Soccer / DAILY REPORT
Mexico twice came from behind to earn a 3-3 tie with China, and Costa Rica shut out Australia, 2-0, Tuesday as both countries advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Finland.
With the U.S. already having reached the final eight, all three CONCACAF representatives in the 16-nation tournament have made the quarterfinals, something never accomplished before.
Costa Rica will play Colombia in the quarterfinals, and Mexico will play Argentina. The Americans, who play Spain today, will not know their quarterfinal opponent until after today’s final first-round matches.
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Irish Prevail
Ireland had to rally but defeated Australia, 2-1, in a friendly international in Dublin on goals in the last 17 minutes by Manchester United defender John O’Shea and Birmingham City forward Clinton Morrison.
The Australians had taken the lead on a goal by Mark Viduka in the 49th minute, but O’Shea’s headed goal in the 73rd minute tied it, then Morrison drilled the game-winner at the 80-minute mark.
Ireland striker Robbie Keane suffered a right ankle ligament injury late in the first half, but it was unclear how seriously the Tottenham Hotspur player was hurt.
Ireland plays Russia and Switzerland in crucial Euro 2004 qualifying games in two weeks.
“We hope he’s going to be OK, but it’s too early to say yet,” said Ireland’s Coach Brian Kerr, who remained unbeaten after seven games in charge.
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Kaka to Milan
Midfielder Kaka, a World Cup winner with Brazil last year and captain of Brazil’s Olympic team, joined European champion AC Milan from Sao Paulo for a transfer fee of $8.16 million.
The 21-year-old, who scored 58 goals in 146 matches for Sao Paulo, is Milan’s sixth Brazilian player, joining Cafu, Rivaldo, Roque Junior, Serginho and Dida.
“We have followed the player for two years and have got to know his quality and watched his performances,” said Ariedo Braida, Milan’s sporting director. “We decided that now was the time to make this investment.”
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Swedish Women
Marika Domanski-Lyfors, coach of the Swedish women’s national team that will play the U.S. in the opening round of next month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, named her 21-player World Cup roster.
The team, ranked fifth in the world, features prolific striker Hanna Ljungberg, who has 49 goals in 88 games for Sweden, as well as two key veterans, midfielder Malin Andersson and defender Kristin Bengtsson, both with more than 120 international appearances.
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MLS Update
The Colorado Rapids acquired the rights to goalkeeper Joe Cannon from the San Jose Earthquakes for a first-round draft pick in 2004 and third- and fourth-round picks in 2005. Cannon, 28, spent last season with Lens in France.
Bulgarian veteran Hristo Stoitchkov, 37, underwent minor surgery on his left knee, and the Washington D.C. United midfielder will be sidelined for two to three weeks, the club said.
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Quick Passes
U.S. women’s national team Coach April Heinrichs named a squad of 20 players, including 13 members of the 1999 world championship team, to her roster for matches against Costa Rica in Carson on Sept. 1 and against Mexico in San Jose on Sept. 7.
Ali Daei, 34, the captain of Iran’s national team and Asia’s player of the year in 1999, rejoined his former Iranian club, Pirouzi, on a one-year contract. The former Bayern Munich player spent last season with Al Shabad in Dubai, Qatar.
Sweden Coach Tommy Soderberg told the newspaper Aftonbladet that he would retire after next year’s European Championship in Portugal.... Real Madrid midfielder Albert Celades, 27, joined Bordeaux on a one-year loan deal.
Brazilian club Fortaleza named Marcio Araujo coach. He replaces Luis Carlos Ruiz, who resigned Sunday.
There have been 30 coaching changes in the 24-team league since March, with only six teams retaining their original coaches.
Athletic Bilbao’s players have helped the Spanish club reduce its financial deficit by more than $2 million by agreeing to a 15% pay cut.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
