Aston Villa 0 Manchester City 1
April 25, 2006EPL: Darius Vassell was again Aston Villa's main tormentor as he returned to his former club to end a dismal run for Stuart Pearce's side with a second-half winner. Vassell took his goal tally to four in four games against Villa since his switch to Eastlands last summer.
Scurry rejoins U.S. women's team
April 25, 2006Goalkeeper Briana Scurry was picked Tuesday for a two-game trip to Japan by the U.S women's team, her first appearance on a game roster since 2004. Scurry, the starting American goalkeeper at the 2003 Women's World Cup and 2004 Olympics, took 2005 off from international soccer. Hope Solo, who started six of the Americans' seven games this year, also was among 18 players picked for the trip. The United States plays exhibition games against Japan in Kumamoto on May 7 and Osaka on May 9.
Injuries keeping Eriksson's World Cup options open (Reuters)
April 25, 2006England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson says places are still up for grabs in his World Cup squad due to injuries affecting previously seemingly secure players.
Manchester City beats Aston Villa (AP)
April 25, 2006Manchester City beat Aston Villa 1-0 Tuesday on Darius Vassell's 71st-minute goal in the English Premier League. Vassell sent a low shot past Villa goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen after beating defender Olof Mellberg. It was his fourth goal in four games against Aston Villa since he moved from the club to Manchester City last season.
Lehmann's heroics send Arsenal into Champions League final (SportsTicker)
April 25, 2006VILLARREAL, Spain (Ticker) - Jens Lehmann showed why he will be Germany's No. 1 goalkeeper for the World Cup in six weeks' time.
Arsenal 0, Villarreal 0 (AP)
April 25, 2006Arsenal advanced to the final of the European Champions League for the first time, playing a 0-0 tie at Villarreal on Tuesday night as goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved Juan Roman Riquelme's penalty kick in the 89th minute. Arsenal won the home-and-home, total-goals series 1-0 and will play Barcelona or AC Milan in the final on May 17 at Saint-Denis, France.
Vassell goal beats Villa and ends Man City losing streak (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Darius Vassell scored after 71 minutes to give Manchester City a 1-0 win at his old club Aston Villa and end City's six-game losing streak in a low-key Premier League match on Tuesday.
Luxemburgo banned for accusing ref of flirting
April 25, 2006Luxemburgo banned for accusing ref of flirting
by Global
Aston Villa 0-1 Man City: Vassell haunts Villa
April 25, 2006Aston Villa 0-1 Man City: Vassell haunts Villa
by England
Wenger and Henry hail 'magnificent' Lehmann
April 25, 2006Wenger, Henry hail 'magnificent' Lehmann
by UEFA Champions League
I don't know how we lost, says Villarreal boss
April 25, 2006I don't know how we lost, says Villarreal boss
by UEFA Champions League
Villarreal 0-0 Arsenal: Lehmann the penalty hero
April 25, 2006Villarreal 0-0 Arsenal: Lehmann the penalty hero
by UEFA Champions League
Forlan backs Riquelme after European exit
April 25, 2006Forlan backs Riquelme after European exit
by UEFA Champions League
CL: Arsenal draws with Villarreal to reach final
April 25, 2006Champions League: Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved Juan Roman Riquelme's late penalty kick and his team drew 0-0 with Villarreal on Tuesday to reach its first Champions League final. The English team advanced 1-0 on aggregate, but was dominated by Villarreal at its El Madrigal stadium.
Costa Rica's outcasts criticize decision
April 25, 2006Star players missing from Costa Rica's training squad for the World Cup criticized manager Alexander Guimaraes in local media on Tuesday. Guimaraes will announce his final 23-man roster on Monday, but his training squad was already without Lokomotiv Moscow striker Winston Parks, top-scoring Alajuelense forward Rolando Fonseca, and Oscar Rojas of Mexico's Veracruz. "I was left out, not because of a lack of ability, but for other reasons," Fonseca told local media without elaborating.
Zinedine Zidane factbox (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Factbox on Real Madrid and France midfielder Zinedine Zidane who announced on Tuesday that he would retire after the World Cup.
Luxemburgo banned for accusing referee of flirting (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Santos coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has been handed a 60-day touchline ban for accusing a referee of flirting with him during a match.
'I retire after World Cup - and that's final' - Zidane
April 25, 2006'I retire after World Cup - and that's final' - Zidane
by Europe
Ronaldinho: Victory can start a Barca dynasty
April 25, 2006Ronaldinho: Victory can start a Barca dynasty
by UEFA Champions League
Cup final ticket allocation disappoints West Ham
April 25, 2006Cup final ticket allocation disappoints West Ham
by England
Zidane to retire after World Cup (SportsTicker)
April 25, 2006PARIS (Ticker) - Zinedine Zidane has announced he will retire from soccer after this summer's World Cup.
Barca do not plan to sit on lead against Milan (Reuters)
April 25, 2006(Adds Carlo Ancelotti quotes)
Uruguay to send foreign-based players on U.S. tour (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Uruguay said on Tuesday that they would be sending their foreign-based players on a two-match tour to the United States next month.
Five Moroccan Olympic players suspended
April 25, 2006The Moroccan soccer federation has suspended five members of its Olympic team for failing doping tests.
Villarreal tries to rally vs. Arsenal in Champions League semi (SportsTicker)
April 25, 2006VILLARREAL, Spain (Ticker) - Arsene Wenger admits the water-tight defense that has taken Arsenal to the brink of European glory has come as a shock to him.
FIFA tackling ticket concerns (Reuters)
April 25, 2006By Tim Collings
Real defender Woodgate back at Leeds for treatment (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate is having treatment at former club Leeds United in a bid to recover from a persistent thigh injury that has dogged his season.
Blatter steps back from deducting World Cup points for racist fans (AP)
April 25, 2006FIFA president Sepp Blatter backed down Tuesday from his stance that teams may be docked points at the World Cup because of racist abuse by fans. Although the three-point sanctions apply for racist behavior by players, coaches or team officials, Blatter said it was too difficult to apply sanctions to spectators because fans could use them to affect the results of games.
FIFA works with legal bookmakers (AP)
April 25, 2006FIFA is linking up with legal bookmakers to create an early warning system in case World Cup games in Germany become the focus of match-fixing. With the gambling industry expanding worldwide, soccer's world governing body is concerned that the World Cup could become the target for unscrupulous bettors who might try to influence games by bribing players or referees, general secretary Urs Linsi said...
FIFA's Blatter expects resolution on WADA code (AP)
April 25, 2006FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he is confident the International Olympic Committee will push for an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency and won't kick soccer out of the Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Monday that FIFA is not compliant with the doping rules of the WADA code.
'No one will remember us if we lose' - Riquelme
April 25, 2006'No one will remember us if we lose' - Riquelme
by UEFA Champions League
England boss should be English - Blatter
April 25, 2006England boss should be English - Blatter
by World Cup
Sven: 'We can win World Cup'
April 25, 2006Sven: 'We can win World Cup'
by World Cup
Ronaldinho overtakes Beckham in earnings - Report
April 25, 2006Ronaldinho overtakes Beckham in earnings - Report
by Europe
Zidane set to clarify his future on Wednesday
April 25, 2006Zidane set to clarify his future on Wednesday
by Europe
Newcastle deny imminent appointment of Roeder
April 25, 2006Newcastle deny imminent appointment of Roeder
by Europe
Cafu extends AC Milan contract
April 25, 2006Brazilian Cafu extends AC Milan contract
by Europe
Over 1m hotel rooms booked for World Cup
April 25, 2006Over 1m hotel rooms booked for World Cup
by World Cup
CL: Barcelona needs draw to reach final
April 25, 2006Champions League: Barcelona needs only a draw with six-time winner AC Milan on Wednesday to reach its fifth Champions League final. And that would leave Frank Rijkaard's side close to one of the greatest achievements in the club's 106-year history.
Shepherd cool on Roeder talk
April 25, 2006Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has rejected reports Glenn Roeder is set to be appointed as the club's permanent manager.
One million WC hotel room bookings
April 25, 2006Foreign visitors already have booked about one million overnight stays during the World Cup, tournament organizers said Tuesday.
Former Everton captain dies at 66
April 25, 2006Former Everton and England defender Brian Labone has died at age 66.
DO'L wants future resolved
April 25, 2006Aston Villa manager David O'Leary insists he has no talks scheduled to meet chairman Doug Ellis to discuss the club's future.
Season over for Milan's Ambrosini (Reuters)
April 25, 2006AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini will miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury in Saturday's Serie A win over Messina.
Brazilian Cafu extends Milan contract (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Brazil captain Cafu has extended his contract with AC Milan for a further year signing up until June 30, 2007, the Serie A club said.
Former England defender Labone dies (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Former England and Everton defender Brian Labone has died aged 66, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
Chelsea agree deal to back game in China (Reuters)
April 25, 2006(adds byline, detail, quotes)
Wembley contractors in court over £45m row
April 25, 2006Wembley contractors in court over £45m row
by England
'Business as usual' despite Glazer's stroke
April 25, 2006'Business as usual' despite Glazer's stroke
by England
Everton and England's Labone dies aged 66
April 25, 2006Everton and England's Labone dies aged 66
by England
Wenger surprised by miserly Euro defence
April 25, 2006Wenger surprised by Arsenal's miserly Euro defence
by UEFA Champions League
Chelsea agree grassroots deal in China
April 25, 2006Chelsea agree grassroots deal in China
by England
O'Leary still in dark over Villa's future
April 25, 2006O'Leary still in dark over Villa's future
by England
City's season a 'disappointment' for Pearce
April 25, 2006City's season a 'major disappointment' for Pearce
by England
Rooney fearless ahead of World Cup
April 25, 2006Rooney fearless ahead of World Cup
by England
Chelsea, Man Utd just scratch the surface
April 25, 2006This weekend's clash between Chelsea and Manchester United won't provide the last gasp excitement for the Premiership title that many hoped for, but Bobby McMahon explains why this match has huge implications for next season as both clubs will make major moves this summer.
Bed in a shed for World Cup fans (Reuters)
April 25, 2006By Tom Armitage
MISL coach suspended for two years (AP)
April 25, 2006Baltimore Blast coach Tim Wittman has been suspended for the next two seasons by the Major Indoor Soccer League for putting a game official in a chokehold. Wittman was also fined an undisclosed amount following a review and investigation, MISL commissioner Steve Ryan announced Monday. Wittman had already been suspended for the remainder of the 2005-06 season, including the playoffs.
Parks left out of provisional Costa Rica squad (Reuters)
April 25, 2006Russian-based striker Winston Parks was surprisingly left out of Costa Rica's provisional 28-man World Cup squad on Monday.
Tottenham maintains slim advantage against Arsenal (SportsTicker)
April 25, 2006LONDON (Ticker) - Tottenham still has the edge on local rivals Arsenal in the race for the fourth Champions League qualifying spot after a 1-1 draw between the North London rivals.
Ajax, Groningen in control in Dutch Champions League playoffs (SportsTicker)
April 25, 2006AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (Ticker) - Ajax Amsterdam and FC Groningen need only keep their heads to book a place in the playoff final for Holland's second Champions League berth.
Juve sees lead reduced to three points (SportsTicker)
April 25, 2006TURIN, Italy (Ticker) - Juventus was held to a 1-1 home draw against 10-man Lazio to allow its lead in the Serie A over AC Milan reduced to just three points with three games remaining after the Rossoneri triumphed 3-1 at Messina.