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Soccer Capsules: U.S. women top Mexico 4-0, on to do-or-die semis
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The U.S. women's soccer team was still on the field, having dispatched rival Mexico, when Abby Wambach gathered her teammates for a little speech. The message: "We haven't done anything yet."
The Americans avenged one of their most shocking losses Tuesday night, and did so emphatically. A pair of early goals put to rest any notion of another upset by the neighbor to the south, and Carli Lloyd scored her first international hat trick in a 4-0 victory that clinched first place in the Americans' group and put them a major step closer to the London Olympics.
But hang on. Next up is the one game in this tournament that matters most, the London-or-bust semifinal against Costa Rica on Friday. The winner gets one of the two available berths for the Olympics; the loser stays home.
"The next game is the game that we need to be prepared for, and that matters the most," goalkeeper Hope Solo said. "She made sure that we didn't celebrate too much today."
Wambach and her teammates remember all too well the sting from a 2-1 defeat against Mexico in Cancun in a World Cup qualifier 14 months ago, the only time in 28 tries the Mexicans have beaten the Americans. That loss forced the U.S. into a backdoor playoff just to qualify for the World Cup — and served as a wakeup call that the top-ranked team in the world can't take important games for granted any more.
"This was the exact same position that we were in, in Mexico in 2010," Wambach said. "We haven't done anything. We still have one game left. That's what I said — stay focused.
"It's simple. I think everybody knows it. I think everybody understands it. But I also think that in hindsight we wish we had said something like that prior to that game. Because we didn't say those things, I didn't want to leave any stone unturned. And that's kind of what that speech was about."
The Americans will be heavily favored in the semis. Costa Rica is ranked No. 41 in the world and has never beaten the U.S., having been outscored 34-0 in seven meetings. Had the Americans lost to Mexico on Tuesday, they would have faced a much tougher semifinal against host Canada.
Instead, it will be Mexico vs. Canada in the other semi that will produce the tournament's second Olympic berth.
The lessons from Cancun have been prevalent during this entire CONCACAF tournament. The Americans routed their first two opponents — Dominican Republic and Guatemala — by scores of 14-0 and 13-0, the most lopsided results in U.S. team history.
Keeping with that theme, coach Pia Sundhage wanted a strong start against the Mexicans, and she got one. The Americans controlled the run of play early, and it paid off when Lloyd headed in the rebound in the seventh minute after Rachel Buehler clanged a shot off the post following a corner kick.
A minute later, the lead was doubled. Amy Rodriguez's cross was deflected by a defender and then by goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago straight to Heather O'Reilly for an easy goal.
Lloyd also netted in the 57th and 86th as the Americans avoided a repeat of a Mexican upset — and wrapped up group play with three wins by a combined score of 31-0.
"It was redemption for us," Lloyd said. "We came out strong and knew we had to get it done."
The Mexicans, buoyed by a vocal and slightly pro-Mexico crowd of 7,599 at BC Place, worked hard on the counterattack for a goal, but the American back four of Buehler, Becky Sauerbrunn, Christie Rampone and Amy LePeilbet cleared nearly every serious threat, leaving goalkeeper Hope Solo without much work to earn her third shutout of the tournament.
That was probably for the best. Solo revealed after the game that she has "a little quad pull" that nearly caused her to ask for a sub. She hopes she'll be fine for the semifinals.
The defensive performance was especially heartening for the Americans given the absence of Ali Krieger, who tore two ligaments in her right knee against the Dominican Republic and likely won't be back in time for the Olympics. As a tribute to Krieger, each American player had the word "liebe" — German for "love" — written on her arm. Krieger, who has played five seasons in the German league for FFC Frankfurt, has a tattoo with the word on her left arm.
"Ali will be a part of this team — whether she's here or not," Wambach said.
U.S. keeper Solo has quad injury, hopes to play Friday
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Hope Solo is nursing what she calls "a little quad pull" as she tries to help the U.S. women's national team qualify for the Olympics.
The goalkeeper was grabbing her right leg during the Americans' 4-0 win over Mexico on Tuesday night. She had an ice pack on the leg after the game.
"Toward the end of the game I was a little worried that I was going to have to come out, but being qualifying and only having three subs, you don't really want to sub the goalkeeper," Solo said. "So I definitely knew I could maintain for another 15 minutes."
Solo will have two days to recover before the U.S. plays its most crucial game of the tournament — Friday's semifinal against Costa Rica that will determine whether the Americans earn a berth to the Summer Games in London.
"A little quad pull, but luckily going into the next game, the most important game, I'll have an extra day of rest," she said. "So I think things should be fine. I'm hoping things will be fine."
Solo said the injury came about as the result of the extra work she's been putting in as she tries to get back into soccer shape after spending the fall appearing on "Dancing With the Stars."
"I'm just coming back — took some time off," she said. "I'm trying to get my quickness back and my sharpness back, and my kicking back, so I've been focusing a lot on my kicking and I think it just fatigued and it pulled a little bit probably about three days ago."
Solo said she has a ways to go to get the fitness level she wants for the Olympics.
"Nowhere where I want to be. ... I'm 30 years old, and I know the world still hasn't seen my best yet," she said.
-- Joseph White
Guatemala tops Dominican Rep 6-0 in Olympic qualifying
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Wendy Pineda scored a hat trick, and Guatemala beat the Dominican Republic 6-0 Tuesday night in the teams' final game at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
The win gave Guatemala third place in its four-team group, while the Dominicans finished last and were outscored 27-0 in their three games. Both teams had already been eliminated from a chance at the semifinals.
Pineda scored in the second, fifth and 29th minutes. Maria Monterroso netted in the ninth minute and in second-half stoppage time. Ana Lucia Martinez added a goal in the 53rd.
Guatemala rebounded from a 13-0 loss to the United States two days earlier. The Dominicans lost 14-0 to the Americans last week.
U.S. Soccer
Philadelphia will host the 2012 MLS All-Star Game
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The 2012 MLS All-Star game was awarded Tuesday to the Philadelphia Union, who will host the annual event July 25 at PPL Park.
The opponent has yet to be determined, though MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that an answer should come in the next two months.
"We have nothing specific yet," Garber said after a news conference at Philadelphia City Hall. "We're hoping to have something soon, within 60 days. That's the plan."
Garber appeared at the news conference with Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz, Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter and Chester, Pa., mayor John Linder.
Last year's game was held at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., and featured top MLS players taking on Manchester United.
PPL Park is located in nearby Chester, along the Delaware River.
In their two seasons of existence, the Union have been among the league leaders in attendance. That factor, along with the soccer-specific stadium and rabid interest by the "Sons of Ben" supporters group, played into the league's decision.
"It's a passionate franchise with passionate fans and one of the greatest small stadiums around," Garber said. "We think the franchise and the stadium are deserving of this event, and we believe this is going to be an incredible event not only for the fans here, but fans watching all over the world."
The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, Galavision or Telefutura, and in Canada on TSN and RDS. ESPN International will make the game available in more than 130 countries. In addition, the game will be streamed online, and on ESPN3 and WatchESPN in the United States.
The Union averaged more than 19,000 fans per game in their inaugural season in 2010, and last year, attendance at PPL Park reached 99 percent capacity for regular-season games.
"Without the great fans, this wouldn't be possible," Sakiewicz said. "They're the reason we got started. They're the reason we're here announcing this event. I think this will be a tremendous reward for the fans as well as the region. It's going to be an incredibly memorable day at PPL Park."
Manchester United defeated the MLS All-Star team, 4-0, in last year's event.
"I'm anxious to find out the opponent like everybody else," Sakiewicz said. "You know what, from where we were four years ago, when we didn't even have a stadium, to where we are now, this is amazing. I think the fans are going to be rewarded in a big way.
It's going to be one heck of a party."
Williams replaces Cabrera as US Under-17 coach
CHICAGO (AP) — Richie Williams has replaced Wilmer Cabrera as coach of the U.S. Under-17 soccer team. Williams, who made 20 appearances for the U.S. national team from 1998-02, was hired Tuesday by the U.S. Soccer Federation and will oversee the under-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla.
He had been coach of the under-18 team and was the Mid-Atlantic technical advisor for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. He spent five seasons as an assistant coach with Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls.
League Capsules
Cardiff beats Palace to reach League Cup final
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Tom Heaton saved two penalties to help Cardiff reach its first League Cup final by beating Crystal Palace 3-1 in a shootout on Tuesday.
Cardiff dominated most of the game but only managed a 1-0 edge after 90 minutes to force extra time, after losing the first leg by the same score.
Palace was down to 10 men by then after captain Paddy McCarthy was dismissed for his second yellow card in the 78th, but Cardiff still couldn't take advantage.
The Welsh club twice hit the bar in extra time, and then looked to be in trouble after Kenny Miller blasted his penalty well high to start the shootout.
But Heaton saved Palace's first two efforts from Jermaine Easter and Sean Scannell, before Jonathan Parr put the decisive spot kick wide.
"It's massive," Heaton said. "It's something you dream about as a boy."
The second-tier side will play either Liverpool or Manchester City in the final. Liverpool leads the second semifinal 1-0 going into the second leg at home on Wednesday.
"We'll look forward to the game but we'll try to win the game. We won't just be there for the day out.," Heaton said. "There are two great teams in the other semifinal but I think we've got enough about us in this team with the players and the management that we can go and get a result."
Cardiff took the lead in just the seventh minute as Anthony Gardner, who had scored for Crystal Palace in the opening leg, put the ball into his own net.
Darcy Blake played Don Cowie in down the right and Gardner could only turn his cross past a stranded goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
Speroni had plenty to do for the rest of the night, and beat away Peter Whittingham's fierce angled drive in the 11th, with Anthony Gerrard narrowly failing to get to the loose ball.
Palace threatened little until Wilfried Zaha worked his way into the box, but Andrew Taylor got back to clear his attempted pass to Glenn Murray.
Cardiff remained the dominant force, and Miller should have doubled the lead after Parr's woeful header gifted Aron Gunnarsson possession.
The midfielder played the Scotland striker in, but his left-footed shot rolled agonizingly wide of the right-hand post. Miller came up short again as he hammered a volley against the post moments before the interval.
Palace had a rare attempt on goal after 52 minutes as Chris Martin turned well on the edge of the box after being found by Murray but fired over.
Whittingham then curled in a sublime free kick that Speroni had to tip over the bar.
Palace was reduced to 10 men with 12 minutes to go as McCarthy was handed a second booking following a challenge from behind on Miller.
With the extra man Cardiff dominated the entirety of the 30-minute extra time period, and came close to a winner when Filip Kiss whacked a volley against the bar from inside the box, and Gunnarsson also found the woodwork with his point-blank header from a corner.
Those misses looked like they might prove costly when Miller missed the first spot kick, but Heaton saved low down from Easter and Scannell, before Parr failed to find the target to spark a minor pitch invasion by the home supporters.
Del Piero's goal helps Juve into cup semifinals
TURIN, Italy (AP) — A stunning strike by veteran Alessandro Del Piero helped Juventus to a 3-0 win over 10-man Roma on Tuesday which put the Serie A leader into the Italian Cup semifinals.
Juventus took an early lead through Emanuele Giaccherini before Del Piero doubled his side's advantage in the 30th minute with a perfect curling effort.
It was the 37-year-old's veteran's first goal for Juventus this season and the popular forward was resoundingly applauded when he went off 13 minutes from time, with coach Antonio Conte also joining in the lengthy standing ovation.
Any chance Roma had of getting back into the match all but evaporated when Erik Lamela was sent off in the 69th for kicking Giorgio Chiellini.
Roma's miserable night was complete when defender Simon Kjaer fired into his own net in the final minute.
Juve, which is unbeaten this campaign, will meet AC Milan or Lazio in the next round.
"Finally, he scored an amazing goal, he's been trying for a while," Conte said. "He will always be the answer for us and never a problem. I'm also delighted for Giaccherini. A few years ago he was in Serie C and now after a lot of work he is living a fairytale.
"We're doing well, we really want to go forward in this competition. I'm happy because even those who haven't played much were ready and that's to their credit."
Juventus got off to the perfect start when it took the lead with less than six minutes on the clock. Andrea Barzagli split the Roma defense with a through ball to an unmarked Giaccherini, who raced into the area before firing it past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the far right corner.
Roma had a rare sight of goal in the 29th minute but stand-in Juventus goalkeeper Marco Storari rushed out swiftly to comfortably block Miralem Pjanic's effort.
Another mistake in the Roma defense almost gifted Juventus a second goal as Marco Borriello — who arrived on loan from the capital side at the beginning of the month — stole the ball off a former teammate in the six-yard box, but his pace carried him past the dead ball line before he could strike.
Juve did double its lead on the half hour mark when Del Piero curled a fantastic shot into the top right corner. Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg could only watch as it sailed in under the crossbar.
It should have extended its advantage six minutes from halftime. Luca Marrone picked out Marcelo Estigarribia on the left flank, he raced into the box and had plenty of time to pick his spot but fired into the side netting.
Roma was a better side after the break and carved out several decent opportunities. Lamela's header went narrowly wide of the right upright shortly after the restart.
Fabio Borini also headed wide as Roma tried to get back into the game. However, Lamela was then sent off for kicking Chiellini between the legs in an off-the-ball incident.
Fabio Quagliarella should have grabbed the third goal seconds after coming on for Del Piero but he saw his close-range effort crash back off the crossbar after being set up perfectly by Alessandro Matri.
Matri also went close seconds later but Kjaer cleared the ball off the line.
The Roma defender swiftly went from hero to villain. Quagliarella crossed the ball into the area towards Matri and Kjaer slid in but could only fire the ball in off the grasping arms of Stekelenburg.
"My players were maybe a bit scared in the first half but very good in the second," Roma coach Luis Enrique said. "We did a few mistakes for the first goal and then Del Piero did brilliantly for the second.
"What I saw is more or less what I wanted, the result is harsh for us, but we have to continue working because we are on the right road. My team wasn't inferior to Juventus, but it's the details which make the difference."
Mirandes beats Espanyol to reach cup semifinals
MIRANDA DE EBRO, Spain (AP) — Third-division club Mirandes' extended its fairytale run in the Copa del Rey to the semifinals Tuesday after a stoppage-time goal secured a 2-1 victory over Espanyol to put the team through on the away-goal rule.
Spectators at the 6,000-capacity Anduva Municipal stadium invaded the field following the final whistle, moments after Cesar Fernandez de la Heras crouched low to head Pablo Infante's free kick inside the near post for the 92nd-minute winner.
Infante, who works a bank job during the day, canceled out Rui Fonte's 47th-minute opener for the visitors with his competition-high sixth goal 10 minutes later, when his long-range shot deflected off a defender to land beyond 'keeper Francisco Casilla.
Trailing 3-2 against the topflight club after the first leg, Mirandes enjoyed the better chances before Fonte's opener.
But the hosts, led by Infante, continued to press forward and forced Casilla into making a number of key saves — including in the 90th — before the semiprofessional team finally prevailed.
"This is incredible, this is incredible," Infante screamed while mobbed by fans. "We all ran, we all fought, we all worked together."
In a reference to his club's take on the famed "This is Anfield" sign at Liverpool's home ground, Infante added: "At the entrance (of the stadium) it says 'This is Anduva' so you know what to expect."
Villarreal and Racing Santander were the othe topflight clubs to exit at the hands of Mirandes, which is the first third-tier club to reach the last four since Figueres in 2002.
Motherwell beats Dunfermline 3-1 in Scottish PL
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Motherwell overcame an early sending off to beat last-place Dunfermline 3-1 Tuesday for its first home win in the Scottish Premier League since September.
Captain Stephen Craigan was given a straight red card in the 18th minute, but the hosts still went ahead in the 29th through Henrik Ojamaa. Nicky Law doubled the hosts' lead in the 52nd before Andy Kirk pulled one back for Dunfermline 11 minutes later, and substitute Chris Humphrey secured the victory 10 minutes from time.
Motherwell is third in the standings but well behind leader Celtic and second-place Rangers. Dunfermline remains last, one point behind Hibernian.
African Cup
Ghana, Mali earn narrow wins at African Cup
FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Ghana was the latest big-name contender to learn nothing can be taken for granted at the African Cup of Nations as the four-time champion narrowly held on for a 1-0 win Tuesday against a Botswana team at its first major tournament.
The teams are 68 places apart in the FIFA rankings but Ghana captain John Mensah's 25th-minute goal only just separated them at Stade de Franceville.
Mensah also was sent off in the second half for a desperate foul on Jerome Ramatlhakwane, which could have robbed Botswana of a stunning draw as the striker bore down on Ghana's goal.
Later on Tuesday, Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita and Mali matched Ghana's narrow success with a 1-0 win over Guinea to join the Black Stars on three points. The two favorites took control of Group D — but not in convincing fashion.
While Ghana has won Africa's top football prize four times and played in 18 Cup of Nations tournaments, Botswana has spent the last 20 years trying to qualify for its first.
But their differing football histories were swept aside as Botswana soaked up early pressure and nearly produced the biggest shock in an opening round of upsets as it pushed the World Cup quarterfinalist right to the end.
In Equatorial Guinea — where the co-host plays Senegal and Zambia faces Libya on Wednesday — Ivory Coast's Francois Zahoui spoke for all coaches of top teams when he asked his stars to forget the pampered surroundings at their European clubs and embrace the harsher realities of Africa.
"You leave your clubs and all their comforts behind," Zahoui said of the Cup of Nations. "Here we are in an African environment.
"In the dressing rooms where we have no windows or air conditioning, you are nearly in a microwave oven. This is a dressing room of the African Cup of Nations."
Ghana had to tough it out for its opening victory in Franceville, where roasting hot temperatures dropped only just before kickoff in the first game in Gabon's remote south eastern city.
Botswana's players, meanwhile, have not been pampered and are reportedly each being given $30 a day for expenses at the tournament.
Written off before qualifying, and then given no chance against Ghana, they nearly finished on level terms with one of the continent's powerhouses. The final whistle was met with relieved celebrations by Ghana's superstars and coach Goran Stevanovic.
"We have learned that at this tournament it's not easy to beat anybody," Stevanovic said.
Ghana just escaped an equalizer a few minutes before Mensah's straight red card when John Boye's goal-line clearance kept a header out from Moemedi Moatlhaping — a midfielder with a second-tier club in South Africa — and protected the Black Stars' slender lead.
Having nearly followed in the footsteps of Zambia and Tunisia, who upset Senegal and Morocco respectively, Botswana was already a little bolder after its first experience of the Cup of Nations.
"This is the first time that we've ever played this type of game and this type of team," said coach Stanley Tshosane, a former army officer. "Ghana is a very good team, I think we all agree, but at the end (of the match) they weren't that good."
Defender Mompati Thuma — who plays for Botswana's army club — marked Ghana's star striker Asamoah Gyan for the whole match, and didn't come away in awe.
"Gyan's an ordinary player like everyone else," Thuma said. "It's just that he plays in Europe."
Guinea created early chances and finished with a late surge against Mali. It just couldn't find the final touch, to the growing frustration of coach Michel Dussuyer.
It was delight for Mali's small band of traveling fans, however, who banged drums and chanted throughout the game and made as much noise as a group three times their size.
They were only challenged for attention at a half-empty stadium by a group of local students — all dressed in white — who sang and danced in formation throughout Ghana's nervous win over Botswana.
-- Gerald Imray
Eq. Guinea faces rising African Cup expectations
BATA, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — Beating Libya has completely changed Equatorial Guinea's expectations at the African Cup of Nations as it prepares to play a Senegal side in desperate need of a victory on Wednesday.
Previously, fans of Equatorial Guinea gave the tournament newcomer and lowest-ranked team little hope of winning a match. Then it stunned Libya in the cup opener on Saturday.
Now, taxis are bedecked with flags, the red shirt of the national team is everywhere and the team's nickname — Nzalang Nacional, meaning "National Lightning" — is on everybody's lips.
The victory means the Equatorial Guinea team will have to shoulder a different kind of pressure against Senegal, as fans expect a positive result against one of the tournament's top-ranked teams.
"I think we needed to play well and win the first game," said Equatorial Guinea midfielder Juvenal Edjogo-Owono, who captained the side against Libya. "We had to win the first game to have more confidence. With hard work and faith in our chances we can go far."
As the nation gets behind the team, some have questioned how representative the squad really is.
Most of the players in the 23-man party were born abroad and have either been naturalized to play with the Nzalang Nacional or qualify through a family member.
CAF spokesman Nicholas Musonye said all players registered to play at the African Cup had their eligibility checked with FIFA by tournament organizers.
Edjogo-Owono, who was born in Spain to an Equatorial Guinean father and Spanish mother, has spoken against the use of too many naturalized players. He told The Associated Press that those with Equatorial Guinean ancestry plying their trade in foreign clubs should be scouted more actively.
"We see players in Spain and Portugal who could play and we tell people he is good, but they (the players) don't always come. I don't know why," he said.
For now, the team is making the most of the players it has — wherever they come from. A win against Senegal would all but clinch a place in the knockout round with a game to spare.
Equatorial Guinea coach Gilson Paulo is unlikely to change his starting lineup, though Spain-based striker Rodolfo Bodipo is pushing for a place as he continues his recovery from a left ankle injury.
For Senegal, captain Mamadou Niang may drop to the bench as coach Amara Traore searches for a more balanced approach from a team that looked to have too many attacking options during the 2-1 opening loss to Zambia.
Finding the right mix has eluded Traore so far, as he tries to fit attackers such as Demba Ba, Papiss Demba Cisse, Moussa Sow, Souleymane Camara and Niang into a cohesive lineup.
Asked whether his team can win the whole tournament, coach Paulo allowed himself a grin.
"It's my job — I can't think anything else," he said.
In the other Group A match on Wednesday, Zambia will look to follow its surprise 2-1 win against Senegal with a second victory against Libya.
Ivory Coast coach asks star players to show humility
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) — Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui has asked his star players to forget the pampered surroundings at their European clubs and embrace the harsher realities of the African Cup of Nations. Africa's top-ranked team opened its campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 win against Sudan on Sunday.
"My main desire is to ask the players to be careful — you are not in your clubs any more," Zahoui said at a news conference Tuesday. "When you play in Europe you have referees with a certain way of doing the job, great quality pitches ... but here we are in an African environment. We play in the heat with referees who do the best they can — it's a very particular context, you leave your clubs and all their comforts behind."
Ivory Coast plays Burkina Faso in its second Group B match on Thursday, hoping for a more fluid performance from players who regularly perform on the highest stage for their clubs.
Zahoui said it would help if his players accepted the unique challenges the tournament poses.
"When they come from the clubs they should know that they are coming to Africa," he said. "In the dressing rooms where we have no windows or air conditioning, you are nearly in a microwave oven. This is a dressing room of the African Cup of Nations.
"You might be from Barcelona or Arsenal or Chelsea or Manchester, but the national team is the highest level you will ever reach, so you should be determined and at 100 percent because people do expect victories of you."
Burkina Faso lost its opening match 2-1 against Angola, so Ivory Coast will again be heavily favored to win. Angola plays Sudan in the other Group B match Thursday.
Zahoui said the favorite's tag sometimes weighs heavily.
"There is a difficulty because the opponent never has anything to lose and everything to gain," he said. "According to the media, we are the favorite, we have to win the match easily and our opponent is often not respected."
-- Mark Walsh
Gyan named in Ghana team at African Cup
FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (AP) — Striker Asamoah Gyan has been named in Ghana's starting lineup for the Group D opener against Botswana at the African Cup of Nations.
Gyan, who was struggling with a hamstring injury in the buildup to the tournament, will play Tuesday up front alongside Marseille youngster Jordan Ayew. Gyan picked up the injury at the beginning of the month. It initially put his participation at the African Cup in doubt.
Jordan's brother Andre was also named in the Black Stars team as Ghana opened against tournament first-timer Botswana in the first game in Franceville, in the south east corner of Gabon. Mali plays Guinea in Group D's late match.
Elsewhere
Dispute with City costs Tevez $14M; Milan chided
LONDON (AP) — Manchester City's chairman has criticized AC Milan over its pursuit of Carlos Tevez, whose ongoing insubordination has now cost the striker 9 million pounds ($14 million) in fines or lost earnings from the club.
Milan, crosstown rival Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain have been in transfer talks over Tevez, but City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said Tuesday that he is dissatisfied with the lack of "appropriate" offers.
Al Mubarak said in a strongly worded statement that Milan have "developed a misplaced sense of confidence" in the negotiations, and indicated that City is willing to keep Tevez for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his contract.
That came as one official said City has fined Tevez 1.2 million pounds for the latest episode of misconduct — traveling without permission in November to Argentina, where he is now. He has also missed out on 1.7 million pounds in wages over the last two months, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the fines are not being publicly discussed.
The person said that by handing in a transfer request last season, Tevez also forfeited a six million-pound loyalty bonus that would have been due to him under the terms of his contract.
The striker was also given a hefty fine for refusing to warm up during a Champions League game at Bayern Munich this season, which led to a massive falling out with manager Roberto Mancini.
Tevez's relations with City broke down during last season after the striker said he wanted to leave England to be closer to his family, which moved back to Argentina after failing to settle in Manchester. However, the club refused the then-captain's transfer request, and Tevez went on to help City end a 35-year trophy drought with a victory in the FA Cup final.
But he then enraged Mancini with his act of insubordination in Munich in September and has not played for the team since. City is now trying to offload the Argentine forward — but insists it won't do so on the cheap.
"Carlos remains a player with contractual obligations to Manchester City for the next two and a half seasons," Al Mubarak said in a rare public statement. "Unless we receive an offer that we deem appropriate the terms of his contract will be enforced.
"Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain approached discussions with us in good faith and it is always a positive experience to deal with people with a professional approach."
But talks with Milan, which had been the leading contender to sign Tevez, have been fraught.
"As things stand AC Milan isn't an option for Carlos Tevez," Al Mubarak said in a statement first issued to Abu Dhabi's National newspaper. "(AC Milan chief executive Adriano) Galliani and his advisers have developed a misplaced sense of confidence from their premature discussions with Carlos and his advisers.
"If they want to be a consideration in this transfer window they would do better to stop congratulating one another and begin to look at how they would meet our terms."
City wants at least 25 million pounds for the player signed from Manchester United before the 2009-10 season for a fee that estimates have put between 25 and 47 million pounds.
After the Munich incident, Tevez was suspended by City for two weeks and fined a fortnight's wages for refusing to resume refusing to warming up during the match.
An internal disciplinary hearing found Tevez guilty of five breaches of contract, including bringing the club into disrepute and failing to follow the instructions of his manager.
Returning to Argentina in the wake of those sanctions — without permission — seems to have ended any hope of the striker playing for City again.
City has not struggled without him, with the team on course to win the English championship for the first time since 1968 as it sits top of the standings just after the midway point of the season.
By not returning since Nov. 7, though, City found Tevez guilty of gross misconduct on Dec. 22. Although he appealed, that was rejected by the club directors, leading to the latest fines of 2.9 million pounds. Tevez still has until Jan. 30 to appeal against the punishment to the Premier League.
City would not comment on its disciplinary process or fines.
Tevez's representatives would not comment on the fines, but said in a statement that "money has never been a motivation" in his career.
"We reached an agreement with Manchester City in terms of his wages and he returned to Argentina and nothing has changed on that front," the statement said. "Now all Carlos wants to do is get back to playing football again."
-- Rob Harris
Spurs manager Redknapp accused of cash coverup
LONDON (AP) — Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp's financial dealings were raked over in a London court Tuesday as prosecutors laid out their case that he used a secret offshore bank account to stash $295,000 of transfer bonuses over a six-year period.
The trial comes as Redknapp is enjoying the most successful period of his coaching career and is a prime candidate to replace Fabio Capello as England manager later this year. The 64-year-old coach is accused of keeping cash in Monaco to avoid British taxes while he was manager at Portsmouth.
On the second day of the trial at Southwark Crown Court, the jury was told that Redknapp denies receiving a "bung" — the British term to describe a bribe — from former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric during their spell at the club.
"For the sake of ... any amount of money, I don't fiddle," Redknapp said in part of a police interview read by the prosecution. "I pay my tax."
Redknapp had defended himself to a reporter with the now-defunct News of the World during a taped conversation read in court
"How can it be a bung when the chairman of the football club paid me?" Redknapp said.
But the prosecution case is that the pair were trying to dodge paying income tax and national insurance. Mandaric is accused of paying $145,000 into Redknapp's Monaco bank account in May 2002 — a bonus prompted by Peter Crouch's sale from Portsmouth to Aston Villa — and another $150,000 two years later.
The 73-year-old Mandaric, who is now chairman at third-tier club Sheffield Wednesday, contends he was providing tax free loans to Redknapp, prosecutor John Black said.
According to police interviews read in court, Redknapp said he was assured by Mandaric that the tax on the money in Monaco had been paid and claimed his boss at the time had control over the HSBC account. Redknapp also said the investment made on his behalf by Mandaric turned out to be a "disaster."
"It got wiped out," Redknapp was quoted as telling police. "I thought that's the end of that one, never mentioned it again ... I just thought it's history ... he probably ain't even put the money in."
Redknapp managed Portsmouth, which is now in the second tier, between 2002 and 2004. He returned to Fratton Park in 2005 after a brief spell at its archrival Southampton before moving to Tottenham in 2008. As the case was being heard Tuesday, Portsmouth's future was at stake over unpaid taxes.
-- Rob Harris
Mourinho defiant despite rising pressure at Madrid
MADRID (AP) — Appearing angry and irritable, Jose Mourinho claimed all was well at Real Madrid on Tuesday despite reported divisions within his squad following the loss last week to Barcelona causing speculation to mount about his future.
Mourinho has come under criticism from his usually staunch allies — Madrid fans and the local media — for his tactics against Barcelona in the 2-1 home loss in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals last Wednesday.
During a tense news conference on Tuesday, the Portuguese coach was quick to dismiss all questions regarding his future and the mood among the players inside the changing room, answering "I don't know" on each occasion.
Mourinho was similarly dismissive when asked if this is his most difficult period since joining Madrid in 2010 after having guided Inter Milan to the Champions League title.
"It's a very nice moment," countered Mourinho, whose team leads the league by five points from Barcelona.
Mourinho was hired by president Florentino Perez to not only win trophies but ensure Madrid beats Barcelona. Last season's victory in the Copa del Rey final, however, is his lone win in nine games against the club where he once worked as an assistant coach.
"When I first arrived, this club's (cup) tradition was elimination at the hands of smaller teams, and last year we won the Copa," Mourinho said in one of his few lengthy answers. "When we got to Real Madrid we weren't even a top seed (in the Champions League), and now we've managed a record number of victories in the first half of the season and we're leading the championship.
"We're not doing too bad."
Spanish newspaper El Pais reported details Tuesday of discussions between Mourinho and his players after the 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals in which he reportedly said the series was over ahead of the return leg.
That follows sports daily Marca revealing a critical exchange between Mourinho and defender Sergio Ramos after last week's loss to Barcelona.
"I've never lacked respect for a coach at any point of my career," Ramos wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday. "With that, I deny these things said of me, that I never said. The coach and I are fighting for the same interests."
Although stating that Pepe was available for Wednesday's second leg if he escapes a ban for stomping on Lionel Messi, Mourinho was less forthcoming about whether he is ready to abandon his defensive game plan.
"I don't have to reveal how we are going to play the game at the Camp Nou," Mourinho said, adding: "Tomorrow's game will not have an impact on my time at Real Madrid."
Balotelli's agent could seek a move from City
MILAN (AP) — Mario Balotelli's agent will consider urging the Manchester City striker to leave England if he continues to get into trouble with the footballing authorities.
Balotelli faces a four-match ban after being charged by the English Football Association on Monday with violent conduct for appearing to stomp on Scott Parker's head during City's 3-2 win against Tottenham at the weekend.
"I don't want to say that they are always against him, but when English players are involved nothing happens," Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola said in an interview with Italian radio station Radio Radio on Tuesday. "I'm worried. I don't want to talk about persecution, I want to be levelheaded and use my brain, but if I discover there's something strange, then I have a duty to protect him and so search for a new club, that seems obvious to me. In that case I would talk to Manchester City, I would make them give me the cost of his transfer and I would look for the best club for Balotelli."
The 21-year-old Balotelli has rarely been out of the headlines since joining from Inter Milan before the 2010-11 season. Even his first league goals for City in November 2010 were marred by a red card after clashing with West Bromwich Albion's Youssuf Mulumbu.
The latest incident saw Balotelli appear to stamp on Parker's right ear during a Premier League match Sunday. Referee Howard Webb told the FA that he would have sent Balotelli off if he had seen what happened.
"It seems strange to me that the referee says he didn't see it," Raiola said. "The referee saw it and talked to Mario about what happened. I'm very angry with this referee who should be disqualified for two lifetimes, he lied, he saw it.
"I remind everyone that if he had seen the incident they couldn't look at it again on replays and Mario couldn't get a four-match ban for this."
Balotelli, who went on to earn and score a penalty to clinch victory for league leader City over its title rival, has until Wednesday evening to respond to the charge.
Leonardo admits defeat in pursuit of Tevez
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain has failed in its latest effort to recruit a star player, with sporting director Leonardo saying the French club has ended negotiations to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City.
After missing out on former England captain David Beckham and AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato, Tevez became PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti's priority signing and Leonardo met with the player's adviser, Kia Joorabchian, in Paris last week.
"We've ended the negotiations. We made a handsome offer but we couldn't reach an agreement," sports daily L'Equipe quoted Leonardo as saying on its website on Tuesday. "So we're stopping. It's over."
Tevez has not played for City since September.
PSG is top of the French league and leads Montpellier by three points, but may now have to wait until the offseason before signing the big name it craves.
"There aren't many opportunities left and we're not going to splash out," Leonardo said. "We're already fine as we are. We have a competitive squad."
Schweinsteiger ends training with knee discomfort
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has cut short a training session because of a recurring problem with his left knee.
Bayern spokesman Markus Hoerwick says Schweinsteiger felt discomfort in the knee on Tuesday but there is no tendon damage. Schweinsteiger, who recently missed more than two months due to a broken collarbone, hurt the same knee last week.
Any possible absence of Schweinsteiger would be a blow to Bayern, with central defender Daniel van Buyten set to miss two months with a broken foot.
Schweinsteiger played as Bayern lost 3-1 at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday to drop into a three-way tie atop the Bundesliga.
Malaga unable to register players due to debt
MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Qatari-owned Malaga says it will not be allowed to register new players before an outstanding debt to Spanish league rival Osasuna is settled.
Malaga, which reportedly still owes the Basque club over the summer transfer of defender Ignacio Monreal, says in a statement on Tuesday that the delays in payment are "due to the complexity in approving budgets and transactions with foreign entities."
The Andalucian club says owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani, who is a member of the Qatar royal family, has personally guaranteed the shortfall.
Malaga, which is 10th in the table, is looking to finish the season in the European places after €120 million ($156 million) was invested into the team in the past year.
Amauri completes move to Fiorentina from Juve
FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Brazilian striker Amauri has completed a move to Fiorentina after having fallen out of favor at Juventus. Amauri has not made a single appearance for Juventus this season since returning in the offseason from a loan spell at Parma.
Fiorentina confirmed Tuesday evening that Amauri has signed a permanent deal after completing a medical earlier in the day. The Serie A side had earlier tweeted a picture of an official team shirt with Amauri's name on the back.
Juventus paid Palermo €22.8 million in May 2008 for Amauri, but the forward has struggled at the Serie A giant and is not wanted by coach Antonio Conte. The 31-year-old Amauri will be eager to rediscover the form which made him a firm favorite of the fans at Palermo.
Nigerian Taiwo joins QPR on loan from Milan
LONDON (AP) — Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo has joined Queens Park Rangers on loan from AC Milan until the end of the season. The 26 year-old Taiwo, who can also operate in midfield, is the first player to join the Premier League club since Mark Hughes took charge earlier this month.
Hughes says that "to get him now is a fantastic coup and a real statement of intent that we can attract the quality of player that he is."
Taiwo joined AC Milan from Marseille last year, but has only made eight appearances this season. QPR is two points and two places above the relegation zone.
Dortmund's Goetze out for up to two months
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund says young star Mario Goetze will up be out for up to two months because of a pubic bone injury. The loss of the 19-year-old midfielder is a big setback for the defending Bundesliga champions, who are in a three-team tie with Bayern Munich and Schalke at the top of the standings.
Dortmund thrashed Hamburger SV 5-1 without Goetze at the weekend to start the second half of the season. The club says Goetze requires two weeks rest before he can start rehab due to a "stress reaction" and "overload" in the pubic bone.
