U.S. women qualify for Olympics in soccer

The U.S. women’s soccer team qualified for the Beijing Olympics, beating Costa Rica, 3-0, in windy conditions Wednesday night in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament semifinals at Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Natasha Kai had two goals and an assist -- all in the second half -- for the U.S., which will face Canada in the final Saturday night. Canada also earned a spot in Beijing with its 1-0 victory over Mexico in the second semifinal.

Kai opened the scoring in the 58th minute off Tobin Heath’s cross, set up Heather O’Reilly’s goal in the 73rd minute and scored her second goal in extra time.

Melissa Tancredi scored for Canada.

Former Major League Soccer player of the year Amado Guevara returned to the league by signing with Toronto FC.

The Honduran international was the league player of the year in 2004 with the MetroStars before being traded to Chivas USA. He was released after playing only four games for Chivas in 2007. Guevara, 31, has 32 goals in 107 MLS games.

Chivas USA received future considerations in the 2009 and 2010 MLS SuperDrafts.

Carlos Tevez scored on a diving header in the 70th minute, and Manchester United beat visiting AS Roma, 1-0, to reach the European Champions League semifinals.

Manchester United won the series on 3-0 aggregate and will play Barcelona, which defeated visiting Schalke, 1-0, on a 43rd-minute goal by Yaya Toure and advanced on 2-0 aggregate.

Liverpool plays Chelsea in the other semifinal.

SWIMMING

Three world records set on opening day

The decision by swimming’s world governing body, FINA, not to ban the new high-tech Speedo LZR Racer swimsuits probably resulted in three world records on the first day of the short-course world championships in Manchester, England.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe started it by setting a world record of 4 minutes 26.52 seconds in the 400-meter individual medley. Yana Klochkova of Ukraine set the previous world mark of 4:27.83 in 2002. Briton Hannah Miley was second in 4:27.27 and Mireia Belmonte of Spain took bronze in 4:27.55, both also ahead of Klochkova’s old mark.

Then the U.S. team of Ryan Lochte, Bryan Lundquist, Nathan Adrian and Doug Van Wie broke the record in the men’s 400 freestyle relay in 3:08.44 in their first time as a foursome. Sweden set the previous mark of 3:09.57 in 2000. The Netherlands finished second in 3:09.18 -- also ahead of the previous mark.

And then the Dutch team of Inge Dekker, Fernke Heemskerk, Marleen Veldhuis and Ranomi Kromowidjojo established a new mark -- 7:38.90 -- in the women’s 800 freestyle relay. China had set the previous mark of 7:46.30 in 2002. The next three finishers -- Britain, Australia and the U.S. -- all also broke the old mark.

Eight of the nine swimmers involved -- Van Wie was the exception -- wore the new suit.

The LZR now has been worn for 21 of the 22 world records set since it was introduced in February.

TENNIS

Davenport wins easily, but Hantuchova upset

Lindsay Davenport beat Jill Craybas, 6-1, 6-4, but Daniela Hantuchova, Patty Schnyder and Sybille Bammer were upset in the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island, Fla.

Karolina Sprem ousted the third-seeded Hantuchova, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. The fifth-seeded Schnyder lost, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, to Elena Vesnina and the ninth-seeded Bammer lost to Alize Cornet, 6-1, 6-3.

Second-seeded Anna Chakvetadze and former champion Amelie Mauresmo advanced to the third round. Mauresmo, seeded 11th, was a 7-5, 6-1 winner over wild card Sorana Cirstea. Chakvetadze defeated Ayumi Morita, 6-3, 6-1.

Venus Williams, who announced Tuesday that she would be sidelined indefinitely while undergoing tests for a medical issue, plans to return for next month’s Italian Open and play in the three remaining Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympics, her agent said.

JURISPRUDENCE

Hall of Famer Eller arrested after chase

Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer Carl Eller was arrested in Minneapolis after allegedly fighting with police after being stopped for possible drunk driving.

Eller, a former defensive lineman, was held on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, fleeing police and assaulting a police officer. Officers said a Taser failed to subdue him.

In 2006, Eller was charged with driving under the influence. He later pleaded guilty.

MISCELLANY

Liberty to play outdoors at tennis’ Ashe Stadium

The New York Liberty will play host to the first regular-season outdoor game in pro basketball history.

The game will be held July 19 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. The Liberty will play the Indiana Fever.

Kevin Everett is recovering after having minor surgery this week in Buffalo, N.Y., to relieve pain in his neck, related to the severe spinal cord injury that nearly left the Bills tight end paralyzed last September.