Ronaldo returns fire at Pele

March 8, 2006

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo criticized fellow Brazilian Pele on Wednesday for saying "stupid things," rebuking Pele for his comments last week in which he said the three-time FIFA Player of the Year gets "distracted."

CTL: Referee error helps River beat El Nacional

March 8, 2006

Copa Libertadores: River Plate capitalized on an apparent error by Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz and rallied for a 4-3 victory over Ecuador's El Nacional on Wednesday in Group 8 of the Copa Libertadores.

'Ole may make United exit'

March 8, 2006

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may never play for Manchester United again after being ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured cheekbone.

Benitez rues missed chances as strikers fire blanks

March 8, 2006

Benitez rues missed chances as strikers fire blanks

by UEFA Champions League

Liverpool 0-2 Benfica: Holders crash tamely

March 8, 2006

Liverpool 0-2 Benfica: Holders crash tamely

by UEFA Champions League

Wenger and Henry single out Lehman for praise

March 8, 2006

Wenger and Henry single out Lehman for praise

by UEFA Champions League

Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid: Galacticos grounded

March 8, 2006

Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid: Galacticos grounded

by UEFA Champions League

Ancelotti presents case for the defence

March 8, 2006

Ancelotti presents case for the defence

by UEFA Champions League

AC Milan 4-1 Bayern Munich: Milan coast

March 8, 2006

AC Milan 4-1 Bayern Munich: Milan coast

by UEFA Champions League

Houllier shrugs off Juninho suspension

March 8, 2006

Houllier shrugs off Juninho suspension

by UEFA Champions League

Lyon 4-0 PSV Eindhoven: Lyon pulverise PSV

March 8, 2006

Lyon 4-0 PSV Eindhoven: Lyon pulverise PSV

by UEFA Champions League

Ronaldinho: 'I'll stay with Barca for life'

March 8, 2006

Ronaldinho: 'I'll stay with Barca for life'

by Europe

Smile a lot to ask for from depressed German fans (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

By Patrick Vignal

Arsenal knock out Real Madrid after 0-0 draw at Highbury (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

Arsenal knocked nine-times winners Real Madrid out of the Champions League on Wednesday as a goalless Highbury draw was enough to send the Londoners into the quarter-finals 1-0 on aggregate.

Ronaldo returns fire, criticizes Pele for saying ``stupid things'' (AP)

March 8, 2006

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo criticized fellow Brazilian Pele on Wednesday for saying "stupid things," rebuking Pele for his comments last week in which he said the three-time FIFA player of the year gets "distracted." "We don't need to pay any attention to him," Ronaldo told radio station Cadena SER after Madrid's elimination by Arsenal in the Champions League's second round.

Wenger's hails defenders among Arsenal's young guns (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

By Trevor Huggins

Inzaghi double helps Milan crush Bayern (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

(Adds coach quotes)

Lyon must learn to play without Juninho, says Houllier (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

By Pierre Serisier

CL: Arsenal through with draw against Real

March 8, 2006

Champions League: Arsenal held David Beckham and Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw Wednesday to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 1-0 aggregate win.

Champions League Roundup, Mar. 8

March 8, 2006

Champions League Wrap: AC Milan, Arsenal, Lyon and Benfica reached the Champions League quarterfinals Wednesday. Defending champion Liverpool and nine-time champions Real Madrid are out, however.

Champions League gallery, Mar. 8

March 8, 2006

Ronaldinho credits brain power

March 8, 2006

Ronaldinho claims brain-power was the key to Barcelona's Champions Leaguevictory over Chelsea.

FA charges Chelsea for antics on Saturday (SportsTicker)

March 8, 2006

LONDON (Ticker) - Chelsea on Wednesday charged by the Football Association for the behavior of its players during Saturday's win at West Bromwich Albion.

Chelsea charged by FA over Hawthorns bust-up (AFP)

March 8, 2006

Chelsea were charged by the Football Association (FA) with failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the course of their stormy 2-1 win at West Brom last weekend.

Argentine ready to join Croatia for World Cup (AFP)

March 8, 2006

Boca Juniors striker Daniel Bilos is ready to switch allegiances and play for Croatia in the World Cup after so far failing to gain a place in Argentina's squad, officials said.

Money will not tempt me away from Barcelona - Ronaldinho (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

World and European player of the year Ronaldinho says no amount of money would tempt him away from Barcelona and he believes he will spend the rest of his career at the Catalan club.

McClaren calls for fresh Boro Euro shock (AFP)

March 8, 2006

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren believes his side can create a further European upset by knocking Roma out of the UEFA Cup.

Terry calls for Chelsea double tonic (AFP)

March 8, 2006

John Terry has urged Chelsea to bounce back from the disappointment of their Champions League exit by completing a Premiership and FA Cup double.

Ronaldinho: 'I'll stay with Barca for life'

March 8, 2006

Ronaldinho: 'I'll stay with Barca for life'

by Europe

FA hit Chelsea with Hawthorns misconduct charge

March 8, 2006

FA hit Chelsea with Hawthorns misconduct charge

by England

Chelsea 'don't need' Ronaldinho

March 8, 2006

'Chelsea already have match-winners'

by UEFA Champions League

Benitez calls on Kop crowd

March 8, 2006

Champions League: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes that a passionate Anfield crowd can fire his strikers into goalscoring action as they bid to salvage their Champions League aspirations in Wednesday's European showdown with Benfica.

Artur Jorge quits as coach of Cameroon's national soccer team

March 8, 2006

Artur Jorge has quit as coach of Cameroon's national soccer team, and a search is underway for a replacement. "Right now, we have to start looking for another coach to take care of the Indomitable Lions," Cameroon soccer federation spokesman Martin Etongo said Wednesday. Cameroon, which had qualified for the last four World Cup tournaments, failed to reach this year's finals. The four-time African champions also failed to reach the semifinals at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year.

Tabarez returns to coach Uruguay's team

March 8, 2006

Oscar Washington Tabarez will return to Uruguay's bench to coach the country's national soccer team. Tabarez, who coached Uruguay during the 1990 World Cup in Italy and later led Boca Juniors to the 1992 Argentine league title, was expected to be formally introduced later Tuesday. He also had a stint as coach of AC Milan. Tabarez "will start his work right away," Uruguayan soccer association Eudgenio Figueredo said.

Rongen hired as U.S. Under-20 team coach

March 8, 2006

Thomas Rongen was hired Tuesday as coach of the United States Under-20 men's soccer team, his second stint in the job. Rongen previously held the position from 2002-04, coaching the team to fifth place during the 2003 World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Asian CL: Chonbuk rallies to beat Osaka

March 8, 2006

Substitute Kim Hyeung-bum's second-half blitz saw South Korean FA Cup winners Chonbuk Hyundai open their Asian Champions League campaign Wednesday with a 3-2 win over Japan's Gamba Osaka.

Asian CL: Ulsan beats Tokyo Verdy 2-0

March 8, 2006

TOKYO (AP) -- Brazilian forward Machado scored late in the second half Wednesday to seal Korean League champion Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i's 2-0 win over Tokyo Verdy in their opening Group F match of the Asian Champions League.

Santiago Escobar resigns from Atletico Nacional (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

Santiago Escobar has become the fourth coaching victim of the month-old Colombian season after resigning from his job at Atletico Nacional.

Man U F Sojskjaer suffers cheek fracture (SportsTicker)

March 8, 2006

MANCHESTER, England (Ticker) - Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer may have played his last game for Manchester United.

Bremen captain Baumann suffers knee injury (AFP)

March 8, 2006

Werder Bremen must do without their captain Frank Baumann for the next three weeks after the defender injured his knee in Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Juventus.

Messi out for a month (AFP)

March 8, 2006

Barcelona's teenage Argentine star Leo Messi will be out for between four and six weeks after tearing a right leg muscle in the first half of Barca's Champions League return with Chelsea.

Ronaldinho artistry is out of Blues' orbit (AFP)

March 8, 2006

The Barcelona fan with the banner at El Prat airport didn't need to deploy any of the venom which some of his more enthusiastic counterparts reserved for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Cameroon's soccer coach quits (AP)

March 8, 2006

Artur Jorge quit as national soccer coach of Cameroon, a traditional African power that failed to qualify for this year's World Cup. The Portuguese coach has been leading the team 14 months, and it was unclear why he left. "Right now, we have to start looking for another coach to take care of the Indomitable Lions," Cameroon soccer federation spokesman Martin Etongo said Wednesday.

Wenger wary of Real danger (AFP)

March 8, 2006

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted that he remains wary of the danger posed by Spanish giants Real Madrid despite the current upheaval at the club.

Casillas won't admit it's advantage Arsenal

March 8, 2006

Casillas denies Arsenal's advantage

by UEFA Champions League

Vacant Sunderland post attracting interest

March 8, 2006

Sunderland post attracting interest

by England

McClaren out to shock European football

March 8, 2006

McClaren out to shock Europe

by Europe

Beckham rules out a future in management

March 8, 2006

Management not in Beckham's plans

by England

German FA keeps faith in Klinsmann despite criticism

March 8, 2006

German FA keeps faith in Klinsmann

by World Cup

Mourinho: We were best team

March 8, 2006

Champions League: Jose Mourinho claims Chelsea's dream was wrecked two weeks ago. Asked if the best team won, the Blues boss said: "I don't think so. For me the critical point was the result at Stamford Bridge."

Ronaldinho hailed for display against Chelsea

March 8, 2006

Ronaldinho won fulsome praise for a dazzling goal and performance which helped FC Barcelona eliminate Chelsea from the Champions League.

Asian CL: Dalian Shide defeats Danang

March 8, 2006

Dalian Shide defender Ji Mingyi scored shortly after halftime on a goalkeeping error Wednesday and the Chinese champions held on for a 2-0 win over Vietnam's Danang in the opening match of the Asian Champions League.

Copa Libertadores Roundup, Mar. 7

March 8, 2006

Copa Libertadores Wrap: Caracas of Venezuela tied Mexican team Chivas Guadalajara 1-1 in Group 1 on Tuesday in the Copa Libertadores. Sergio Santana headed a goal for Chivas in the 57th minute, while Wilson Carpintero followed up for Caracas.

Benitez relies on home comforts

March 8, 2006

Benitez counts on home comforts

by UEFA Champions League

Luckless Solskjaer ruled out for the season

March 8, 2006

Solskjaer ruled out for the season

by England

Pearce poised to pen a new City deal

March 8, 2006

Pearce poised to pen new City deal

by England

Wenger dismisses talk of Real as club in crisis

March 8, 2006

Real are still a threat - Wenger

by UEFA Champions League

Villarreal 1-1 Rangers: So close, so far

March 8, 2006

Villarreal 1-1 Rangers: So close, so far

by UEFA Champions League

Gers 'deserved more' insists Lovenkrands

March 8, 2006

Unlucky Gers 'deserved more'

by UEFA Champions League

Money can't buy Ronaldinho's genius - Rijkaard

March 8, 2006

'Money can't buy Ronaldinho'

by UEFA Champions League

Werder keeper rues "horrible" blunder (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese was inconsolable after his late blunder on Tuesday enabled Juventus to knock the German side out of the Champions League.

New injury blow for United's Solskjaer (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaerwill be sidelined for six to eight weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone in a reserve team game, the club said on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Norwegian, struggling to revive his career after a long-tem knee injury, was injured in an accidental clash with Boro's Ugo Ehiogu.

Barca outclass Chelsea on and off the pitch (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

By Simon Baskett

Riot police ready for Steaua violence (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

Romanian police are drafting in riot police for Steaua Bucharest's UEFA Cup tie against Spain's Real Betis because of Steaua fans' violent reputation.

African Champions League second round draw (Reuters)

March 8, 2006

Revised draw for the second round of the African Champions League after the completion of the last first round, second leg match on Tuesday:

Former player arrested in Vietnam scandal

March 8, 2006

A former player from a major Vietnamese soccer team was arrested as part of a continuing police investigation into bribery in the sport, state-controlled media reported Wednesday.

Rongen hired as U.S. Under-20 team coach (AP)

March 8, 2006

Thomas Rongen has hired Tuesday as coach of the United States Under-20 men's soccer team, his second stint in the job. Rongen previously held the position from 2002-04, coaching the team to fifth place during the 2003 World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. He has selected 23 players born after Jan.