Soccer Capsules: Chivas beats Queretaro to equal club record
MEXICO CITY — Omar Bravo and Javier Hernandez scored second half goals as Chivas beat Queretaro 2-0 on Sunday to equal their best tournament start in club history.
Bravo opened the scoring in the 74th minute off a cross from Adolfo Bautista and "Chicharito" Hernandez sealed the win in the 80th for Guadalajara who are now unbeaten from four games, their best start to a season since the 1956-57 campaign when they defeated Necaxa, Monterrey, Oro and Atlante.
After failing to qualify for the playoffs in the last three championships, their perfect start has Chivas on 12 points atop of the Mexican Clausura standings. Pachuca and Atlas are next with nine each after wins over San Luis and America, respectively.
"We were committed to bring Chivas back where it belongs, we owed it to the fans ... to us. We are very pleased with the results but we still have a long road ahead of us," Chivas manager Jose Luis Real said.
Bravo scored his second goal of the season and now has 105 in his career, second best in Chivas history behind Salvador Reyes, who finished with 122. Hernandez scored for the fourth straight match and leads the Clausura scoring with seven goals.
Queretaro lost for the first time this season, and with seven points, has a share of the fourth place in the standings with Santos and Monterrey.
Chivas, the most successful club in Mexico with 11 titles, will try to extend their streak when they play Atlante next week.
In Pachuca, Ulises Mendivil scored twice in the last six minutes for a 2-0 win over the Gladiators.
Mendivil, did not waste his chance in his first start of the season with goals in the 84th and 90th minutes as the Tuzos won their second match in a row.
Meanwhile Atlas used a Mario Mendez second half goal to secure a 1-0 win over a America for their third straight win.
In other scores it was: Cruz Azul 0, Santos 2; Tigres 2, Pumas 2; Atlante 1, Puebla 1; Toluca 1, Monterrey 1; Ciudad Juarez 0, Morelia 1, Estudiantes 3, Jaguares 0.
U.S. Soccer
Gulati re-elected USSF president
NEW ORLEANS — Sunil Gulati has been unanimously re-elected to a second four-year term as president of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Gulati succeeded Bob Contiguglia in March 2006.
A member of Columbia University’s economics department, Gulati also heads the U.S. bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. He helped put together the successful bid that brought the 1994 World Cup to the United States, and he was executive vice president and chief international officer of the U.S. organizers for the tournament.
The vote was Saturday at the USSF’s annual general meeting.
Denmark’s Vejle signs 1-yr deal with U.S. defender
COPENHAGEN — Danish soccer team Vejle has signed a one-year contract with American defender Euan Holden.
The second-division club said late Saturday it had reached the deal with the 22-year-old, who played for the University of New Mexico.
Vejle coach Mats Gren said Holden is a "young and very talented player" and has the advantage of being an all-around player that can play both as defenseman and midfielder. Gren said he is "strong, fast and has the will to develop."
Vejle was relegated to the Danish second division in May and is in eighth place.
Euro 2012 draw
Defending champion Spain gets Czechs in Euro draw
WARSAW, Poland — Defending champion Spain will face the Czech Republic and Scotland in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Lithuania and Liechtenstein completed Group I in Sunday’s draw, meaning Spain, the world’s top-ranked team, will not have to face any squad that qualified for this year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Germany, the runner-up to Spain in 2008, were placed with Turkey and neighboring Austria in Group A. Germany beat both teams on the way to the final, including a dramatic 3-2 victory over Turkey in the semis.
The Germans will also face Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, coached by former Germany boss Berti Vogts.
"I am neither shocked nor pleased. Logistically, it’s not going to be simple," Germany coach Joachim Loew said of the long trips to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. "It’s a German-speaking group with many German coaches."
Kazakhstan’s coach is also a German, Bernd Storck.
Reigning World Cup champion Italy will play two teams that have qualified for this year’s tournament in South Africa: Serbia and Slovenia.
"It’s a very demanding group, the only group with three World Cup finalists," Serbia coach Radomir Antic said. "Italy has all the experience; they know how to play championships. And Slovenia eliminated Russia from the World Cup."
Italy, which won the European title in 1968, also faces Northern Ireland, Estonia and the Faeroe Islands in Group C.
England was with another World Cup finalist, Switzerland, in Group G. It also faces neighbor Wales and has two trips to the Balkans, to Bulgaria and Montenegro.
"It’s my first derby as manager of the national team; it will be interesting. They are a good young team," England manager Fabio Capello said of Wales. "It is a tough group because all the games will be strong games to play."
England was drawn into one of three groups with five teams, while the other six have six teams in each.
France, the 2000 champion, will again face Romania after also playing the team in World Cup qualifying. The other Group D teams are Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania and Luxembourg.
Greece, the 2004 champion, has Croatia and Israel as its rivals in Group F, plus Latvia, Georgia and Malta.
Portugal will have three trips to northern Europe, with World Cup finalist Denmark, Norway and Iceland awaiting along with Cyprus.
The Netherlands will have two Nordic rivals in Sweden and Finland, plus Hungary, Moldova and San Marino in Group E.
Russia, which like Croatia did not qualify for the World Cup but was placed among the nine top-seeded teams, is in Group B along with Slovakia, which has qualified for the World Cup.
The nine winners and the runner-up with the best record qualify directly for the final tournament. The remaining eight runners-up will go into a home-and-away playoff round that will be played in November 2011. Four teams in those playoffs will be seeded.
As co-hosts, Poland and Ukraine qualify for the tournament automatically.
-- Nesha Starcevic
League News
Robinho scores game-winner in Brazil return
SAO PAULO — Robinho scored the winning goal in his first game back with Brazil's Santos, giving the team a 2-1 win over top rival Sao Paulo in state tournament play Sunday.
The striker entered the match in the 57th minute and immediately showed signs of his old form, combining with Santos' 18-year-old sensation Neymar for some shots that just missed.
In the 85th, Robinho began a quick counterattack and passed to Wesley outside the area. He then slipped by the defenders to find himself clear in front of goal.
Wesley placed a perfect pass back to Robinho, who leapt in the air and back-heeled the ball past the keeper to score.
"I know many people are talking about the way I kicked the ball, but it was the only way I could have scored," Robinho said after the match. "I'm happy with the result, but I still need to play more with these young guys and get in better shape."
Robinho returned to Brazil last week on loan from Manchester City in hopes of regaining his form and securing a spot on the national team for the World Cup. He has been a regular in Brazil's squad under coach Dunga, but several players are competing for a position in the team's attack for the World Cup.
Santos got the game's first score when Neymar converted a penalty kick after Wesley was pushed to the ground by a Sao Paulo defender just as he tried to gain control of the ball.
Sao Paulo's score came in the 66th minute when Roger headed in from a nice pass by Roger.
The win put Santos atop the leaderboard with 16 points.
In Saturday Sao Paulo tournament play, Corinthians got a convincing 4-0 win over Sertaozinho.
"Today was the victory for the team that really wants it and is getting better every game," said World Cup defender Roberto Carlos, who left Fenerbahce a few weeks ago to join the team. "Corinthians showed it is a very strong team."
Corinthians, coming off a disappointing loss to second-tier Ponte Preto Wednesday, came out and played decisively, controlling the match from the start.
In the 8th minute, a hard cross from Tcheco bounced off the chest of the goalie and landed right in front of Corinthians' defender Chicao, who scored with a right foot shot. In the 43rd, striker Jorge Henrique lined up a precise shot from outside the area to make it 2-0 Corinthians.
Roberto Carlos made a great pass to striker Marcelo Mattos, who scored with a stunning shot from the top of the area. The team got its final score as midfielder Edno took a pass from Jorge Henrique, cut into the area and easily beat the keeper.
In other Sao Paulo state matches on Sunday, Paulista beat Monte Azul 3-2; Palmeiras got by Bragantino, 3-2; Santo Andre easily beat Rio Branco, 4-1; Ponte Preta beat Portuguesa, 2-1; Botafogo-SP rolled by Mogi Mirim, 3-0; and Sao Cateano won over Mirassol, 3-0.
On Saturday, Oeste got by Rio Claro 1-0 and Barueri rolled by Ituano, 4-0.
In Rio state tournament play, Botafogo assured itself a spot in the semifinals with a 5-2 win over Resende Sunday. Uruguayan striker Loco Abreu scored a hat trick to lead the team.
The match didn't start well for Botafogo, however.
Resende scored in just 34 seconds, as Elias took a pass in the area and scored on a hard right footer.
Botafogo bounced back in the 18th minute as Abreu knocked in a header. In the 30th, Abreu scored another header on a nice free kick from Lucio Flavio.
Abreu scored on his third header in the 50th on a cross from Alessandro. Marcelo Cordeiro then knocked in a shot in the 60th after a hard shot by Abreu bounced off the defense.
Botafogo got its fifth score in the 88th, as Wellington Junior hit a hard right footer that left Resende's goal keeper just watching it sail by.
Elias scored Resende's second goal in the 89th.
In other Sunday matches, Olaria and Fluminense drew, 0-0; Flamengo beat Boavista 2-1; Friburguense beat Macae, 1-0; America bested the Tigres, 3-0; and Vasco drew with Madureira, 2-2, to remain unbeaten.
On Saturday, Americano beat Duque de Caxias 3-2; Bangu got by Volta Redonda 2-1.
-- Bradley Brooks
Chelsea beats Arsenal 2-0 to stay ahead of Man U
LONDON — Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday to stay ahead of Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.
Didier Drogba scored twice in the first 23 minutes to establish a dominance that Arsenal was unable to overturn despite an improved second-half performance.
"Arsenal played well and we are happy with those two goals," Drogba said.
Victory lifted the Blues to 58 points, two more than defending champion United and nine more than third-place Arsenal.
After losing 3-1 to United last weekend, Arsenal was desperate for victory at Stamford Bridge but now faces a tough challenge to close on the leading pair with just 13 games remaining.
Chelsea captain John Terry started the game two days after being stripped of the England captaincy and set up the first goal in the eighth minute.
"It's a difficult week for us, for all the club," said Drogba, who has scored 12 goals in 10 games against the Gunners. "We try to stay together and focus on the games. We offered him as much support as we can.
"I think the best thing for him is to play."
But the defender could be a doubt for Wednesday's match at Everton after receiving treatment to his left thigh midway through the second half, only returning to the game with his leg heavily strapped.
Terry made the opening goal when he rose to meet a corner and headed the ball to the far post, where Drogba tapped it in from close range.
The second goal came from the sort of counterattack more usually seen from Arsenal or Manchester United.
Chelsea won possession on the edge of its own area and Frank Lampard carried the ball up the middle of the field against a retreating defense. The midfielder slipped a pass to Drogba on the right and the Ivory Coast striker cut inside defender Thomas Vermaelen before smashing a shot past stranded goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
Drogba now has 17 Premier League goals this season, putting him second in the scoring charts to United's Wayne Rooney on 21.
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas went close with a curling free kick from just outside the area but he too was shaken by a clash of heads with Branislav Ivanovic in injury time at the end of the match.
Arsenal hosts fourth-place Liverpool on Wednesday.
Also Sunday, former England striker Kevin Phillips scored twice in the last 10 minutes to give Birmingham a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and preserve his side's five-month unbeaten streak at home.
Birmingham was leading through Kevin Doyle's 42nd-minute shot from a rebound until the 36-year-old Phillips, who had been on as a substitute for about 15 minutes, scored in the 80th with a first-time shot.
Phillips then controlled a cross from captain Stephen Carr on his chest and volleyed into the bottom corner for an 85th-minute winner.
"Kevin will never lose that ability he has got in the box," Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said. "He might lose his teeth, he might go bald, and his legs will go at some stage, but he will always have that magnificent technique and touch of a top player."
Birmingham's first win in three matches lifted it to 37 points in eighth place, 11 spots ahead of a Wolves side that has won away from home only twice in the league this season.
All of Birmingham's 10 Premier League wins this season have been by a margin of just one goal.
Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 on Saturday to take fourth place from Tottenham, which was held to a 0-0 draw by Aston Villa.
Manchester United beat last-place Portsmouth 5-0 and now has the best goal difference in the league.
-- Stuart Condie
Mallorca moves above Sevilla in Spanish league
MADRID — Mallorca kept up its bid for a Champions League spot with a 1-0 victory over Villarreal in the Spanish league on Sunday as Sevilla lost 2-1 at Zaragoza.
Jose Carlos Nunes' 82nd minute header from Julio Alvarez's cross gave Mallorca its 10th league win of the season in the Ono Estadi, to maintain its unbeaten home record.
"Today we had a tough test against a rival that is historically bad for us at home, and that has very good players, and we've played an important game in terms of our aim of being near the top of the standings," said Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano.
The result takes Mallorca into fourth place on 37 points. Sevilla is on 36 points, dropping to fifth.
Barcelona, which beat Getafe 2-1 on Saturday, is top on 55 points, with Real Madrid, which beat Espanyol 3-0, second on 50. Third-place Valencia has 42 after beating Valladolid 2-0 on Saturday.
Also Sunday, Racing Santander drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao beat Xerez 3-2.
At Zaragoza's Romareda Stadium Matteo Contini's low left-footed shot put the home side ahead in the 31st.
Frederic Kanoute followed up a rebound off the crossbar to equalize two minutes later.
A Zaragoza corner glanced off Alvaro Negredo's head into his own net to put the hosts ahead again just before halftime.
Sevilla ended the game with nine players after Negredo was ejected for kicking out at Contini and Marius Stankevicius was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Ander Herrera. Zaragoza's Adrian Colunga was sent off for a late tackle on Jesus Navas in injury time.
"This has given me a lot of very good sensations," said Zaragoza coach Jose Aurelio Gay. "It was a win against a very difficult opponent, we've moved out of the relegation spots and we've had two wins in a row, something we haven't done all season. But above all, it's the way we played which is worth highlighting."
Against Villarreal, Mallorca failed to make the home advantage count for much of the game, although Aritz Aduriz came close with an overhead shot that went wide in the 34th minute.
In Juan Carlos Garrido's first game in charge of Villarreal, the visitors started to apply the pressure as halftime approached with Robert Pires, Joseba Llorente and Diego Godin all going close.
Llorente was put through early in the second half and Israel goalkeeper Dudu Aouate did well to rush out and block his shot.
With an eye on Wednesday's Copa del Rey semifinal against Getafe, Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez left some key players on the bench, including Navas, Diego Perotti and Luis Fabiano.
With a weakened lineup Sevilla failed to find its rhythm. Zaragoza, which has been fighting to move clear of the relegation spots, had a string of chances as it played some of the best football of its season.
Adrian Colunga twice came close to scoring in the first half, Andres Palop managing to get a hand to his shot before the forward then shot wide when through on goal again. The goalkeeper kept Sevilla in the game several times and saved again when Angel Arizmendi shot on the half hour.
Perotti replaced Jose Carlos in the second half as Sevilla's Jimenez looked for more bite in attack and the Argentina winger blasted over from outside the area on the hour.
With the clock ticking down Navas replaced Kanoute, although Zaragoza's well-organized defense kept its lead intact.
At the Sardinero Stadium, Simao Sabrosa surprised the Santander defense in the 24th with a long pass that Diego Forlan latched on to before tapping in to put Atletico ahead.
Gonzalo Colsa equalized in the 37th, spinning away from his marker and shooting with his left foot after controlling a cross from the right.
Atletico beat Santander 4-0 on Thursday in the Copa del Rey semifinal and the two teams meet for a third time this week for the return leg.
Sergio Canales curled a free kick just over in the 18th. Santander then had a penalty appeal turned down after the teenager came down under Tiago Mendes' challenge.
Sergio Aguero came off the bench on the hour although he could not break the deadlock.
Xerez appeared to have secured a draw at the San Mames until Fernando Llorente scored an 85th minute winner for Bilbao to follow his 65th minute equalizer.
Bilbao made an ideal start with 17-year-old Iker Muniain scoring in the third minute, only for Xerez's Vicente Moreno to level with a volley from the edge of the area in the 11th minute and Mario Bermejo to make it 2-1 to the visiting team just before halftime.
Earlier, 10-man Deportivo La Coruna drew 0-0 at Malaga; Osasuna beat Tenerife 1-0; and Almeria beat Sporting Gijon 3-1.
-- Guy Hedgecoe
Inter Milan wins to lead at top by 8 points
MILAN — Goran Pandev, Walter Samuel and Diego Milito scored the goals to give Inter Milan a 3-0 victory at home to Cagliari on Sunday.
The win extends Inter's lead at the top of the table to eight points after AS Roma beat Fiorentina 1-0 to move into second place, while AC Milan slipped to third after a 0-0 draw away to Bologna.
Pandev struck in the sixth minute after Javier Zanetti's cross caused problems for Cagliari's defense. Samuel headed a second in the 20th and Milito scored his 14th of the season just after halftime.
Mirko Vucinic scored the only goal of Roma's game in the 82nd minute after Fiorentina wasted a number of scoring chances.
Inter has 52 points, AS Roma 44 and Milan is on 42.
Also Sunday, it was; Atalanta 1, Bari 0; Genoa 1, Chievo Verona 0; Lazio 0, Catania 1; Siena 1, Sampdoria 2; Udinese 3, Napoli 1.
"This win against Cagliari is very important because it puts us 10 points above second place," Inter coach Jose Mourinho said. "Today we started the match trusting in our offensive mentality. Cagliari isn't an easy team to play against and even when 2-0 up its players didn't collapse and tried to make chances, but we were solid and compact."
Inter look an early lead after Zanetti raced down the right, crossed low and, when the Cagliari defense was unable to clear, Pandev swept the ball under goalkeeper Michael Agazzi.
The Macedonian then had a chance to double the lead in the 15th, but volleyed straight at the keeper.
Five minutes later though Inter doubled its tally. Maicon swung over a corner and Samuel found space to head home.
Cagliari players thought they had scored in the 35th minute, only for Alessandro Matri's shot to be ruled out for offside, when replays indicated that Inter defender Davide Santon had the last touch.
Milito added the third when the Argentine linked up with Pandev, held off Daniele Dessena and shot past Agazzi.
Fiorentina dominated a high tempo first half in the day's late game in Florence.
Roma keeper Julio Sergio made two sharp saves in the 28th minute, first from Juan Vargas' volley and then from Manuel Pasqual's long range shot.
The Brazilian again came to his side's rescue in the 39th, reacting quickly to keep out Stevan Jovetic's powerful drive, while Fiorentina's Lorenzo De Silvestri wasted a great chance to open the scoring four minutes before the break. Riccardo Montolivo counterattacked and slipped the ball to the fullback in the area, but De Silvestri sent his shot wide.
Vucinic squandered a great opportunity to open the scoring three minutes into the second half, when John Arne Riise pulled the ball back to the Montenegrin, but he sliced his shot.
Alberto Gilardino shot straight at Sergio when clear on goal in the 51st minute and the keeper denied him again in the 74th, stopping his close range header.
Having soaked up all the pressure, Roma scored eight minutes from time when David Pizarro whipped over a corner and Vucinic was left unmarked to score from close in.
"Today was all about the team," Sergio said. "It was a tough game. We got the goal and had to hang on, but sometimes matches go like that.
"It was an important result for our position in the league," he said. "Inter is a lot of points ahead of us, but that is what we have to aim for."
AC Milan struggled to build momentum in the first half of its game at Bologna and lacked any continuity in its play. A long range shot from Andrea Pirlo that went narrowly over the bar was the best that Milan produced in the opening 45 minutes.
Leonardo's side failed to find any more inspiration in the second half and even the introduction of David Beckham and Klaas Jan Huntelaar into the attack failed to provide any spark.
In injury time Massimo Ambrosini headed against the Bologna bar from Amantino Mancini's cross, but Milan has now gone four games in all competitions since its last win.
"Today I cannot criticize anyone," Milan coach Leonardo said. "We did what we had to do throughout the match. Our spirit was right, in fact it was better than it was in previous games. All we missed was a goal."
-- Jeremy Inson
Marseille routs Valenciennes 5-1 in French league
PARIS— Marseille routed Valenciennes 5-1 in the French league on Sunday to get back in the race for a European spot.
Earlier, Saint-Etienne beat Monaco 3-0 to move clear of the relegation zone and 10-man Lyon salvaged a point at Toulouse with a goalless draw.
Bordeaux still tops the standings with 48 points from 23 matches. But the defending champion had its lead cut to three points Saturday after it lost 4-2 to Rennes and Montpellier beat Boulogne 2-0 to consolidate second place and increase the pressure on the league leader.
In Marseille, Hatem Ben Arfa played Lucho Gonzalez in with a backheel pass and the Argentine midfielder scored from six yards (meters) in the 34th minute.
Then Nigeria fullback Taye Taiwo hoisted the ball into the box and Gonzalez knocked it down for Brandao, who took a touch and spun to flick home in the 43rd minute.
Benoit Cheyrou made it 3-0 in the 53rd with a drive from the edge of the box that deflected off a defender's leg to beat goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau.
Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez pulled a goal back for Valenciennes in the 66th, outjumping the Marseille defense to head in a corner kick.
But Mathieu Valbuena added a fourth goal for Marseille in the 77th. Senegal striker Mamadou Niang sent in a high cross from the left flank that Vitorino Hilton laid off for Valbuena, who placed the ball out of the goalkeeper's reach from 20 yards (meters).
Niang rounded up the scoring in extra time, burying a low cross from Souleymane Diawara and taking his tally to 10 goals this season.
"We have to keep it going," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps told Canal Plus television. "We still have many matches to play. We're in the middle of a long stretch: February and March. Let's collect the maximum number of points. Then we'll see at the beginning of April if we can play a role in the final sprint."
Marseille climbed to fifth place with 39 points while Valenciennes remained in the middle of the table with 32.
In Saint-Etienne, Dimitri Payet set up Blaise Matuidi, who fired into the top corner in the 15th. Argentine forward Gonzalo Bergessio doubled the lead with an angled strike under the crossbar in the 75th before Emmanuel Riviere sealed the win in stoppage time with a curling shot.
The result ended Monaco's four-game winning streak in the league and allowed Saint-Etienne to move up to 16th place with 23 points, seven above the drop zone.
"It's a nice performance," Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier said, "We defeated a good team that was riding the momentum of a nine-game unbeaten run (in all competitions)."
Monaco slipped to sixth place, level on points with Marseille.
In Toulouse, Lyon earned a point but missed an opportunity to take third place, staying in fourth with 40 points, one behind Lille.
Mid-table Toulouse dominated the match but couldn't convert its chances. Andre-Pierre Gignac's header crashed against the post in the 36th.
In the second half, Brazilian midfielder Luan skipped past the Lyon defence and was clean through on goal in the 49th but his chip was off target.
Lyon was reduced to 10 men in the 67th when Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
"We faced a very good Toulouse side that created many chances," Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons told the club's Web site. "We didn't concede, and that's a positive. We were down to 10 men, so earning a point here is a good result."
On Saturday, it was: Nice 1, Lille 1; Grenoble 5, Auxerre 0; Paris Saint-Germain 0, Lorient 3; Sochaux 1, Nancy 1; and Lens 2, Le Mans 1.
-- Trung Latieule
Mainz win to maintain unbeaten home record
FRANKFURT — Borussia Dortmund missed a chance to take fourth place in the German Bundesliga by giving up a second half lead and losing 3-2 at home against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Dortmund allowed its first goal at home in six games when Benjamin Koehler headed the opener in the eighth minute. But Mats Hummels equalized from close range nine minutes later and Lucas Barriors gave Juergen Klopp's side the lead in the 57th with a first-time finish from a cross by Mohamed Zidan.
Sebastian Jung then leveled for Frankfurt in the 65th with a long-range shot, and Alexander Meier gave the visitors the victory with a curling shot in the 74th minute.
Dortmund, which suffered its second straight loss after a six-game winning streak, remained on 36 points from 21 games and is in fifth place behind Hamburg, which drew on Saturday.
Frankfurt meanwhile has lost just once in the last seven matches and jumped three places to seventh with 31 points.
Promoted side Mainz earlier Sunday remained one of only three unbeaten teams at home in the Bundesliga on Sunday with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Bo Svensson scored the only goal of the game in the 42nd minute as Mainz leapfrogged three teams to move into seventh place with 30 points from 21 games.
The victory was much needed for Thomas Tuchel's team, which had won just once in the previous eight games.
Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich are the only other two teams without a loss at home this season.
"I don't care if some think it was lucky today. We are happy to remain unbeaten at home. We are on a good path. And we can't complain at all with seventh place," Tuchel said.
Gladbach missed a chance to move clear of the relegation zone, remaining on 25 points and dropping two spots to 13th place eight points above the drop zone.
The visitors had a strong first half with Raul Bobadilla failing to convert three chances, twice being denied by Mainz keeper Heinz Mueller.
The promoted club grabbed the lead three minutes from the break as Gladbach keeper Logan Bailly parried Malik Fathi's header, Marco Reus failed to clear the ball off the line and Svensson took full advantage to score the winner.
Borussia Dortmund was hosting Eintracht Frankfurt later Sunday with a chance to jump one spot to fourth place.
Ajax ends Twente's unbeaten run with 3-0 win
AMSTERDAM — FC Twente's 21-game unbeaten run since the start of the Dutch league season finally came to an end on Sunday when it was defeated 3-0 at Ajax.
Leader PSV Eindhoven, now the only unbeaten side in the top flight, remained on course for a 22nd league championship with a 2-0 win over ADO The Hague on Saturday.
PSV is top with 58 points, Twente is second with 55 and Ajax is third on 49.
"We made plenty of mistakes," Twente captain Blaise Nkufo said. "We knew that we'd lose one of these days but I didn't expect it to happen against Ajax."
Kenneth Perez wasted two golden chances in the opening 15 minutes for Twente. He took too long to beat advancing Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg in the 10th minute, allowing Gregory van der Wiel to make a hurried clearance, before heading wide from two yards (meters) out, four minutes later.
Midfielder Demy de Zeew gave Ajax the lead in the 22nd minute with a low shot from the edge of the area. Marko Pantelic scored from a rebound in the 44th before setting up substitute Dennis Rommedahl for the third in the 75th.
"They had two good chances, but they didn't score," De Zeeuw said. "We are still in the race for the title. PSV still need to come here and they also have to play Twente."
Earlier Sunday, defending champion AZ Alkmaar beat Feyenoord 2-1 after Hector Moreno headed a late winner.
Mounir El Hamdaoui opened the scoring for AZ in the 28th minute but his strike was soon cancelled out by teammate Pontus Wernbloom, who scored an own goal 11 minutes later. Moreno headed home three minutes from time, rising to meet a corner taken by Stijn Schaars.
Civard Sprockel scored an own goal and Patrick Paauwe found the net two minutes from time as VVV Venlo beat Vitesse Arnhem 2-0.
Also Sunday, Bas Sibum's injury time goal gave NEC Nijmegen a 1-0 win over last-place RKC Waalwijk.
On Saturday, it was: SC Heerenveen 2, FC Utrecht 0, Roda JC 2, Sparta Rotterdam 1 and Heracles Almelo 4, FC Groningen 3.
-- Bruce Mutsvairo
Panathinaikos beats Larissa 3-0 in Greek league
ATHENS, Greece — French striker Djibril Cisse scored twice in three minutes to guide Greek league leader Panathinaikos to a 3-0 victory at Larissa on Sunday.
The Athens club now has 52 points, six ahead of Olympiakos, which had earlier trounced Levadiakos 5-1.
Panathinaikos had already missed one clearcut scoring chance when Cisse broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, firing home after a cross by Giorgos Karagounis . The Frenchman then added his 17th goal of the season in first half injury time after a cross by Nikos Spiropoulos.
Sotiris Ninis, who replaced Dimitris Salpingidis in the 79th minute, made it 3-0 just three minutes later with a shot from the edge of the area.
In a game resumed Sunday after a downpour forced its suspension on Saturday, last-place Panthrakikos caused a shocked by winning 2-0 at Aris. Already 1-0 up from Saturday through a 42nd minute goal by Fotis Papoulis, Panthrakikos made sure when French midfielder Bertrand Robert converted a 78th minute penalty.
Also Sunday it was: Atromitos 1, Panionios 0; Iraklis 1, PAOK 1 and Ergotelis 4, Asteras 3.
Keane scores 1st Celtic goal in Scottish Cup win
GLASGOW, Scotland — Robbie Keane scored his first goal for Celtic on Sunday to help his new club to a 4-2 victory at Dunfermline in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.
Celtic rallied from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 before Keane completed the scoring with a 68th-minute penalty awarded after he was fouled by defender Austin McCann.
It was Keane's 11th goal of the season, with the others coming at Tottenham before he left the Premier League club on a loan transfer this week.
Celtic joins Dundee, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Ross County and Dundee United in the quarterfinals.
Rangers must replay its fifth-round match after drawing 0-0 at St. Mirren on Saturday, when Aberdeen drew 1-1 at Raith.
Porto beats Naval 3-0 in Portuguese league
LISBON, Portugal — Porto beat Naval 3-0 to in the Portuguese league on Sunday to stay in touch with leader Benfica and second-place Braga.
Tomas Costa, Falcao and Silvestre Varela all scored to take Porto to 39 points, seven behind Benfica and three behind Braga.
On Saturday, Benfica drew 1-1 at Setubal. Braga, which has played two games less than Benfica, visits Belenenses on Monday.
Also Sunday, Olhanense beat Nacional 1-0; Maritimo beat Leiria 1-0; Rio Ave beat Leixoes 2-0; and Pacos Ferreira beat Guimaraes 2-1. On Monday, it's Belenenses vs. Braga.
Elsewhere
Wenger goes back to blaming youth for Arsenal loss
LONDON — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has resurrected the age-old excuse of blaming his side's youth for poor results after losing 2-0 to Chelsea on Sunday, just three days before the Gunners face a resurgent Liverpool.
Wenger, whose only activity in the transfer window was to re-sign 35-year-old Sol Campbell, said the average age of both squads was a factor in the result.
He said Chelsea is "more experienced. They're 29. We're 23."
Arsenal hasn't won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2005 and Wenger has often attributed that drought to his team's youth and inexperience.
However, Wenger had appeared to abandon that reasoning before Arsenal lost 3-1 to Manchester United last week, calling his team a "different animal" and saying his players had improved and were now experienced enough to cope with big games in the title race. Now, he once again seems to think his team needs more time.
Arsenal, whose title campaign has been a roller-coaster ride in recent months, has now dropped nine points behind Premier League leader Chelsea. A few weeks ago, Arsenal went top, although only very briefly.
Liverpool travels to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in fourth place after beating Everton and closing the gap on Arsenal to five points.
"I feel we're not in the best of positions," Wenger said of the title race. "But we will not give up. It's a bit unfortunate in the same period to play Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool on the trot.
"If you lose one game it's very difficult (because of) the psychological implications for the next game and I believe it's a little bit of a disadvantage."
Liverpool, whose season appeared to implode early on, is back on track for a top-four finish and is now chasing Arsenal for third spot.
Wenger said it is imperative that Arsenal beats Liverpool on Wednesday.
"It's vital, of course," he said. "It was vital today and we lost."
Wenger criticized his team after the loss to United last week, calling his players "naive" in an unusual public attack on his players' performance. Wenger's tone was more mild Sunday and he praised Arsenal's attitude and performance. But he was clearly frustrated during the match, kicking his jacket, which was on the ground, and yelling at Chelsea's managerial staff for what he perceived to be the home team's time wasting.
Wenger said Arsenal dominated the game in terms of possession and could have won the game, but that Chelsea's brand of football disrupted the fluidity of the Gunners' attack.
"Chelsea won. You have to congratulate them," he said "We didn't get a demonstration of football. But they were efficient. At the end of the day, that's what made the difference."
-- Frank Griffiths
Loew says his future after World Cup is open
WARSAW, Poland — Germany coach Joachim Loew says his future after the World Cup remains open, although the president of the country's football federation says he is ready to keep Loew in the job.
Talks about extending the contract of Loew and his staff, long considered a formality, collapsed unexpectedly Thursday and will not be resumed until after the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa. The failure of the talks exposed a deepening rift between the federation (DFB) and Loew as the three-time champion prepares for the tournament.
Loew said his priority now was to concentrate on getting ready for the World Cup and that he will not consider his future until the tournament is over.
"First we have to see if we'll still be asked and if we would still be ready to talk," Loew said.
DFB president Theo Zwanziger said he still considered Loew his top candidate for the job of coach.
"I want to keep him. If we have a successful World Cup, I will talk to him. If we don't, I will still talk to him," Zwanziger told the Sueddeutsche newspaper. "He remains my first choice."
Loew and Zwanziger met in Frankfurt before flying to Warsaw, where they attended Sunday's draw for the qualifying round for the 2012 European Championship. But Loew may not be in charge by the time the qualifying stars in September.
Loew described the meeting as "brief" and said there had been "irritations and interpretations" after the talks broke down Thursday.
The DFB has not given precise reasons why the talks collapsed but German media reports say Loew and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff, a member of Loew's staff, had demanded "signing fees" equivalent to an annual salary for Loew and his entire staff. Bierhoff also reportedly wanted to be able to pick the next coach, something the DFB had balked at.
"It's our right to make one or two demands. People who know us know that it's not about power or greed, but that it's about the development of the team.
"I am personally irritated that things have become public that were discussed between us," Loew told reporters in Warsaw.
Zwanziger had said in December that he and Loew had "shaken hands" on a new contract for Loew when the current deal expires after the World Cup. But Loew had personally never confirmed that it was a done deal, insisting that some details still had to be settled.
Franz Beckenbauer, member of the DFB's board and arguably the most influential figure in German football, had little understanding for demands to give Bierhoff the right of veto in choosing the next coach.
"Do they want to take over the DFB?" Beckenbauer asked rhetorically in Bild newspaper.
Many Bundesliga coaches urged Loew and the DFB to settle their dispute soon, before the issue starts overshadowing preparations for the World Cup.
Loew was Juergen Klinsmann's assistant and took over when Klinsmann quit after the 2006 World Cup at home and Germany's third-place finish. In its first big tournament under Loew, Germany was runner-up at the Euro 2008.
-- Nesha Starcevic
Robinho scores game-winner in Brazil return
SAO PAULO — Robinho scored the winning goal in his first game back with Brazil's Santos, giving the team a 2-1 win over top rival Sao Paulo.
The striker entered Sunday's match in the 57th minute.
He immediately showed signs of his old form, combining with Santos' 18-year-old sensation Neymar for some shots that just missed.
In the 85th, Robinho began a quick counterattack and passed to Wesley outside the area. He then slipped by all defenders to find himself open in front of goal.
Wesley placed a perfect pass back to Robinho, who leapt in the air and back-heeled the ball past the keeper to score.
Robinho returned to Brazil on loan from Manchester City in hopes of regaining his form and winning a spot on the national team for the World Cup.
Police investigate Blackburn fan's death at Stoke
STOKE, England — Police say a Blackburn fan has died after being found unconscious during Saturday's Premier League match at Stoke.
The unnamed 30-year-old man was treated at the Britannia Stadium for a head injury and cardiac arrest.
Staffordshire Police say the man died in the hospital just before 2 a.m. Sunday.
Police say a 25-year-old man is in custody and "helping police with their inquiries."
There were 1,300 Blackburn fans at the match, which Stoke won 3-0.
