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Soccer Capsules: U.S. women qualify for Olympics
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — So much was on the line for the U.S. women's soccer team that maybe some jitters were understandable. When a 30-yard shot hit the frame of goalpost, leaving the ball sitting in front of an empty net, the hearts really started pounding.
"That," defender Rachel Buehler said, "was a very intense moment in the game."
Buehler motored in to save the day, knocking an opposing striker off the ball. The Americans had survived another dicey moment. It took a while, but eventually they wore down a heavy underdog and earned their spot in the Olympics.
The United States booked its way to London on Friday night with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, a game more suspenseful than most anyone expected.
"There were moments where I think Costa Rica were outplaying us, and it just shows you how important it was to all of us," forward Abby Wambach said. "Nobody wanted to make that mistake. And luckily we didn't."
Tobin Heath scored in the 16th minute to give U.S. all the offense it needed, and goals by Carli Lloyd (72nd) and Alex Morgan (89th) put the game away.
"We know that sometimes under big game circumstances players can get a little tight," Wambach said. "And you've just kind of got to deal with it. ... It was almost as if we scored that goal and nobody wanted to get stuck into a tackle. We were kind of playing a little bit soft, and we fixed that in the second half."
The top-ranked Americans were certainly not as crisp as they were when they were beating teams by a combined 31-0 in their previous three games and drawing criticism for running up the score. Sloppy passes led to giveaways in the first half, forcing goalkeeper Hope Solo to work harder than she has all tournament.
"When you play games that matter, everybody's a little bit nervous. ... We gave away the ball way too often," coach Pia Sundhage said.
Costa Rica is ranked No. 41 in the world, has never qualified for an Olympics or a World Cup and has never scored on the U.S. in eight meetings. Las Ticas proved to be scrappy opponents, however, occasionally frustrating the Americans with physical play and just missing on two solid scoring chances in the first half in the London-or-bust match. As the possibility of an upset lingered deep into the second half, the plucky team in red gained the rousing support of the Canadian fans at BC Place.
"We put together three great games in group play," said Solo, who played despite a slightly pulled right quadriceps that had been bothering her all week. "You can't play four, five, six. Not every team is going to play perfectly every single game, but we got the job done."
The U.S. will be the two-time defending champions in London, having taken gold in Athens in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008. It will be the third straight Olympics in which the Americans will be trying to make amends for World Cup disappointment from the previous year. They finished second at last year's World Cup in Germany, losing to Japan in the final.
The victory also puts the Americans into the tournament final Sunday, a bragging-rights-only game against Canada, a 3-1 winner over Mexico in the second semifinal.
The U.S. had scored so easily in the tournament that it seemed odd to see the game scoreless until the 16th minute, when a set piece produced the first goal. Lauren Cheney's corner kick was headed down at the far post by Shannon Boxx. Goalkeeper Erika Miranda made the save but deflected the ball to Heath, whose looping header was her fifth career U.S. national team goal.
Costa Rica, outscored 34-0 in the seven previous games against the U.S., nearly tied the game after a giveaway by Buehler set up Fernanda Barrantes with a clean look from 15 yards in the 20th minute, forcing Solo to the ground to make the save.
Then, in the 27th, came the play that nearly changed the game. Carol Sanchez launched the 30-yarder that clanged off the frame at the intersection of the post and the crossbar. With Solo on the ground, Buehler fought off Barrantes to keep the striker from getting the rebound with a clean shot at the net.
"I just did everything I could to get back there, get in front of that girl and just prevent the goal," Buehler said.
Costa Rica finally had its hopes deflated in the 72nd, when Wambach's chip shot was cleared off the line by Daniela Cruz and out to Lloyd, whose left-footer from the top of the 18-yard box doubled the lead.
Morgan, back in her usual role as second-half super-sub, chipped in the insurance goal shortly before the final whistle.
Even with the closer-than-expected result, the Americans have evoked the good old days at this tournament with their mostly lopsided scores. While that's hardly surprising given the slow development of women's soccer in parts of North and Central American and the Caribbean, it's also indicative the U.S. still have the deepest, most talented team in the world.
But Sundhage's team arrived in Canada with a bit of apprehension. The Americans, having become somewhat complacent from years of uncontested success in the region, were stunned in a World Cup qualifier by host Mexico in November 2010, forcing them into a home-and-away playoff with Italy just to get for the World Cup. Also, the format for Olympic qualifying is such that everything hinges on one game — the do-or-die semifinals — regardless of how a team performs in the rest of the tournament.
Determined to take nothing for granted, the Americans had been full throttle for every game. They set a U.S. team record for goals in a game in a 14-0 win over the Dominican Republic, then nearly matched the feat in a 13-0 rout of Guatemala. Then came a 4-0 win a much anticipated rematch with Mexico to set up the semifinal against Costa Rica.
And even though the vital game didn't go quite as planned, the outcome was all that mattered.
"We," Sundhage said, smiling, "are going to London."
Canadian women's soccer team tops Mexico, earns Olympic berth
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada earned the 11th of 12 women's soccer berths in the London Olympics on Friday, beating Mexico 3-1 in a CONCACAF qualifying game.
Christine Sinclair scored her 128th and 129th international goals, moving her past Germany's Birgit Prinz and tying her for third with U.S. striker Abby Wambach. Sinclair trails only Mia Hamm (158) and Kristine Lilly (130).
Sinclair scored in the 15th and 76th minutes. Melissa Tancredi added a goal in the 23rd for Canada in front of 22,954 at BC Place.
"They knew what they had on their shoulders tonight," Canada coach John Herdman said. "There was no way they were going to let Mexico tip them over in their own country, in their own stadium, in front of their own fans, and that was the energy you see. That's the thing that was driving them tonight."
Veronica Perez scored for Mexico in the 67th.
The United States claimed a spot in the Summer Games earlier Friday with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica. The only spot left goes to Oceania, where New Zealand is expected to qualify.
It was the third straight Olympic qualifying tournament in which Canada and Mexico faced off with a berth at stake. Mexico won in 2004, Canada in 2008.
The Canadians will be seeking their first Olympic medal in the sport.
"London's calling," Herdman said. "And that podium is where we're aiming for, and I think we can do it."
The U.S. and Canada will play in the tournament's championship game Sunday. With the Olympic berths already decided, the game will essentially be for bragging rights.
-- Joseph White
U.S. Men
Donovan betters Dempsey in first meeting since 2006
LONDON (AP) — Landon Donovan set up both goals for Everton, which rallied to beat Fulham and Clint Dempsey 2-1 Friday night for a berth in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
With the two biggest stars on the U.S. national team facing each other for the first time in six years, Danny Murphy put Fulham ahead at Goodison Park with a 14th-minute penalty kick that beat American goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Donovan's cross from the right flank was headed in by Denis Stracqualursi in the 27th minute for his first goal for Everton. Again passing the extreme right side, Donovan's cross was headed in by Marouane Fellaini in the 73rd minute.
"Landon's been great since he's been here," Everton assistant manager Steve Round said. "He's a real diamond of a guy. He's a very intelligent footballer and the lads all like him. You've seen the quality of his end product, whether it be from crosses or set plays. He's a top player."
Teammates on the last two U.S. World Cup teams, Donovan and Dempsey had not faced each other since May 6, 2006, when Dempsey's New England Revolution beat Donovan's Los Angeles Galaxy 4-0. This was only the seventh time they played against each other overall.
Donovan was playing the sixth game of his second loan spell from the Galaxy to Everton. Dempsey has been with Fulham since 2007.
Dempsey, who had scored two hat tricks in his previous three games for Fulham, headed over the crossbar at the start of the second half following a cross by Bryan Ruiz. Donovan came close with a shot across goal from distance.
Fulham had progressed in the FA Cup on all four previous occasions it had been drawn against Everton. The Cottagers were awarded the penalty kick after a hand ball call on John Heitinga by referee Howard Webb.
In Friday's other fourth-round game, Tottenham won 1-0 at second-tier Watford on Rafael van der Vaart's 42nd-minute goal.
Manchester United is at Liverpool in one of 12 FA Cup matches Saturday, with the other two games scheduled for Sunday.
-- Stuart Condie
League Capsules
Arsenal relies on patched up defense in FA Cup
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal needs a swift turnaround against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday to get fans back on side.
For so long a hero to Arsenal fans, manager Arsene Wenger was jeered during last weekend's 2-1 Premier League defeat against Manchester United.
Wenger said he has nothing to prove after leading the Gunners to three Premier League titles but knows the only way to get supporters cheering again is for the team to start picking up positive results.
"I always believe the fans' reaction depends on us," Wenger said Friday. "It is the team which has to get the fans behind them and the fans have to be proud of the team. The vibes have to come from us."
But Wenger will again be relying on a patched up defense against a Villa side that has scored nine goals in its last three away games.
Out of contention for the Premier League title, Arsenal's injury problems mean it has been playing without specialist fullbacks since early December. Now it needs the likes of teenagers Nico Yennaris and Ignasi Miquel to plug the gaps at the back against Villa to prolong its interest in England's premier cup competition.
The 18-year-old Yennaris has started only once for Arsenal and made two more appearances as a substitute but knows how important the FA Cup is.
As an Arsenal fan, Yennaris is steeped in the club's history and watched his team win three of four finals between 2001 and 2005.
And this season's tournament represents arguably the club's best chance of ending a near seven-year streak without a trophy.
"I remember going to those four finals with my dad," Yennaris said. "Some were good, some not so good. The Liverpool one was the first I went to at the Millennium Stadium and we lost that game, Michael Owen scored in the last 10 minutes.
"Then there was Chelsea where Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg scored a couple of screamers, Southampton where Pires scored and then Man United where Vieira scored the winning penalty."
Yennaris made his Premier League debut as a halftime substitute for Johan Djourou in last weekend's 2-1 defeat against Manchester United. With Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Carl Jenkinson and Bacary Sagna all injured, he and the 19-year-old Miguel could be the fullbacks against Villa — even though Yennaris isn't a full-time fullback himself.
"When I came to Arsenal I was actually a striker and then I went to right back," Yennaris said. "Through the ranks I was playing at center back and then in central midfield but I probably wasn't tall enough for center back.
"(But) I'm quite quick. I can move up and down the line quite well so I think I probably am quite suited."
Villa is struggling to make an impression in the Premier League but manager Alex McLeish knows how to beat Arsenal, having led Birmingham to a shock victory over the Gunners in last season's League Cup final.
"We'd like to climb the table as high as we can," McLeish said. "But the magic of the FA Cup dictates you can't leave anything to chance and you have to go and do your utmost to get through to the next round. We have a tough away tie, we know that, but the top clubs have proven this season that they are not unbeatable."
Villa will be without winger Charles N'Zogbia, defender Carlos Cuellar and midfielder Chris Herd, but striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has recovered from illness. Forward Emile Heskey and midfielder Stephen Ireland are also back in contention after recovering from injury.
Also Sunday, Sunderland hosts local rival Middlesbrough.
Liverpool hosts record 11-time FA Cup champion Manchester United in the pick of Saturday's 12 matches, with United missing as many as 11 players because of injury.
Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young, Michael Owen, Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic were already out before Rio Ferdinand missed last weekend's win over Arsenal because of a back problem. Phil Jones and Nani were substituted because of injury, while Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick also picked up knocks.
"Hopefully we'll have two or three training this morning and we'll be better by tomorrow," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "It is not the best situation for us."
-- Stuart Condie
Donovan stars in Everton's FA Cup win over Fulham
LONDON (AP) — On-loan forward Landon Donovan led Everton to its first ever FA Cup win over Fulham and a place in the fifth round on Friday, setting up both goals in his team's 2-1 win at Goodison.
Fulham had progressed in the FA Cup on all four previous occasions it had been drawn against Everton, and led again against the Toffees through Danny Murphy's 14th-minute penalty.
But Donovan, in the sixth game of his second loan spell from Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, set up a 27th-minute equalizer for Denis Stracqualursi and then provided the assist for Marouane Fellaini's 73rd-minute winner.
"Landon's been great since he's been here," Everton assistant manager Steve Round said. "He's a real diamond of a guy, he's a very intelligent footballer and the lads all like him. You've seen the quality of his end product, whether it be from crosses or set plays.
"He's a top player."
Rafael van der Vaart scored a 42nd-minute goal for Tottenham in a 1-0 win at League Championship side Watford in Friday's other fourth-round match.
But Donovan provided arguably the day's standout performance, helping his side to victory over a Fulham side containing his United States teammate, Clint Dempsey.
Teammates on the last two U.S. World Cup teams, Donovan and Dempsey had not faced each other since May 2006, when Dempsey's New England Revolution beat the Galaxy 4-0.
This was only the seventh time they had played against each other overall.
After Murphy scored a penalty awarded for a handball by Netherlands defender John Heitinga, Donovan crossed for Stracqualursi to head firmly past Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale.
Dempsey, who has scored two hat tricks in his last three games for Fulham, headed over the bar at the start of the second half following a cross by Bryan Ruiz before Donovan went close with a shot across goal from distance.
Donovan set up the decisive goal with a deep cross to the far post, from where Fellaini guided a header back across Stockdale and into the top corner.
Fulham beat Everton on its way to the 1975 FA Cup final — one of only two finals the west London club has ever reached — and edged out the Toffees in a replay in the teams' most recent tournament meeting in 2004.
Tottenham won its last two FA Cup meetings with Watford by a combined score of 9-3.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, on the touchline despite an ongoing court case involving allegations he evaded taxes, said his team was fortunate to advance this time despite the quality of Van der Vaart's 30-meter (yard) strike.
"They say it's better to be lucky than good," Redknapp said. "Tonight we were lucky; we weren't good. We're normally good. Tonight was not the Tottenham team I see every week.
"We didn't play well, we were poor."
Having disposed of one traditional rival with a third-round win at Manchester City, Manchester United continues its efforts to add to its record 11 FA Cup titles with a trip to Liverpool in the pick of Saturday's 12 fourth-round matches.
Chelsea is at west London rival Queens Park Rangers in another all-Premier League meeting, while injury-hit Arsenal hosts Aston Villa in one of two games Sunday.
-- Stuart Condie
Hannover beats Nuremberg 1-0 to end winless run
BERLIN (AP) — Hannover ended its winless Bundesliga run of eight matches by beating Nuremberg 1-0 on Friday from Mohammed Abdellaoue's first-half goal.
The Norway striker struck after getting on the end of Lars Stindl's cross from the right while in between two Nuremberg defenders to score from five meters in the 18th minute.
"We knew we had to take the three points today," Abdellaoue said, before downplaying his 10th goal of the season. "It's my job."
The visitors failed to threaten before the break but drastically improved afterward, goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler denying halftime substitute Tomas Pekhart from equalizing in the 55th.
Jens Hegeler came closest for Nuremberg in the 88th, deflecting a free kick agonizingly wide.
"We had a but of luck there, but you need a bit of luck, especially after so many draws," Hannover coach Mirko Slomka said.
Nuremberg coach Dieter Hecking said his side "didn't deserve to take a point from here" based on the first-half performance against his former side.
It is Hannover's first win since a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Oct. 23, leaving the team in seventh place ahead of the weekend's games.
The top three of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke, separated only by goal difference, all play Saturday.
Hannover sporting director Joerg Schmadtke said that Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf, who watched the game as a guest, would give the club a decision on a possible transfer "tonight, or tomorrow at the latest."
-- Ciaran Fahey
African Cup
Gabon, Tunisia through, Morocco out in high drama
FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Gabon snatched a place in the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals and eliminated Morocco after a dramatic 3-2 win on Friday in the craziest game yet at a highly unpredictable tournament.
Gabon President Ali Bongo lived every moment of his team's rollercoaster ride at Stade de l'Amitie as it came from 1-0 down to take the lead with two goals in a minute, conceded a 90th-minute equalizer and then won a stunning game with a stoppage-time free kick from Bruno-Zita Mbanangoye.
Bongo was slumped in his chair in Libreville, then hugging officials and jumping with joy. Fans streamed onto the pitch in wild celebrations at one point, swallowing up Gabon's heroes and even flooring forward Eric Mouloumbui in the chaos.
Gabon's unlikely win also saw Tunisia qualify from Group C following its earlier 2-1 victory against Niger. The Tunisians stole their own 90th-minute winner through substitute Issam Jemaa to begin a memorable night in the Gabonese capital.
Ghana and Mali surely can't produce anything like it when they meet in probably the highest-profile clash of the African Cup so far on Saturday in Group D in Franceville.
Gabon coach Gernot Rohr and Morocco boss Eric Gerets were spotted peeking out from the players' tunnel as substitute Jemaa's last-gasp goal gave Tunisia its late win over tournament debutant Niger, which pushed the 2004 champion all the way before falling at the very end.
Rohr smiled ruefully and shook his head as Tunisia temporarily took control of the group, not knowing his team was about to produce something even better.
With Morocco playing for its survival against a co-host urged on again by a packed stadium, captain Houssine Kharja settled its nerves with a slick finish in the 25th minute for 1-0.
The game burst to life in the 77th when Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored from a volley from near the penalty spot and veteran striker Daniel Cousin — who was on as a substitute — poked home barely a minute later.
Morocco was thrown a lifeline when Kharja converted a high-pressure spot kick in the last minute of regular time when Charly Moussono blocked Younes Belhanda's shot with his arm, but that lifeline was cruelly yanked away by Mbanangoye's curling right-footed free kick into the top left corner in the fifth minute of added time.
Having been first subdued and then suddenly ecstatic, Gabon's president could only stand and stare ahead with a beaming smile on his face at the very end.
The near 40,000 home fans at Stade de l'Amitie, meanwhile, erupted as Gabon made the quarterfinals for only the second time in its history.
"We got a result and now we have qualified but we haven't won anything just yet," said coach Rohr, who was characteristically calm throughout as chaos reigned around him. "We have Tunisia next and it'll be great if we finish top of the group, it will not be easy. Today was a hard match and let us savor this feeling."
Gerets had appeared resigned to the sensational swing in fortunes, biting his lip and standing dead still on the sidelines looking straight ahead after Cousin put the co-host 2-1 up and Gabon's players and fans went wild.
His team found the spirit to claw its way back, only to slip up again at the death, but Morocco had tried to protect its slim lead through most of the second half and ultimately paid a high price in a desperate finish.
"You have to look at the truth in front of you and not hide from it," Gerets said. "Now we have been eliminated and we played a second half which was unbecoming of the national team of Morocco."
On Saturday, Ghana and Mali will both be spurred on by the fate that has befallen Morocco and another highly rated team, Senegal, which also lost its first two games to crash out of an African Cup dominated so far by the underdog.
A win for one of the two favorites will send the other to a nervous final group game, with Guinea and Botswana hoping to be in a position to capitalize.
-- Gerald Imray
Fans ride through five nations to watch African Cup
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — A group of Angola fans have ridden motorbikes more than 2,500 kilometers through five countries to watch matches at the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
The 10-man party has struggled with border problems, heat and insect bites during the seven-day ride up the west coast of Africa.
Jorge Almeida adjusted his faded black cap and stretched his sunburned arms to show where the tanned skin is starting to peel off. The 53-year-old has taken time off from running a small freight company in the Angolan capital Luanda to take part in the trip.
"It's taken us a week and we've crossed four borders to get here," Almeida said Friday. "But it's been worth it for all the people we've met and to support the team."
The bikers, who arrived in a convoy of six motorcycles and two cars, have swelled a contingent of about 500 Angola fans who have taken over a newly built apartment block on the highway near the Estadio de Malabo and draped a giant red-and-black national flag from the windows.
The pocket of fans has provided colorful and noisy support as Angola, in its sixth African Cup, edges toward a quarterfinal spot.
Almeida said a poignant moment in their journey came when passing through the Cabinda region where the Togo football team was attacked by gunmen during the African Cup in Angola two years ago.
"We weren't scared but we did think of what happened there," he said. "It was on our minds."
The bikers crossed from Angola to Congo, through Republic of Congo and Gabon, before reaching mainland Equatorial Guinea. The motorbikes were then shipped across to the island capital of Malabo while the riders took a 30-minute plane ride.
During the journey, the riders stayed in remote villages, asking permission from local chiefs to set up camp.
"We have generators with us, so we set up some lights and put on a bit of music and soon people from the villages came to see what's happening. That's when you meet people and hear their stories," Almeida said. "It's difficult to see the poor conditions sometimes. The people are waiting for improvements to happen. Everyone asks for food and money, and we shared what we could spare."
The bikers were in the crowd to enjoy Angola's 2-1 win against Burkina Faso in its opening match Sunday, but were less impressed four days later as Sudan twice rallied to salvage a 2-2 draw in the second game.
Almeida said the group — which includes a trucking company owner, a police officer and a tour agent — plans to stay in Equatorial Guinea for the final group match against tournament favorite Ivory Coast.
The pull of day jobs and family commitments will then mean the group has to start the long journey home.
"It's OK because I'm still not confident we will get any further than that anyway," Almeida said. "We have a good team but the coach is not playing the right tactics — too defensive."
-- Mark Walsh
Nervous heavyweights Ghana, Mali square off
FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Ghana and Mali square off in Group D on Saturday as the African Cup of Nations starts to take shape, even if it's not the shape many expected.
With the surprise success of co-host Equatorial Guinea — the lowest ranked team at the event — and the first-round failure of Senegal, both Ghana and Mali have sights set on passing safely through to the quarterfinals after opening with nervous victories.
But a win for one at Stade de Franceville — in perhaps the tournament's biggest matchup so far — will leave the other with a high-pressure final group game to advance.
In Group D's other fixture, outsiders Botswana and Guinea meet as both search for the win that will close the gap on the frontrunners and maybe set up a jittery finish to the first round for one of the favorites.
Ghana's players described the meeting with fellow West African nation Mali as "massive" and "crucial" and a "do or die affair" as neither wants to follow the failure of Senegal, which has already been eliminated after failing to deal with the unexpected threat of Zambia and Equatorial Guinea.
"Before the Botswana game we knew it was going to be tough going in Group D and coming with the tag of favorites the other teams would be keen to catch us cold and knock us out," Ghana assistant coach Kwesi Appiah said. "The boys know what is at stake."
With title rival Ivory Coast already through to the last eight, Ghana's nerves have not been helped by fitness doubts over striker Asamoah Gyan, who limped out of training on Thursday with the right ankle injury he sustained in the 1-0 victory over Botswana.
The forward was withdrawn from training as a precautionary measure, the team said on its official website, and was being "observed" ahead of Saturday's match.
For Mali, which also edged its opener 1-0 over Guinea, 32-year-old Barcelona midfielder Keita has become key in what may be his last chance at international glory. Keita's emotional response to the win over Guinea, when he left the field in tears of joy, underlined what the tournament meant to him.
While a Mali victory wouldn't be the biggest upset of the tournament so far considering Equatorial Guinea's jaw-dropping start, it would be a surprise.
"It's a game that we are going to call a do or die affair," Ghana defender John Pantsil said. "That's the game that would qualify us to the quarterfinal."
Fighting to keep alive their chances of a quarterfinal place, Botswana and Guinea play in Saturday's first game at Stade de Franceville with the Botswanans, at the African Cup for the first time, the undoubted outsiders.
"Guinea hammered us home and away the last time we played them in qualifiers a few years back so we have to be smart about the game," Botswana captain Dipsy Selolwane told The Associated Press. "They (Guinea) are very strong, very powerful, we actually felt they were a little bit stronger than Ghana in their opening match."
Selolwane is in line for a recall at the heart of midfield for Botswana after being suspended for the opening game. He should boost the team's preferred tactics of defending in numbers and breaking away with quick counterattacks.
Guinea has to convert its chances after missing a string of opportunities against Mali if it's to avoid becoming the latest team to join the African Cup's spate of upsets.
-- Gerald Imray
Kalou hamstring injury not serious
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — Ivory Coast says Salomon Kalou's left hamstring injury is not serious, although the Chelsea striker sat out Friday's training at the African Cup of Nations.
Team spokesman Eric Kakou said Kalou was undergoing further tests but would be available for Ivory Coast's final Group B game against Angola.
Tournament favorite Ivory Coast has already qualified for the quarterfinals, while Angola is in pole position to follow the Ivorians into the last eight.
Angola needs a point on Monday to be certain of its progress. A draw would also ensure Ivory Coast finishes as group winner.
Kalou pulled up with the hamstring problem with around 25 minutes to go of Thursday's 2-0 win over Burkina Faso after scoring the opening goal.
Ivory Coast played a practice match against a local Equatorial Guinea team on Friday to give playing time to a number of squad members who have seen little or no action in the tournament so far.
Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui is expected to rotate his squad for the final group match. The likes of Didier Drogba and Cheick Tiote watched the practice match from the bench.
The team was led by Galatasaray defender Emmanuel Eboue, who acknowledged the African Cup favorite had not yet hit top gear despite two opening wins
"We are working very hard because this year we want to do our best to bring the cup back to our country," Eboue said. "We just want to win. We don't play very good (so far) but we always believe in ourselves."
The practice match was played in a small municipal stadium in Malabo, on a bumpy pitch and with fans allowed in free to watch. A bustling market selling fruit, clothes, shoes and tournament souvenirs was doing good business until the team coach arrived under a police escort and attracted customers away from the stalls.
It's a world away from big European stadiums featuring tight security and expensive entry tickets where most of the Ivory Coast players usually perform.
"We know it's very difficult to leave our clubs and come here to play but it's for our country," Eboue said. "It's very different but we are happy to come out here to play for our country."
-- Mark Walsh
Elsewhere
Relegation part of K-League overhaul
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's K-League will introduce promotion and relegation in the coming season as part of an overhaul prompted by last year's match-fixing scandal and intended to make the league stronger than Japan's J-League.
South Korean clubs have been by far the most successful in Asian competitions in recent years, but in terms of organization and professionalism, the league has fallen behind its neighbor.
The problems were exposed last year when more than 60 players and coaches, past and present, were indicted in a massive match-fixing scandal.
Officials at the K-League are trying to turn that problem into an opportunity for structural change. Relegation will take place in 2012 for the first time ever as the league enters its 30th season.
"It is time," the K-League's deputy general manager Kwon Sung-jin told Associated Press. "The match-fixing problem is a part of it but we want to take the league and the football system as a whole to the next level"
Of the 16 teams that start the coming season in March, two will be relegated to a newly organized second tier; the first time that the rule has been used in Korea.
One of the relegated teams will be Sangju Sangmu, after the Asian Football Confederation said the national army club — in which players can complete their two-year military service — should not be in the top tier.
Two more will be relegated the following season to reduce the top flight to 12 teams. Following that, there will be annual promotion and relegation between the two tiers.
The Asian Football Confederation had warned South Korea that the lack of relegation and promotion could result in a reduction in the country's allocation of Asian Champions League places.
Still, the introduction of relegation had some Koreans worried, arguing that the nature of club ownership in the country — most teams are owned by a single major corporation — meant relegation could imperil club futures if corporations withdrew their support.
"In Japan, clubs aren't owned by one massive corporation but often supported by a number of small sponsors," said Yoon Jung-hwan, the Korean head coach of newly promoted J-League club Sagan Tosu.
"If fans love the club then they will follow it whatever happens and the same can be true of sponsors too. In Korea however, with many clubs backed by one company, the owners could lose interest if a club is relegated. That is a worry."
In another reform, the K-League has adopted the Scottish model for the season: after all teams play each other home and away, teams from the top half and bottom half will form separate groups that will play each other twice again. The winner of the top group is the champion, and the bottom teams in the lower group will be relegated.
"There were two reasons to introduce the Scottish system which are the same as the reasons why Scotland did it," said Kwon. "The first is the number of teams. By 2014, there will be 12. That is too few to have teams play each other just twice but if you do it four times, it is too many.
"Also, we wanted to promote interest in the league. Splitting the league two-thirds of the way through the season also keeps interest going until the very end. It means lots of exciting and meaningful games for both the title and to avoid relegation."
The reduced number of meaningless late-season games should also make it more difficult for match-fixers. In addition, the introduction of a new K-League pension scheme for players and the abolition of the league cup — the scene of many match-fixing activities and unloved by fans — should also reduce corruption.
Authorities are hopeful the changes will help boost attendances, which have plateaued around the 12,000 mark for a number of years. Last September, a delegation from the league went on a research trip to Scotland, England, Netherlands and Germany and came back with one key message.
"The most important thing we learned is that it is all about the fans," Kwon said. "If you have fans in the stadium then everything is fine. If there are no fans then the rest is not so important. Fans are everything."
Yoon said there were also lessons to be learned from its chief football rival and neighbor Japan.
"Japan has set a target to win the World Cup by 2050 and all aspects of the game are preparing for that little by little," Yoon said. "In the K-League there is no long-term vision and it is the same with many of the clubs."
-- John Duerden
Brazil defender Alex joins PSG from Chelsea
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain extended its spending spree by signing Brazilian defender Alex on Friday, taking the French club's outlay this season to nearly €100 million ($143 million) and with another signing still possible before the transfer window shuts.
Alex signed a 2½-year deal to move from Chelsea, with the transfer fee widely reported to be worth €5 million ($7.1 million).
"Everywhere I've played I've won trophies and titles and I want to do that here," Alex said. "I'm in a big club and I'm happy with this. I appreciate the size of this club, which I have seen on TV, and it made me want to join."
The 29-year-old center back has played only three English Premier League games for Chelsea this season. He fell out of favor with coach Andre Villas-Boas and has not played since the League Cup quarterfinal loss to Liverpool two months ago.
Speaking through an interpreter, Alex touched briefly upon his Chelsea situation, saying only that Villas-Boas "didn't like my way of playing football much" and that he had spent recent weeks just "wanting to leave Chelsea."
PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti knows Alex well from his time at Chelsea. The rugged defender was part of the team that won the Premier League and FA Cup double under Ancelotti two seasons ago.
"He certainly played a part in me coming here. It's very important to feel that trust," Alex said. "Ancelotti has taken me with him to a big club."
Earlier this month, PSG signed Brazilian defender Maxwell from Barcelona to lift its spending up to €90 million ($129 million).
PSG sporting director Leonardo said the club's spending may not end yet until the window shuts on Jan. 31. With seemingly limitless funds from the club's Qatari backers, PSG is interested in signing Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta from Inter Milan.
Motta has expressed an interest in joining PSG, Leonardo said, without saying whether the move is close to completion.
Alex, who has 17 caps for Brazil and also played for Santos and PSV Eindhoven, scored seven league goals in 86 games for Chelsea. His heading ability makes him a threat from corners and he often tried his luck with powerful free kicks.
"Alex was a good opportunity for us," Ancelotti said. "He's a fantastic player and he wanted to come to us, and he's also a great bloke."
After Maxwell and winger Nene, Alex becomes the third Brazilian in PSG's squad and the fourth South American, along with Argentina midfielder Javier Pastore.
PSG broke the French transfer record when it signed Pastore from Palermo in the offseason for €42 million ($60 million).
PSG is first in the French league, leading second-place Montpellier by three points ahead of the weekend's matches.
Alex, who is still short of match fitness, was not selected in PSG's squad for Saturday's league match at Brest.
-- Jerome Pugmire
Bayern Munich apologizes for hoax player signing
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich apologized Friday for tricking fans over a "spectacular new signing" after supporters reacted angrily to a publicity stunt in which the Bundesliga leaders sought to increase their fanbase on Facebook.
Bayern said on its website that it had taken fans' numerous comments into account to determine that many were "very angry" with the club.
"We're sorry. But it wasn't our intention to disappoint you with the new FC Bayern app," Bayern said. "Rather, we wanted to put the focus on you with this action, to show how important each fan is for Bayern Munich."
Fans had been directed to Facebook to watch the announcement of a new striker Thursday, and were made to "like" Bayern's page in order to view the proceedings.
Instead of learning the identity of striker Mario Gomez's backup, fans were then presented with an app called "The New FCB Star."
"Dear fans, you probably already noticed that we did not sign a new player. This app is for our fans to show the importance of you for our club," the club had said. "Each Bayern fan is the 'spectacular new signing,' our 12th man!"
Thousands of fans reacted negatively, leaving uncomplimentary comments on the club's Facebook page — even though Bayern described the whole thing as "a bit of fun for our fans."
Bayern's own goal was compounded when Munich's TZ newspaper reported that the club had warned its players about publishing photos or sharing information on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, with an outright ban coming into effect within 90 minutes of a game.
The warning came after Bayern defender Breno complained on Twitter of being forced to play in the reserve team, and midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk posted footage of Uli Hoeness' 60th birthday party on YouTube and a picture of the Bayern dressing room before a game.
"The players know that they need to cut it down," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told Bild on Thursday — the day of Bayern's "spectacular new signing."
"It's not on that you take photos or allow photos be taken before a game — like Tymoshchuk — and put them on the internet. It's tomfoolery, it's unprofessional."
Heynckes said Friday that the timing and manner of Bayern's publicity stunt "weren't quite so fortunate," especially after the 3-1 loss at Borussia Moenchengladbach last weekend.
"If we had won 4-0 in Moenchengladbach and it had been presented in a different manner, then it would have been somewhat more successful," Heynckes said.
Xavi: Madrid's players 'bad losers,' 'animals'
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has labeled Real Madrid's players bad losers and animals after his club won their latest ill-tempered matchup.
Barcelona eliminated cup holder Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey quarterfinals with Wednesday's 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou. El Mundo newspaper's website released Barca TV footage on Friday of Xavi caught off camera speaking about the game.
"In the changing room, they were (complaining). They're unbelievable — they don't know how to lose," the Spain midfielder said.
Xavi's comments will do little to calm the tense rivalry as he also labeled Madrid players "animals" for their physical challenges, specifically Lassana Diarra after the Madrid midfielder escaped a second booking in the closing moments of the first half.
"I said to him, you just showed (Lionel) Messi a yellow card and now the second one, what happened to it? Send him off," Xavi said he told referee Fernando Teixeira, adding: "It's the player who is responsible, especially if you challenge like an animal."
Madrid ended the match with 10 men after Sergio Ramos was sent off in the 88th minute, and Madrid was vocal in its criticism of Teixeira.
Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka, speaking instead of coach Jose Mourinho as he often does, responded to Xavi's statements on Friday.
"Of course Real Madrid knows how to accept losing, but not in that manner," Karanka said.
Mourinho criticized Teixeira in the postgame news conference and reportedly waited for the referee after the game to voice his opinion.
"Teixeira, you'll go and smoke a cigar now and laugh without feeling any bit of shame," El Mundo Deportivo newspaper quoted Mourinho as saying to Texeira, publishing a photo of the coach in the Camp Nou car park.
Karanka offered a qualified defense of Mourinho.
"Everyone knows our coach has a certain way of being, and there are times when he is OK and others when he's not," Karanka said.
While Madrid played perhaps its best match against Barcelona since Mourinho's arrival in 2010, the team has lost nine times and won only once in the last 14matches against its fiercest rival.
Madrid leads the Spanish league by five points at the halfway point of the season, with three-time defending champion Barcelona in second spot.
Bayer Leverkusen laments Ballack 'failure'
LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Former Germany captain Michael Ballack has failed to live up to expectations since returning to Bayer Leverkusen from Chelsea in 2010, according to the club's managing director.
"We believed we had the potential to move forward with his personality, with his aura. That has not been realized," Wolfgang Holzhaeuser told the dapd news agency on Friday.
Holzhaeuser told the Cologne Express newspaper that more was expected from Ballack and that he should consider whether he had always acted "with the interest of the club in mind."
Holzhaeuser said he and Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller had spoken with Ballack, "unfortunately without success."
"Everything is OK for the moment," Holzhaeuser said. "He's disappointed, but it's about the team winning and not about individual stories."
Ballack's contract with the Bundesliga club expires after the season. The 35-year-old Ballack had indicated that he did not expect to renew it, but play for another one or two years "at a high level" elsewhere.
"We've already said that the contract probably won't be renewed," Holzhaeuser said. "He still has three months left. We will conduct that professionally."
Leverkusen hosts Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League on Feb. 14.
AC Milan signs striker Maxi Lopez from Catania
MILAN (AP) — AC Milan signed Argentine striker Maxi Lopez on loan from Catania on Friday, signaling that the club has given up on signing Carlos Tevez — at least until the end of the season.
Milan said in a statement that it has the option to gain Lopez's full rights at the end of the season, and that the forward has signed a contract through 2015. Milan had been hoping to sign Tevez from Manchester City.
Milan vice president Adriano Galliani had several meetings with Tevez in the past month and had reportedly reached an agreement with Tevez, but a deal couldn't be reached with City.
Tevez has not played for City since he refused to warm up during a Champions League game against Bayern Munich in September. Galliani said he came close to signing Tevez earlier Friday evening.
"We were very close with City. If at 6:30 someone had asked me who was going to come to Milan, I would have responded 'Tevez,'" Galliani told Milan's TV station. "Anyhow we left things very nicely with City and we've gotten over the misunderstandings."
Police open probe into 'malicious' mail at QPR
LONDON (AP) — Police have opened an investigation after Queens Park Rangers reportedly received a package in the mail addressed to defender Anton Ferdinand that contained a bullet.
QPR contacted police on Friday, a day before the team plays Chelsea for the first time since Blues captain John Terry was charged with racially abusing Ferdinand in a Premier League match in October.
Metropolitan Police says in a statement that "we are investigating an allegation of malicious communication received today at QPR football club."
SKY Sports is reporting that the package contained a bullet.
Chelsea and QPR put out a joint statement Wednesday ahead of the FA Cup fourth-round match appealing for fans to "show the world that hatred has no place in our game."
Danish federation suspends player for betting
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The Danish football federation says a player with Danish top-division club Lyngby has been suspended for eight games after betting on his team to lose.
DBU said midfielder Kim Aalbech placed three bets totaling 1,500 kroner ($265) on Nov. 6 on his team to lose to Copenhagen in a Super League game.
The federation added Friday that Aalbech, who came on as a substitute in the 71st minute in the match against Copenhagen, knew it was illegal to bet on a game in which he was involved.
DBU said a player betting on a game in which he plays "casts doubt on the game's premise," adding that it was Lyngby's lawyer who informed the federation.
Copenhagen tops the 12-club league with 39 points after 18 games while Lyngby is 11th with 12 points.
Breno in Bayern squad to face Wolfsburg
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes says Brazilian defender Breno is in the squad for the visit of Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Breno could take advantage of central defender Daniel van Buyten's broken metatarsal to make his first appearance for Bayern since April. Heynckes says "I told him that he's in. That also means that the rubbish he's done is forgotten."
Breno, who is on bail for suspected arson after his rented villa burned down in September, upset club management by complaining on Twitter about playing for the reserve team and then getting two tattoos when he should have been home on sick leave.
Heynckes says the 22-year-old should take advantage of "a very big chance."
Vryzas takes over at troubled Greek club PAOK
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Former Greece striker Zisis Vryzas has taken over as chairman of troubled football club PAOK, a day after former teammate Theo Zagorakis stepped down.
The 38-year-old Vryzas was formally appointed Friday, taking over the club which is currently fourth in the league and faces Udinese on Feb. 16 in the Europa League.
Zagorakis, who captained Greece to success at the 2004 European Championship, quit Thursday after PAOK was eliminated by Atromitos in the Greek Cup quarterfinals.
He was credited with rescuing the club's finances, though PAOK remains under a June 30 deadline from UEFA to show further improvement or face a European competition ban.
Lazio defender Dias banned for three Cup matches
MILAN (AP) — Lazio defender Andre Dias has been banned for three Italian Cup matches for taking a swipe at the head of AC Milan midfielder Mark van Bommel.
The referee missed the incident during the second half of Milan's 3-1 quarterfinal win on Thursday, even though Van Bommel ended up on the ground.
The league judge also banned Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri for one match for insulting the referee during a 2-0 loss to Napoli on Wednesday.
Since Lazio and Inter have already been eliminated, Dias and Ranieri will serve out their bans next season. Milan faces Juventus in one semifinal, and Napoli meets Siena in the other.
Wilshere has setback in recovery from ankle injury
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is no nearer to returning from his long-term ankle injury after what manager Arsene Wenger says is "setback."
Wenger says the 20-year-old Wilshere "had a little setback which is under investigation ... He has pain again in his ankle."
The England midfielder has not played for the Premier League club this season because of a right ankle injury he sustained on international duty in June.
Arsenal had hoped to have Wilshere back in action this month. Wilshere is sure to make England's squad for the June 8-July 1 European Championship if he is fit.
Forward Sow to join Turkish club Fenerbahce
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Fenerbahce says it has signed Senegal forward Moussa Sow from Lille. Fenerbahce says the 26-year-old Sow has agreed to play for the Istanbul side until the end of the 2015-16 season. It gave no further detail on the terms of the transfer.
Private NTV television says Fenerbahce will pay Sow and his former club Lille about €20 million ($26.3 million).
The Turkish club is embroiled in a match-fixing scandal that allegedly involved 19 league games last season. The club was barred from the Champions League. Sow arrived in Istanbul after Senegal was eliminated from the African Cup of Nations on Wednesday.
Bremen signs Junuzovic from FK Austria Wien
BREMEN, Germany (AP) — Werder Bremen says it has agreed to sign Austria attacking midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic from FK Austria Wien.
Bremen's general manager Klaus Allofs says the 24-year-old Junuzovic only needs to pass a medical examination to complete the transfer. Junuzovic, who is of Bosnian descent, will receive a three-and-a-half year deal.
No transfer fee was disclosed, but Kicker says Werder will pay around €400,000 for the player. Junuzovic scored 33 goals in 209 games in the Austrian Bundesliga. He was voted Austria's footballer of the year in 2010. He has 16 caps for Austria.
Cuenca signs Barcelona extension to 2015
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona says it has reached an agreement with forward Isaac Cuenca to extend the player's contract until 2015.
The Spanish and European champions say Cuenca agreed to a three-year extension that will run until the close of the 2014-15 season. The 20-year-old Cuenca has become a regular in coach Pep Guardiola's squad since being promoted from the Barca B team in October.
Barcelona quoted Cuenca as saying that "no one could have told me this months ago. A player on the best team in the world. The dream starts today."
