coaches have done a really good job of bringing me along," Beltran said. "They've helped me out mentally and physically and I just feel more confident this year."
Alexandre shook off a challenge attempt from Wilmington goalkeeper Kyle Polak and easily blasted the ball down the center of the box in the 44th minute.
Andy Williams nearly came through in the 81st minute with a right-footer from the top of the box. Williams' shot fell just short of its target when the ball caught a piece off the crossbar and sailed across the end line.
RSL advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 97 year old tournament for the first time in franchise history. They will face FC Dallas on July 12th.
"It wasn't a perfect game," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "It's not a game I think any of us walk out of here ecstatic about it. But we got the job done."
Advancing means a packed schedule in July just grew a little tighter for RSL. They will play FC Dallas twice in less than a week — in Utah on July 9th and at Dallas three days later.
Salt Lake is used to it after going through the CONCACAF Champions League, a destination the team hopes to reach again with a U.S. Open Cup championship.
"It will be a test," RSL midfielder Will Johnson said. "We need to get some guys healthy. Get ready to go and get ready for some hard tests. But some good challenges. It will be good for this group."
Galaxy beat Blues 2-1 in third round of U.S. Open Cup
FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) — Omar Gonzalez and Mike Magee scored in a 6-minute span late in the second half to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Blues on Tuesday night in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.
The Galaxy will face the defending champion Seattle Sounders FC in the quarterfinals July 12.
"I thought the L.A. Blues played quite well," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "They really got after us and pressured us a good part of the evening."
Blues defender Nelson Akwari also praised his team.
"I think we did OK," Akwari said. "We were kind of nervous to start the game but to battle for the full 90 minutes is pretty impressive."
Gonzalez tied the score at 1-1 in the 75th minute on a 7-yard header off Juninho's 37-yard free kick.
Magee then scored the winning goal in the 81st minute. Juninho's 33-yard free kick found Gonzalez at the right side of the penalty area. Gonzalez headed the ball to Magee, who converted from 11 yards.
"When we went down a goal, I told the guys on the sideline that I wouldn't be surprised if we and won this game," Arena said. "We created a lot of chances. It was just a matter of time."
The Blues took a 1-0 lead in the 62nd minute on Cesar Rivera's 5-yard shot.
The Blues, an expansion team in the United Soccer League's Pro Division, played with 10 men in second-half stoppage time after Israel Sesay received a red card in the 90th minute.
Neither Landon Donovan nor David Beckham dressed for the Galaxy. Donovan played for the United States in the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup. Beckham has back spasms.
The U.S. Open Cup, which began in 1914, is an invitational tournament for amateur and professional teams to compete for the national soccer championship.
FC Dallas beats Orlando City 3-2 in U.S. Open Cup
FRISCO (AP) — Milton Rodriguez scored the second goal of extra time, his game-winning header coming in the 94th minute for FC Dallas in a 3-2 victory over Orlando City SC on Tuesday night to advance to the quarterfinals in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Yordany Alvarez, who just missed scoring for Orlando City in the 84th and 91st minutes, tied the game at 2-all in the 93rd minute. Then with only a few seconds of stoppage time left, Rodriguez scored.
Orlando City, a USL Pro League team, was playing its third road game in five days. Rodriguez scored the only goal when FC Dallas beat Orlando City in a preseason match.
FC Dallas hosts the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals game July 12 against fellow MLS team Real Salt Lake.
Red Bulls beat FC New York 2-1 in U.S. Open Cup
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Corey Hertzog and John Rooney scored seven minutes apart in the second half and the New York Red Bulls rallied for a 2-1 victory over FC New York in a third-round game in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night.
Rooney, the brother of Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, got the game-winner in the 65th minute with a blast from just outside the penalty area for his first goal with the Red Bulls. Hertzog had tied the game in the 58th minute.
FC New York, a USL Pro League team, had taken a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute when Owen Morrison took a pass from Don Smart and beat goalkeeper Greg Sutton to the top left corner with a 25-yard shot.
The Red Bulls will play the Fire in Chicago on July 12 in the quarterfinals.
Sporting K.C. eases into U.S. Open quarters
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Milos Stojcev and Kei Kamara scored goals a minute apart in the second half of Sporting Kansas City's 3-0 victory against the semipro Chicago Fire PDL on Tuesday night.
Kansas City has not lost in four appearances — three Major League Soccer matches and Tuesday night's game — in the new Livestrong Sporting Park.
Sporting will host the Richmond Kickers, a USL Pro team, on July 12. Richmond upset MLS' Columbus Crew 2-1 earlier Tuesday.
Teal Bunbury put Kansas City up early, scoring in the third minute on an assist from Luke Sassano. Stojcev made it 2-0 in the 58th minute and Kamara scored on a diving header in the 59th to make it 3-0.
Elsewhere
South Africa pledges support for fixing probe
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The South African Football Association said Tuesday it wants to believe that two of its World Cup warmup games last year were fair, but will cooperate with any FIFA investigation into whether they were fixed.
In a statement, SAFA condemned "in the strongest terms" allegations of match-fixing in the friendlies against Colombia and Guatemala in May 2010, which were preparation games for Bafana Bafana's hosting of the World Cup. But South Africa's association also pledged its support to FIFA to "root out the scourge" of fixing.
"As things stand, we want to believe that the matches under question were played in the spirit of fair play and that the outcome of the investigation will reveal efforts put by respective teams," SAFA said.
The statement came two days after a Sunday newspaper reported that both South Africa matches were under suspicion as part of a wide-ranging FIFA probe into match-fixing in world football.
World football's ruling body won't comment on whether the May 31, 2010 match against Guatemala is being investigated. South Africa won 5-0 in a game that included three penalties for handball.
However, FIFA said it is probing a friendly this month between Nigeria and Argentina, where Nigeria recorded a surprise 4-1 win in a match with two penalties and which showed suspicious betting patterns.
SAFA said it had no knowledge of any FIFA investigation into last year's friendlies, but promised stern action against any of its officials if they were involved in fixing.
"While no official notice has been communicated to us by FIFA, SAFA is strongly against any form of bribery, unfair play and dishonesty," SAFA said in Tuesday's statement. "We would like to take this opportunity to assure FIFA of our unqualified cooperation and support should they institute any form of investigation.
"Should any of our administrative members be found to have played any role in the matter ... the Association will, without hesitation, take appropriate action against the culprits in order to protect its integrity and for the good of the game."
Both the South Africa-Guatemala and Nigeria-Argentina matches were handled by the same referee, Ibrahim Chaibou of Niger.
South Africa's friendly against Colombia — which was played four days before the Guatemala match — was the first game at Johannesburg's newly finished Soccer City stadium, the venue for the World Cup final. The hosts won 2-1 with all the goals coming from penalties. One of them was also ordered to be retaken.
One of the penalties in the South Africa-Guatemala match was awarded after the ball hit a player well outside the penalty area.
No players have been accused of wrongdoing.
Chaibou was also the referee when Bahrain beat a fake Togo team 3-0 in an infamous international last September. That match appeared to confirm growing fears that international matches were being targeted for betting coups by organized crime gangs.
FIFA is currently engaged in what it calls a "large scale investigation" into manipulation of football matches for betting syndicates.
The Zimbabwe Football Association told The Associated Press that a FIFA anti-corruption unit, led by the body's head of security, Chris Eaton, was expected in the southern African country this week to help wrap up a match-fixing investigation there involving national players.
South Korea's football association recently imposed life bans on 10 players, including South Korea international Kim Dong-hyun, for fixing matches in its domestic K-League and damaging investigations are also under way in Finland, Italy, Greece and at a lower level in Malaysia.
-- Gerald Imray
Santos: Five European clubs say they want Neymar
SAO PAULO (AP) — Santos' president says five European clubs have contacted him to try to sign young Brazil striker Neymar.
Luis Alvaro Ribeiro said late Monday that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and Anzhi Makhachkala of Russia are willing to pay the €45 million ($64 million) buyout clause in Neymar's contract. The president told the GloboEsporte.com website he has authorized them to contact the player's representatives to start negotiating.
"They will contact the player and will make their offer, but I'm still hopeful that Neymar will decline them," Ribeiro said. "It wouldn't be a good thing for him to leave now. The 2014 World Cup will be here, all eyes will be on Brazil. He can become an idol and move to Europe with a consolidated image."
Ribeiro did not give more details on the European clubs' offers, but said the 19-year-old striker wouldn't be losing too much financially by staying close to his family until his Santos contract expires after the 2014 World Cup.
Neymar has said recently that he is happy in Brazil and that it is extremely important for him to be near his friends and relatives.
"He earns a lot of money already," said Ribeiro, who uses several marketing actions to keep the player's salary competitive even to European standards. "There is no reason for him to leave now."
Ribeiro said this time the European clubs did the right thing by contacting Santos before going to the player's representatives. He said last year Chelsea went straight to Neymar to make a €35 million ($50 million) offer that was eventually rejected by the player. At the time, Santos made an official complaint to FIFA.
Neymar is touted as a future star of the national team and is expected to lead Brazil to the title when it hosts the World Cup three years from now.
He is in Argentina with Brazil, preparing for the Copa America starting on Friday.
Last week, he helped Santos win its third Copa Libertadores title, the team's first in Latin America's most important club competition since the Pele era in the 1960s.
If he stays, he will have a chance to play with the Brazilian club in FIFA's Club World Cup in December. Barcelona has also qualified as European champion.
-- Tales Azzoni
Cyprus' ethnic split stops player joining practice
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A Greek Cypriot club said on Tuesday that a Turkish Cypriot player from the breakaway north of divided Cyprus was prevented from joining a team practice session in a development seen as sports being influenced by politics.
Alki FC spokesman Michalis Markou said that Turkish Cypriot authorities stopped forward Mustafa Yasinses on Monday from crossing into the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south to join the session.
Turkish Cypriots playing for Greek Cypriot teams is rare on the island which was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of a union with Greece.
Yasinses recently signed a four-year deal with Alki in the southern coastal resort of Larnaca, making him only the fifth Turkish Cypriot player to join a Greek Cypriot club since a ban on crossing a United Nations-controlled cease-fire line was lifted in 2003.
"From what we know, the player was due to arrive on Monday for a training session but never turned up," Markou told the Associated Press. "We were later informed that he had been denied permission to cross at the check point by the Turkish Cypriot administration."
Markou said the club would unveil their new signings next week and is "concerned with the latest developments."
Yasinses, 23, played in the unrecognized Turkish Cypriot football league before signing with Alki.
Ali Basman, the chairman of his former team, reportedly said that his club would never give their consent to Yasinses joining Alki.
According to media reports Tuesday, Turkish Cypriot authorities told Yasinses that he was not being allowed to cross into the south because of "military service obligations."
It's not the first time that Turkish Cypriot players moving to Greek Cypriot teams has sparked controversy.
In 2004, two Turkish Cypriots, Coskun Ulusoy and Ali Imam, joined club Nea Salamina amid protests from the north.
Only football clubs registered with the FIFA and UEFA-sanctioned Cyprus Football Association in the south can compete in international competitions.
Cyprus' Olympic teams feature several Turkish Cypriot athletes.
--John Leonidou
Former Czech FA chairman sentenced to 10 years
PRAGUE (AP) — Frantisek Chvalovsky, the former chairman of the Czech Republic's football association, has been convicted of credit fraud and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Prague's Municipal court issued the verdict on Tuesday, court spokeswoman Martina Lhotakova said.
Chvalovsky and four other men gave false information to the Komercni Banka in 1998 and 1999 to receive a total of 1.5 billion koruna ($88 million) to finance their business activities. But they used the money to pay back some of their debts and for personal use.
Chvalovsky and the others have to compensate the bank for its damages, the court ruled. Chvalovsky, who denied any wrongdoing, appealed. He didn't comment on the verdict on Tuesday.
He was the association chairman for eight years until 2001. As part of the police investigation, he was arrested Feb. 27, 2001 at Prague's Ruzyne International Airport when he was traveling with the national team to Macedonia for a friendly match, and spent 10 months in a detention cell. In June 2001, the association fired him from his post.
From 1996 till 2002, Chvalovsky was a member of UEFA's executive committee.
Atletico goalie De Gea readies for United offer
MADRID (AP) — Spain Under-21 goalkeeper David de Gea was set to receive an offer from Manchester United to join the English champions.
The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper wrote on his official Twitter account: "I have been invited by MANU to see the club and the city with my family and to be given an offer."
The 20-year-old De Gea was pictured entering a medical facility in Manchester by the Daily Mail newspaper on Monday.
De Gea is one of Europe's most promising goalkeepers. He helped Spain win the European U21 Championship last weekend.
United manager Alex Ferguson confirmed last month it earmarked De Gea to replace the 40-year-old Edwin Van der Sar, who retired after the 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
Atletico won the Europa League in May 2010 and beat Inter Milan for the European Supercup in August of the same year with De Gea in goal. Atletico finished seventh in the league last season.
Atletico striker Sergio Aguero, an Argentina international, is also set to depart the Spanish club, which would leave the team without its two top stars, but a hefty transfer payday.
Top SKorean footballer admits match-fixing role
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean football officials say international forward Choi Sung-kuk has admitted links to a widening match-fixing scandal.
Yonhap news agency cited an unnamed K-League official Wednesday saying Suwon Bluewings player Choi turned himself in Tuesday and the case was handed over to prosecutors.
Choi, who has made 26 appearances for South Korea, is the highest-profile player so far implicated in the match-fixing scandal.
At least 10 active K-League players have been indicted since news broke last month that footballers had allegedly fixed games' outcomes in return for cash. A yet-to-be named K-League goalkeeper acknowledged his involvement this week.
The league has offered lenient penalties for those who admit involvement by the end of June.
New contact for Euro 2012 motorway next month
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's road authorities say they will choose and contract a replacement company next month to finish a motorway for Euro 2012 after canceling a deal with a Chinese firm.
The state road authority, the GDDKiA, said on Tuesday that in two week it will chose a company from among 26 candidates.
It said on its website that a contract will be signed in July to allow the new company to quickly take up work on two segments of the A2 motorway from Warsaw to Lodz, which should be ready next June for the tournament that Poland will co-host with Ukraine.
The June target was threatened when the GDDKiA canceled a deal this month with China's COVEC company, because it was not paying Polish subcontractors and was falling behind the schedule.
Hearts suspend defender after conviction
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Hearts has suspended 20-year-old defender Craig Thomson after he was placed on a sex offenders list for inappropriate conduct toward underage girls on the Internet.
The Scottish Premier League club announced the decision on Tuesday, a day after saying it was backing Thomson, who also plays for Scotland Under-21s.
Thomson pleaded guilty this month to "to lewd, libidinous and indecent behavior," and was placed on the sex offenders list for five years and fined 4,000 pounds ($6,300).
The club's initial backing of Thomson was criticized by the official supporters' club, a children's charity and Scottish lawmakers. Hearts' water sponsor canceled its contract with the club Monday.
Cyprus' ethnic split stops player joining practice
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A Greek Cypriot club says a Turkish Cypriot player from the breakaway north of divided Cyprus was prevented from joining a team practice.
Alki FC spokesman Michalis Markou said Tuesday that Turkish Cypriot authorities stopped forward Mustafa Yasinses from crossing into the internationally recognized south to join the workout.
Turkish Cypriots playing for Greek Cypriot teams is rare. The island was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of a union with Greece.
Yasinses recently signed a four-year deal with Alki. He is only the fifth Turkish Cypriot player to join a Greek Cypriot club since a ban on crossing a United Nations-controlled cease-fire line was lifted in 2003.
Doyle, ex-Man City defender, dies at 64
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Mike Doyle, a defender who played a key role on Manchester City's title teams of the late 1960s and early '70s, has died. He was 64.
Doyle died Tuesday after being treated for liver failure. He had been in poor health the past 12 months. Doyle made more than 550 appearances for Manchester City from 1962-78. The team called him an "imposing presence" at center back.
He was on the City team that won the English title, FA Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup and the League Cup from 1968 to 1970. He captained City when it won the League Cup again in 1976. Doyle played five times for England.
Betis signs Montero on loan from Villarreal
SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — Real Betis has signed Villarreal midfielder Jefferson Montero on loan for the season. The 21-year-old Ecuador international joins the Andalucian club after playing on loan at Levante over the second half of last season. Montero is a product of Villarreal's youth ranks.
Montero is Betis' fifth offseason signing as it returns to Spain's top flight after three years in the second division.
