Inter beats Napoli 3-1 in Leonardo's debut

ROME (AP): Leonardo made a dream debut as Inter Milan manager as fellow Brazilian Thiago Motta scored twice in a 3-1 win over Napoli on Thursday.

Leonardo replaced Rafa Benitez over the Italian league's holiday break and the victory was Inter's first in Serie A since November. Perhaps more importantly, Inter showed the same flare and goalscoring ability it had last season en route to a historic treble.

"I don't want to talk too much just because we won one game, but we beat a good team that was second in the standings," Leonardo said. "This squad is (in form). It didn't win by chance for the last five years. This squad has a soul and it had fun playing today."

Thiago Motta put Inter in front with a volley from the edge of the area three minutes in at the San Siro. After Michele Pazienza equalized for Napoli in the 25th, Esteban Cambiasso restored Inter's lead with a soaring header in the 37th and Thiago Motta added the third with a header in the 55th.

"The first goal was quite nice, but the most important thing was getting this victory and the enthusiasm that we showed - which was lacking for a while," Thiago Motta said. "Leo has definitely brought enthusiasm."

Inter remained in seventh place, 13 points behind leader and city rival AC Milan, which edged Cagliari 1-0 earlier with an 85th-minute goal from Rodney Strasser.

However, Inter has two games to make up that it missed while winning the Club World Cup last month.

Newly signed Antonio Cassano made an immediate impact for Milan, setting up Strasser's goal in his first action since October, when he allegedly insulted Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone with a profanity-laced tirade, prompting his transfer to Milan.

Ten minutes after going on, the Italy striker took a backheel pass from Robinho and slipped the ball through two defenders toward Strasser, who appeared slightly offside but managed to score without much protest from Cagliari.

According to Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, Cassano is still far from his top form.

"You can see that just by looking at him. But that's normal after not training for two months," Alllegri said. "He's only been training with us for a week. It's important that he continues dedicating himself each week."

It was the first Serie A goal for the 20-year-old Strasser, a midfielder from Sierra Leone.

"This is just fine, getting a victory after suffering so much today, especially with a goal from a kid that comes from our youth program," Allegri said.

Earlier, Juventus lost one key player to injury and another to a red card in a 4-1 loss to Parma.

Also, Lazio was held to 0-0 at Genoa, with Hernanes hitting the post for the Roman club; and AS Roma rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Catania 4-2 with two late strikes from Mirko Vucinic.

Milan leads with 39 points, five more than Lazio. Napoli is third with 33 points, followed by Roma with 32 and Juventus with 31.

Also, it was: Bologna 1, Fiorentina 1; Brescia 1, Cesena 2; Lecce 0, Bari 1; Palermo 3, Sampdoria 0; and Udinese 2, Chievo Verona 0.

Milan was fortunate to come away with a win against Allegri's former club.

Cagliari defender Michele Canini hit the post in the 32nd and forward Nene wasted a gift from Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati in the 53rd.

Abbiati's failed clearance landed directly at Nene's feet with no defenders near but the Brazilian forward's weak shot deflected wide off Abbiati.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, Milan threatened with chances from Robinho in the 11th and Alexandre Pato on both sides of halftime, but Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi was flawless.

Against Juventus, diminutive forward Sebastian Giovinco scored twice against his former club and Hernan Crespo and Raffaele Palladino also found the net for Parma.

It was a negative day for Juventus from the start, with forward Fabio Quagliarella exiting with an apparent knee injury after only three minutes. Then in the 17th, Felipe Melo kicked Parma defender Massimo Paci in the face and was sent off.

The 1.64-meter (5-foot-5) Giovinco, who was used mostly as a substitute by Juve the past two seasons, pounded in a rebound from close range in the 41st and doubled the lead from the edge of the area in the 48th.

Nicola Legrottaglie pulled one back for Juventus with a header in the 60th, but Crespo was then fouled by Giorgio Chiellini inside the area in the 61st and converted the ensuing penalty. Palladino added another in injury time before Juventus was whistled off the field at Stadio Olimpico.

It was the worst Serie A home loss in 43 years for Juventus, which was beaten by Torino 4-0 in a 1967 derby.

"Today was a negative day, but losing 1-0 or 4-1 doesn't make too much difference," Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said. "We've got to stay united and maintain our focus."

  

Villarreal rallies to knock Valencia out of cup

MADRID (AP): A second-half burst of goals saw Villarreal rally from a two-goal deficit Thursday for a 4-2 win over Valencia that put it into the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.

Marco Ruben's 63rd-minute strike ensured Villarreal advanced after a scoreless first leg. Ruben tapped into an open goal after Cani's one-two with Giuseppe Rossi put him clear into the area to find Ruben alone in the center.

Valencia dominated the first half and Ever Banega put the visitors ahead at El Madrigal stadium after five minutes when goalkeeper Juan Carlos Sanchez spilled the Argentine's long-distance shot.

Roberto Soldado controlled Maduro Hedwiges' long ball in the 23rd to tap past Sanchez for Valencia's second away goal.

Needing to score at least three times, Villarreal started the rally right after the break as Santi Cazorla streaked into the area to convert Rossi's pass for the hosts' first in the 47th. Two minutes later, Rossi scored a penalty after Marius Stankevicius brought down Ruben.

While both clubs created chances in the regional derby, Villarreal controlled the tempo with Ruben scoring before Rossi scored his second during injury time with an individual effort.

"The result shows we also won with our tactics and that we knew to stick to our convictions," Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido said.

Villarreal plays defending champion Sevilla in the last eight of the domestic cup competition while Atletico Madrid is all but certain to face city rival Real Madrid after a 2-1 aggregate win over Espanyol.

Madrid takes an 8-0 lead into the second leg against Levante later on Thursday.

Atletico striker Sergio Aguero held off two defenders in the 25th minute to control Raul Garcia's pass and beat goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez with a rising shot. Luis Garcia made it 1-1 with a free kick in injury time.

Earlier, second-division leader Real Betis beat Getafe 3-1 to overcome a first-leg deficit and win 4-3 on aggregate to set up a match with Barcelona.

Getafe goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was outstanding early, making seven saves in the opening 40 minutes before Jorge Molina beat the Argentine in the 56th at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Ruben Castro scored goals in the 72nd and 90th for Betis, which hung on for victory after Javier Casquero pulled one back for Getafe in injury time.

"They were superior from minute one," Getafe coach Michel said. "It's unacceptable to play like that as a topflight team."

Betis - the only lower-tier club left in the competition - may not have captain Achille Emana available for next week's game after the Cameroon midfielder was taken off with an apparent knee injury in the 52nd.

Almeria scored four first-half goals in a 4-3 win at Mallorca to advance 8-6 on aggregate.

Pablo Piatti scored 30 seconds into the match and again in the 40th minute after Juanma Ortiz had also added two for the visitors.

The result seemed in little doubt before Fernando Cavenaghi put Mallorca on the board with his 70th-minute goal. Michael Pereira scored from long-range a minute before Cavenaghi added his second in the 77th. But even after losing defender Fabian Vargas to a second yellow card in the 83rd, Almeria resisted the late pressure and will next meet Deportivo La Coruna.

Record 25-time champion Barcelona eliminated Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, when defending champion Sevilla and Deportivo also advanced.

  

Ronaldinho officially ends contract with AC Milan

SAO PAULO (AP): Ronaldinho reached an agreement with AC Milan to officially end his contract with the Italian club on Thursday, clearing the way for his to return to Brazil.

Ronaldinho did not announce his new club, however, and three Brazilian clubs remain in contention to sign the two-time FIFA player of the year - Palmeiras, Flamengo and former team Gremio.

Ronaldinho said there is "nothing decided" yet regarding his future, but reiterated that he wants to play in Brazil.

"We reached an agreement with Milan and now I'm free to continue my life here in Brazil," Ronaldinho said.

In a news conference alongside Milan vice president Adriano Galliani in Rio de Janeiro, the 30-year-old Ronaldinho said he is grateful for his "wonderful" time with the Italian club.

Galliani said through a translator that he is sad to see Ronaldinho leave and will remain in Brazil until the player chooses his new club and finalizes his transfer from Milan.

Ronaldinho's agent and brother Roberto Assis said he will continue negotiating with the Brazilian clubs, but Ronaldinho's desire to play in Brazil has eliminated English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers from the race to sign the playmaker.

Ronaldinho had said Gremio was his first choice in his return to Brazilian football.

It was at the Porto Alegre club that the playmaker started his professional career in 1998, and where he played in youth squads since age seven.

Outside the Copacabana Palace hotel where Ronaldinho gave his news conference, some Flamengo fans chanted loudly to try to convince the player to pick their club.

Ronaldinho has said that he would like to play for Brazil's most popular club at some point in his career and former Brazil teammates such as Adriano have encouraged him to join.

Palmeiras coach Luiz Felipe Scolari also was trying to persuade the player, who helped him win the 2002 World Cup with Brazil. Palmeiras said it had made the best offer financially.

Struggling Blackburn came in as a late contender for Ronaldinho, but the player had already made up his mind about returning to Brazil to try to revamp his career, following in the footsteps of Adriano and Ronaldo.

Ronaldinho still wants to play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and hopes that a successful return to Brazilian football will help him reach that goal.

The 30-year-old won consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005 while with Barcelona and led the Spanish club to the Champions League title in 2006.

But after leaving Barcelona to join AC Milan in 2008, Ronaldinho struggled to establish himself at the Italian club. He also disappointed with Brazil at the 2006 World Cup and was not included in the squad for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

He had been playing sporadically with Milan and after the New Year he was authorized to leave the team's training camp to travel to Brazil.

The club will likely save money with Ronaldinho's transfer to Brazil because it will not have to continue paying the player's high salary.

Ronaldinho has been playing in Europe since he joined France's Paris Saint Germain in 2001, where he stayed for two years before making the move to Barcelona.

  

Australia picked to host the 2015 Asian Cup

DOHA: Australia went some way to easing the pain of losing out to Qatar in the 2022 World Cup race by being awarded the 2015 Asian Cup on Wednesday.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) were the sole candidate for the event but still had to adhere to the formal bidding process by making their final presentation to the Asian Football Con­federation’s executive committee.

“Today the AFC met and decided Australia would be the host nation for the 2015 Asian Cup,” AFC president Mohamad Hammam said at a press conference in Doha ahead of the 2011 tournament that kicks off here today.

“We considered all the achievments made in Australia towards the development of football and to encourage the next step in developing the game, we are happy to announce the AFC have approved Australia to host the 2015 Asian Cup.”

The decision comes barely a month after Australia’s expensive failed bid to hold the 2022 World Cup, which humiliatingly received just one vote from FIFA’s executive committee.

Instead Qatar was surprisingly handed the tournament ahead of more fancied bids from not just Australia, but Japan, South Korea and the United States.

Hammam, himself a Qatari, said he was confident Australia would host a top-class tournament in 2015.

“The AFC are happy that all the promises Australia have made will be met in good time,” he said.

“We have much interest in seeing the game develop even more in Australia and this is a part of that.”

FFA chairman Frank Lowy said his country had plenty of experience of hosting big events and the government was fully behind the bid.

“We are delighted that you, Mr Pre­sident, and your executive committee decided to award the hosting of the 2015 Asian Cup to Australia,” he said.

“We will do the best possible job for the AFC and for Australia.

“The Australian nation will be on show not just on the field but also off the field. The people of Australia, the government of Australia are ready and able to host the Cup and ensure that football advances throughout Asia through the efforts of Australia.” 

  

Hosts Qatar battle pressure in opener against Uzbekistan

DOHA: Hosts Qatar may be under extra pressure at the Asian Cup after winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup, but they vowed to shrug it off when they face Uzbekistan in the tournament opener today.

“The pressure on our team is very high because we will organise the World Cup in 2022,” Qatar coach Bruno Metsu said on the eve of their Group A match.

“The players want to show something to Qatar and to the world,” added the 56-year-old Frenchman, who guided Senegal to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals.

“But we’ll try our best to minimise the difficulty and play a good match.”

Uzbekistan coach Vadim Abramov ambitiously said his team would target the title although their best finish yet has been the quarter-finals.

“We are satisfied with our prepara­tion because we have managed a training camp in Tunisia,” said Abramov.

“Now I can say our expectation is to win the tournament as all the teams are there.”

The two sides are grouped with 2004 hosts and runners-up China and Kuwait, who won their first Gulf Cup in 12 years late last year.

Qatar hope to silence skeptics who have pointed to their lack of football pedigree despite being future World Cup hosts.

They have never qualified for the World Cup and their previous best showing in the Asian Cup was a quarter-final exit at the hands of China in 2000.

They have acquired some foreign implants over the years, including Uruguayan-born striker Sebastian Soria and Brazilian-born midfielder Fabio Cezar. Homegrown 22-year-old Jarallah Al Marri has developed himself into a key marksman.

“Uzbekistan are a very strong team, a good team,” said Metsu who has coached Qatar since 2008.

“Our players need to play a strong, good game and they will fight to win because this is important for both teams as the opening match.”

Metsu said Qatar are prepared to build their national team into world class act along with construction of stadiums air-conditioned to cope with scorching summer heat.

“There is big preparation for Qatari players and Qatari facilities and we’ll surprise the whole world,” added the Frenchman who, however, said he would be too old to coach the Gulf side for 2022.

Uzbekistan have improved their status in the Asian Cup since their debut in 1996 after Central Asian nations joined the far-flung confederation after the Soviet break-up.

After being eliminated in the group phase 15 years ago and in 2000, the Uzbeks have reached the quarter-finals at successive tournaments.

In 2007, they ousted China in the group round before falling to eventual finalists Saudi Arabia in the last eight.

“We want to show a great match to every spectator and for all the countries,” said Abramov, who has been in the job since April.

“We want to show that Asian football is at high levels now.”

The Uzbek tactician, whose side feature dynamic attackers and tall defenders who are strong in the air, said he had watched many Qatar games on video.

“They show something more than European football. They are playing with foreign players and they have good facilities.”

Uzbek midfielder Odil Ahmevod said: “Qatar are very strong, especially their offence line. It should be the key game of this tournament for us.”

  

Abidal saves Barca to qualify for King’s Cup quarters

MADRID: Eric Abidal crowned a superb defensive display with a rare goal to help Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday and put the La Liga leaders through to the quarter-finals of the Spanish King’s Cup on away goals.

Barca joined holders Sevilla in the last eight after the Andalusians won their second leg at Malaga 3-0 in the earlier kickoff to cruise through 8-3 on aggregate.

Deportivo Coruna also advanced but came perilously close to elimination by Second Division Cordoba before rallying to win 3-1 on the night and 4-2 over the two legs.

Bilbao held Barca to a 0-0 stalemate in last month’s first leg at the Nou Camp and a hard-fought return match at the Basque club’s San Mames Stadium looked to be heading for extra time before the France international struck in the 75th minute.

Spain playmaker Xavi picked out Lionel Messi in the penalty area and Abidal streaked in from the left wing to sidefoot the Argentina forward’s pass powerfully past Gorka Iraizoz, his first goal for the club since joining in 2007.

Abidal had started the game in central defence and did an impressive job of keeping Bilbao’s burly Spain striker Fernando Llorente quiet before switching to his normal leftback slot.

Freed from Abidal’s attentions, Llorente latched on to Andoni Iraola’s through ball and slotted past Jose Manuel Pinto in the 85th minute to give the home side hope but a spell of late pressure failed to yield a goal.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola said it had been an honour to play a match of such intensity at the San Mames, where Bilbao’s passionate fans create a dauntingly intense atmosphere.

“The fans should be very proud of the Athletic players and they should be of the fans,” he said.

“There is a great deal of merit in coming here and knocking them out on their turf in a tie that was extremely close and I am very happy with my players for managing it.”

Barca, the record 25-time winners who beat Bilbao 4-1 to win the Cup in 2009, will play La Liga rivals Getafe or Second Division Real Betis in the last eight.

Sevilla, 2-0 winners against Atletico Madrid in last season’s final, meet Villarreal or Valencia in the quarter-finals. Sevilla took the lead just after half-time in Malaga when a deflected long-range free-kick from Ivory Coast midfielder Ndri Romaric flew into the top corner.

Substitute Diego Perotti turned in a Jesus Navas centre in the 65th minute to effectively snuff out Malaga’s hopes of overturning their 5-3 defeat in last month’s first leg and Malaga defender Weligton was dismissed in the 72nd minute after picking up a second yellow card.

Brazil striker Luis Fabiano curled in another free-kick in the 89th minute to complete the rout.

Depor were held to a 1-1 draw in Cordoba last month and the Andalusians looked to be going through when captain Arteaga smashed the ball into the roof of the net in the 87th minute to make it 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate.

However, the referee ruled Jonathan Sesma had handled the ball in the penalty area two minutes later and Adrian Lopez stroked home the spot kick.

Cordoba were reduced to 10 men when defender Miguel Angel Tena was sent off moments later and Depor made the most of the advantage with Lopez scoring in each half of extra time. 

  

Strasser’s goal gives AC Milan some breathing space

ROME: Sierra Leone international Rodney Strasser pounced five minutes from time to score the only goal of the game and send AC Milan five points clear at the top of Serie A with a 1-0 win at Cagliari yesterday.

Milan increased their lead at the top as Lazio were held to a 0-0 draw at Genoa while 10-man Juventus were stunned 4-1 at home by Parma.

Napoli could reduce the gap to three points if they win at Inter Milan in the day’s late game.

But 20-year-old Strasser proved the unlikely hero in Sardinia, netting his first ever goal in Serie A in an otherwise tight game.

Milan had the first chance as Robinho drew a fine save out of Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi down low to his left on 11 minutes.

The hosts came even closer than that just past the half hour mark as Michele Canini headed Andrea Cossu’s corner against the post.

Agazzi was forced into another brilliant one-handed save on 51 minutes from a fierce Pato drive.

But Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati almost handed the hosts the lead with a horror clearance straight to Brazilian forward Nene, only to make amends by diverting his shot behind.

Robinho had an even better chance midway through the second half when played in one-on-one with Agazzi by Brazilian strike-partner Pato but his first touch was woeful and ran straight through to the goalkeeper.

Agazzi was finally beaten five minutes from time when controversial and high-profile new Milan signing Antonio Cassano on his debut as a substitute slipped in fellow sub Strasser to slot home.

Milan extended their lead thanks to Lazio being held to a goalless draw in a dull match in Genoa.

Roma leapfrogged Juventus into fourth as they came back from 2-1 down to beat Catania 4-2 in Rome thanks to doubles by Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic - both the latter’s coming in the final five minutes.

On-loan forward Sebastian Giovinco sent out a message to his regular employers Juventus as he scored a brace for Parma.

Having struggled for the last couple of years to establish himself at Juve, Giovinco went on loan to Parma this season in a bid to find first team football.

But he came back to haunt his permanent employers with a well taken double that badly hits Juve’s title chances as they dropped to eight points behind Milan.

Following Giovinco’s brace Juve centre-back Nicola Legrottaglie pulled a goal back but Hernan Crespo’s penalty sealed the three points before substitute Raffaele Palladino’s injury-time finish added insult to injury.

Juve were eventually overrun largely due to playing most of the game with 10 men following Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo’s sending off for violent conduct after only 17 minutes.

At the bottom of the table basement sitters Bari boosted their slim hopes of survival by winnning 1-0 at second bottom Lecce while Cesena climbed out of the drop zone with a 2-1 win at Brescia, who replaced them.

Inter dropped to eighth ahead of their game as Udinese beat Chievo 2-0 to go seventh. 

  

Mourinho, Preciado escape punishment

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and his Sporting Gijon counterpart Manuel Preciado have escaped punishment over a row they had in November after the Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) decided no action was needed.

The federation were asked to take appropriate disciplinary measures against the pair by a Spanish government commission that seeks to combat violence and intolerance in sport.

The commission argued their row, which boiled up after Preciado was incensed by Mourinho’s suggestion that his team had not made a serious attempt to beat Barcelona earlier in the season, had risked creating a hostile atmosphere around Real’s La Liga match at Gijon.

Gijon said on their website on Wednesday the RFEF’s competition committee had decided the coaches’ statements did not merit punishment.

Preciado accused Mourinho of lacking respect and made disparaging remarks about the Portuguese at a news conference, prompting Real to release a statement before the match condemning his comments.

  

Ronnie slams AC Milan for slowing move

RIO DE JANEIRO: AC Milan’s Brazilian striker Ronldinho on Wednesday slammed his Serie A club for dragging their heels on his planned transfer to Gremio, accusing them of making unreasonable financial demands.

The 30-year-old two-time World Player of the Year insisted that if it was up to him he would already be playing for his former club in the Brazilian League.

“I’m not up for auction. If it was up to me I’d already be wearing the Gremio jersey even if it means earning less,” Ronaldinho told the Globoesporte website.

“The problem isn’t the offer that has been made for me but Milan’s demands.”

Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Tuesday that the Brazilian had already signed for Gremio where he started his career in 1998.

The sports newspaper claimed Ronaldinho’s brother and agent Roberto de Assis had reached an agreement with Gremio, and a meeting was planned on Wednesday.

Premier League club Blackburn were also reported to be making a multi-million euro bid to bring the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain forward to England.