Soccer Capsules: Monterrey uses football to numb violence
MONTERREY, Mexico— Monterrey’s football team remains a source of pride in a city patrolled by heavily armed soldiers trying to fight off drug violence and warring cartels.
The club, nicknamed Rayados, begins its defense of the Mexican football championship on Saturday, hoping to win a third national title in the space of 18 months.
Nestled in the northeast corner of Mexico about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the border with Texas, Monterrey used to be renowned as an industrial hub, earning the Fortune magazine tag as the top place to do business in Latin America in 1999.
Nowadays the headlines are grimmer.
A week before the new season begins, the half-naked body of a woman was hung by the neck from an overpass on a busy downtown road. Last year, two town mayors in the Monterrey area were assassinated, while cartel-inspired roadblocks, shootouts between soldiers and gunmen and killings of police officers have become commonplace.
The violence has put the pleasure of boasting a successful football team into context.
"The title win gave a lot of joy to the people, but it won’t stop the murders or the grenade attacks or the shootouts," said Mario Velazquez Arro, a Rayados fan who lives a few streets from the stadium and has attended matches for almost 20 years.
"The team gave a bit of pride back to the city, but I’m sure the cartels don’t care," he added.
Velazquez Arro said he returns home straight after matches nowadays. The climate of insecurity means citizens increasingly avoid staying out at night.
State trooper Juan Garcia helped patrol the Rayados stadium for the title-winning match against Santos Laguna in December.
"The stadium was packed full," he said. "It was a major operation because of the insecurity and because so many people were on the streets, but fortunately nothing happened. People were able to forget the violence for a while and enjoy the party."
Just as the club has enjoyed increasing success on the field, however, competing drug cartels have mounted a different kind of turf war on the city’s streets.
Rayados spokesman Everardo Valdez said the club gives advice on personal security to players and staff, particularly those who come from different countries.
"The thing is to be prudent about avoiding certain areas of the city at certain times and perhaps keeping a slightly lower profile," Valdez told The Associated Press. He said he had not heard of any problems selling the city to potential new players despite the violence.
The morale boost the club has received could continue into the 2011 Clausura, which opens with a Friday match between Necaxa and Chiapas.
The Rayados attack is led by Chile international striker Humberto Suazo, who seems likely to stay with the club despite interest from European sides. Suazo, 29, scored 15 times in the 2010 Apertura after returning to Monterrey following a loan spell with Real Zaragoza in Spain.
Strike partner Aldo De Nigris works as a target to earn space for the Chilean, while Ecuador’s Walter Ayovi and Argentina’s Neri Cardozo provide creativity from deeper areas. Behind them, experienced Mexico international Luis Perez links the play with his passing and positional sense.
All those key performers will return for the Clausura.
On the bench the team also boasts Victor Manuel Vucetich — a coach known as "King Midas" for his ability to win titles. Vucetich, who turned down the chance to become Mexico coach in October, has won all seven top-level finals he has contested in Mexican football during a 20-year career — including two league championships with Monterrey.
Other reasons for optimism include the mediocrity of Rayados’ main competitors.
Famous clubs like Mexico City-based America and Chivas of Guadalajara have been relatively inactive in the transfer market during the close season and off the pace in recent tournaments.
Meanwhile, Cruz Azul, another historically big club based in Mexico City, has lost five finals at home and abroad in just over two years, tarnishing the side with the loser tag. Cruz Azul’s miserable run continued with a loss in the playoff quarterfinals of the 2010 Apertura, despite finishing on top of the standings in the regular season.
Elsewhere, Santos Laguna, the losing finalist in both previous tournaments, should again be strong, but the surprise package of the Clausura could be Monterrey’s cross-city rival Tigres.
Tigres is coached by Brazilian Ricardo Ferretti, who has almost as much experience in the Mexican league as Monterrey’s Vucetich. The club has also signed Chilean striker Hector Mancilla, who scored 55 goals in 96 games with Toluca, as well as former Mexico international Carlos Ochoa.
Along with Argentine playmakers Lucas Lobos and Damian Alvarez, the Tigres attack has already been christened the "Fab Four" in the Monterrey media.
U.S. Soccer
Commentary: Bravo, Beckham for wanting more than MLS
PARIS (AP) — Ambition shouldn't be faulted, even with David Beckham.
At 35, with the best years of his illustrious career behind him, Beckham could be savoring well-earned retirement by now, attending fashion bashes with wife Victoria and doing the rounds of TV talkshows. With Major League Soccer closed down for the winter, he could be putting his valuable feet up like his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates and sitting courtside more often at the Staples Center, watching the L.A. Lakers do the hard work.
Bravo to him for wanting more than that. The perpetual flame of drive and desire in this old English lion puts players far younger than him to shame. For trying to squeeze the final drops out of the few years left to him as a player, Beckham should be applauded.
While MLS slumbers, Beckham hopes to get a few games for an English Premier League club, possibly Tottenham, or at least join one of them for training. Nothing permanent, just a short-term loan until the Galaxy comes off its break in March, to keep that famous body of his in shape, as he's always done. More importantly, to prove England manager Fabio Capello wrong again. Play me, coach.
Capello undiplomatically called time on Beckham's England career last August. Too old, the Italian said. "He has no future with the international team," he declared.
Beckham isn't ready for last rites. He refuses to simply quit, to shuffle off when told. The word now from Beckham's camp is that Capello has had something of a change of heart and has indicated to Beckham that as long as he is fit, sharp and playing competitive football, he will still be considered for England.
Considered. Not picked, necessarily. Still, that offers a glimmer of hope. And that's enough for Beckham. Although an England recall would seem unlikely, Beckham has forced a U-turn from Capello before.
That was at Real Madrid, where Capello was coach and Beckham was one of the Spanish side's "galacticos" of stars along with Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo.
Capello packed Beckham off to the doghouse after the player announced in January 2007 that he would be moving to Los Angeles, with the ambition, he claimed, of wanting to grow football in the land of the NFL, the NBA, baseball and NASCAR. Capello swore that Beckham would never again play for Madrid. Beckham's response — as he wants to do again now — was to work doubly hard in training.
Capello ate his humble pie with grace. "The truth is with him we were all wrong," he said. Back came Beckham and back came Madrid's victorious ways. For the first and only time in Beckham's four years with the team, it won the Spanish league title.
That Beckham is seeking part-time work elsewhere angers some Galaxy fans. Venting on Internet forums, they call him disloyal and selfish and worry that he could injure himself, as he did last March while playing in the offseason for AC Milan.
The Galaxy pays Beckham handsomely. But it got just 466 minutes of football and two goals out of him last season, so, yes, perhaps it can argue that he should be saving his energies for the 2011 MLS season, the last of his five-year contract.
But it is also true that if MLS was a stronger league then Beckham wouldn't need to scamper off to Europe whenever he can to catch Capello's eye.
Capello is not alone in thinking that the standards of play and physical intensity in MLS pale in comparison to Premier League football. It is not Beckham's fault that he has no hope of impressing the England coach with his MLS performances alone. MLS barely registers in Europe — as shown by the fact that the possibility of Beckham playing again in England, albeit briefly, is far bigger news here than anything he's achieved on the field with the Galaxy.
If a deal can be done with Tottenham, Beckham's not going to waltz into Harry Redknapp's starting 11. But he could be a useful substitute. With his pinpoint crosses, Beckham could offer scoring opportunities for tall striker Peter Crouch and use his wealth of experience to help calm and settle Redknapp's younger players, help them keep the ball and slow down the tempo of games. It would be, at best, a bit part and unlikely to put him at much risk of injury, so he could return to the Galaxy fit and invigorated by his English sojourn.
Capello, one expects, would make an effort to come and see Beckham play and afterward make all the right noises about how pleased he is to see such dedication. But the truth is that England's future no longer lies with Beckham.
Still, at least he would have given it his best shot. You can't ask more of a player than wanting to play.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester@p.org.
Heinrichs returns to USSF as women's tech director
NEW YORK (AP) — April Heinrichs was blunt. Gone are the days when the U.S. women's team could count on easily beating most of the world.
The former U.S. women's coach returned to the U.S. Soccer Federation on Thursday as technical director of women's national teams, just two months after the Americans' shocking loss to Mexico forced them to win a pair of playoffs to reach this year's World Cup.
"All of our women's sports teams had a 50-yard head start in a 100-yard dash," Heinrichs said during a conference call. "Over the last 10, maybe 15 years, the other countries have spent time, energy and now new resources across all of our sports, soccer as well. These countries have caught up. And it's a matter of us now saying, 'OK, where do we need to go now?' "
Heinrichs played for the U.S. team that won the first Women's World Cup in 1991 and coached the team to the 2004 Olympic gold medal after the Americans failed to win the 2003 World Cup. Four years ago, the Americans lost 4-0 to Brazil in the World Cup semifinals, then rebounded to win the 2008 Olympic gold after Pia Sundhage replaced Greg Ryan as coach.
At the youth level, the Americans were knocked out by Nigeria in the quarterfinals of last year's Under-20 World Cup and didn't even qualify for last year's Under-17 World Cup.
Heinrichs said her new job entailed figuring out, "What do we need to do to develop players to be prepared to play at the international level? Because we're putting them on the international field at even younger and younger ages."
In addition, Jill Ellis was hired as development director of U.S. women's national teams. She had spent 12 years as head women's coach at UCLA and coached the American Under-21 team in 2000 and 2005.
Heinrichs will provide direction for the national team and oversee the Under-20 and Under-18 teams. Ellis will oversee the Under-17, Under-15 and Under-14 teams.
USSF President Sunil Gulati said Heinrichs and Ellis may coach a youth team. He also didn't expect much help soon in developing youth players from Women's Professional Soccer. Two WPS teams folded last year, including the league champion FC Gold Pride, and Chicago's franchise is seeking investors and hopes to join the league for 2011.
"In the short term, the women's league is very much focused on the six teams, on the first-team play," he said. "Over time, hopefully they become more involved in some of the developmental programs."
-- Ronald Blum
Winter introduced as Toronto FC coach
TORONTO (AP) — Former Netherlands midfielder Aron Winter was officially introduced as the new coach of Toronto FC on Thursday.
The Major League Soccer team, seeking a free-flowing playing style reminiscent of the Total Football philosophy developed by Ajax, hired the former Ajax and Inter Milan player this week to implement it.
Winter told a crowded news conference that he had taken on a "big challenge." but he was excited by the prospect of introducing an "attractive style of soccer" to the club.
League News
Managers under pressure as results thwart ambition
LONDON (AP) — The Premier League's managerial merry-go-round could pick up speed during the January transfer window after Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa and West Ham all slipped further into trouble with their latest defeats.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has said his team's defense of the Premier League title is just about over after Wednesday's 1-0 loss at last-place Wolverhampton Wanderers, while British newspapers reported that Roy Hodgson could be out at Liverpool after just six months following a ninth defeat in 20 matches.
In a league where huge financial rewards heap pressure on managers to find instant solutions, Liverpool's 3-1 loss at Blackburn left the 18-time champions four points above a relegation zone containing Villa and West Ham.
Villa ruled out a second coaching change of the season despite a 1-0 loss to visiting Sunderland that left Gerard Houllier's side fighting relegation — just seven months after a second straight sixth-place finish — but Hodgson and West Ham manager Avram Grant have received no such public backing lately.
Grant's position looks increasingly fragile after Wednesday's 5-0 loss at Newcastle dumped the Hammers back into last place.
Chelsea's expectations are totally different, but the pressure is the same.
Club owner Roman Abramovich hired Ancelotti from AC Milan to restore the domestic success the team enjoyed under Jose Mourinho and to win the Champions League title the Russian billionaire is widely reported to crave.
But after a stellar debut season in which Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup, an aging squad and injuries seem to be catching up with Ancelotti — just as they did at Milan.
Even recent success is no guarantee of continued employment.
"It's not my decision," Ancelotti said. "I hope I can continue this job, because I would like to stay here and I have a good relationship with the players and with the club."
The most likely outcome is that Ancelotti will survive what was arguably Chelsea's most embarrassing defeat in the 18-year history of the Premier League, not least because of the lack of an obvious successor.
Mourinho is in his first season with Real Madrid and unlikely to return to a club he left acrimoniously in 2007, while Guus Hiddink is contracted to Turkey's national side.
Frank Rijkaard's reputation was established at Barcelona but tarnished by an unsuccessful spell with Galatasaray, although not enough to stop him being linked with ailing Liverpool.
The five-time European champions have lost to Northampton, Blackpool, Stoke, Newcastle, Wolves and now Blackburn.
Although Liverpool's most recent league title came 21 years ago, fans used to regular cup success and a top-four finish have been chanting against Hodgson for months.
"When you're Liverpool and you lose away to Blackburn there is nothing that can be said which will put a positive slant or make the situation look any brighter," Hodgson said. "There's not much more I can say other than to say to the fans that anything they're feeling tonight, I can assure them the feeling is equally as bad and equally as depressed in the dressing room."
Hodgson, the manager of the year for taking Fulham to the Europa League final last season, will be looking for a new job if Liverpool's American owners give supporters what they want.
-- Stuart Condie
FA Cup brings more pressure for ailing Liverpool
LONDON (AP) — The FA Cup regularly gives under-pressure managers an opportunity to forget about Premier League problems for a few days with the prospect of a comfortable win against a lowly opponent.
But while Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham take on second- or third-tier sides in this weekend's third round, underperforming Liverpool heads to Old Trafford on Sunday to face Premier League leader and record 11-time FA Cup winner Manchester United.
It's hardly an ideal fixture for Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, who is under huge pressure after Wednesday's ninth league defeat of the season left his team four points above the relegation zone. Hodgson can only hope the occasion rouses his players.
"It'll be the next performance which could change things," Hodgson said.
Hodgson has some grounds for optimism — after all, Liverpool held United 2-2 before conceding an 84th-minute winner at Old Trafford in September — but Liverpool's recent performances have been poor.
Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Blackburn led to renewed chants by fans against Hodgson, who has struggled to meet expectations of supporters used to regular cup success and top-four finishes.
United did lose to another traditional rival at the same stage last season, but that 1-0 win for Leeds has simply made manager Alex Ferguson even more determined to avoid a repeat of that shock.
"It was a bad result last season against Leeds, especially considering the rivalry between the two clubs," Ferguson said. "In hindsight, I could have picked a stronger team. I won't be making that mistake this time."
Ferguson rested several players for Tuesday's 2-1 Premier League win over Stoke, so the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Anderson and Edwin van der Sar could all return to face Liverpool.
With Wayne Rooney carrying an ankle injury, the England striker may again sit out a match in favor of Mexico international Javier Hernandez, who took his season tally to nine goals with the opener against Stoke.
Also Sunday, Chelsea hosts Ipswich, Manchester City is at Leicester, and Tottenham hosts Charlton. Chelsea desperately needs a morale-boosting win against a team managed by former Manchester United captain Roy Keane after slipping out of the Premier League's top four with a run of 10 points from 11 matches.
"We have to prepare well for our next game and maintain confidence because it is very easy to lose confidence," Ancelotti said. "It is not good our season so far but we can fight for a lot of things and nothing is lost at the moment.
"It is difficult to come back in the Premier League but we have the FA Cup and we have the Champions League."
-- Stuart Condie
Kaka return gives Madrid a boost with Higuain out
MADRID (AP) — Kaka's successful return to Real Madrid's lineup has provided the Spanish title contenders with a lift going into a league match against third-place Villarreal.
The Brazil midfielder played for the first time since the World Cup in Monday's 3-2 win over Getafe and is expected to take part in Sunday's game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with Madrid two points behind leader Barcelona.
Kaka, who recovered from knee surgery and a groin problem, played 15 minutes in his first club appearance since May. His return coincides with news that striker Gonzalo Higuain will be unavailable for at least two months because of back surgery, leaving Karim Benzema as lone striker.
"That's not a problem to me," Kaka said. "There are a lot of players who can cover those places and if I have to help out in another position I will."
Despite the absence of Higuain, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said it was doubtful that the team would sign a new striker in the January transfer window due to the club's hefty spending over the past two seasons, which includes Kaka's €65 million (then $93.5 million) transfer from AC Milan.
"After the investments made last year and this year there is little chance of signing another striker," the Portuguese coach said. "It seems to me that we'll be with this group of players until the end of the season."
Cristiano Ronaldo is battling a bout of the flu but is unlikely to miss his first league game of the season.
Villarreal, which is eight points behind Madrid in third, is without Brazil striker Nilmar, who underwent knee surgery earlier this week.
Barcelona, meanwhile, travels to Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday with Lionel Messi looking to get on the scoresheet for the first time in 2011.
Messi hasn't scored since mid-December but has only played in two of Barcelona's last four games, with Pedro Rodriguez making up for the Argentina forward's absence with four goals over that spell.
"We're league leaders and we're alive in the Champions League so not losing our hunger is key," Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said Thursday.
Julio Baptista and Martin Demichelis could make their Malaga league debuts Saturday against Athletic Bilbao as the club looks to climb further away from the relegation zone. Malaga is 16th in the Spanish league, just three points clear of the drop zone.
Royston Drenthe is unlikely to be available for Hercules' match against Atletico Madrid on Monday after ending a self-imposed strike over unpaid wages by returning to training Thursday. The Dutch player has drawn the ire of local fans after threatening to return to Madrid — which sent him to the Alicante club on loan — and could face a fine for missing a 3-0 loss to Mallorca without permission.
Also, it's: Real Sociedad vs. Sevilla; Mallorca vs. Almeria; Osasuna vs. Getafe; Espanyol vs. Zaragoza; Racing Santander vs. Sporting Gijon; and Levante vs. Valencia.
-- Paul Logothetis
Villarreal, Madrid, Atletico reach cup quarters
MADRID (AP) — A second-half burst of goals saw Villarreal rally from a two-goal deficit Thursday for a 4-2 win over Valencia that put it into the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
Marco Ruben's 63rd-minute strike ensured Villarreal advanced after a scoreless first leg. Ruben tapped into an open goal after Cani's one-two with Giuseppe Rossi put him clear into the area to find Ruben alone in the center.
Valencia dominated the first half and Ever Banega put the visitors ahead at El Madrigal stadium after five minutes when goalkeeper Juan Carlos Sanchez spilled the Argentine's long-distance shot.
Roberto Soldado controlled Maduro Hedwiges' long ball in the 23rd to tap past Sanchez for Valencia's second away goal.
Needing to score at least three times, Villarreal started the rally right after the break as Santi Cazorla streaked into the area to convert Rossi's pass for the hosts' first in the 47th. Two minutes later, Rossi scored a penalty after Marius Stankevicius brought down Ruben.
While both clubs created chances in the regional derby, Villarreal controlled the tempo with Ruben scoring before Rossi scored his second — and 16th in all competitions for the Italy striker — during injury time with an individual effort.
"The result shows we also won with our tactics and that we knew to stick to our convictions," Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido said.
Villarreal plays defending champion Sevilla in the last eight of the domestic cup competition while Atletico Madrid will face city rival Real Madrid after a 2-1 aggregate win over Espanyol.
Atletico striker Sergio Aguero held off two defenders in the 25th minute to control Raul Garcia's pass and beat goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez with a rising shot. Luis Garcia made it 1-1 with a free kick in injury time.
Real Madrid lost to Levante 2-0 but still easily advanced to the last eight for the first time in five years, 8-2 on aggregate.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho rested many of his regulars in a match of little suspense, with Cristiano Ronaldo out due to sickness. Brazil midfielder Kaka came on in the 57th minute for his second appearance since returning from injury.
Xisco Munoz scored from the penalty spot in the 62nd after Fernando Gago handled, while Sergio Gonzalez curled in a free kick from outside the area near the end.
"This was a game we could lose. We didn't want to lose, but we could," Mourinho said after only his second defeat in charge of Madrid.
Earlier, second-division leader Real Betis beat Getafe 3-1 to overcome a first-leg deficit and win 4-3 on aggregate to set up a match with Barcelona.
Getafe goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was outstanding early, making seven saves in the opening 40 minutes before Jorge Molina beat the Argentine in the 56th at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Ruben Castro scored goals in the 72nd and 90th for Betis, which hung on for victory after Javier Casquero pulled one back for Getafe in injury time.
"They were superior from minute one," Getafe coach Michel said. "It's unacceptable to play like that as a topflight team."
Betis — the only lower-tier club left in the competition — may not have captain Achille Emana available for next week's game after the Cameroon midfielder was taken off with an apparent knee injury in the 52nd.
Almeria scored four first-half goals in a 4-3 win at Mallorca to advance 8-6 on aggregate.
Pablo Piatti scored 30 seconds into the match and again in the 40th minute after Juanma Ortiz had also added two for the visitors.
The result seemed in little doubt before Fernando Cavenaghi put Mallorca on the board with his 70th-minute goal. Michael Pereira scored from long-range a minute before Cavenaghi added his second in the 77th. But even after losing defender Fabian Vargas to a second yellow card in the 83rd, Almeria resisted the late pressure and will next meet Deportivo La Coruna.
Record 25-time champion Barcelona eliminated Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, when defending champion Sevilla and Deportivo also advanced to next week's quarterfinals.
-- Paul Logothetis
Inter beats Napoli 3-1 in Leonardo's debut
ROME (AP) — Leonardo made a dream debut as Inter Milan manager as fellow Brazilian Thiago Motta scored twice in a 3-1 win over Napoli on Thursday.
Leonardo replaced Rafa Benitez over the Italian league's holiday break and the victory was Inter's first in Serie A since November. Perhaps more importantly, Inter showed the same flare and goalscoring ability it had last season en route to a historic treble.
"I don't want to talk too much just because we won one game, but we beat a good team that was second in the standings," Leonardo said. "This squad is (in form). It didn't win by chance for the last five years. This squad has a soul and it had fun playing today."
Thiago Motta put Inter in front with a volley from the edge of the area three minutes in at the San Siro. After Michele Pazienza equalized for Napoli in the 25th, Esteban Cambiasso restored Inter's lead with a soaring header in the 37th and Thiago Motta added the third with a header in the 55th.
"The first goal was quite nice, but the most important thing was getting this victory and the enthusiasm that we showed — which was lacking for a while," Thiago Motta said. "Leo has definitely brought enthusiasm."
Inter remained in seventh place, 13 points behind leader and city rival AC Milan, which edged Cagliari 1-0 earlier with an 85th-minute goal from Rodney Strasser.
However, Inter has two games to make up that it missed while winning the Club World Cup last month.
Newly signed Antonio Cassano made an immediate impact for Milan, setting up Strasser's goal in his first action since October, when he allegedly insulted Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone with a profanity-laced tirade, prompting his transfer to Milan.
Ten minutes after going on, the Italy striker took a backheel pass from Robinho and slipped the ball through two defenders toward Strasser, who appeared slightly offside but managed to score without much protest from Cagliari.
According to Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, Cassano is still far from his top form.
"You can see that just by looking at him. But that's normal after not training for two months," Alllegri said. "He's only been training with us for a week. It's important that he continues dedicating himself each week."
It was the first Serie A goal for the 20-year-old Strasser, a midfielder from Sierra Leone.
"This is just fine, getting a victory after suffering so much today, especially with a goal from a kid that comes from our youth program," Allegri said.
Earlier, Juventus lost one key player to injury and another to a red card in a 4-1 loss to Parma.
Also, Lazio was held to 0-0 at Genoa, with Hernanes hitting the post for the Roman club; and AS Roma rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Catania 4-2 with two late strikes from Mirko Vucinic.
Milan leads with 39 points, five more than Lazio. Napoli is third with 33 points, followed by Roma with 32 and Juventus with 31.
Also, it was: Bologna 1, Fiorentina 1; Brescia 1, Cesena 2; Lecce 0, Bari 1; Palermo 3, Sampdoria 0; and Udinese 2, Chievo Verona 0.
Milan was fortunate to come away with a win against Allegri's former club.
Cagliari defender Michele Canini hit the post in the 32nd and forward Nene wasted a gift from Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati in the 53rd.
Abbiati's failed clearance landed directly at Nene's feet with no defenders near but the Brazilian forward's weak shot deflected wide off Abbiati.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, Milan threatened with chances from Robinho in the 11th and Alexandre Pato on both sides of halftime, but Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi was flawless.
Against Juventus, diminutive forward Sebastian Giovinco scored twice against his former club and Hernan Crespo and Raffaele Palladino also found the net for Parma.
It was a negative day for Juventus from the start, with forward Fabio Quagliarella exiting with an apparent knee injury after only three minutes. Then in the 17th, Felipe Melo kicked Parma defender Massimo Paci in the face and was sent off.
The 1.64-meter (5-foot-5) Giovinco, who was used mostly as a substitute by Juve the past two seasons, pounded in a rebound from close range in the 41st and doubled the lead from the edge of the area in the 48th.
Nicola Legrottaglie pulled one back for Juventus with a header in the 60th, but Crespo was then fouled by Giorgio Chiellini inside the area in the 61st and converted the ensuing penalty. Palladino added another in injury time before Juventus was whistled off the field at Stadio Olimpico.
It was the worst Serie A home loss in 43 years for Juventus, which was beaten by Torino 4-0 in a 1967 derby.
"Today was a negative day, but losing 1-0 or 4-1 doesn't make too much difference," Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said. "We've got to stay united and maintain our focus."
Betis beats Getafe to reach Copa quarterfinals
MADRID (AP) — Second-division leader Real Betis beat Getafe 3-1 Thursday to overcome a first-leg deficit and reach the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey 4-3 on aggregate.
Getafe goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was outstanding early, making seven saves in the opening 40 minutes before Jorge Molina beat the Argentine in the 56th at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Ruben Castro scored goals in the 72nd and 90th for Betis, which hung on for victory after Javier Casquero pulled one back for Getafe in injury time.
Betis — the only lower-tier club left in the competition — will next face Spanish league leader Barcelona. It is unlikely to have captain Achille Emana available for next week's game after the Cameroon midfielder was taken off with an apparent knee injury in the 52nd.
Later Thursday, Villarreal and Valencia played after a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Real Madrid took its 8-0 advantage to Levante, Almeria leads Mallorca 4-3 and Atletico Madrid holds a 1-0 lead going to Espanyol.
Record 25-time champion Barcelona eliminated Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, when defending champion Sevilla and Deportivo La Coruna also advanced.
FIFA News
Chung loses FIFA vice presidency to Prince Ali
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Jordan's Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein was elected as a FIFA vice president Thursday, beating incumbent Chung Mong-joon in an election that further bolsters the power of football in the Middle East.
The result also clears an easier path for FIFA President Sepp Blatter to stay in his job, with Chung seen as one of the few candidates who could have challenged him in an upcoming election in June.
Just weeks after Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup, delegates at the 45-nation Asian Football Confederation congress voted 25-20 to back Prince Ali, a result that brought cheers and shouts of "Allahu Akbar" — or "God is great." The vote was another blow for South Korea, which was also a bidder for the 2022 World Cup, and makes it difficult for Chung to run against Blatter for the FIFA presidency.
Blatter attended the congress in Doha ahead of the Asian Cup which opens Friday, and called on delegates to support his candidacy.
Ahead of the vote at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, the 35-year-old Prince Ali successfully unified Arab support behind his bid, arguing that he would unify Asia and bring fresh energy to the post.
"I want to introduce a new work ethic in Asian football," he said. "I want to energize this position in a way that serves all our needs. I promise that if we win we will continue to unite Asian football in the future."
Chung, who had served in the position for 16 years, argued that he was best positioned to lead Asian football into the future, including building up the women's game and improving infrastructure as part of his efforts "to bring football closer to the people."
Chung is a longtime South Korean lawmaker and the controlling shareholder in Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipbuilder. He was a key factor in helping bring South Korea the right to co-host the World Cup with Japan.
Chung's late father Chung Ju-yung founded the Hyundai conglomerate — which is now a top-tier FIFA sponsor — and ran unsuccessfully for president of South Korea in 1992. Chung was also a national presidential candidate in 2002.
But in the end, Chung suffered from his troubled relationship with AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam who ran unopposed and was re-elected to a third and final term. He was also seen as a threat to Blatter, who many say can now count on a smooth re-election.
Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who heads the Olympic Council of Asia and the Kuwait Football Federation, said the 25 delegates who voted for Prince Ali will support Blatter when he stands for re-election and that Bin Hammam — who is also seen as having an eye on the top job — is unlikely to challenge him.
"We believe President Blatter deserves to continue as president," he said "I don't think Bin Hammam will go against him. Qatar will not go against him."
Bin Hammam said he had supported Chung, but vowed to cooperate with Prince Ali.
"I supported Mr. Chung strongly for this post but democracy prevailed," Bin Hammam said. "Now we will work hand in hand for the interest of everybody."
Prince Ali led the Jordan Football Association since 1999, and the following year founded the West Asian Football Federation which includes Qatar, Iran, Iraq and Palestine.
The AFC congress, on the eve of the 16-nation Asian Cup competition, is a timely showcase confirming gas-rich Qatar as a major player on the world football stage, despite a playing ranking of No. 114.
Asia sends four delegates to FIFA's ruling executive committee. Along with bin Hammam and Ali, Thailand's Worawi Makudi and Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka were elected for those posts. Worawi was the incumbent for one seat, while the other was vacated by Junji Ogura of Japan, who is 72 and barred by AFC age rules from standing.
They beat out China's Zhang Jilong and Kohzo Tashima of Japan.
The winners will be installed at the FIFA Congress scheduled May 31-June 1.
Supporters of Prince Ali said he would help elevate the importance of Asian football within FIFA and provide a key liaison between the governing body and Qatar as it prepares for the 2022 World Cup.
"Prince Ali is a newcomer and he can add value to this organization. We want our organization to be more professional," Al-Sabah said. "We believe Mr. Chung is a good man, very respectable. But in (16 years) we didn't find anything that he added in value for the organization. Maybe for football in his country. In Asia, he didn't give a lot of support because he is a busy man. We understand the situation."
Taha al-Kishry, a member of the Omani delegation, said the vote was another sign that football in the region on the upswing.
"As West Asia, we are one and we voted for our man," al-Kishry said. "He is a young person and has a lot of ideas. I think he will do the best for Asia. Qatar has the world Cup and now we have Prince Ali. It means football is going up in the Middle East, in Asia."
-- Michael Casey
Barcelona tops list of World Cup payments to clubs
ZURICH (AP) — Barcelona topped a global league table of clubs receiving compensation from FIFA for letting their players go to the 2010 World Cup.
Barcelona received $866,000 from a FIFA pool of $40 million spread among 400 clubs in 55 countries, according to FIFA figures released Thursday. Bayern Munich got $778,000 and Chelsea was third with $762,000, while American clubs shared $423,200.
"We are pleased that we can share the success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the clubs by providing them a share of the benefits," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a statement.
FIFA earned broadcasting and commercial revenues of around $3.4 billion in its four-year financial cycle leading up to the tournament in South Africa. The governing body's profits are scheduled to be announced in March, when its annual financial report is published.
English clubs were best rewarded in the scheme, sharing a combined $5.95 million. German clubs were next, receiving $4.74 million.
World Cup winner Spain was fourth on the list. Its clubs shared $3.7 million.
The payments were based on a rate of $1,600 per player per day, starting two weeks before games began in South Africa. The meter stopped running the day after each player's last match. Money earned from participation was divided among clubs that players represented from 2008-10.
Compensation was agreed in a 2008 peace deal between FIFA, UEFA and European clubs which saw them drop lawsuits for players being injured on international duty.
Barcelona topped the table after sending 13 players to the World Cup, including seven with champion Spain. Bayern Munich's contingent included seven with semifinalist Germany, plus Netherlands pair Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel, who reached the final.
Chelsea sent 13 players from six different countries, though none reached the quarterfinal stage. Another English club, Liverpool, was fourth-best rewarded with $695,600, and Real Madrid was next with $678,133.
Payments applied only to players who were selected for one of the 32 nations' 23-man squads. Clubs whose players appeared in qualifying matches did not share in the cash.
The compensation scheme debuted at the 16-nation 2008 European Championship, when UEFA distributed $55 million. Germany's Werder Bremen got almost $1.39 million to top the list of 180 clubs from 24 different countries receiving payments.
FIFA said it has allocated $70 million in compensation for clubs whose players go to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but despite the peace agreement and significant payouts from the games in South Africa, European clubs still are not satisfied with their share.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who leads the European Club Association lobby group, said last September that FIFA should fund an insurance policy helping clubs cover the wages of players injured on international duty.
Robben has not played for the German champion since returning from the July 11 World Cup final with a hamstring injury.
Elsewhere
Bayern keen for Robben's return
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — With Arjen Robben set to return from injury, Bayern Munich officials can't wait for the Bundesliga and Champions League to resume after Germany's winter break.
Robben hasn't played since the Netherlands' World Cup final loss to Spain because of a hamstring injury, but is back in training at a camp in Qatar and is expected to play in the team's friendly against local club Al-Wakrah on Saturday.
Technical director Christian Nerlinger says watching Robben in training is "mouthwatering stuff" and coach Louis van Gaal has called Robben's return his biggest "signing" in the offseason.
Bayern is 14 points behind Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund and plays Inter Milan in the Champions League Round of 16, in a repeat of the final it lost against the Italian side last season. Bayern is desperate for Robben's flair and scoring to lift the team after a disappointing opening half of the season.
"It's a pleasure for me to watch him train. I'm extremely pleased with how it's going," van Gaal said in comments posted on Bayern's website.
Robben said he always knew the recovery would be long but never doubted he would be back.
The 26-year-old Dutchman said his priority was to regain his rhythm, but that he would "rather play tomorrow than in three to four weeks. But ultimately, it's the boss's decision."
Van Gaal plans to field Robben as a substitute in the friendly against Al-Wakrah.
"I think he might well manage 30 minutes or even more," the coach said.
Robben was more cautious about his possible return Jan. 15 against Wolfsburg in the opening match after the break.
"Let's wait and see how it goes. I'm taking each day as it comes. I'm very pleased so far because it's going well, and I feel good on the ball," Robben said. "The worst part was going to the stadium for home games and not playing, but one thought kept me going: I wanted to come back even stronger than before. That's why I've put in so much work. I want to be an important member of the team again as soon as possible."
Defender Philipp Lahm said it was important for Robben to regain full fitness as soon as possible, but Nerlinger was obviously impressed with what he saw.
"Watching Arjen train was mouthwatering stuff," Nerlinger said. "This season, we can justifiably regard him as being like a new signing. He has so much quality, he's likely to make the team far, far better than in the first half of the campaign."
Ortega told his career is over at River Plate
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — River Plate veteran Ariel Ortega has been told by coach Juan Jose Lopez that he will not play for the club when the Clausura season opens next month — seemingly ending his career with the famous Buenos Aires side.
Ortega has been River's leading player for much of the last two decades but missed the club's first day of practice on Wednesday for the upcoming Clausura season. When he arrived at practice Thursday he said Lopez told him he was not needed.
"He (Lopez) told me I'm not in their plans," he told reporters before leaving practice. The 36-year-old Ortega said he expected to talk with club President Daniel Passarella about his contract, which expires at the end of the Clausura season.
River Plate has struggled in recent seasons, but the club played better at the end of the recent Apertura season under Lopez. The coach took over in November after Angel Cappa was fired and has worked to instill more discipline in the club.
An attacking midfielder and great dribbler, Ortega joined River in 1991 and stayed until 1996. He spent the next four seasons with European clubs Valencia, Sampdoria and Parma before returning to River in 2000. He left again in 2002 for Turkey club Fenerbahce, but came back to Argentina in 2004 with Newell's Old Boys.
He moved back to River Plate in 2006 and stayed there, expect for a year on loan with Argentine club Rivadavia de Mendoza.
Orgeta also played in three World Cups with Argentina — 1994, 1998 and 2002.
In the last several years, Ortega has often been late to practice and has talked openly about his battle with alcohol addiction. Reports said he missed Wednesday practice with "stomach problems."
"I got the doctor's report and I'll make a decision," Lopez told reporters on Wednesday. "Beyond what happens with Ariel, we all have rights and responsibilities that have to be respected."
Witness says he tried to fix match in Norway
BOCHUM, Germany (AP) — A convicted match-fixer once traveled to Norway with cash to manipulate a game involving Sandefjord, but the plan fell through.
A document read in court on Thursday quotes Ante Sapina as telling investigators he traveled to Norway in October 2009 to meet with an assistant coach and players of Sandefjord carrying between €60,000 ($79,278) and €70,000 ($92,491) in cash.
The club lost to Stabeak IF 3-1 but Sapina said the outcome was not fixed.
Sapina testified on Thursday that he gave the money to a man who claimed to be an assistant coach of Sandefjord but turned out to be an impostor. Sapina said he became aware of the scam when he went to the stadium for the game and saw that the Norwegian club's staff did not include the man.
Sapina is testifying as a witness at a trial of four men charged with fraud in a match-fixing case. He was convicted of match-fixing in 2005 and served prison time.
In his testimony, Sapina said he bet €1 million ($1.31 million) a month, placing bets on 30 games a day and on one fixed match a week.
Ronaldinho ends contract with AC Milan
SAO PAULO (AP) — Ronaldinho reached an agreement with AC Milan on Thursday to end his contract, clearing the way to return to Brazil soccer.
Three Brazilian clubs remain in contention to sign the 2004 and 2005 FIFA player of the year: Palmeiras, Flamengo and his former team, Gremio.
"We reached an agreement with Milan and now I'm free to continue my life here in Brazil," Ronaldinho said.
The 30-year-old Ronaldinho wants to play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and hopes that a successful return to Brazilian soccer will help him reach that goal. After leaving Barcelona to join AC Milan in 2008, Ronaldinho struggled to establish himself at the Italian club.
Ronaldinho has been playing in Europe since he joined France's Paris-Saint Germain in 2001, where he stayed for two years before making the move to Barcelona.
-- Tales Azzoni
Mutu breaks ties with Fiorentina
ROME (AP) — Troubled Romania forward Adrian Mutu appears to have broken all relations with Fiorentina. Mutu abandoned training without explanation Wednesday and was left off the squad for Thursday's 1-1 draw with Bologna.
Fiorentina manager Sinisa Mihajlovic says, "I always defended him against everything and everybody, but this time there was a lack of respect toward the club, toward his teammate and toward me. I'm very upset. ... There's no need for someone like him."
Mihajlovic defended Mutu when he attacked a barman in October, an incident that came little more than a week before his return from a nine-month doping ban.
Mutu has also been ordered to pay his former club Chelsea more than €17 million ($22 million) in compensation in a lengthy legal case.
Cannabis found hidden inside painting of Adebayor
LONDON (AP) — British customs officials have seized cannabis worth almost 3,000 pounds ($4,600) found inside a painting of Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor posted from his native Togo.
The UK Border Agency says the wooden-framed picture of the west African nation's most famous player was intercepted at an international postal hub in Coventry.
The painting was addressed to a home in Tottenham. Adebayor used to play nearby for Tottenham's fierce north London rival Arsenal.
Agency head Brodie Clark says the unusual package showed "the lengths that organized criminals will go to in a bid to get drugs into the UK."
Slovak midfielder Juraj Kucka joins Genoa
PRAGUE (AP) — Sparta Prague says it has reached a deal to sell Slovakia midfielder Juraj Kucka to Serie A club Genoa.
Sparta spokesman Ondrej Kasik says Kucka completed a medical in Genoa Thursday and will be given a contract until the middle of 2015.
The 23-year-old Kucka was a key player in Slovakia's surprising 3-2 win over Italy at last year's World Cup in South Africa. That result eliminated the defending champions and sent Slovakia to the second round of the tournament.
Kucka joined Sparta two years ago and scored five goals in 24 matches for the Czech club this season.
Wolves in talks with Villa midfielder Sidwell
WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Wolverhampton Wanderers is in negotiations with Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell over a transfer.
Premier League struggler Wolves and Villa recently agreed to a transfer fee for the 28-year-old Sidwell before the player stalled on a move to speak with West Ham instead.
The former Reading and Chelsea player looked likely to join the Hammers but could now revert to his original choice after Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey confirmed the talks on Thursday.
Argentina switches Portugal friendly to Geneva
GENEVA (AP) — Argentina has moved its Feb. 9 friendly against Portugal to Geneva from London. The Argentine football federation says the move from Arsenal's Emirates Stadium was made to avoid a clash with England playing at the same time in Copenhagen against Denmark.
The match, which could see Lionel Messi take on Cristiano Ronaldo, will be staged at the 30,000-capacity Stade de Geneve. Argentina has previously played in Geneva, losing 3-2 against England in November 2005.
