Adu Impresses in Short Stint
Freddy Adu took another step up the competition ladder Tuesday at the FIFA World Youth Championship for under-20 teams.
Major League Soccer’s recent marquee signing came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute in the United States’ 3-1 loss to Germany at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The 14-year-old drew a foul that led to the only goal for the U.S. by Zak Whitbread off a Bobby Convey free kick, and also had a shot on goal.
“I think I did all right,” Adu said. “I didn’t feel like I changed things to a point where we would be able to change the outcome of the game. I was able to get the foul that led to the goal, but we just came up short.”
U.S. teammate and forward Eddie Johnson, who plays for the Dallas Burn, said Adu’s presence definitely made a difference.
“A player like Freddy coming on scares defenders when he goes at them,” Johnson said. “It kind of takes their focus off of me a little bit. He changed things when he came in. He showed he can play.”
U.S. Coach Thomas Rongen said that because his team trailed, 3-0, it was the ideal time to get Adu his first minutes.
“It allowed him to come in and be free,” Rongen said, “and I thought he played well. It was a good start for him.”
The U.S. loss and Paraguay’s 1-0 upset of South Korea left all four teams in Group F with records of 1-1-0 heading into their final games of group play. The U.S. plays South Korea on Friday.
In other games Tuesday, Egypt beat England, 1-0, and Colombia defeated Japan, 4-1, in Group D; Ireland tied Ivory Coast, 2-2, and Mexico tied Saudi Arabia, 1-1, in Group E.
*
Ruiz Draws Interest
Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz, the most valuable player in MLS in 2002 and the league’s co-leading goal scorer in the season just completed, is drawing interest from teams in Europe, specifically Leicester City of the English Premier League.
The Guatemalan international, who played in Greece before coming to MLS from club Municipal in his native country, said there had been discussions with Leicester.
“There have been two approaches on the part of the people of Leicester City,” Ruiz told rojomania.com, a Web site devoted to Municipal. “But it’s very difficult to confirm anything.”
Ruiz said any transfer depended on Municipal and MLS being able to work out an agreement.
“Carlos’ situation is not as straightforward as some people think,” Ruiz’s agent, Richard Motzkin, told the Web site. “There exist many details to be discussed. Leicester City is just one of many teams interested in his services.”
*
Blatter Rejects Demands
FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter said world soccer’s governing body would not compensate top European clubs for releasing their players to compete in the World Cup and European Championship.
The G-14, a group that represents many of Europe’s most powerful teams such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan, had proposed compensation of as much as $81 million.
“I’m convinced that a boycott or something similar won’t manifest itself,” said Blatter, speaking in Frankfurt, Germany, where the preliminary World Cup draw is scheduled Friday. “I cannot imagine that a club would sue UEFA [European soccer’s governing body] or FIFA. We invite the federations to a World Cup and we pay for travel, accommodation and prize money. What the national federations do with that money is their problem.”
*
Burn to Promote Clarke
The Dallas Burn is expected to promote interim Coach Colin Clarke to the position permanently Thursday, the Web site USSoccerUK.com reported.
Clarke, a native of Northern Ireland, took over for Mike Jeffries, who was fired in September. The Burn finished the season with a franchise-worst record of 6-19-5.
*
Quick Passes
Hasan Sukur’s two goals kept Galatasaray of Turkey alive in the European Champions League after a 2-0 victory over Juventus at Dortmund, Germany. The game was moved to Germany because of terrorist attacks in Turkey last month.... The French sports daily L’Equipe reported that Manchester United wants to sign forward Nicolas Anelka of Manchester City, who has 12 goals, after the Frenchman was recently dropped from the starting lineup.
Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic of Lazio was given a four-match suspension for pushing a linesman in an Italian league match last weekend.... UCLA senior sweeper Dru Hoshimiya suffered a torn left knee ligament in an NCAA playoff game against Florida International on Sunday and will sit out the rest of the season. Top-seeded UCLA plays host to Indiana in a quarterfinal Saturday.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
