Other Soccer Capsules: Puebla announces signing of U.S. forward Beasley
MEXICO CITY (AP) — United States forward DaMarcus Beasley has joined Mexican club Puebla. The team confirmed Beasley's signing on its Twitter feed Wednesday.
The 29-year-old American is coming off a season with German club Hannover 96 in which he saw little action. He also has played with Glasgow Rangers, Manchester City, PSV Eindhoven and the Chicago Fire.
Beasley has played almost a decade on the U.S. national team and was on the United States' 23-man roster for the 2010 World Cup, making one brief appearance. He also is a veteran of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
Espanyol signs Mexico defender Moreno
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Espanyol has signed Mexico defender Hector Moreno from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
Espanyol says on its website that the 23-year-old international joins the Spanish club on a five-year deal. Spanish media put the transfer fee at about €4 million ($5.8 million).
Moreno, who is playing for Mexico at the Gold Cup, has helped AZ Alkmaar to league and cup triumphs since arriving from Mexican side Pumas in 2007.
MLS
Capsules: Sporting K.C. earns draw with Union
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Sporting Kansas City extended its unbeaten streak to six matches with a 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
Sporting (3-6-5) improved to 2-0-4 during its streak while played on the road for the 12th time in 14 matches this season. The Union (6-4-5) improved to 4-0-4 at home, remaining one of three teams without a loss in their own park.
Philadelphia, which outsot Sporting 7-1, controlled the tempo for much of the second half and had several good chances. In the 72nd minute, Carlos Ruiz's header glanced off the crossbar. In the 77th, Justin Mapp's strike from 15 yards was saved by goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Philadelphia midfielder Amobi Okugo's shot from about 10 yards was denied by Nielsen.
Real Salt Lake 0, Fire 0
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) — Chicago extended its unbeaten streak to six matches and Salt Lake stretched its winless stretch to four. The Fire (2-4-10) got their fourth scoreless tie of the season while stretching their unbeaten stretch to 1-0-5. They are also 1-0-4 since technical director Frank Klopas replaced Carlos de los Cobos as head coach.
Salt Lake (6-3-5) had its third scoreless draw and is 0-1-3 in its last four.
Chicago had the better chances in the second half, but failed to beat Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who had four saves for his seventh shutout of the season.
Chicago's Sean Johnson had two saves in his fourth shutout.
Chicago's Nazarit suspended for two games
NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Fire forward Cristian Nazarit has been suspended two games and fined $500 by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.
He was penalized for his play that endangered the safety of his opponent in the 59th minute of the match against New England on Saturday.
The MLS players union filed an appeal on behalf of Nazarit and MLS Commissioner Don Garber upheld the original decision. Nazarit will begin his suspension with Wednesday's game against Real Salt Lake.
Copa Libertadores
Santos wins 2-1 to take Copa Libertadores
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian club Santos won the Copa Libertadores for the first time since the Pele era, beating Uruguay's Penarol 2-1 in the second leg of the final Wednesday before postgame celebrations were marred by a brawl between the two sets of players.
Santos won 2-1 on aggregate after the first leg had ended scoreless in Montevideo.
Neymar put Santos ahead in the 47th minute and Danilo made it 2-0 in the 69th before an own goal in the 80th brought Penarol back into the contest.
A brawl started after the match as Santos celebrated, with Penarol players going after the Brazilians and both sides exchanging punches and kicks until police came in to intervene.
"A (Santos) fan entered the field and provoked us," Penarol forward Alejandro Martinuccio said. "They have to learn how to celebrate, we had accepted the loss."
A couple of Santos players were hit and stayed on the ground after the fight, but none were seriously injured. Penarol players later calmed down and came back to receive their runner-up medals.
"They were a worthy opponent, but they don't know how to lose," Santos defender Leo said.
Santos took its third title in Latin America's biggest club competition, having won back to back titles in 1962 and 1963 when a young Pele led the attack.
Now the star was Neymar, touted as a future star of Brazil's national team.
"It's the happiest day of my life, I made history," Neymar said. "We deserved this title, it's time to celebrate."
Neymar kneeled down a few moments after the final whistle and sobbed with his hands covering his face. Pele also cried on the field after the match was over.
"We have to thank these young guys for giving us this title," Pele said.
Penarol fell short in its bid to win its first Copa Libertadores title in 24 years, which would have brought it level with Argentina's Boca Juniors on six championships. Independiente of Argentina holds the most, with seven.
The victory makes Santos the most successful Brazilian team in the Copa Libertadores, tied with Sao Paulo with three titles. It also gives the club a spot in FIFA's World Club Championship later in the year.
With Pele watching from the stands, Neymar opened the scoring with a firm low shot into the near corner, using the side of his right foot to get the ball past Penarol goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa. Paulo Henrique Ganso, back from injury after more than a month sidelined, started the play with a nifty back-heel pass to Arouca, who then found Neymar on the left side of the penalty box.
"Allowing the goal early in the second half was what killed us," Penarol forward Alejandro Martinuccio said.
It was the sixth Copa Libertadores goal for Neymar, the 19-year-old Brazil striker with a Mohawk hairdo who was likely to leave the club soon, as many of Europe's biggest clubs are preparing giant transfer offers.
Right back Danilo added to the lead after a pass from Elano in a breakaway, dribbling past a defender and firing a low shot across the area into Sosa's corner.
Penarol pulled one closer when Santos defender Durval found his own net after a cross by Fabian Estoyanoff, who had just entered the match. But Santos managed to defend its lead without allowing many dangerous chances to Penarol.
"It's an important title for the club and for all the players," Santos captain Edu Dracena said. "We've been trying to win this third title for a long time and now we've made history."
This Santos team was able to go one better than its 2003 predecessor, which lost the final to Boca Juniors despite boasting the likes of striker Robinho and playmaker Diego.
It is the first Libertadores title for Santos coach Muricy Ramalho, who had lost in the final in 2006 with Sao Paulo and in 2008 with Fluminense. Ramalho's teams have won four of the past five Brazilian league titles, but he had been better known for his near failures in the South American competition.
"I've been going after this for a long time," Ramalho said. "It wasn't easy, but it's finally my turn."
Santos became the team to beat after the emergence of teenagers Neymar and Ganso, who are touted as future stars of the national team when it hosts the 2014 World Cup.
While Neymar was key for Santos throughout the Copa Libertadores, Ganso only returned to the team in Wednesday's final after more than a month sideline because of a right thigh muscle injury.
Santos' first title in 1962 also came in a final against Penarol, with Pele scoring twice. Penarol won the first two Copa Libertadores in 1960 and 61' and then added titles in '66, '82 and '87.
But after that last title, Penarol didn't play a significant role in continental football until the team's impressive campaign this year, when it eliminated strong teams like Velez Sarsfield of Argentina, Universidad Catolica of Chile and defending Copa Libertadores champion Internacional of Brazil.
Playing at a Pacaembu Stadium packed with nearly 40,000 supporters, Santos tried to pressure from the start, but Penarol was able to control the Brazilians' attacking thrusts.
Still, Santos had some of the two best chances in the first half. A free kick by Elano was barely saved by Penarol goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa in the 32nd, and then defender Leo's close-range shot went just wide in the 44th. It also came close with headers by Durval in the fourth and 45th minutes.
Penarol had a couple of opportunities, with Argentine midfielder Alejandro Martinuccio failing to control a ball inside the area in the 12th for what could have been an easy goal, then firing narrowly wide with a left-footed shot from outside the box in the 27th.
Penarol lost defender Alejandro Gonzalez to injury in the 38th after a hard foul by Neymar.
-- Tales Azzoni
Young Santos stars lead Libertadores win
SAO PAULO (AP) — Having wrapped up the Copa Libertadores title for Santos on Wednesday, talented Brazilian youngsters Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso are already eyeing off their upcoming challenges.
Ganso helped set up Neymar's goal that opened the way for Santos' 2-1 victory over Uruguay's Penarol on Wednesday, giving the Brazilian club its third title in the Latin American competition, the first since Pele was its biggest star in the 1960s.
On Thursday, the pair will travel to Argentina to join the Brazilian squad preparing for the upcoming Copa America, where the Selecao will be aiming for a third straight victory in the continental championship.
"It's time to go after my third South American title," said the 19-year-old Neymar, who earlier this year led Brazil to the continental under-20 title.
Then, at the end of the year, the talented young Brazilians could be facing the might of European champion Barcelona in the Club World Cup.
"We still have a few months to go before we get there, but it's going to be interesting," Neymar said.
Santos coach Muricy Ramalho is hoping both players choose to stay with Santos for an encounter with the likes of Lionel Messi, even though it will be hard for both club and player to resist the huge transfer offers from some of Europe's biggest clubs.
"It will be difficult to play against Barcelona even with these two guys in the team, imagine without them," he said.
Since emerging as teenagers a couple of years ago, Neymar and Ganso helped the club win the Brazilian Cup in 2009 and back-to-back Sao Paulo state championships in 2010 and '11. The Copa Libertadores was the major title missing.
"This title puts this generation in the history books," the 21-year-old Ganso said. "We are making history with another title, with a groups of young winners, young fighters who honor Santos' jersey."
Ganso returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday after more than a month sidelined because of a right thigh muscle injury. He started the play that led to Neymar's goal with a nifty back-heel pass to midfielder Arouca, who then found Neymar inside the area.
Santos became known for the first time because of Pele, and more recently it exported young talents such as Robinho and Diego to top teams across the world. The team led by Robinho in 2003 lost the Copa Libertadores final to Boca Juniors of Argentina.
"We have to thank these young guys for giving us this title," Pele said, with tears in his eyes as the players celebrated around him.
-- Tales Azzoni
Penarol coach rueful but proud in defeat
SAO PAULO (AP) — Penarol coach Diego Aguirre rued the goal his team allowed early in the second half yet was still proud of the Uruguayan club's performance in Wednesday's second leg of the Copa Libertadores final, beaten 2-1 by Santos.
Aguirre said Penarol played well throughout the match at Pacaembu Stadium, but was always going to struggle after falling behind to Neymar's 47th-minute opener.
"We controlled the first half, we played a good match," Aguirre said. "But that goal was key. Santos found its game and ended deserving the win. We couldn't find a goal, it was very hard, Santos is a great team and we couldn't comeback, but I'm very proud of my players."
Aguirre was trying to win his second Copa Libertadores title, the first as a coach. He was the hero of the team's triumph in 1987, scoring the winner in the final minute of extra time against America de Cali of Colombia.
Santos won 2-1 on aggregate — the first leg in Montevideo ended scoreless — to claim its third Copa Libertadores title, and the first since Pele led the team in the early 1960s.
"Allowing the goal early in the second half was what killed us," Penarol's Argentine forward Alejandro Martinuccio said.
Penarol was trying to win its sixth title. It won the first two Copa Libertadores in 1960 and '61 and added victories in '66 and '82 before the dramatic win over America de Cali.
But after that title, Penarol didn't play a significant role in South American football until the team's impressive campaign this year, when it eliminated traditionally strong teams like Velez Sarsfield of Argentina, Universidad Catolica of Chile and defending Copa Libertadores champion Internacional of Brazil.
Some players still celebrated this year's runner-up finish.
"It has a lot of value," midfielder Luis Aguiar said. "It was a spectacular group, a group of friends. It's very important to have teammates who give their best on the field."
Women's World Cup
No translation required: Marta has gold objective
ELMA, New York (AP) — After winning World Cup silver three times in the past eight years, Brazil superstar Marta will have one objective when the 2011 tournament opens in Germany on Sunday.
The best women's footballer in the world had no need to wait for translation when it came to the question of how tired she is of finishing with a runners-up medal.
"I'm not tired. I have silver here," Marta said, smiling and tugging on the silver necklace she's wearing as a show of proof. "I like silver. But for competition, of course, I want gold."
In Portuguese, English, after three seasons in the United States, or even Swedish, which she learned during five seasons with Umea, Marta's message couldn't have been clearer earlier this month. That's when the Western New York Flash star was preparing to take a break from the Women's Professional Soccer league to play at the World Cup.
What's also no secret is that Brazil's chances of winning gold — and upsetting the favored Germans — hinge largely on the 25-year-old phenom, Marta Vieira da Silva, who customarily goes by her first name.
She's the tiny, elusive 5-foot-3 striker with catlike dribbling skills, who's unafraid to run into traffic and has an uncanny ability to find gaps in opposing defenses to set up scoring opportunities. These are among the reasons Marta's been dubbed "Pele with Skirts," in her native Brazil.
"She is sensational, spectacular," young Brazil men's striker Neymar told The Associated Press in an email last month. "When she is on the field, it's like she is playing a different sport. I think she is as important to the women's national team as Ronaldo was to the men's team."
The Brazilians aren't a one-woman show, as the team also features star forward Cristiane.
Marta, however, has become not only the face of the Brazilian squad, but all of women's soccer for much of the past decade.
She's been voted FIFA's top women's player for five years running and, last year, Marta joined Argentina's Lionel Messi in being the inaugural winners of the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Marta also won a WPS championship — last year with the now-defunct FC Gold Pride — and has been awarded a title as a United Nations goodwill ambassador in the fight against poverty.
That leaves one item — something gold — still missing.
"It's very important because I've won individual titles," Marta said, this time through an interpreter. "Now I want to get a team medal, not just for me, but for the entire team, the athletes, the coaches and everyone. And for Brazil."
With Marta on his side, Brazil coach Kleiton Lima likes his team's chances.
"We're going to the World Cup expecting to win the title," Lima wrote in an email. "Marta once again will be the biggest name of the World Cup. Brazil will rely on a great player like her. But it will also rely on the rest of the squad. She won't win the World Cup herself."
Marta's more than done her part so far. She scored a tournament-leading seven goals in the 2007 World Cup in China, when Brazil finished second following a 2-0 loss to Germany. She's also combined to score six times in two Olympic tournaments, in which Brazil finished second to the U.S. in both 2004 and '08.
It was after a 1-0 loss to the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Games when Marta lamented, "I'm more than sad," in a game in which she had six shots and was foiled by Hope Solo on a great scoring opportunity in the 72nd minute.
The silver medal did raise attention for the team in Brazil, but the football-mad nation has yet to fully warm to the women's game. It was during the medal ceremony in China when Brazilian players held up a sign saying, "Brazil, we need support."
Marta has been one to lead the campaign, and it's why she was pleased to hear what Neymar had to say about her.
"It's good to hear this," she said. "Once you start getting attention from people, it comes with responsibility."
FIFA
Report reveals 'compelling' bribery evidence
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA had "compelling" evidence that Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner conspired to bribe voters in the organization's presidential election before it suspended them from world football's governing body.
FIFA's ethics committee concluded that the allegations bin Hammam offered $40,000 cash payments to Caribbean officials "constitute prima facie an act of bribery."
A report into Warner's case, seen by The Associated Press, said the then-FIFA vice president was an accessory to bribery who offered "mere self-serving declarations" at a hearing last month.
The 17-page document was sent last week to Warner, a 28-year veteran of FIFA's ruling executive committee who led the North, Central American and Caribbean regional body since 1990.
Days later, the Trinidad and Tobago government minister quit his football positions while insisting that he would have been "fully exonerated by any objective arbiter."
The damning language in the ethics panel's report stands out in contrast to FIFA's official stance on Warner's investigation, which was dropped on Monday.
FIFA said it no longer had legal authority to pursue Warner and that he retained "the presumption of innocence."
FIFA declined to comment Wednesday on the leaked report, which was first revealed by Britain's Press Association.
Warner issued a statement claiming the document was circulated by "pathologically mendacious" people within FIFA who would "stop at no length to destroy my legacy."
"Let me once again reiterate for the sake of those with hidden agendas; I, Jack Warner, did not partake in the distribution of any cash gifts to my members," the former Caribbean Football Union leader said.
Calls to Warner's lawyer in Trinidad were not answered.
Bin Hammam and Warner were summoned to appear before FIFA's ethics committee on May 29, and provisionally suspended based on a dossier of evidence relating to the bin Hammam's campaign visit to meet CFU members at a hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Hours before the hearing, bin Hammam withdrew from the election scheduled for four days later against FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
Blatter, who attended Wednesday night's Gold Cup semifinals in Houston, deflected questions about the ethics report to FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot.
Blatter "was just here to watch the games" and would not comment, Maingot told The Associated Press.
The ethics panel, headed by Namibian judge Petrus Damaseb, studied witness statements from officials representing four Caribbean federations who were allegedly offered brown envelopes stuffed with $100 notes after hearing bin Hammam's election pitch on May 10.
"It appears rather compelling to consider that the actions of Mr. bin Hammam constitute prima facie an act of bribery, or at least an attempt to commit bribery," the report said.
The panel found "comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming evidence" that Warner arranged the meeting specifically to enable corruption. It was "impossible" to think Warner was unaware of the payments and their intention to influence how CFU members voted.
"Consequently, the accused (Warner) would at least be considered as an accessory to the aforementioned violations," the report said.
Officials from the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands provided witness statements that were "coherent, credible and detailed," the panel decided.
The whistleblowers said Warner told delegates that "the cash gift had been provided by Mr. bin Hammam.
"The accused further stated that he had advised Mr. bin Hammam to bring the cash equivalent of any gift he intended to bring to the delegates," the report said.
Warner, meanwhile, "failed to provide the FIFA Ethics Committee with a plausible explanation" to refute the allegations.
The panel justified the suspensions, pending a full inquiry, because officials suspected of bribery would cause "irreparable damage to FIFA" if they remained within the organization.
Though Warner is out of reach of its judicial bodies, FIFA is seeking to interview him as a witness in the ongoing probes into bin Hammam and two CFU employees alleged to have handed over the payments. All deny wrongdoing and are expected to face the ethics panel again next month.
FIFA has hired investigators led by former FBI director Louis Freeh to interview Warner's allies within the CFU who initially denied being offered cash payments.
Bin Hammam, the Asian Football Confederation president, has also appealed his provisional ban and awaits a separate ruling from FIFA.
-- Graham Dunbar
FIFA anti-corruption team expected in Zimbabwe
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — FIFA anti-corruption officials will travel to Zimbabwe next week to help wrap up another damaging match-fixing investigation, the African country's football body said on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe Football Association vice president Ndumiso Gumede told The Associated Press that FIFA's head of security, Chris Eaton, will lead the anti-corruption unit.
The FIFA team will arrive June 30, Gumede said, to help conclude a drawn-out ZIFA probe which will likely lead to strict sanctions — and possible lifetime bans — for a number of Zimbabwe national team players after they admitted last October to taking bribes to lose matches on tours to Asia.
"They are going to meet people in an effort to bring this issue to finality," said Gumede, who led the internal inquiry for ZIFA. "Appropriate action will be taken on completion of the probe."
FIFA did not directly confirm its participation, but said in email correspondence to The AP that "contacts with member associations are taking place as part of an on-going worldwide investigation" into match-fixing.
"We hope that you understand that we cannot provide you more details while the investigation is on-going," FIFA said.
Punishments for the Zimbabwe players could be the first for manipulating international games in a new wave of crackdowns on match-fixing in world football.
South Korea's football association last week imposed life bans on 10 players, including South Korean international Kim Dong-hyun, for fixing matches in its domestic K-League.
Investigations are also under way in Finland, Italy, Greece — and at a lower level in Malaysia and South Africa — while FIFA says it is looking at a recent friendly between Nigeria and Argentina as part of a wider probe into suspicious betting patterns and possible fixing. No players in the Nigeria-Argentina match are accused of wrongdoing.
In Finland, Wilson Raj Perumal of Singapore is on trial along with nine players for allegedly fixing league matches in an international betting scam.
Perumal, who is accused of offering bribes to players totaling about $680,000, is suspected of also manipulating the Zimbabwe matches in South East Asia.
Last year, Zimbabwe captain Method Mwanjali and international team mates Daniel Verehmu, Benjamin Marere, Thomas Svosve and coaching team member Joey Antipas all made sworn statements admitting taking money to lose matches by specific scorelines on a 2009 tour to Thailand and Malaysia.
Zimbabwe lost 3-0 to Thailand and 6-0 to Syria and the players said they were paid between $500 and $1,500.
In his statement, Mwanjali also gave details of how a representative of betting syndicates — known to the players as "Raja" — even came to the team's dressing room at halftime to give instructions on how a game should finish.
ZIFA said in last year's proceedings that it was also investigating current Zimbabwe coach Norman Mapeza and about 20 other national and club players and football administrators. Matches on tours to Asia as far back as 2007 were also under suspicion, it said.
However, because of the ongoing investigation, Zimbabwe authorities delayed taking action against the players who admitted wrongdoing.
Mwanjali — a defender with South African topflight club Mamelodi Sundowns — was allowed to continue as captain of his country and led Zimbabwe in its last international, a 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying win over Mali on June 5.
The only casualty of the scandal so far is Henrietta Rushwaya, who was fired as ZIFA's chief executive for mismanagement. Match-fixing charges against her were withdrawn pending further investigation.
Under FIFA rules, players and officials face fines and lifelong bans from any football activity, including entering any football stadium, in serious cases of match-fixing.
Blatter sends tribute to referee who died in crash
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA President Sepp Blatter has expressed his condolences to the family of Russian referee Vladimir Pettay, who died in a plane crash on Monday.
Pettay, who was appointed to FIFA's international referees list last year, was among 44 people killed when a RusAir passenger jet flying from Moscow to Petrozavodsk crashed in heavy fog. He was 37.
Blatter writes to Russian Football Union leader Sergey Fursenko that the football community stands by Pettay's family, friends and loved ones. Fursenko says the RFU will help support Pettay's wife and two children.
Pettay had refereed European Championship qualifying matches at under-21 and under-17 level, and was an additional assistant in Champions League games last season.
League Capsules
River Plate defeat sparks violence
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Fans invaded the pitch and confronted players as Belgrano defeated River Plate 2-0 in Wednesday's first leg of their relegation playoff — a result that put Argentina's most successful club on the brink of a humiliating relegation.
Just after Belgrano went ahead 2-0 early in the second half, dozens of hooligan fans — at least one wearing a mask — ripped through a fence, raced across the pitch and taunted and shoved River Plate players.
Referee Nestor Pitana halted the match for 20 minutes as police with batons and shields cleared the troublemakers from the field and stands of the Cordoba stadium.
The return match is scheduled for Sunday at River Plate's 50,000-seat Monumental stadium. The likelihood of violence is high, with River Plate facing relegation to the second division for the first time in its history.
The Argentine Football Association will likely consider playing the second leg in an empty stadium; a blow to a team that would be counting on the support of its fans to overcome the 2-0 deficit in one of the club's most important games in its 110-year history.
River has won the Argentine first division title 33 times — more than any club — and relegation had been regarded as unthinkable for the Buenos Aires giants.
Violence menaces almost every club match in Argentina, with the outbreaks often taking place outside the stadium — usually before or after the match.
This time it happened in the middle of the game with hooligans tearing through a chain-link fence topped with razor wire. One masked fan shoved River Plate defender Adalberto Roman, who ignored the taunt and walked away. The dozens of invaders then crawled back through the fence, or climbed it with with wild cheers from other fans.
Thirteen fans have died in football-related violence in just over a year in Argentina. The AFA is often criticized for ignoring the violence, but argues it's a social problem and not a football problem.
The incident took place just a minute after Cesar Pereyra gave Belgrano a 2-0 lead in the 50th. Cesar Mansanelli had scored Belgrano's first goal in the 26th.
In another relegation playoff earlier Wednesday, Gimnasia defeated Huracan 2-0.
The victory in a one-off match put Gimnasia into a further two-legged playoff, beginning Sunday, with San Martin de San Juan of the second division. The winner of that contest will play in the top flight next season, while the loser will join Huracan in the second division.
Sendai routs Kofu 4-0 in J-League
SENDAI, Japan (AP) — Vegalta Sendai beat Ventforet Kofu 4-0 on Wednesday to move the tsunami-stricken club within one point of the lead in Japan's J-League.
Vegalta, the team hardest hit by March's earthquake and tsunami, closed in on leader Kashiwa Reysol, which lost 4-2 to Gamba Osaka.
Ryang Yong Gi and Kodai Watanabe scored first-half goals, before Shingo Akamine and Yuki Nakashima widened the margin in the second half as Vegalta extended its unbeaten start to the season to 12 games.
Sendai has 24 points from six wins and six draws and is the only undefeated team in the league.
In Kashiwa, Shoki Hirai, Lee Keun-ho and Takumi Shimohira all scored second-half goals to lead Gamba over Kashiwa. Leandro and Junya Tanaka scored for Kashiwa.
Elsewhere, Yu Kobayashi scored a late winner as third-placed Kawasaki Frontale defeated Shimizu S-Pulse 3-2.
Shinji Ono equalized for Shimizu from the penalty spot in the final minute of the first half and the score remained level until Kobayashi's right-footed shot in the 81st minute secured the win for Kawasaki.
Keita Suzuki, Marcio Richardes and Edmilson all scored in the second half as Urawa Reds coasted to a 3-0 win over winless Avispa Fukuoka.
Champions Nagoya Grampus beat Cerezo Osaka 3-2 courtesy of second-half goals by Keiji Tamada and Australian striker Josh Kennedy.
Kashima Antlers edged Vissel Kobe 1-0 on Yuzo Tashiro's goal in the first half, Jun Kanakubo scored in the fifth minute of injury time to lead Omiya Ardija to a 2-1 win over Jubilo Iwata. Yokohama F Marinos beat Albirex Niigata 1-0.
Spain plays Switzerland in Euro Under-21 final
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Spain will meet Switzerland in Saturday's final of the European Under-21 Championship.
Switzerland advanced Wednesday after beating Czech Republic 1-0, while Spain came from a goal down to beat Belarus 3-1 in the other semifinal.
Belarus took a first-half lead through Andrei Voronkov and looked destined for victory until Spain's Adrian Lopez struck an 89th minute equalizer, sending the teams into extra time.
Further goals from Lopez and Jeffren Suarez put Spain, whose senior team are world and European champions, into the final at Aarhus.
Admir Mehmedi's goal in extra time secured the Swiss their first final. Mehmedi dribbled past two defenders before sending a shot past keeper Tomas Vaclik and into the corner of the net.
Elsewhere
Chelsea hires Villas-Boas as manager
LONDON (AP) — Andre Villas-Boas was hired as Chelsea manager on a three-year contract on Wednesday, and vowed to build on the stunning success he achieved at Porto that quickly established him as one of Europe's most sought-after coaches.
The 33-year-old Villas-Boas, who has just two seasons of topflight managerial experience behind him, became the seventh manager in eight years under Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich — a day after resigning as coach of the Portuguese champions.
Fresh from guiding Porto to Portuguese and Europa League titles in an unbeaten season, the man often compared to his compatriot and former boss Jose Mourinho will bring some much-needed energy and dynamism to a club that failed to land any silverware last season.
"There is no doubt that the challenge for me is to keep winning," Villas-Boas told Chelsea's in-house TV channel. "I am an individual who has that hunger for success and I want to keep it that way."
Since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003, the club has enjoyed a trophy-laden period that has harvested three English titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups.
The Champions League — a competition Abramovich is said to be obsessed with — has eluded the Blues and it is success in Europe's premier club competition where Villas-Boas will ultimately be judged.
"Let's reflect on the success of the past six years at this club and what we have achieved, and now what we can achieve in the next six years again," he said.
Villas-Boas returns to the London club where he worked as a scout between 2004-07 under Mourinho, who won five major domestic trophies in that time. However, Mourinho and his successors Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti always came up short in the Champions League.
"His ambition, drive and determination matches that of Chelsea and we are confident Andre's leadership of the team will result in greater successes in major domestic and European competitions," Chelsea said in a statement.
Chelsea described Villas-Boas as "one of the most talented young managers in football today" but the man himself said he would just be a cog in the machine.
"Don't expect something from one man," he said. "Expect us to create a group dynamic of everybody getting together, with the fans getting together, with people getting excited with the motivation that is in and around us.
"In the new way of communicating and the new leadership — this is the most important thing," he said. "It's not about my arrival. It's about the continuous success of this club."
Villas-Boas succeeds Ancelotti as manager at Stamford Bridge following the Italian coach's sacking on the final day of last season, despite having won the Premier League-FA Cup double the previous year.
Villas-Boas will start work immediately on a reported contract of 5 million pounds ($8 million) a year, with one of his first tasks to decide at what stage the team — featuring a number of aging stars like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry — needs to be dismantled and rebuilt.
He will be familiar with many of the current Chelsea squad following his previous spell at the club.
"Andre will bring his coaching experience back to a club he is already very familiar with, having previously worked here for three years," Chelsea said in the statement. "He has always been highly regarded at Chelsea and everyone here looks forward to welcoming him back and working with him."
Villas-Boas' contract with Porto was terminated Tuesday after the club received payment of €15 million ($21.5 million) to trigger his release clause.
With Villas-Boas having never managed in the Champions League, the appointment could be seen as a risk. However, Villas-Boas is so highly rated that he has been dubbed by many as the "Mini-Mourinho," after the current Real Madrid coach who has been one of the most successful managers in Europe in recent years.
"Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job. He has already achieved much in a relatively short space of time," Chelsea said.
Comparisons with Mourinho were reinforced last month when Villas-Boas emulated his mentor by winning the Europa League, the second-tier European competition which Mourinho lifted with Porto in 2003 in its UEFA Cup format.
He was previously coach at Portuguese side Academica for a year.
Chelsea came second in the league last season and was eliminated by Manchester United in the semifinals of the Champions League.
-- Steve Douglas
Attack-hungry Chelsea gambles on Villas-Boas
MADRID (AP) — Chelsea's appointment of Andres Villas-Boas is a daring gamble that marks a new period at Stamford Bridge, as the young Portuguese manager looks to shed the conservative style of play established by mentor Jose Mourinho with an attacking brand of football more akin to European champion Barcelona's.
Chelsea's decision to make Villas-Boas the youngest ever manager in the Premier League — just a few months older than several players at 33 —doesn't mark the first time someone has taken a risk on the relatively inexperienced coach poached from Portuguese champion Porto and hailed as the heir apparent to Mourinho.
Villas-Boas' stock rose significantly following Porto's treble-winning campaign, highlighted by an undefeated league campaign and May's Europa League triumph in Dublin. That victory only increased the comparisons to Mourinho, whose first European triumph was winning the UEFA Cup with Porto in 2003.
But Villas-Boas' football philosophy differs drastically from Mourinho's, as the Porto native prefers flamboyance and creativity over tactical strategy. Chelsea fans thirsty for goals and flair will appreciate Villas-Boas' admiration of Barcelona's passing style of play, and will be buoyed by the fact that Porto featured one of Europe's most potent attacks last season, scoring 145 goals.
"(Barcelona coach Pep) Guardiola is an inspiration to me every day," Villas-Boas said after the 1-0 Europa League win over Braga in May. "I am inspired not only by him, but also his philosophy and the philosophy of Barcelona, of (Johan) Cruyff, of Rinus Michels."
But some will wonder if the move to Chelsea is premature after barely two seasons of topflight experience.
Villas-Boas has yet to test the players' transfer market and build his own squad, making few changes to the Porto team he inherited. Villas-Boas will also have to deal with owner Roman Abramovich, who has a reputation for hasty decisions. The young Portuguese is the seventh coach hired by the Russian oligarch in eight years since he took over the club.
Abramovich has reportedly been a longtime admirer of Guardiola, who remains committed to Barcelona for another season. Like Guardiola, Villas-Boas prefers to maintain a lower profile and doesn't court controversy like the brash Mourinho, who was eventually cut loose by Abramovich despite three-plus successful seasons at Stamford Bridge.
Regardless of the risk and potential reward, there is no arguing that Villas-Boas' rise has been nothing short of sensational.
Former Porto coach Bobby Robson gave Villas-Boas his first chance as a teenager when he offered him an apprenticeship with the club's youth-team coaching staff. By 17, Villas-Boas had a UEFA coaching license.
He coached the British Virgin Isles for a brief stint at just 21 — losing both games — before finding his way back to Porto, where he compiled statistics and in-depth scouting reports during Mourinho's impressive UEFA Cup and Champions League campaigns in 2003 and '04.
Villas-Boas then followed Mourinho to Chelsea and Inter Milan where he worked in a similar role before going his own way and eventually landing at Academica, where he took over with 23 games to play and relegation a possibility. He kept the club in topflight football with an 11th-place finish, which led to his surprise appointment at Porto before the start of last season.
Chelsea's decision to trust in the self-assured and media savvy Villas-Boas perhaps points to a long-term reshuffling of the squad as well, with veteran players like Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba the same age as their new manager, and John Terry and Petr Cech approaching 30.
After winning the Europa League in Dublin, Villas-Boas downplayed his own part in the success and gave most of the credit to his team.
"I am just a cog in a very effective club with super talents," Villas-Boas said. "Players are decisive in modern football; if you don't have the players you run into a wall."
-- Paul Logothetis
Pele says he told young star Neymar to stop diving
SAO PAULO (AP) — Football great Pele said Wednesday he has personally told young Brazil striker Neymar to stop diving.
Pele acknowledged that Neymar is at a disadvantage because he is not as strong as most defenders trying to mark him, but said he is "exaggerating" with his attempts to get referees to award fouls.
"He is a player with a body that can't take a lot of hits," Pele told a news conference. "A lot of times he will fall because he can't do anything else, but he was overdoing it."
Neymar is touted as a future star of the Brazilian national team, but many opponents have criticized him for diving.
Pele said the 19-year-old Santos player would often have been better off continuing his run instead of going down in a bid to earn a free kick or penalty. He said he told Neymar to stop putting on a show every time a defender touches him.
"Even when he is fouled, he can't make a spectacle out of it," he said. "I told him that he really needs to avoid that."
Pele's comments came as Neymar and Santos prepare to play later Wednesday against Penarol of Uruguay in the final of the Copa Libertadores, the Latin American competition that Santos is trying to win for the first time since back-to-back titles when Pele was a player in 1962 and '63.
The teams drew 0-0 in the first leg, when Neymar was booked for diving. He later complained that the referee was constantly threatening to send him off if he tried it again.
The Brazilian youngster says, however, that he never tries to fool the referee into blowing his whistle, and that he goes down only when he is actually fouled.
Neymar last year rejected an offer from Chelsea, and now Real Madrid is reportedly trying to sign him. But Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro reiterated that the player is happy in Brazil and that Santos will try to keep him in the club for as long as possible.
"We have no interest in getting rid of our greatest players," Ribeiro said in the news conference before the final.
Pele said Santos has a better team than Penarol and has a slight edge heading into the match at the Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo. He played when Santos faced the Uruguayan club in the 1962 final, but said now he is having a harder time awaiting for the decisive match as a fan.
"When I played against Penarol 50 years ago, I wasn't as nervous as I am now," Pele said. "It's much worse when you are not on the field."
Pele also joked about the recent comments reportedly made by Argentine great Diego Maradona, saying that Pele and Neymar are not polite.
"Maradona loves me, he really likes me," Pele said. "I heard about what he said, it seems that now he is starting to worry about Neymar too. But I've said it before, we've met several times and I will always do whatever possible to help him in any way I can."
-- Tales Azzoni
Russia to probe racist jibe at Roberto Carlos
SAMARA, Russia (AP) — Russia's football league is launching an investigation after a banana was thrown at Roberto Carlos during a league match on Wednesday, the second such racist taunt to be faced by the former World Cup winner in three months, local media reported.
The Brazilian, who joined Anzhi Makhachkala earlier this year, quit the pitch in protest before the final whistle after the banana was thrown from the stands in stoppage time of a game at Krylya Sovetov.
Krylya Sovetov will also begin its own inquiry into the incident, the website of Russian daily Sport Express said.
"I'm outraged by the sickening behavior of this fan, who, in fact, insulted not only me but all the players," Roberto Carlos told Sport Express. "I hope Russian federation, UEFA and FIFA will give an adequate evaluation to this disgusting incident."
He said his decision to walk off had nothing to do with his side's 3-0 lead at the time.
"I did it deliberately because I have suffered a bitter disappointment and I didn't want to continue to play in the match," he said. "Believe me, I would have done it at any scoreline."
He also said he raised two fingers at the side of the pitch "to remind (people) that it was the second such case in the short time that I've been playing in Russia."
In March, Russian champion Zenit St. Petersburg was fined $10,000 after one of its fans offered a banana to Roberto Carlos at a pre-match ceremony.
The 38-year-old left wingback, who won the World Cup in 2002, joined the Russian club earlier this year from Corinthians.
"It's a pity," the Brazilian said. "The majority of the people in the country treat players, including foreign ones, cordially and with respect. Unfortunately, there are also freaks, such as this one."
He added that a senior Krylya club official came to the changing room to apologize.
"I'm not used to racism in football," he told the RIA Novosti news agency. "Russia should not be an exception."
Sergei Fursenko, president of the Russian Football Federation, told Sport Express that his executive committee will discuss the incident at an extraordinary meeting Thursday.
"We will sort out the situation and seriously punish those guilty," he was quoted as saying. "We must fight racism in the stands decisively."
The incident was also condemned by Anzhi coach Gadzhi Gadzhiyev.
"A banana thrown on the field left an impression as lingering as the joy of our victory," Gadzhiyev was quoted as telling the paper. "One cannot remain indifferent about a prank like this."
Tsunami-hit club Sendai fights for J-League title
SENDAI, Japan (AP) — Three months after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami almost wiped out its season, Vegalta Sendai is contending for the J-League title.
Sendai, the J-League team hardest hit by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the tsunami that followed, defeated Ventforet Kofu 4-0 on Wednesday to move within one point of leaders Kashiwa Reysol.
Coach Makoto Teguramori's club has 24 points from six wins and six draws and is the only undefeated team in the league — a remarkable achievement given all the team has gone through in the past few months.
"We want to keep this unbeaten run going and the fans are helping us to do that," Teguramori said.
Vegalta's home stadium sustained serious damage from the earthquake and the tsunami that followed. Several foreign players, like Brazilian striker Marquinhos, headed home after the disaster, forcing Teguramori to shuffle his lineup.
The team was forced to train away from home before the season and its first home game was delayed for more than a month.
Then there's the nuclear crises that was triggered by the earthquake. Sendai lies well beyond the 20-kilometer restricted zone set up around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant but is closer to the radiation-leaking facility than other J-League teams.
Despite all this, Teguramori's team is playing beyond expectations. Sendai finished 14th in the 18-team league last season and few expected them to contend for the title this year even before the events of March 11.
Ryang Yong Gi and Kodai Watanabe scored first-half goals Wednesday. Shingo Akamine and Yuki Nakashima completed the scoring to preserve Sendai's unbeaten run.
North Korean midfielder Ryang, who is expected to fill some of the void left by Marquinhos, scored his first goal of the season Wednesday.
"The ball fell nicely for me and it was good to get a goal," Ryang said. "I haven't been scoring so the timing of this was good and hopefully I can keep scoring."
Vegalta has never come close to winning the J-League title. They were first promoted to the top flight in 2002, but went back down the following season. They were promoted again for the 2010 season.
Schaefer set to coach Thailand after Robson's exit
BANGKOK (AP) — Winfried Schaefer has signed a memorandum of understading to be coach of Thailand's national team. Local media reported Wednesday that former Cameroon coach Schaefer signed Tuesday with the Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi.
Worawi, who had recently been battling corruption allegations, was attending the Women's World Cup in Germany and an official agreement is expected to wait until his return next month. However, Worawi said the FAT executive had agreed on appointing the German, and media reports put the salary at almost $50,000 per month for three years.
"He has possibly the best qualifications of any foreigner we have ever hired to coach the team," Worawi was quoted as saying. "We are hoping that he can bring success to our team."
Schaefer led Cameroon to the African Nations Cup title in 2002 and coached the team at that year's World Cup. He was most recently in charge of Azerbaijan club Baku.
"I came here to start new development of Thai football by strengthening the overall structure," Schaefer said. "Producing young players is very necessary as I have done for several years in Germany."
He would replace former Manchester United great Bryan Robson, who resigned earlier this month after successful cancer treatment.
The appointment came with the Thai national team's fortunes at a low ebb. The under-23 team was excluded from Olympic qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player in an early-round meeting with Palestine, while the senior team performed below expectation in the Southeast Asian regional Suzuki Cup.
Those problems were compounded when FIFA executive committee member Worawi was accused of asking for television rights to a proposed Thailand-England friendly in return for voting for England to host the 2018 World Cup. He denied those allegations and was cleared by a FIFA investigation.
Worawi was last weekend re-elected as FAT president in a poll that was delayed — a move that had initially led the Thai government to declare his presidency void.
Schaefer's first task would be to prepare the team for the World Cup qualifiers against either Palestine or Afghanistan next month.
"I told him (Schaefer) that our priority concern is the coming World Cup Asian qualifier," Worawi said. "We set a target to finish top ten among Asian countries."
English FA defends position over British teams
LONDON (AP) — The home nations who object to an all-British football team at the 2012 London Olympics accept they can't stop their players featuring in the tournament, the English Football Association said Wednesday.
The British Olympic Association announced Tuesday that players from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are eligible to play for Team GB following an "historic" agreement with the English FA.
That angered the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish associations, who reiterated their objections to their players being selected.
However, FA general secretary Alex Horne said his organisation was acting within the rules.
"It is clear that under the Olympic Charter, there has to be a non-discriminatory selection process for all players. These are not the FA rules," Horne said. "All three associations have notified us in writing that they acknowledge that legally we are entitled to support the BOA in the selection process."
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been blocking plans to have combined British teams at the Olympics because they don't want to jeopardize their status as separate teams in UEFA and FIFA events.
The BOA said the four British associations have been assured by FIFA that combined British team for the men's and women's competitions "will in no way compromise their autonomy and independence ... nor have any impact on their positions of leadership within the FIFA governance structure."
Despite their stance, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said their players would be free to take participate at the Olympics without fear of sanctions.
Lyon names Garde as new coach
LYON, France (AP) — Former Lyon and Arsenal player Remi Garde was appointed as Lyon's new coach to succeed Claude Puel on Wednesday. Garde, who was heading Lyon's youth academy, signed a one-year contract with the seven-time champions.
"I'm very happy and very proud to accept the challenge the club has proposed to me," Garde said. "I know it won't be easy, but I have every confidence in my staff and the players. I've been a part of the OL family for a long time now. It's time to start work."
Lyon fired Puel earlier this week, ending the coach's disappointing three-year tenure at the club.
Lyon reached the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 2010 but hasn't won a trophy since Puel took over from Alain Perrin, who led Lyon to the league and French Cup double in 2007-08.
The 45-year-old Garde started his career with Lyon where he played nine years before joining Strasbourg then Arsenal. He returned to the club in 2003 as a staff member.
"We are here to win titles," Garde said. "I'm in a big club and our goal is to find again the values and the state of mind that maybe slipped away from us."
Brazil 'chills out' in Copa training
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Brazil's players found the weather chilly on their first day of training in Argentina, as the squad prepared to start its Copa America campaign on July 3 against Venezuela.
Skies were overcast with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees Celcius (50 Farenheit) on Wednesday, leading to many of the Brazilians wearing gloves to fight the effects of winter.
The Brazil squad arrived late Tuesday and is staying — and training — at a five-star hotel complex located about 60 kilometers (35 miles) north of downtown Buenos Aires. Brazil has won the last two continental championships and faces Paraguay and Ecuador in its other Group B matches.
"We're working on getting things together," defender Thiago Silva said."Although we have not played that much together, we're training daily and it will get better."
Brazil began training without three players — 19-year-old forward Neymar, Elano and Paulo Henrique Ganso — who are set to play for Brazilian club Santos on Wednesday in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final against Uruguayan team Penarol.
"We'll be in the fight for the championship," Robinho said. "Right now, we have to relax our nerves."
Algeria appoints Halilhodzic as coach
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Vahid Halilhodzic has been appointed Algeria coach for the next three years. The Algerian federation says the Bosnian's main objectives will be to qualify the team for the next two editions of the African Cup of Nations plus the 2014 World Cup.
The 59-year-old Halilhodzic replaces Abdelhak Benchikha, who resigned after a 4-0 loss to Morocco in an African Cup qualifier earlier this month.
Halilhodzic won the league and Cup double in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb this season. He has also coached Lille, lifting the club from second division to the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain, Raja Casablanca and Trabzonspor.
A strong disciplinarian, Halilhodzic also led Ivory Coast but was fired just months before the 2010 World Cup.
Birmingham hires Hughton as manager
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Birmingham has hired former Newcastle coach Chris Hughton as the club's new manager. Hughton returns to management at the second-tier League Championship club, seven months after he was fired by Premier League team Newcastle.
Acting Birmingham chairman Peter Pannu says he was "impressed by Hughton's vision and footballing theories of garnering youth and playing attractive and effective football."
Hughton fills the role vacated by Alex McLeish, who controversially quit Birmingham to join local rival Aston Villa last week.
Birmingham won the League Cup last season but ended up being relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the campaign.
Granada coach banned four games to start new season
MADRID (AP) — Newly promoted Spanish club Granada will be without coach Fabriciano Gonzalez Penelas for the first four games of the new season due to a suspension.
Gonzalez Penelas was sent off in the closing stages of Granada's 1-1 draw at Elche on Saturday for protesting a decision by the referee's assistant and subsequently grabbing the official with both hands after entering the playing field. The Spanish football federation announced the suspension in a statement.
The away goal proved enough to return to the top flight for the first time in 35 years, after a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the series.
Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano were also promoted to the first division.
Singapore FA suspends players, coach for brawl
SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore's football authorities have suspended three players and a coach for participating in a fight between two teams before an S. League game last month.
Disciplinary Committee Chairman K. Bala Chandran says in a statement Wednesday that members of Etoile F.C. and Hougang United engaged in "acts of hooliganism" during the pre-game brawl that injured four people.
The fines and bans for two Etoile players ranged up to seven-match suspensions and fines as much as $2,000 Singapore dollars ($1,620). The Hougang player and coach received suspensions of up to five games and a $1,500 fine.
The clubs were fined SG$10,000 each and docked five competition points.
South Korean striker Ji Dong-won set for Sunderland
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Ji Dong-won is set to become the eighth South Korean to move to the Premier League after his K-League club Chunnam Dragons announced Wednesday that the striker has reached a deal with Sunderland. The 20-year-old Ji has scored six goals in 11 games for South Korea and is seen as one of Asia's top prospects.
Chunnam said in a statement on its website that "Ji Dong-won is going to Sunderland and has agreed a three-year contract."
It did not disclose financial details of the deal. South Korean media reports said the transfer fee is around 3.8 billion won ($3.5 million). Ji is expected to play his final game for Chunnam on Sunday.
Ten more arrested in Greek match-fixing probe
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Police in Greece say 10 people have been arrested as part of a match-fixing probe based on irregular betting patterns identified by European football's ruling body UEFA.
The suspects, all Greek men, were arrested Tuesday in Athens and the country's second largest city, Thessaloniki, and are being held on charges of participation in a criminal gang, according to police. Earlier this month, seven other suspects were arrested on less serious charges of breaking gambling laws as part of the same probe.
The investigation was launched after UEFA handed Greek authorities a report citing irregular betting patterns, mostly involving Greek Cup and Division 2 games in 2009 and 2010.
Barcelona receives Roma offer for striker Krkic
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona says it has received an offer from AS Roma for striker Bojan Krkic. Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa says the club is "evaluating" the bid for the Spain under-21 forward, who has mostly been used off the bench since the arrival of coach Pep Guardiola three seasons ago.
Freixa did not say whether the offer was for a permanent move or a loan deal. Roma recently signed former Barcelona "B'' team coach Luis Enrique as its manager for next season.
Freixa declined to speak about Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, who is reportedly set to join the Spanish and European champions from Udinese.
Juventus purchases full contracts of four players
TURIN, Italy (AP) — Juventus has purchased the full contracts of four players whose rights were half-owned by other clubs. The move means forwards Alessandro Matri and Fabio Quagliarella, midfielder Simone Pepe and defender Marco Motta will all stay with Juventus.
Juventus will pay Cagliari €15.5 million ($22.3 million) for Matri, Napoli €10.5 million ($15.1 million) for Quagliarella, Udinese €7.5 million ($10.8 million) for Pepe and €3.75 million ($5.4 million) for Motta. Payments will be made over the course of three years.
All four players joined Juventus either at the start or during last season.
AC Milan confirms deal for El Shaarawy
MILAN (AP) — AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has confirmed the club will sign Genoa midfielder Stephan El Shaarawy to a loan deal this season. The 18-year-old El Shaarawy was loaned to Padova last season and helped the northern club reach a playoff for Serie A, which it lost to Novara.
Galliani says on Milan's website that "we've acquired him because we think he's ready. He'll definitely stay at Milan for the entire year. El Shaarawy can do extraordinary things."
El Shaarawy has an Egyptian father but was born in Italy.
