Soccer Capsules: Penarol thrashed at home in Libertadores
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Last year's Copa Libertadores runners-up Penarol were thrashed 4-0 at home by Colombia's Atletico Nacional on Tuesday, leaving the Uruguayan club in early trouble in this year's competition with no points from two games.
Jherson Cordoba and Dorlan Pabon both scored twice for Atletico Nacional, which moves to the top of Group 8 with a perfect record from its two games.
In other group stage matches on Tuesday: Mexico's Cruz Azul won 4-0 against Venezuela's Deportivo Tachira, Argentina's Arsenal defeated Venezuela's Zamora 3-0 and Bolivar, of Bolivia, lost 3-1 against Chile's Union Espanola.
In Group 8, Cordoba opened the scoring for Atletico Nacional in the 21st minute, and added the second from close range four minutes after halftime.
Pabon broke free from the defense and slotted the ball into the corner of the net in the 65th to shore up the victory, and added the fourth goal for his team in the 78th, with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.
The other teams in Group 8, Universidad de Chile and Argentina's Godoy Cruz, play their second game of the group stage on Wednesday.
In Mexico City in Group 6, Cruz Azul, unbeaten in seven matches in the Mexican league, made it two wins in its first two games in the Copa Libertadores, with Adrian Cortes converting a penalty in the 19th minute.
Colombian Edixon Perea made it 2-0 with a left foot shot in the 56th, Javier Orozco tapped in the third in the 79th and, two minutes later, Argentine Emanuel Villa completed the scoring.
Deportivo Tachira remains on one point, with the other Group 8 teams, Brazil's Corinthians and Paraguay's Nacional, playing in two weeks.
In Sarandi, Argentina, three first half goals gave Arsenal the win against Zamora in Group 4.
A shot from 20 yards (meters) from Jorge Ortiz in the 2nd minute took a big deflection off a defender and although the goalkeeper got a hand to it, he couldn't stop it going into the net.
Colombian Carlos Carbonero added the second 15 minutes later, and Luciano Leguizamon made it 3-0 two minutes before halftime.
In Group 4, Arsenal now has three points, as does Brazil's Fluminense, with Boca Juniors and Zamora on one point. Boca and Fluminense play their second group game on March 7.
In La Paz in Tuesday's Group 3 game, Union Espanola scored three goals in the last 30 minutes to come from behind from a 1st minute goal by Bolivar's Edhemir Rodriguez.
Mauro Diaz, Emanuel Herrera and Jean Paul Pineda got the goals for the Chilean team.
The result improves Union Espanola to six points from its first two games, with Bolivar remaining on one point. Chile's Universidad Catolica and Colombia's Atletico Junior, the other teams in Group 3, play each other on Thursday.
Group stage games continue this week with two games on Wednesday and three games on Thursday.
U.S. Soccer
Timbers welcome Scottish striker Boyd
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Striker Kris Boyd, the Scottish Premier League's all-time leading scorer, has joined Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers. Boyd was signed by the Timbers in late January, but his arrival in Portland was delayed while he secured a visa.
The 28-year-old Boyd scored 164 goals in a total of 296 appearances in the SPL with Kilmarnock and Rangers. He was that league's top scorer for four seasons.
"I'm ready to get on the field, start scoring goals and have a successful season," he said at a Tuesday news conference.
He joins countryman John Spencer, the Timbers' head coach, in Portland. Timbers owner Merritt Paulson said the team was shopping in the offseason for a "target-striker, a pure goal scorer."
"When we heard Kris Boyd was available, everything dropped," Paulson said. "Complete focus on Kris."
Boyd terminated his contract with Turkish club Eskisehirspor in December after a turbulent six-month stint with the team. He was also courted by the Houston Dynamo, who owned the rights to negotiate with Boyd. To sign him, the Timbers gave the Dynamo their first-round pick in the 2013 draft. Terms of Boyd's deal with the Timbers were not announced.
Boyd said he's aiming to be in shape for the team's opener against the Philadelphia Union on March 12. He has not played a competitive match since last summer.
"I'll get my head down and work hard and hopefully I'll be ready for the season," he said.
Boyd will wear No. 9 for Portland.
Sporting's Onyewu out 8 weeks for knee surgery
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Sporting Lisbon and U.S. national team defender Oguchi Onyewu needs knee surgery and will be sidelined for eight weeks.
The Portuguese club says medical scans performed Tuesday revealed a torn ligament and meniscus in Onyewu's right knee, an injury sustained in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Pacos Ferreira. He injured his left knee on Oct. 14, 2009, tearing his patellar tendon during a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica. He returned to action the following May 25, in time for the 2010 World Cup, but struggled and did not fully regain his form until this season in Portugal.
Onyewu has five goals this season for Sporting, including four in the league. The club is fourth in the Portuguese league standings, 13 points behind first-place Benfica.
League Capsules
Chelsea loses, Madrid draws in Champions League
LONDON (AP) — Chelsea didn't do much better than Arsenal on its trip to Italy in the Champions League, leaving English clubs in danger of missing the quarterfinals of the competition for the first time since 1996.
Showing the same kind of defensive frailties that condemned Arsenal to a 4-0 loss at AC Milan last week, Chelsea failed to protect an early lead and lost 3-1 at Napoli in the first leg of their round of 16 matchup. In Tuesday's other match, CSKA Moscow scored a last-gasp equalizer to draw 1-1 at home against Real Madrid.
While Chelsea still has a realistic chance of turning things around in the return leg at Stamford Bridge, the loss heaped further pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas, whose self-proclaimed support from owner Roman Abramovich could quickly evaporate if he fails to deliver in the competition the Russian billionaire is most eager to win.
It also means England could be without a team in Champions League come early March, as Manchester United and Manchester City were both eliminated in the group stage.
Chelsea's recent troubles grew worse even before the kickoff, when the club confirmed that captain John Terry will need knee surgery and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
The visitors still looked set to produce a result when Juan Mata gave them an early lead, but Ezequiel Lavezzi exploited defensive mishaps to score twice and Edinson Cavani added another goal to put Napoli in control.
"It is not impossible to recover 3-1 because of the number of chances we get, and the environment we must create to turn this tie around and go through," Villas-Boas said. "We will analyze strongly what we did wrongly because a couple of things need to get better."
It was also a disappointing night for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose Madrid side failed to take its dominant domestic form into Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo put the nine-time European champions ahead with his 36th goal of the season, but CSKA midfielder Pontus Wernbloom scrambled the ball into the net with the last kick of the match in the third minute of stoppage time to equalize for the Russian club.
While Madrid holds a 10-point lead over Barcelona to be on course to win the Spanish league, Chelsea has now failed to win for a fifth straight game in all competitions.
Villas-Boas gambled by not starting with the experienced trio of Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien.
Luck, however, was initially in Chelsea's favor with Mata's opening goal somewhat of a gift from Napoli.
After being picked out by Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge's resulting cross was kicked by Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro back toward his own goal. The ball fell perfectly for Mata to slot into the net past goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis in the 27th minute.
Napoli leveled 11 minutes later when Lavezzi collected the ball on the edge of the area and eluded Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles before curling it into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Petr Cech's outstretched hand.
Cavani, whose goals helped eliminate Premier League leader Manchester City in the group stage, scored his fifth goal in seven Champions League appearances this season right on halftime when he turned Gokhan Inler's cross into the net from close range.
"We had a chance to go 2-0 up and a couple of defensive mistakes that against Napoli, with their attacking strength, will get punished," Villas-Boas said.
After Chelsea defender David Luiz gave the ball away sloppily, Cavani turned provider, squaring it past an outrushing Cech for Lavezzi to slot into an empty net in the 65th.
"We always say we keep working hard on the training ground but unfortunately we don't seem to transport that on the pitch," Cech said. "We have quality players who can turn it around, but it could be better because we don't have time to recover. We have a lot of games coming up and we are not in a position to drop many points in league.
"It's not an ideal situation but we are still in the Champions League and we will fight to the end."
Chelsea left Italy with a crucial away goal, as Madrid did from Russia.
Ronaldo's 28th-minute goal had appeared to put the visitors on course for victory in a match played in subzero temperatures and on an artificial turf.
The Portugal forward pounced after the hosts had failed to clear Fabio Coentrao's cross from the left, striking the bouncing ball into the net with his less-favored left foot.
But Madrid paid for its failure to put the game away. CSKA goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov saved Sergio Ramos' header in the 76th, before an unmarked Ronaldo inside the area rolled his shot just wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
"We had our chances, especially in the second half, but we didn't convert them," Mourinho said.
-- Rob Harris
History weighing against FC Porto in match at City
LONDON (AP) — FC Porto's defense of the Europa League is hanging by a thread with history weighing heavily against the Portuguese team heading into the second leg of their last-32 match against Manchester City on Wednesday.
After losing 2-1 at home in last week's first leg, Porto needs to beat an English side away for the first time in Europe to stay in the continent's second-tier club competition.
City, though, has a stunning home record this season after winning all 12 of its Premier League matches at Etihad Stadium to help the team to the top of the English standings.
And with City manager Roberto Mancini desperate for any kind of silverware to justify the club's heavy spending in recent years, Porto will not be taken lightly.
"After working so hard to win in Portugal, we can't afford to waste it in the home leg," City goalkeeper Joe Hart said. "We need to play like we did over there and not think about just trying for a draw or a 1-0 win. If we play our normal game, I think we'll be OK."
Manchester United, 2010 winner Atletico Madrid and fellow Spanish side Valencia are the competition's other big names taking leads into home second legs on Thursday, raising the prospect of some quality matchups in the last 16.
In a match between teams that have been European champions seven times between them, United beat Ajax 2-0 in the first leg in Amsterdam to put the English champions in control and ease the pain of dropping out of the Champions League at the group stage.
"Of course the Champions League is the most important trophy for everyone. It is the biggest trophy in Europe," United winger Nani said. "But now we are here, we just think about this competition. The club has never won the trophy. Now we will try to do this."
Any fears that England's top two sides will not take the Europa League seriously have been dismissed, with both teams fielding strong lineups in the first legs.
"Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, Porto, Valencia and Manchester United — some of the biggest names in world football — are all in this to win it," Hart said." It's a great competition and make no mistake, one we want to win."
Atletico Madrid, which has a 3-1 lead over Lazio after the first leg in Italy, is unbeaten since Diego Simeone took charge at the start of the year and has a striker in Radamel Falcao who thrives in the Europa League.
By scoring twice against Lazio, the Colombia international made it 22 goals in his last 21 games in the competition, having helped fire Porto to the trophy last season.
Atletico will be without Brazilian playmaker Diego, who is out for a month with a right leg muscle injury.
"The coach is doing great work," Atletico full back Juanfran Torres said. "We need to continue on the same way, with the same motivation."
Valencia, which is third in the Spanish league, leads Stoke 1-0 while former European champions PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands has a 2-1 advantage over Turkish team Trabzonspor, one of the sides to drop down from the Champions League.
Steaua Bucharest needs to beat FC Twente away to keep alive its hopes of playing the final in its own stadium, having lost the first leg 1-0 in the Netherlands.
-- Steve Douglas
Bologna beats Fiorentina 2-0 in Serie A
MILAN (AP) — Struggling Bologna beat 10-man Fiorentina 2-0 on Tuesday to boost its chances of Serie A survival. Bologna was clinical in the first half, with Alessandro Diamanti and Gaston Ramirez scoring to establish a solid halftime lead.
Fiorentina had several opportunities but a combination of wasteful finishing and strong goalkeeping by Bologna's Jean-Francois Gillet kept it from scoring.
Any hopes it had of getting back in the game all but evaporated five minutes into the second half as Ruben Olivera was sent off for a serious foul on Diamanti. Bologna is now level with 12th-placed Fiorentina and seven points above the relegation zone.
Fiorentina started brightly and could have taken the lead in the opening five minutes when Stevan Jovetic hit a hard right-footed shot that skimmed past the right post.
Jovetic threaded a promising ball into the area in the 22nd minute for Amauri and although the Brazilian beat the offside trap, Gillet rushed out in the nick of time to smother the danger. The duo combined again a few minutes later but Gillet again denied Amauri his first league goal for Fiorentina.
Bologna took the lead on the half-hour mark. Marco Di Vaio crossed for Diamanti and although Fiorentina goalkeeper Artur Boruc kept out his initial effort he could do stop the follow up.
Fiorentina searched for an equalizer and Gillet again did well to deny Amauri and Riccardo Montolivo. Bologna extended its advantage on the stroke of half time when Ramirez backheeled in Di Vaio's pass.
Fiorentina was reduced to 10 men shortly after the break when Olivera was shown a straight red for a brutal challenge on Diamanti.
The visitors could not find a way back into the match and almost found itself further behind when Panagiotis Kone's header flashed wide.
FIFA News
Labor slaves, prisoners helping build World Cup venues
SAO PAULO (AP) — It wasn't a tough choice for convicted bank robber Chiquinho: spend the day in a cell or make money out in the sun helping Brazil build a 2014 World Cup stadium.
Former slave worker Nivaldo Inacio da Silva had another easy decision to make: pick cotton for about $2 a day or make eight times as much as a bricklayer at another World Cup venue.
The two are relishing their role in helping tournament preparations that have otherwise invoked widespread criticism over allegations of overspending and misuse of public funds.
Silva and Chiquinho, who full name is Francisco das Chagas Queiroz, are some of those already being positively affected by the World Cup, getting the opportunity of a lifetime because Brazil will host football's showcase event.
They are part of programs which help those with few opportunities in the job market and take advantage of the World Cup to give them a better chance.
"This is the best thing that has ever happened to me," the 52-year-old Chiquinho told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "This type of work gives us dignity, it gives us something to look forward to in the future. If we do a good job here, maybe the company will want to stay with us after we are set free."
Chiquinho has been in prison since the 1980s after being convicted of bank robbery in the state of Minas Gerais. He will be eligible for parole later this year, in part because his sentence has been gradually reduced thanks to his work helping renovate the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Chiquinho works as a cleaning supervisor at the Mineirao, where two dozen other prisoners are getting the same opportunity to get out of prison and work. In addition to placing them into the work force, the program by Brazil's National Council of Justice also offers training courses to further facilitate their access to the job market after they leave prison.
It has already helped more than 2,200 prisoners across the country, and currently 59 are working in some of the 12 World Cup stadiums.
Chiquinho and the other prisoners wake up at 4 a.m. every weekday to make a two-hour trip from their penitentiary to Mineirao, working until late in the day before returning. But there is no complaining.
"Our life is getting better because of this chance," said Chiquinho, who also used to work inside his prison and currently is even allowed to go to college. "I'll be able to say that I was part of this World Cup, I'll be proud to say that I was part of it. This will be part of history."
About 1,000 miles away in the western city of Cuiaba, former slave worker Silva is also appreciating the chance he's gotten largely thanks to the World Cup.
He was lured into working at a cotton farm under conditions the Brazilian government describe as slave labor. Many times he had to sleep in the fields, didn't have access to a bathroom or clean water and was given food only sporadically. Silva said he had to pick cotton and clean fields for two days to get a payment.
But when Silva and about a dozen other colleagues were rescued from the farm — after one of them escaped and alerted authorities — they were immediately enrolled in a program created by the labor ministry of Mato Grosso state that trained and prepared such workers to find decent jobs in the region.
Silva got a chance to help build the Arena Pantanal, which will host four World Cup matches.
"We talked to the consortium of companies building the stadium and convinced them that they could be using these workers after they were properly trained," said Valdiney Arruda, who is in charge of the labor ministry program. "They knew it was a good opportunity and opened up spots for them. These workers studied and now they have good housing and eat properly thanks to this."
Silva is one of 25 former labor slaves now working at the Arena Pantanal. He started as an assistant bricklayer, making more money than he had ever made in life, and is already getting trained to find a better-paying position in the near future.
"My life is completely different now," the 44-year-old Silva told the AP. "A lot has changed. Now I'm making some good money, I'm really happy. I'm helping build one of these stadiums and hopefully one day I'll be able to show it to my children."
The companies using the former slaves said it was an easy decision to accept these workers, because the civil construction sector is struggling to attract labor.
"Because of this program, they will be able to continue working in civil construction in the future," said Simone Ponce, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara and Mendes Junior consortium. "The social legacy will be tremendous."
-- Tales Azzoni
Elsewhere
Man United's cash reserves fall by $158 million
LONDON (AP) — Manchester United's cash reserves fell by 100 million pounds ($158 million) in six months partially to finance an investment in a roster failing to maintain the English champions' dominance.
As a result of spending that also took in stadium improvements and a bond repurchase program, the Old Trafford bank balance dropped from 150.6 million pounds to 50.9 million pounds ($238 million to $80 million) to Dec. 31, the club's quarterly accounts revealed on Tuesday.
Despite net spending of 48 million pounds ($76 million) on new players, including goalkeeper David de Gea, defender Phil Jones and winger Ashley Young, United failed to advance past the first round of the Champions League and has been eliminated from both domestic cups. Meanwhile, neighbor Manchester City holds two-point lead in the Premier League.
United spent 5.3 million pounds ($8.4 million) in the three months ending Dec. 31 buying back bonds that were issued two years ago to raise 504 million pounds (then $762 million) to replace long-term financing and reduce debts to hedge funds.
United has spent 92.8 million pounds ($147 million) repurchasing that debt — more than the 80 million pounds (then $130 million) received from Real Madrid in 2009 for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The club's debt, resulting from the 2005 takeover by the American Glazer family, stood at 439 million pounds ($694 million) at the end of 2011 and incurred almost 24.5 million pounds ($39 million) in interest payments in six months.
Although the debt was down from the 508 million pounds at the end of 2010 it rose again in the final three months of 2011 by 6 million pounds ($9.5 million).
However, United's moneymaking abilities appear to be undiminished, with 175 million pounds ($277 million) in revenue in the six months ending Dec. 31 — up more than 10 percent on the same period a year earlier due largely to a rise in TV income and a new training jersey sponsorship deal with express delivery and freight firm DHL.
"Revenues continue to grow strongly although costs are increasing just as quickly so pretty much negating that growth," the Manchester United Supporters' Trust said in a statement. "However the key figures of interest to supporters show the Glazers have now spent every penny of the money received from the sale of Ronaldo, and more.
"That's now 92.8 million pounds spent on buying back their own bond debt that they loaded onto our club."
MUST said that since Ronaldo's departure, net transfers totaled 90 million pounds ($142 million) while 225 million pounds ($356 million) had been taken out of the club to cover debt payments and interest.
"What could the club have done with that extra 225 million pounds? Cheaper tickets for loyal fans, investing massively in the squad and stadium, developing and retaining the best youth players, competing on an equal basis with the very best teams in Europe," MUST said. "This is the true cost to Manchester United of the Glazers' ownership."
-- Rob Harris
Tevez apologizes to Man City after five-month feud
LONDON (AP) — Carlos Tevez finally apologized to Manchester City on Tuesday following a five-month feud that has cost him close to 10 million pounds ($17 million), and could soon return to action for the club after withdrawing an appeal against his latest fines.
The Argentina striker has not played for the Premier League leaders since September when he refused to warm up during a Champions League match and only returned last week from a three-month unauthorized absence at home.
City coach Roberto Mancini had initially told Tevez he would never play for City again after his act of public insubordination, but later softened his stance and only asked for an apology.
That came on Tuesday, with City announcing that Tevez has "apologized to all concerned for his recent conduct."
"I wish to apologize sincerely and unreservedly to everybody I have let down and to whom my actions over the last few months have caused offense," Tevez added in the same statement. "My wish is to concentrate on playing football for Manchester City Football Club."
Tevez's relations with City broke down during last season after the striker said he wanted to leave England to be closer to his family, which moved back to Argentina after failing to settle in Manchester. However, the club refused the then-captain's transfer request, and Tevez went on to help City end a 35-year trophy drought with a victory in the FA Cup final.
But he then enraged Mancini with his act of rebellion at Bayern Munich in September. The dispute has cost Tevez around 10 million pounds ($17 million) in fines or lost earnings, including a multi-million pound bonus he missed out on by handing in the transfer request.
He had been challenging the most recent fine of around 1.2 million pounds ($2 million), but will now accept the punishment.
"Carlos has ... withdrawn his appeal against the club's finding of gross misconduct which was due to be heard by a Premier League panel in the coming days," City said. "He has since begun a training program designed to return him to optimum fitness."
Tevez had hoped to join AC Milan in the January transfer window but a deal broke down.
After the Munich incident, Tevez was suspended by City for two weeks and fined a fortnight's wages for refusing to resume refusing to warming up during the match.
An internal disciplinary hearing found Tevez guilty of five breaches of contract, including bringing the club into disrepute and failing to follow the instructions of his manager.
Returning to Argentina in the wake of those sanctions — without permission — seemed to have ended any hope of the striker playing for City again, but he could now return to action when he is fit.
City has not struggled without him, with the team on course to win the English championship for the first time since 1968 as it sits top of the standings.
-- Rob Harris
Chelsea captain Terry to have knee surgery
LONDON (AP) — Chelsea captain John Terry will have knee surgery and be sidelined for up to six weeks, a further blow to the team's faltering season but relieving interim England coach Stuart Pearce of a potentially difficult roster selection.
Terry has not played for more than three weeks and Chelsea's medical team decided on Tuesday that the defender must have an operation on his right knee.
The center back trained Monday in Italy on the eve of Chelsea's Champions League match against Napoli but woke up in discomfort a day later.
"John has tried hard to be ready for tonight's game but it was clear after training last night that it was not going to be possible," Chelsea said in a statement. "He will undergo an exploratory arthroscopy in the next day or so, after which the club's medical team will be better placed to advise on a prognosis."
Coach Andre Villas-Boas said Terry will be out for up to six weeks.
The injury saves Pearce from having to decide whether to select both Terry and Rio Ferdinand for his roster for next Wednesday's exhibition against the Netherlands.
Terry was stripped of the England captaincy this month due to his upcoming trial for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand's brother, Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
Fabio Capello quit as England coach after the Football Association stripped Terry of the captaincy without consulting the Italian.
Terry's absence will be less of a blow for England than for Chelsea, which hasn't won a game since he last played on Jan. 28 against QPR. Chelsea has slipped to fifth in the Premier League and tied Birmingham in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Terry has been troubled by the knee injury since colliding with a post last month in the FA Cup against Portsmouth.
-- Rob Harris
Warsaw's Euro 2012 stadium ready for first match
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — All security concerns have been addressed and the stadium that will host the opening match of this year's European Championship is ready to stage its first game, Warsaw's mayor said Tuesday.
The announcement was a major breakthrough for a stadium that is modern and imposing in its size and design, able to seat 58,000 people and with a roof that can open and close — but which has been beset by delays and questiosn about its safety.
Poland will play Portugal in a friendly at the National Stadium in Warsaw on Feb. 29. The venue will host Poland's opening game of Euro 2012 against Greece on June 8.
The stadium was due to host a Poland Super Cup match earlier this month but it was scrapped when police said they were unable to guarantee security because of communication problems inside the stadium.
Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz said the problems have been addressed and the police have now given their approval for the stadium to be used.
The head of the Polish football association, Grzegorz Lato, said he was hopeful that the stadium would also stage another event before it is handed over to UEFA on May 9.
"I am really happy that the national representation will finally play at the National Stadium and that we will be able to test how everything works there," Lato said.
The stadium was opened Jan. 29, six months behind schedule, following a series of glitches in construction that began in 2008. It was build on the site of a communist-era stadium that in its final years was used as a huge market place.
UEFA opens Porto probe over alleged racist chants
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — European soccer's governing body has opened a disciplinary case against Porto after fans allegedly targeted racist abuse at Manchester City players during a Europa League match.
The Union of European Football Associations says Porto will face a charge of "improper conduct of supporters" at a March 29 meeting of its disciplinary panel.
City formally complained to UEFA after last Thursday's match in Portugal when Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure, who are both black, reported hearing abusive chants.
Porto has suggested that the English club's players and officials misheard chants directed at City's Argentine forward, Sergio Aguero.
The charge was brought under UEFA statutes relating to discrimination.
UEFA is obliged to act against "anyone who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons by whatever means, including on grounds of color, race, religion or ethnic origin."
If found guilty, Porto faces a punishment ranging from a one-match stadium closure to being banned from a UEFA competition, plus a minimum fine of 20,000 euros ($26,500).
City won the first leg of their second-round matchup 2-1. The return leg is to be played in Manchester on Wednesday.
Czechs face Ireland with Cech, Rosicky
PRAGUE (AP) — Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky were included Tuesday in the Czech Republic squad for next week's friendly against Ireland.
Coach Michal Bilek has all his major stars available for the Feb. 29 match in Dublin, except defender Zdenek Pospech and striker Tomas Necid who have long-term knee injuries.
Bilek has called up Viktoria Plzen defender Frantisek Rajtoral, who could make his first international appearance. Galatasaray striker Milan Baros and Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil are also included in the 20-man squad.
Defensive midfielder Tomas Hubschman of Shakhtar Donetsk, who was suspended and missed the playoffs against Montenegro, has returned to the team.
The Czechs will play another warmup match against Israel May 26 and take on Hungary on June 1 before opening its European Championship campaign against Russia on June 8.
Greece and co-host Poland are also in the same group.
Ex-Premier League player jailed after driving scam
NORTHAMPTON, England (AP) — A former Premier League footballer has been jailed for six months for sending fake letters to the police to avoid a driving ban.
Leon McKenzie, who played for Norwich in England's top division in the 2004-05 season, sent letters claiming to be from a fictional garage which said his car was off the road.
The 33-year-old McKenzie was sentenced at a court in Northampton on Tuesday after pleading guilty to six charges of perverting the course of justice between February 2008 and December 2009. McKenzie released a statement on Twitter, saying his behavior was "totally unacceptable and very naive" during a time in which he "fell deep into depression, which led me to try and take my life."
He retired from football in December.
Man United loans out keeper Kuszczak to Watford
LONDON (AP) — Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak has been loaned out to second-tier English club Watford for the rest of the season after falling out of favor with the English champions.
The Poland international hasn't made an appearance for United this season after becoming the fourth-choice goalkeeper at Old Trafford, behind Anders Lindegaard, David De Gea and Ben Amos. Kuszczak will look to revive his career at Watford, which is 17th in the 24-team League Championship — 11 points off the playoff spots — after moving to the north London club in an emergency loan.
Kuszczak joined United from West Bromwich Albion in 2006 but played behind Edwin van der Sar before the Dutch goalkeeper retired at the end of last season.
PM Cameron hosts Downing Street football racism summit
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron is hosting a football racism summit following recent high-profile incidents.
Downing Street says football leaders and anti-racism campaigners will join politicians to "identify what further action can be taken to make football a more inclusive sport."
The meeting comes two weeks after Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was forced to apologize for refusing to shake hands with Manchester United's Patrice Evra before a match. Suarez served an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra, who is black, during an October match.
Chelsea captain John Terry is also due to face trial in July on a charge of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, which led to him being stripped of the England captaincy.
Garics back in Austria squad after two years
VIENNA (AP) — Austria defender Gyorgy Garics will return to the national team for next week's friendly against Finland. The Bologna defender has been overlooked since Austria's 5-1 loss to Spain in November 2009 but is included in the 24-man squad announced Tuesday by coach Marcel Koller.
Goalkeeper Christian Gratzei, Guido Burgstaller, Jakob Jantscher, Yasin Pehlivan and Jurgen Saeumel are also new to the squad, while 'keeper Pascal Gruenwald and defenders Sebastian Proedl and Franz Schiemer are missing with injuries.
Austria plays Finland in Klagenfurt on Feb. 29. Both teams failed to qualify for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Gremio hires former Brazil coach Luxemburgo
SAO PAULO (AP) — Two-time Brazilian champion Gremio has hired former Brazil coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo on a contract until the end of the year. Luxemburgo is replacing Caio Junior, who was fired on Monday after only a few months on the job with the traditional club from southeastern Brazil.
A former Real Madrid coach, Luxemburgo was fired by Flamengo on Feb. 2 after a series of internal disputes with some players and directors at Brazil's most popular club.
Luxemburgo is one of Brazil's most successful coaches with five domestic league titles, although he hasn't won many significant titles in the past few years. Gremio said Tuesday that the coach will be officially introduced on Thursday.
Eusebio back in hospital with high blood pressure
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Former Portugal great Eusebio is back in the hospital for the third time in two months. Lisbon's Hospital da Luz says the onetime Benfica star spent the night due to high blood pressure.
Doctors say they decided to keep Eusebio overnight after he attended a routine examination Monday. They say he is expected to be discharged within 48 hours.
Eusebio spent Christmas in the hospital with a double pneumonia. He was readmitted several days later with severe neck pain.
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, who turned 70 last month, became a Portuguese superstar from standout performances in the 1960s and was named one of FIFA's 10 best soccer players of all time in 1998.
Beretta named Cesena's third coach of the season
CESENA, Italy (AP) — Mario Beretta has become Cesena's third coach of the season after he replaced Daniele Arrigoni on Tuesday, in Serie A's 13th coaching change of the campaign.
Arrigoni parted company with Cesena by mutual consent on Monday, a day after its 3-1 defeat at home to AC Milan. He replaced the sacked Marco Giampaolo at the beginning of November and guided Cesena to four victories in his first six games. However, Cesena has only won one of its past 10 games and is now bottom of the table, seven points off safety.
Beretta's last job was in charge of Brescia last season. But he lasted less than two months before being sacked. Brescia was relegated at the end of the campaign.
SKorea vows 'no mercy' against match-fixing
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea has set up anti-corruption measures in the face of growing match-fixing scandals in various sports. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reports that Culture Minister Choe Kwang-shik is vowing to show "no mercy."
Choe reportedly says there will be a zero-tolerance policy on match-fixing and that professional clubs will be responsible for protecting players from corruption.
Last year, South Korea's soccer league was hit by a huge match-fixing scandal, with nearly 80 players and brokers convicted. South Korea's volleyball association has announced the banning of four players for life for alleged match-fixing. Recent media reports say a broker told prosecutors that match-fixing had taken place in baseball.
Spain to play China in Euro 2012 warmup
MADRID (AP) — Spain will play China in its final warmup match before starting the defense of its European crown in Poland and Ukraine. Spain will host the Asian opponent in Seville on June 3 before traveling to Poland, where the city of Gdansk hosts its first Group C game against Italy on June 10.
Spain will play at least one other friendly, likely on May 26 from a yet to be determined site in Austria where Spain has made it a tradition to hold pre-tournament camps after winning Euro 2008 there. Spain also gathered in Austria two years ago before winning the World Cup in South Africa.
Spain is looking to become the first country to defend its European title after winning the World Cup. It also plays Ireland and Croatia in Group C.
Defender Pogatetz extends Hannover contract
HANNOVER, Germany (AP) — Austria defender Emanuel Pogatetz has extended his contract with Bundesliga side Hannover. Hannover says the 29-year-old Pogatetz has signed a new deal to keep him at the club until 2015. His contract had been due to expire at the end of next season.
Pogatetz has played 47 Bundesliga games for Hannover since arriving from Middlesbrough in 2010. Hannover sporting director Joerg Schmadtke says he is "an important cornerstone of our team."
Pogatetz was banned for three matches earlier this month when the German football federation said he intentionally punched Nuremberg's Philipp Wollscheid in a 1-0 Hannover win.
Swiss club Sion signs Tunisia midfielder Darragi
SION, Switzerland (AP) — Swiss club FC Sion says it has reached agreement to sign Tunisia midfielder Oussama Darragi at the end of the season. Sion says Darragi will sign a four-year contract to move from African Champions League winner Esperance.
The 24-year-old Darragi also helped Tunisia reach the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals this month. Sion says Darragi had been courted by Inter Milan, Marseille and Werder Bremen.
Sion faces a fight to retain its top-tier status for next season. It is appealing a 36-point deduction by the Swiss Football Association for taking legal disputes with UEFA and FIFA to civil courts. The club is 16 points adrift in last place and faces a likely relegation playoff with a second-tier team.
Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl extends contract
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl has agreed to stay with the Bundesliga leaders for at least another season. Dortmund says the 32-year-old midfielder extended his contract by a season with an option for a further term to June 2014. His current deal had been due to expire at the end of this season.
Kehl says he is happy to stay on at a "very special club."
Along with 31 caps for Germany, Kehl has played in 203 Bundesliga games for Dortmund since joining from Freiburg in 2003. Defending champion Dortmund leads the Bundesliga by three points from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Mertesacker expects to make Euro 2012 for Germany
BERLIN (AP) — Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker says his participation in the European Championship for Germany "is not in danger" after undergoing ankle surgery.
Mertesacker writes on his Facebook page that he is in Bavaria, Germany for rehabilitation following the operation and that "all went well." Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger had said Mertesacker would be out "long term".
Mertesacker injured his right ankle in a Premier League match against Sunderland on Feb. 11. He will miss Germany's friendly game against France in Bremen on Feb. 29. Germany coach Joachim Loew is due to name the squad for that game on Wednesday.
Atletico loses injured playmaker Diego for one month
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid has says it has lost principal playmaker Diego for one month with a right leg injury. The Brazilian midfielder, who hurt his leg muscle during Sunday's 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon, says "the worst thing is not the physical but the mental, to leave the team behind now."
The former Juventus and Wolfsburg player has been one of the catalysts to turning around the team's fortunes since the arrival of coach Diego Simeone, with Atletico unbeaten in eight games under the Argentine coach. Diego misses Thursday's Europa League match against Lazio plus upcoming Spanish league matches against Barcelona and Sevilla.
Sweden picks Guidetti for friendly against Croatia
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Teenage football prodigy John Guidetti has been added to the Sweden squad for a friendly against Croatia later this month.
Sweden coach Erik Hamren says the 19-year-old striker, currently on loan to Feyenoord from Manchester City, has matured on the field and earned a spot in the squad for the Feb. 29 game in Zagreb. Hamren says "18 goals in 17 matches speaks for itself."
AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olympiakos defender Olof Mellberg were also included on the team.
