Soccer Capsules: Neri Cardozo leads CF Monterrey past Sounders, 2-0
SEATTLE (AP) — Neri Cardozo headed a shot past goalkeeper Kasey Keller late in the first half, then set up Aldo de Nigris' goal early in the second half as CF Monterrey of Mexico beat the Seattle Sounders in a CONCACAF Champions League game on Wednesday night, 2-0.
The victory kept Monterrey undefeated with the full six points in Group C play and left the Sounders still looking for their first point.
Jesus Zavala sent a long target ball into the penalty area that Keller came off his line to play. Keller got a hand to it, but it went right to Cardozo, whose header went into the right side of a wide-open net late in the 41st minute.
"We brought (Cardozo) in for the characteristics that we saw would fit into the kind of play we want to develop here," Monterrey coach Victor Manual Vicetich said.
Monterrey made it 2-0 in the 58th minute when de Nigris blasted past a diving Keller from eight yards away.
"The Sounders started pressing and playing at home, they know the pitch," Vucetich said of the field turf at Qwest Field. "Sometimes, it's not about quantity, it's about quality. And sometimes, it's not about possession, it's about effectiveness."
Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orzoco made six saves. He got some help from the goalpost when Seattle's Sanna Nyassi hit it with a shot in the opening moments of the second half.
The one ball that got past Orozco — a rebound by Nate Jaqua in the 89th minute — was called offside.
"He is a keeper that is growing, one of the best in Mexico when comes to playing with his feet," Vucetich said.
For Sounders coach Sigi Schmid, whose team is on a six-game unbeaten streak in MLS play, but in the past seven days has dropped both of its Champions League games, it was simply a case of too many missed opportunities.
"I don't think we played that poorly," Schmid said. "On final passes and play in the final third, they were a little more clinical than we were. It's what we do in the final third — sometimes, we get a little too small wit our passing, we get a little too tight. We have to open it up a little bit."
Schmid figures it'll take 10 points through the six group games to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament — which gives the Sounders little margin for error in their final four games.
"It's disappointing to lose at home, especially in gme where we probably played well enough to get more," Schmid said.
Cruz Azul rallies for 5-4 win over Salt Lake
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Javier Orozco scored four goals and Cruz Azul rallied with four goals in the final 15 minutes — three by Orozco — to defeat Real Salt Lake 5-4 on Wednesday on a rain-soaked field in Mexico City.
Mexico international Orozco scored his first after only five minutes. But Salt Lake scored the next three to lead 3-1. Then Orozco went to work with goals in the 75th, 87th and 89th to give the Mexicans a 4-3 lead.
Will Johnson equalized a minute into second-half injury time, only to have Christian Gimenez score the winner three minutes into injury time. Cruz Azul and Salt Lake both have three points from two matches.
Alvaro Saborio of Costa Rica scored two goals and Fabian Espindola of Argentina added the other for RSL.
The loss left club teams from the United States winless in 22 matches in Mexico. They have lost 20 and drawn two.
Mexico calls up Hernandez for friendly
MEXICO (AP) — Interim Mexico coach Efrain Flores has called up much of his Europe-based talent — including Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez — for friendly matches next month against Ecuador and Colombia.
Hernandez will team up front with Giovani Dos Santos of Tottenham and Arsenal's Carlos Vela in the lineup named Wednesday.
Mexico plays Ecuador on Sept. 4 in Guadalajara and Colombia on Sept. 7 in Monterrey. Flores will handle the team in both matches as Mexico looks for a replacement for Javier Aguirre, who resigned days after Mexico lost to Argentina in the round of 16 at the World Cup in South Africa.
Mexico is expected to name a new coach after a meeting in October of the board of the Mexican Football Federation.
U.S. Soccer
Quakes give GM John Doyle extension through 2011
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — San Jose Earthquakes general manager of soccer operations John Doyle has received a contract extension that takes him through the 2011 season and includes an option for the 2012 campaign.
Doyle has been the GM since Oct. 3, 2007, overseeing the club's return to the field in Major League Soccer in 2008 following a two-year absence.
Earlier this month, Doyle pulled off one of the franchise's biggest acquisitions ever by signing former Hull and Manchester City midfielder Geovanni. He is the Earthquakes' first ever designated player not subject to the league's salary budget.
Doyle hired coach Frank Yallop in '07 and built a coaching staff and team that has San Jose in fourth place in the Western Conference.
DC United offers discount for '11 season tickets
WASHINGTON (AP) — On pace for the worst record in club history, D.C. United will offer a 10 percent discount on season tickets for the first time.
With about two months left in the regular season, the four-time MLS champions are in last place at 4-14-3 and their 15 goals are the fewest in the league. This would be the club's third consecutive season of missing the playoffs.
When 2011 season tickets go on sale Sept. 1, they will be sold at 2010 prices, and fans who pay in full that day will get 10 percent off.
League News
Spurs, Zilina reach Champions League for 1st time
LONDON (AP) — Tottenham and Slovakian champion Zilina qualified for the Champions League for the first time Wednesday, and Auxerre, Ajax and FC Copenhagen also reached the group stage of Europe's top club competition.
Peter Crouch scored a hat trick as Tottenham thrashed Swiss side Young Boys 4-0 to overturn a 3-2 first-leg away deficit and reach the top flight in Europe for the first time since 1962.
"It's fantastic, it's been a long time since Tottenham played in the top European competition," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said. "To get in the main competition and the group stages ... when I came here that was the dream for me."
Zilina beat Sparta Prague 1-0 to build on its 2-0 victory in the Czech Republic last week, and Auxerre beat nine-man Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 to advance 2-1 on aggregate and reach the Champions League for the first time since 2002.
Ajax, a four-time European champion, beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1 after being held 1-1 last week. Copenhagen qualified on away goals by beating Rosenborg 1-0 at home to secure a 2-2 aggregate result.
FC Braga, Werder Bremen, Hapoel Tel Aviv, FC Basel and Partizan Belgrade advanced to the group stage on Tuesday.
Tottenham's victory ensures England is the only country with four teams in Thursday's draw, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United securing automatic qualification.
In the first leg in Bern, Young Boys scored three goals inside 30 minutes to nearly end Tottenham's Champions League bid at the first hurdle. But after reducing the deficit by two goals last week, Spurs responded with an electric start of their own at White Hart Lane.
Crouch headed in Gareth Bale's corner in the fifth minute, while Jermain Defoe scored a contentious second in the 32nd after controlling a through ball from Bale with his left hand.
Bale provided again for Crouch as the England striker headed in a corner from the Wales midfielder in the 61st. And Crouch completed his hat trick from the penalty spot in the 78th after Bale was fouled by Senad Lulic, who received a second yellow card.
In Zilina, Momodou Ceesay scored in the 18th minute after latching onto Emil Rikle's pass as Sparta Prague failed to qualify for the group stage for the fifth straight season.
"We are extremely happy that we got there," Zilina coach Pavel Hapal said.
Ajax is back among Europe's elite for the first time since 2005.
Luis Suarez sent Jan Vertonghen's free kick past goalkeeper Maxim Koval just before halftime, and Mounir El Hamdaoui added Ajax's second in the 75th after receiving a pass from substitute Miralem Sulejmani.
Striker Andriy Shevchenko scored a late penalty for Dynamo.
"This is really important for the club," Suarez said. "It's been a long time since we made it to this stage. I am really happy. With this group, we can win everything."
In Copenhagen, Solvi Ottesen rose high in the penalty area to head in Claudemir's long throw in the 33rd minute.
In Auxerre, Zenit St. Petersburg, which won the first leg 1-0, was down 2-0 by the time it had two players sent off in the second half.
Goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev handled the ball outside the area in the 65th and was dismissed. Fourteen minutes later, defender Tomas Hubocan picked up a second yellow card for handling the ball.
Cedric Hengbart jumped higher than the Zenit defense to head home Benoit Pedretti's corner in the ninth minute.
Another corner from Pedretti was redirected by Adama Coulibaly toward the far post to Ireneusz Jelen, who volleyed home in the 53rd.
Key players out for under-pressure Liverpool
LONDON (AP) — Captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres are among the key players missing for Liverpool as the English side battles to make it into the group stage of the Europa League on Thursday.
The five-time European champions head to Turkey for the second leg of their qualifying playoff against Trabzonspor protecting a narrow 1-0 lead from the first match.
Gerrard has a back problem, Torres will not be risked as he builds up his fitness after recent injury problems while Daniel Agger and Maxi Rodriguez are also out. Holding midfielder Javier Mascherano is missing while he is the subject of a bid from Barcelona.
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson can recall new signing Joe Cole from domestic suspension but is expecting his makeshift side to be put under heavy pressure by Trabzonspor.
"We missed a golden opportunity to kill the game off at Anfield and now we've got it all to do," Hodgson said. "It's going to be a very tough ask for the players in a difficult place.
"They are one of the two or three best teams in Turkey at the moment and Turkish football is of a very high standard. Everyone who's been to Trabzon tells me it's a remarkably difficult place to play."
Former European champions PSV Eindhoven and Juventus will also be under pressure in the second legs of their playoffs.
Sibir Novosibirsk caused the biggest shock in the first legs by beating PSV, which won the European Cup in 1988, 1-0 in Russia.
The Dutch side is without Francisco Rodriguez, who was sent off in the first leg, and said it would not play Ibrahim Afellay so the midfielder would not be cup-tied ahead of a possible move.
"It was a very difficult decision," PSV technical director Marcel Brands said. "But I think it's in everybody's best interest that Ibrahim doesn't play on Thursday."
Juventus, which is more used to playing in the Champions League rather than Europe's second-tier competition, will not be taking qualification for granted after only beating Sturm Graz 2-1 in Austria in the first leg.
Elsewhere, Rapid Vienna aims to knock English side Aston Villa out of the tournament in the qualifying rounds for the second straight year. The matchup is delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg in Vienna.
Manchester City hosts FC Timisoara with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, and both FC Porto and Palermo hold healthy 3-0 cushions ahead of second leg matches against Genk and NK Maribor, respectively.
Turkish team Fenerbahce is 1-0 down after the first leg at PAOK Thessaloniki.
-- Steve Douglas
Inter remains the favorite in Serie A
ROME (AP) — At first glance, the new Italian football season doesn't have much going for it.
The Italian national team is coming off its worst World Cup in decades, arguably the league's best coach — Jose Mourinho — has left for Real Madrid, and the most promising young Italian player — Mario Balotelli — has gone to Manchester City.
There haven't been any blockbuster signings from abroad and season ticket sales are down, due in part to the introduction of a controversial fan ID card program designed to prevent violence inside the stadiums.
Not surprisingly, a recent study found that contracts from jersey sponsors are also down significantly, and even the league's well known referee selector, Pierluigi Collina, has moved on to assume the same position with UEFA.
Italian Olympic president Giovanni Petrucci was forced to defend the national sport at a season presentation Tuesday.
"Other celebrated teams maintain their debts. We're working toward resolving our economic problems," Petrucci said ahead of this weekend's kickoff. "It's going to be a great season. The Italian clubs, unlike others, have acted very shrewdly and intelligently."
As the five-time defending champion, Inter Milan remains the undisputed favorite — even without Mourinho and Balotelli.
New Inter manager Rafa Benitez brings an impressive record after six seasons with Liverpool — including one Champions League trophy and another final — and doesn't create nearly as much controversy as Mourinho.
Whereas Mourinho and AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri traded verbal jabs throughout last season, Benitez and Ranieri share a long-standing friendship that goes back nearly 15 years to when Benitez traveled to Italy to study under Ranieri — who was then the Fiorentina manager.
"It was an incredible experience and I've got a good relationship with him now," Benitez said. "He's a coach I really respect."
The pair also coached against each other in Spain in 1998-99 — Benitez with Extremadura and Ranieri with Valencia.
Roma was the only big club to keep its coach in place from last season and remains Inter's top challenger after finishing only two points back in 2009-10.
Having signed former Inter forward Adriano from Flamengo, Roma is hoping for a boost in attack.
The Giallorossi controlled most of the first half before getting beat 3-1 by Inter in the Italian Super Cup last weekend.
"This is a complete and mature Roma side and it's ready for a great season," Roma captain Francesco Totti said. "Inter remains the favorite but we're right alongside and we showed that in the Super Cup."
Among the big clubs, Ranieri is the only coach who remained in place from last season, and no coach in the league has won Serie A before.
The new AC Milan manager is Massimiliano Allegri, who is coaching a big club for the first time after arriving from Cagliari.
Milan has four potential new starters — goalkeeper Marco Amelia (from Genoa), defenders Mario Yepes (Chievo Verona) and Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Genoa), and midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng (Genoa).
Still, the seven-time European champion has struggled throughout the preseason with no wins and only three goals in seven games, compiling six draws and a loss.
"We've got to take advantage of our individual talents, because we've got a lot of very talented players on this team and it just needs to be molded together to help the squad," Allegri said. "We're lacking a bit of speed."
Coming off one of its worst seasons in decades, Juventus has spent more than any Italian club — more than €50 million ($60 million) — on eight new players.
The new arrivals in Turin include goalkeeper Marco Storari (from Sampdoria), defenders Leonardo Bonucci (Bari) and Marco Motta (AS Roma), midfielder Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow) and forward Simone Pepe (Udinese).
Sampdoria finished an impressive fourth with forwards Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini leading the way, although it failed to reach the Champions League group stage when it was dramatically beaten 5-4 on aggregate by Werder Bremen.
Napoli has bolstered its squad to prepare for the double task of the Europa League and Serie A, adding two key forwards — Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani from Palermo and Italian veteran Cristiano Lucarelli from Parma.
Palermo, which will also compete in the Europa League, replaced Cavani with former Middlesbrough forward Massimo Maccarone, who had been with Siena.
Luca Toni moved from Roma to Genoa, Lazio signed Brazil midfielder Hernanes from Sao Paulo, and Udinese picked up midfielder Antonio Candreva from Juventus.
After finishing 11th last season, Fiorentina appears destined for another difficult season with playmaker Stevan Jovetic out six months with an injured right knee and Adrian Mutu unavailable until the end of October due to a doping ban.
The three new squads from Serie B are Brescia, Lecce and Cesena.
While Brescia and Lecce have bounced back and forth between Serie A and B over the last several years, this is Cesena's first time in the top division in 20 years.
Cesena opens at Roma on Saturday, with Udinese hosting Genoa a few hours earlier to start the season.
On Sunday, it's Bari vs. Juventus, Chievo vs. Catania, Fiorentina vs. Napoli, Milan vs. Lecce, Palermo vs. Cagliari, Parma vs. Brescia and Sampdoria vs. Lazio.
Inter opens at Bologna on Monday, three days after facing Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup.
Several rounds throughout the season will begin with Friday night games, as the league attempts to spread games over more days and different starting times for higher TV ratings.
-- Andrew Dampf
Everton, Fulham, Newcastle advance in League Cup
LONDON (AP) — Fulham and Everton coasted into the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday, but Premier League rival Newcastle faced a tough battle to beat lowly opposition.
Newcastle beat League Two side Accrington 3-2, whereas Fulham won 6-0 over Port Vale and Everton thrashed Huddersfield 5-1.
Newcastle defender Ryan Taylor's 36th-minute opening goal was canceled out before the break by Ray Putterill's strike.
Newcastle led 3-1 in the second half after goals from Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands, before Sean Hessey scored for Accrington in stoppage time.
At Craven Cottage, Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora scored twice under torrential rain. Newly signed striker Moussa Dembele also found the net on his full debut before his replacement, Clint Dempsey, blasted home the sixth goal.
At Goodison Park, Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell put Everton ahead inside 14 minutes. Everton defender John Heitinga headed into his own goal to make it 2-1 before the break.
Jermaine Beckford scored his first goal since joining Everton in the offseason from the penalty spot in the 50th.
Everton's Louis Saha and Leon Osman added two more goals after Huddersfield's Lee Peltier was sent off for a second yellow card.
World Cup & FIFA News
FIFA ends probe into North Korean football
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA ended a probe into North Korean football Wednesday after accepting an explanation from Pyongyang that the national team coach and players were not disciplined after losing all three matches at the World Cup.
FIFA said it received a letter from the North Korean football federation to answer its request for details about the unconfirmed allegations.
"With all of the information at hand, and having checked all of its sources, FIFA has decided to close the matter," the governing body of football said in a statement.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter opened the investigation two weeks ago after Radio Free Asia reported that coach Kim Jong Hun and his players were mistreated after returning home from South Africa in June.
Blatter said FIFA wanted to know more about "allegations made by the media that the coach and some players have been condemned or punished."
In its reply, North Korean football officials said "there were no sanctions to the coach and that the reports on this matter were baseless."
FIFA said the federation "asssures that Kim Jong Hun ... and all the other members of the national team are training as usual and that the members of the team will soon take part in the Asian Games."
FIFA also sought clarification on how the federation elected a new president in June, and was satisfied that the poll was not affected by results at the World Cup.
Governments are prohibited from interfering in football business under threat of FIFA suspending teams, referees and officials from taking part in international matches and meetings, and freezing funds. North Korea was due to collect $8 million (€6.3 million) in prize money from competing at the World Cup.
North Korea lost just 2-1 to Brazil in its opening match in South Africa before slumping to a 7-0 loss against Portugal and 3-0 against Ivory Coast.
It is scheduled to play at the Asian Games in November in Guangzhou, China.
World Cup final ref says De Jong deserved red card
LONDON (AP) — World Cup final referee Howard Webb says he should have sent off Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong for his challenge on Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Webb handed out a record 14 yellow cards — two leading to a red for John Heitinga of the Netherlands — as Spain won the final 1-0 in extra time.
Webb now accepts he should have given De Jong a straight red card for a flying karate kick into the chest of Alonso midway through the first half.
The English official said Wednesday that "one of the things I would change is the color of the card for De Jong's tackle. Having seen it again from my armchair several times in slow motion and from different angles I can see that it was a red card offense."
Elsewhere
Dodgy turf costs Anderlecht €20 million in Europe
LONDON (AP) — It's good to touch the green, green grass of home — just as long as it doesn't have a dodgy penalty spot in front of one of the goals.
The field at Anderlecht's Constant Vanden Stock Stadium did and it cost the Belgian champions about €20 million ($25 million).
The soft ground around the painted white spot gave way three times during a penalty shootout at the end of Anderlecht's Champions League playoff against Partizan Belgrade on Tuesday. The ball flew over the bar each of those times, taking with it Anderlecht's hopes of qualifying for club football's biggest tournament.
"The pitch was very bad around the penalty spot, but that naturally doesn't make it an excuse," said Mbark Boussoufa, who missed Anderlecht's crucial fifth and final kick. "We should be able to control our nerves in such moments, but unfortunately we haven't been able to do it."
Partizan won the shootout 3-2 and will be in Thursday's draw for the Champions League while Anderlecht drops into the less prestigious, and less lucrative, Europa League.
The Serbian side should pick up close to €20 million in prize money, broadcast revenue and other income just by participating in the group stage of the Champions League.
"I can't remember ever having missed a spot kick before," Boussoufa said. "It's a huge blow that I failed to find the net at such a crucial time."
Having fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and take the two-legged match to a shootout, Anderlecht might have felt the hard work was done. But Matias Suarez was under pressure immediately after Cleo put Partizan ahead with the first penalty. The Argentine forward ran in at an angle to set himself up for a right-foot shot but the ground gave way as he kicked, sending the ball over the bar by about 5 meters (yards).
Suarez stared in disbelief at the disappearing ball before glaring accusingly at the rogue spot of turf.
His miss set the tone for the rest of the shootout, with right-footed players unable to keep their kicks down unless they took a straight run up or put their foot behind the ball instead of under it.
Anderlecht goalkeeper Silvio Proto saved Partizan's second kick before Lucas Biglia's kick went the same way as Suarez's — off the bump in the ground and way over the bar.
Partizan moved ahead 2-0 before Proto's second save helped Anderlecht get back to 2-2. Vojslav Stankovic's left-foot shot then left Boussoufa needing to score.
Under pressure, the Moroccan midfielder took a typical slanted run up and hoofed the ball right-footed as high as Suarez did.
UEFA said Wednesday that the match officials had passed the field as fit for play before the game, so there was no reason for the incidents to be mentioned in the referee's match report.
Anderlecht coach Ariel Jacobs said his team should simply have won the match in regular time so the players didn't have to deal with the additional pressure of a shootout.
"If you take a penalty, it's the responsibility of the entire team, not just whoever misses," Jacobs said. "If there was something wrong with the penalty spot, it was the same for both sides."
-- Stuart Condie
Mancini expects Robinho to leave Manchester City
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is preparing to offload Robinho before the end of the transfer window, with the Brazil forward hoping for a move to Italy or Spain.
Mancini said Wednesday he would be happy if Robinho ended up staying at City but envisages the player leaving over the next few days.
"Robinho has two or three options. When he chooses, we will then know where he wants to go," Mancini said. "I have spoken with Robinho and he can stay if he works well and trains well. But I think he wants to play in Italy or Spain."
Robinho, who was sent on loan to Brazilian side Santos last season, recently received an offer from Fenerbahce but said he did not want to play in Turkey at this stage in his career.
Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz could also be allowed to leave by Mancini as the Italian manager looks to finalize his attacking lineup for the season.
"Roque is a fantastic guy and a fantastic player. It is possible he will leave for Lazio or another team," Mancini said.
Both Robinho and Santa Cruz could struggle for first-team opportunities this season at City, which spent heavily in the transfer market. They have until next Tuesday to find new clubs before the transfer window closes.
Grondona: Batista near certain to lead Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Interim Argentina coach Sergio Batista is almost certain to become the permanent replacement for Diego Maradona, according to the Argentine football association president.
Julio Grondona also suggested in a radio interview late Tuesday that midfielder Juan Ramon Riquelme would return to playing for the national team. The Boca Juniors playmaker was left out of the squad by Maradona, part of a personal feud between the two.
"There would have to be very large problems for Batista not to continue as the coach of the national team," Grondona said on radio Independiencia de Tucuman.
Batista, who played with Maradona on Argentina's 1986 World Cup-winning team, coached Argentina to the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The team was led by Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who has offered his early support to Batista.
The AFA announed on July 27 it would not renew Maradona's contract, which came just 3½ weeks after Argentina was humiliated in 4-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals.
"I don't have the least doubt that Riquelme, when he returns to top form, will also be called up," Grondona said. "At least, this is very clear to me."
In his first match earlier this month, Batista led Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Ireland.
Argentine's remaining friendlies this year are Sept. 7 vs. Spain in Buenos Aires; Oct. 8 vs. Japan in Tokyo; Nov. 17 vs. Brazil in Doha, Qatar and Dec. 19 vs. Brazil in Buenos Aires.
Japan still searching for football coach
TOKYO (AP) — The Japan Football Association has yet to find a successor for World Cup coach Takeshi Okada.
JFA technical director Hiromi Hara, who has been criticized for not signing a new coach, says he is close to finalizing a deal.
Hara went overseas to hold talks with former Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini and Olympiakos coach Ernesto Valverde, but came home empty-handed. The JFA had hoped to have a new coach signed by Aug. 15.
Japan will play Paraguay on Sept. 4 in Yokohama and Guatemala three days later in Osaka, with Hara coaching for both home friendlies.
Other candidates for the Japan job include former Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, former Netherlands coach Marco van Basten and former FC Porto coach Victor Hernandez.
Stoke won't sell Begovic despite refusal to play
STOKE, England (AP) — Stoke manager Tony Pulis says he won't be pressured into selling Asmir Begovic despite the goalkeeper's refusal to play for the Premier League club.
Begovic only joined Stoke in January but has been linked with other clubs during the summer transfer window. On Tuesday, he asked to be left out of the team that beat Shrewsbury in the League Cup.
Pulis says he will talk over the situation with the Bosnia international before deciding what action to take. He added that no club had offered enough to tempt Stoke into selling Begovic.
Pulis says "we certainly won't be giving him away."
Stoke paid Portsmouth 3.25 million pounds ($5 million) for Begovic. Begovic has since started just three Premier League matches.
Neymar escapes punishment for tweet accusing ref
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil striker Neymar has escaped punishment from a sports tribunal after a post on his Twitter page accused a referee of being a thief.
Neymar says his page was hacked and the tribunal ruled there was not enough evidence to prove he was responsible.
A tweet posted during a Santos match in which Neymar was not playing accused the referee of being a thief and said he would have to leave the stadium protected by "a police car" because of his poor officiating.
After the tweet was reproduced by local media, Neymar quickly deleted it and wrote another message saying that he hadn't posted anything.
The 18-year-old Neymar last week rejected a €35 million ($44 million) offer from Chelsea and extended his Santos contract until 2015.
Liverpool loans Aquilani to Juventus
TURIN, Italy (AP) — Midfielder Alberto Aquilani has joined Juventus on a loan deal from Liverpool, the latest in a series of offseason acquisitions by the Turin club.
Aquilani joined Liverpool from AS Roma last summer for 20 million pounds ($31 million) as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, but he struggled to break into the first team because of problems with his fitness and form.
Juventus has an option to buy Aquilani for €16 million ($20 million) at the end of this season.
Juventus has spent more money in the offseason transfer market than any other Italian club — more than €50 million ($60 million) — on eight new players.
Juventus is also reportedly in talks to acquire last season's Serie A scoring leader, Antonio Di Natale, from Udinese.
Miroslav Karhan returns to Slovakia squad
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Midfielder Miroslav Karhan has been included in the Slovakia squad for next month's 2012 European Championship qualifiers against Macedonia and Russia.
The 34-year-old playmaker, who is the team's most capped player, missed the World Cup in South Africa with an Achilles' tendon injury.
Marek Cech also was named in the 23-man squad announced Wednesday by coach Vladimir Weiss, though the West Bromwich Albion defender told national news agency SITA it was doubtful whether he would recover in time from a right leg injury.
Slovakia plays Macedonia in Bratislava on Sept. 3 and Russia in Moscow on Sept. 7 in Group B, which also includes Ireland, Armenia and Andorra.
Madrid's Gago sidelined 4-5 weeks with knee injury
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago will be sidelined for 4-5 weeks after injuring his left knee in a preseason friendly on Tuesday.
Gago came off in the 54th minute of the 2-0 win over Uruguayan club Penarol after picking up the injury. Medical scans on Wednesday determined the Argentine midfielder would not be able to return until the end of September.
Gago could be available for Madrid's Champions League match on Sept. 28 or 29, however.
Gago is battling for a place in Madrid's crowded midfield following the arrivals of Sami Khedira and Pedro Leon to go with Rafael van der Vaart, Lassana Diarra, Mahamadou Diarra and Xabi Alonso.
Rueda picks Ecuador squad to play 2 friendlies
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda announced his first squad since being appointed earlier this month on Wednesday for friendlies against Mexico and Venezuela.
Rueda picked six players on Wednesday who are with foreign clubs, including Jefferson Montero with Villarreal and Antonio Valencia with Manchester United.
Ecuador faces Mexico on Sept. 4 in Guadalajara, and Venezuela on Sept. 7 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
Rueda coached Honduras at the 2010 World Cup and was appointed Ecuador coach just a week after resigning in Honduras on July 28.
Greek fans sabotage AEK-Dundee Europa League venue
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A group of football fans in Athens damaged the field at their own stadium in order to keep a rival Greek team from playing a Europa League match at the venue.
Greek police say about 30 Panionios fans caused extensive damage to their own ground late Tuesday. The stadium had been chosen to host AEK Athens' match against Scottish club Dundee United on Thursday because of bad turf conditions at AEK's home stadium.
The vandals knocked down the goal posts, dug holes in the turf, burned a team bench and sprayed abusive slogans against AEK and UEFA.
AEK said UEFA has agreed to the second-leg match being played at Olympiakos' stadium. Only Dundee fans will be allowed in. AEK won the first leg 1-0.
Croatia 'keeper Pletikosa to join Spurs on loan
LONDON (AP) — Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa will join the club on a season-long loan from Spartak Moscow.
The 31-year-old Croatia international had been on trial at Spurs and will act as cover for Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini.
Gomes came off with a groin injury at halftime Wednesday as Tottenham beat Young Boys 4-0 to reach the Champions League group stage.
