Real Madrid’s Losing Streak Reaches Five
Real Madrid’s late-season collapse was punctuated Sunday as the defending Spanish league champion lost its fifth game in a row to finish in fourth place, and more important, without an automatic berth in next season’s European Champions League.
Xabier Prieto scored two goals to lead Real Sociedad to a 4-1 victory over host Real Madrid in front of 50,000 in Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The loss probably means a quick end for Coach Carlos Queiroz, who left Manchester United as an assistant after last season to take over the nine-time European champions.
Because Real Madrid must now play in the qualifying round for next season’s Champions League, it could affect its summer plans, which included a tour of Asia and possibly a game in the United States against a team of Major League Soccer All-Stars.
Although MLS has not made an official announcement regarding a game, it was believed that the league changed the date of its All-Star game from July 24 to July 31 to help facilitate the Spanish team’s schedule.
Mexican Playoffs
Luciano Figueroa and Cesar Delgado scored goals to give Cruz Azul a 2-0 win over Pachuca and a 4-1 aggregate advantage to advance to the quarterfinals of the Mexican league playoffs.
Cruz Azul, which will play Jaguares Chiapas in a quarterfinal series, started the season with six consecutive losses, leading to the firing of coach Enrique Meza. The team has flourished under Luis Fernando Tena.
The other quarterfinal matchups are UNAM Pumas-Atlas, Chivas of Guadalajara-Atlante and Club America-Toluca.
League, Cup Roundup
Lyon assured itself a third consecutive French first division title after a 3-0 victory over Lille, getting goals from Sidney Govou, Mohamadou Diarra and Peguy Luyindula.... Bayern Munich secured a spot in next season’s Champions League when it beat Freiburg, 2-0, in the final round of the Bundesliga season to finish second and give Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld a victory in his final game. Werder Bremen had already clinched the league championship.... Panathinaikos beat Paniliakos, 1-0, on a goal by Emmanuel Olisadebe to clinch the Greek first division championship for the first time since 1996.
Dave van den Bergh scored in the 66th minute to lead FC Utrecht to the Amstel Cup for the second consecutive season after a 1-0 win over FC Twente Enscede at Rotterdam, Netherlands.... Despite scoring two own goals, FC Brugge beat SK Beveren, 4-2, at Brussels to win the Belgian Cup for the ninth time.... Henrik Larsson scored twice in his final appearance for Celtic, which rallied to defeat Dunfermline, 3-1, in the Scottish Cup final at Glasgow.
Quick Passes
Jeff Cunningham, Kyle Martino and Michael Ritch each scored and the Columbus Crew (2-3-2) rolled to a 3-1 victory over the host Chicago Fire (2-2-4) in front of 10,854 in an MLS game at Soldier Field. Before Sunday, the Crew had scored only three goals in its six matches combined.... Iraq’s national soccer team lost to Trinidad and Tobago, 2-0, in an exhibition game at West Bromwich, England, leading to the Athens Olympics and World Cup qualifying play. Former MLS standout Stern John scored in the 29th and 66th minutes but was ejected two minutes after his second goal for punching an opponent. John plays for Birmingham City in England.... Former Swiss national team coach Roy Hodgson signed a 2 1/2-year contract to coach Viking Stavanger of the Norwegian first division.
-- Compiled by Jim Barrero
