Real's Mourinho sees Spanish league bid weakened

MADRID (AFP)– Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was surprisingly calm after his side's 1-0 loss at Osasuna, refusing to make excuses or blame the players for a defeat that left his squad seven points behind league leaders Barcelona.

A Javier Camunas goal on 62 minutes condemned Mourinho to his second league defeat in charge and leave Real with a mountain to climb to dethrone champions Barcelona.

"I can't fault the players as they did their job," said Mourinho."We didn't deserve to lose the three points but we lost against a team that gave everything and had the whole week to prepare for the match.

Mourinho's comments follow his squad's loss to relegation-threatened Osasuna who sealed an historic win dealing Real's title aspirations a hammer blow.

Even Emmanuel Adebayor, on loan from Manchester City, could not inspire Real who have now dropped 12 points on the road and have an uphill task if they are to dethrone double champions Barcelona.

"I can't fault the players as they did their job," said Mourinho.

"We didn't deserve to lose the three points but we lost against a team that gave everything and had the whole week to prepare for the match".

Barcelona made it a record-equalling 15th consecutive league win with a 3-0 victory at Hercules on Saturday to match the long-standing record of Alfredo di Stefano's great 1960-1961 Real Madrid side.

Real were under pressure to respond and had a star-studded substitutes' bench with Xabi Alonso, Kaka and new signing Adebayor ready to be called into action.

Adebayor had to wait for his debut with French forward Karim Benzema retaining his place after scoring the winning goal in his last two matches.

Osasuna drew 0-0 with Real in the corresponding fixture last season and squandered the best chance of the first half on 32 minutes.

A ball from the left picked out Walter Pandiani but the Uruguayan glanced his header over.

Two minutes later Real had their first real sight on goal with Benzema fizzing in a low shot that goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez did well to save at his near post.

Lopez then denied Cristiano Ronaldo with his legs in the 43rd minute as the two sides went into the interval at 0-0.

Ronaldo was Madrid's most dangerous player in the second half, firing one shot just wide and then seeing another drive blocked at the last minute.

However, Osasuna were ambitious going forward and took the lead on 62 minutes after a mix-up between Real defenders Raul Albiol and Ricardo Carvalho.

Camunas broke the offside trap and thumped his shot past Iker Casillas to delight the home fans.

Mourinho, who was quoted as saying that he wanted to return to manage in England on Sunday, responded with a triple substitution with Adebayor, Kaka and Alonso all coming on.

Adebayor had a half chance with a header, but it was Osasuna who should have made it 2-0 with Alvaro Arbeloa saving the visitors with an 84th minute block to prevent a certain goal.

Madrid lacked the imagination to open up a well-organised Osasuna side managed by former Real Madrid legend Jose Antonio Camacho.

In other matches, third-placed Villarreal closed to within six points of Real with a 1-0 win at Espanyol.

Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi, who recently signed a contract extension until 2016, scored his 12th league goal of the season on 44 minutes to decide the match.

It was only Espanyol's second league defeat at their Cornella-El Prat stadium and the Barcelona-based club stay three points behind fourth-placed Valencia, who have a game in hand against Racing Santander on Monday.

Under-fire Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores felt the pressure intensify as his side lost 2-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao.

Gaizka Toquero scored in each half, on 45 and 64 minutes, to down 10-man Atletico, who had Colombian defender Luis Perea sent off on 38 minutes for conceding a penalty, and sixth-placed Bilbao move five points clear of Atletico in the table.

Flores, who got the dreaded vote of confidence from the board this week, is under extreme pressure with Atletico, who are already out of the Europa League and Kings Cup, lying 10 points off the top four.

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Benitez lost Inter dressing room, says Eto'o

ROME (AFP)– Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto'o on Friday revealed that his former Inter Milan coach Rafael Benitez was sacked after losing part of the dressing room.

"What mistake did Benitez make? Until the match against Juventus (a 0-0 draw on October 3) we had been playing well. Then something happened in the dressing room, which I will keep to myself, and things ended up as they did," said Eto'o in allusion to Benitez's sacking just before Christmas despite winning the World Club Cup.

The Spaniard lasted only half a season after his arrival from Liverpool last summer to replace Jose Mourinho, who led Inter to an unprecedented treble of Champions League, Serie A title and Italian Cup.

Eto'o told a television show, to be broadcast later Friday, that he had not been one of those in the anti-Benitez camp.

"No, I wasn't - I have known him since I was 17 and, I had a great relationship with him. But others had it in for him."

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Sweden beats US 2-1 at Four Nations soccer opener

CHONGQING, China– The U.S. women's team began World Cup preparations by losing a match in which it led for the first time in more than eight years.

Carli Lloyd's goal off an 11th-minute corner kick was offset when Stina Segerstrom scored in the 16th and Kosovare Asllani in the 60th to give Sweden a 2-1 victory over the Americans on Friday in the opening game of the Four Nations Tournament.

The Americans had not taken a lead and then lost since March 5, 2002, a 3-2 defeat to Norway at the Algarve Cup.

"Very, very disappointed,"American midfielder Shannon Boxx said."We don't have the excuse of a long season. We had good rest, and coming back into our first tournament we need to step it up. I think everyone knows what we need to do. It's mainly coming together as a team and the attitude that we present every game needs to be better."

In this World Cup warmup tournament, the U.S. plays Canada on Sunday and China on Tuesday.

The Americans will play Sweden at the World Cup in Germany on July 6 in their last opening-round match, after games against North Korea on June 28 and Colombia on July 2.

"Obviously, it's a pretty disappointing first game on the road to the World Cup,"defender Christine Rampone said."At the same time, we have to take the positives away from it. The team has a lot of work to do and we really need to start coming together, clicking and becoming one unit. We have to start that defensively. I think we are doing well individually, but we have to work as a team."

The Americans, who needed to win a pair of playoffs to qualify for the World Cup, were missing star forward Abby Wambach because of a heel injury and top goalkeeper Hope Solo, still recovering from shoulder surgery in September.

Forward Sydney Leroux entered in the 86th minute, her first match for the senior women's team.

"Our speed of play wasn't good enough,"U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said."One thing as a team that we need to get much better at is moving without the ball. This game today tells us many things that we need to work on, but I am confident that we have enough time and enough games to prepare for the World Cup. This was just the first one."

NOTES: In the second game, Canada beat China 3-2 on goals by Candace Chapman, Melissa Tancredi and Christine Sinclair. You Jia scored twice for China.

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Iran coach wants to keep politics off soccer field

DOHA, Qatar– Iran coach Afshin Gothbi says a combination of Persian pride and American spirit will help Iran's national soccer team— as long as the players steer clear of politics.

Iran has been in political turmoil since the crackdown on opponents of the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009. Gothbi, an Iran-born American, took over the national team that year to give people"hope in the darkest moments."

"I have an Iranian heart, the spirit of an American and a football brain of a Dutchman,"said Ghotbi, who is trying to help Iran win a fourth continental championship.

The coach says he was"disappointed"when seven of his players wore green wrist bands during a World Cup qualifier in support of an opposition candidate in that election. Iran lost the game to South Korea.

Ghotbi says there won't be any politics when the teams meet again in the Asian Cup quarterfinal in Qatar on Saturday.

The 46-year-old coach, who was born in Tehran and grew up in Glendale, Calif., has faced adversity during his tenure with the national team. Many were suspicious of the motivations and coaching style of an Iranian who lived abroad most of his life and barely spoke Farsi when he returned after 30 years in 2007.

Even the country's political opposition had its doubts.

Why would Ghotbi, the former Los Angeles Galaxy assistant coach, take up the daunting task of coaching a national team that had been without success in international soccer since the declaration of the Islamic Republic 1979? And why stay after the ruling regime had crushed a popular uprising?

Because it was a tough job and based in his homeland, he said.

"I took the most difficult path,"said Ghotbi, who will end his stint with the national team after the Asian Cup and move to Japan as Shimzu S-Pulse coach."I felt working for my country will give me an opportunity to influence people and give them hope in the darkest moments, heal the pain and make people proud of their country."

Sports has the power to do that, he said, and there's no better sport to do it than soccer— as long as the players know the national team represents all Iranians regardless of their political views.

"Who am I to decide what the country should be doing politically?"Ghotbi said."That's why I went into sports. It made life simple. It was just a ball, two goals and 22 players."

However, it can get complicated, particularly when some of the players on the national team bring their political convictions into the game.

That's what happened during Iran's last World Cup qualifier against South Korea. Just days after massive protests erupted in Tehran following Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election, most of the players took to the field with green wristbands in support of opposition candidate Mir Hossain Mousavi.

While Iran fans at the match in Seoul cheered the national team with protest chants of"Death to the Dictator,"the symbolism did not resonate well with the coach.

"It was a mistake and a very disappointing night for me, because it took the concentration of our players away from doing the job, which is to make people happy with performances and victories,"Ghotbi said.

"Had the team won that game, Iran would have gone to the World Cup,"Ghotbi added."That would have been the best thing for the Iranian people no matter who they thought the president should have been."

Ghotbi restructured the team for the Asian Cup, bringing in younger players to play the"attacking and exciting football"he developed during his coaching career.

Iran, which last claimed the Asian Cup in 1976, won Group C with a perfect nine points after defeating defending champion Iraq, North Korea and the United Arab Emirates in Qatar.

The focus will be on soccer when the team plays South Korea on Saturday.

"We are athletes and we should concentrate on our job of making people happy with our performances and victories,"Ghotbi said."The national team belongs to the people and from the head coach and all the way to the ball boy, nobody should use it as a vehicle to express their political views."

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Uzbekistan down Jordan to make Asian Cup semis

DOHA (AFP)– Uzbekistan wrote a new chapter in their footballing history on Friday by making the Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time with a tense 2-1 win against Jordan.

Both teams were gunning for a maiden last-four berth at the continent's premier football tournament and a brace from Ulugbek Bakaev earned his team the right to face either Australia or Iraq for a place in the final.

At a half-empty Khalifa Stadium, the former CSKA Moscow striker pounced twice in the space of three minutes soon after half-time before Jordan captain Bashar Bani Yaseen pulled one back to set up an exciting finale.

Jordan came into the game burdened by a slew of injuries, with Odai Al Saify, Hatem Aqel and Anas Bani Yaseen all ruled out.

Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov, meanwhile, made five changes to the side that drew with China 2-2 in their last game.

The start for both teams was nervy as each looked to control midfield, and they struggled to build any threatening attacks.

It took until the 10th minute for Jordan to create the first clear chance when Ahmad Abdelhalim was fed the ball on the edge of the box only to slice his volley high and wide in an amateurish effort.

An in-swinging corner from Amer Deeb forced Ignatiy Nesterov into action minutes later, with the Uzbek keeper punching clear as the Jordan attack again came to nothing.

Both sets of fullbacks were defending well, limiting the chances with the Uzbeks not getting a look in until the 23rd minute, when Alexander Geynrikh rifled a dipping shot from 25 yards that Amer Shafi did well to punch clear.

The game though started to open up and Jordan almost went ahead five minutes later when Abdelhalim's dangerous free-kick was palmed clear by Nesterov, who collided with the post and needed treatment.

Seconds after the game resumed with a drop-ball, Jordan's Hasan Abdel Fattah shaved the post with a clever volley as the tempo accelerated.

The Uzbeks began throwing men forward and Yaseen did well to continue after a courageous tackle in his own penalty area that appeared to knock out a tooth.

Both sides were pushing hard for the breakthrough and Uzbekistan nearly got it on the stroke of half-time when Geynrikh met a low cross from the right and forced a fine reflex save from Shafi.

The block allowed the teams to go into the break all square but Jordan came out for the second-half asleep, with two quick goals stunning them.

Bakaev got his first 60 seconds after the restart when he beat the off-side trap to meet a free-kick from captain Server Djeparov and head past Shafi.

Jordan were caught napping again just minutes later when Bakaev slid in front of a defender to prod the ball home after a low cross from the left flank.

But credit to Jordan, they fought back and reduced the deficit with Yaseen bringing the mostly Jordanian crowd to their feet when he pounced on a rebound from close range to make it 2-1 with half-an-hour to go.

It set up a tense finale and Jordan attacked relentlessly but the Uzbek defence held firm and the Central Asians almost got a third on the counter-attack.

Uzbekistan had made the quarter-finals twice before, in 2004 and 2007, but were denied each time.

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Japan, Uzbekistan advance to Asian semifinals

DOHA, Qatar– Masahiko Inoha got a go-ahead goal in the 89th minute after Shinji Kagawa scored twice, and three-time champion Japan defeated Qatar 3-2 Friday to advance to the Asian Cup semifinals and eliminate the host.

In the other quarterfinal, Ulughbek Bakaev scored twice in a three-minute span early in the second half as Uzbekistan reached its first final four with a 2-1 victory over Jordan.

Japan plays two-time champion South Korea or Iran in Tuesday's first semi. Uzbekistan meets defending champion Iraq or Australia.

Kagawa scored in the 28th and 70th minutes as Japan rallied following goals by Sebastian Suria in the 12th and Fabio Cesar on a free kick in the 62nd. Kagawa received a pass in the penalty area in the 89th and was taken down by Mesaad Ali. The ball bounced into the path of Inoha, who slotted it into an empty net.

Japan finished a man short after Maya Yoshida was ejected in the 62nd for his second yellow card, a foul of Yusef Ahmed. Bakaev scored in the 46th and 49th minutes. Jordan cut the deficit on Bashar Bani Yaseen's 58th-minute goal.

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Mike Grella loan to Motherwell canceled

MOTHERWELL, Scotland– American forward Mike Grella's loan to Motherwell of the Scottish Premier League from Leeds of England's second-tier League Championship has been canceled because of FIFA regulations.

A day after announcing the loan, Motherwell said on its Web site Friday that while a player can register for three clubs in a year, he can play for two.

Motherwell chief executive Leeann Dempster said FIFA rules"have worked against us, which is extremely disappointing."

After making just two appearances this season for Leeds, both as a substitute, the 23-year-old was loaned in October to Carlisle of England's third-tier League One, where he scored three goals in 11 games.

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Chile President wants Bielsa to stay as coach

SANTIAGO, Chile– Chile President Sebastian Pinera wants Marcelo Bielsa to remain as the national team coach, a job the Argentine said two months ago he would leave when Jorge Segovia was elected head of the national soccer association.

Segovia's election has since been annulled, and Pinera said in an interview that Bielsa should reconsider and not leave"an unfinished project."

Chile plays the United States on Saturday night in an exhibition at Carson, Calif. Bielsa has not made his plans clear and Sergio Jadue, the new president of the national governing body, has said he would try to persuade the coach to stay.

"One should never leave an unfinished project,"Pinera said in a television interview."All of Chile wants the project to have a happy ending."

Pinera urged Bielsa to continue coaching through this year's Copa America— the continental championship in Argentina— and the 2014 World Cup.

"I hope Bielsa stays, and if he wants to stay I am sure practically every Chilean will thank him,"Pinera said.

Bielsa, Argentina's former national team coach, is popular in Chile after guiding the team in South Africa to its best finish at a World Cup since 1962.

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Uzbekistan down Jordan to make semi-finals

DOHA (AFP)– Uzbekistan wrote a new chapter in their footballing history on Friday by making the Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time with a tense 2-1 win against Jordan.

Both teams were gunning for a maiden last-four berth at the continent's premier football tournament and a brace from Ulugbek Bakaev earned his team the right to face either Australia or Iraq for a place in the final.

At a half-empty Khalifa Stadium, the former CSKA Moscow striker pounced twice in the space of three minutes soon after half-time before Jordan captain Bashar Bani Yaseen pulled one back to set up an exciting finale.

Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov said he told his team to come out in the second-half and attack.

"At half-time I told them that in the first five minutes they must be strong. I told them to attack as soon as they went out and we got two goals," he said.

"It was a tough game because I think some of my players were a bit scared to play, but obviously I'm very happy."

Asked if they could now win the tournament, he replied:"Yes, why not. From the first time I got here I said we have come here to win. It's the same now."

Abramov made five changes to the side that drew with China 2-2 in their last game, including picking Bakaev.

Jordan, meanwhile, were burdened by a slew of injuries, with Odai Al Saify, Hatem Aqel and Anas Bani Yaseen all ruled out.

Jordan's Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad said he was proud of his tired team.

"I am very proud of my team and what they have done in this match," he said.

"We lost focus in the first five minutes of the second-half, but we got back into it and were very close to getting a draw.

"I admit fatigue and exhaustion was there and we were missing four key players, so this affected us."

The start for both teams was nervy as each looked to control midfield, and they struggled to build any threatening attacks.

It took until the 10th minute for Jordan to create the first clear chance when Ahmad Abdelhalim sliced a volley high and wide in an amateurish effort.

Both sets of fullbacks were defending well, limiting the chances with the Uzbeks not getting a look in until the 23rd minute, when Alexander Geynrikh rifled a dipping shot from 25 yards that Amer Shafi did well to punch clear.

The game though started to open up and Jordan almost went ahead five minutes later when Abdelhalim's dangerous free-kick was palmed clear by Ignatiy Nesterov, who collided with the post and needed treatment.

The Uzbeks began throwing men forward and Yaseen did well to continue after a courageous tackle in his own penalty area that appeared to knock out a tooth.

Both sides were pushing hard and Uzbekistan nearly got the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Geynrikh met a low cross from the right and forced a fine reflex save from Shafi.

The block allowed the teams to go into the break all square but Jordan came out for the second-half asleep.

Bakaev got his first goal 60 seconds after the restart when he beat the off-side trap to meet a free-kick from captain Server Djeparov and head past Shafi.

Jordan were caught napping again just minutes later when Bakaev slid in front of a defender to prod the ball home.

But credit to Jordan, they fought back and reduced the deficit with Yaseen bringing the mostly Jordanian crowd to their feet when he pounced on a rebound from close range to make it 2-1 with half-an-hour to go.

It set up a tense finale and Jordan attacked relentlessly but the Uzbek defence held firm.

Uzbekistan had made the quarter-finals twice before, in 2004 and 2007, but were denied each time.

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Aston Villa's Carew joins Stoke on loan

BIRMINGHAM (AFP)– Aston Villa's Norwegian international striker John Carew has joined Stoke on loan until the end of the season, it was confirmed on Friday.

Stoke swooped on Carew after Villa clinched the surprise signing of Darren Bent from Sunderland earlier this week.

The 31-year-old, whose career has also included stints at Valencia and Lyon, has completed a medical and will be available for Stoke's Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday.

"This is a fantastic signing," manager Tony Pulis told stokecityfc.co.uk.

"John's record speaks for itself because he has scored goals at the highest level throughout his career.

"As well as the experience he has gained at international level he has played for some top clubs across Europe and performed in the Champions League for many seasons, including an appearance in the final for Valencia.

"On top of that he was Aston Villa's leading scorer last season with 17 goals so we have acquired a striker with an outstanding pedigree."

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Yaser kicked out over attitude: Metsu

DOHA (AFP)– Qatar coach Bruno Metsu on Thursday explained that star midfielder Hussain Yaser was kicked off the hosts' Asian Cup squad due to his disruptive influence on team morale.

Team officials revealed on Wednesday that Yaser had stormed out of a training session the day before, reportedly in anger at having lost his place in the side to youngster Mohamed Al Sayed.

The 28-year-old former Manchester City player, who currently plays for Egyptian giants Al Zamalek, started the opening game against Uzbekistan but was substituted in the second half and did not play against China or Kuwait.

"I was expecting this question," said Metsu after being asked about Yaser at the press conference prior to his team's quarter-final against Japan.

"You have to be in the right state of mind, but if the players haven't got that kind of spirit, I think I have to kick them out.

"If a player doesn't have that state of mind it's a great shame, because a tournament like this is such a big opportunity.

"If they don't have the spirit, it's better for them to go."

Team manager Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud had previously told the Qatar Football Association website:"Yaser was removed because his response wasn't up to the expectations and he was absent from some training sessions."

Qatar take on Japan at Doha's Al Gharafa Stadium on Friday.

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Messi dismisses Ballon d'Or critics: report

BARCELONA (AFP)– Barcelona striker Lionel Messi dismissed media criticism of his second successive World Player of the Year award, in an interview published Wednesday.

Messi, who won the Ballon d'Or on January 10 for the second straight year, had been expected to lose out to one of Spanish World Cup stars Andres Iniesta or Xavi after he endured a modest World Cup for Argentina.

"The truth is I don't care what the media say. What matters to me is what my teammates say, the people who are with me. I thank them for their support," the Argentine said in an interview with sports news site goal.com.

Two days after winning the Ballon d'Or, Messi hit a hat-trick in Barcelona's 5-0 rout of Real Betis.

Asked if the performance vindicated his award, he said:"I don't have to vindicate myself to anyone. I did the same thing I have been doing up to now; I will try to carry on playing good matches and will try to help my team as much as I can."

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Man City line up Leicester in FA Cup replay

MANCHESTER (AFP)– Aleksandar Kolarov believes that Manchester City's strike-force of Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko could prove to be the most potent in the Premier League.

City host Leicester in the FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday, fresh from a second spell at the top of the Premier League this season after a 4-3 victory over Wolves.

That was the first time Tevez and Bosnian forward Dzeko, a 27 million pound signing from German club Wolfsburg, have partnered each other in attack.

Tevez scored twice and Dzeko also played a key role in the victory over their struggling opponents.

Manager Roberto Mancini has allowed Roque Santa Cruz to join Blackburn on loan for the rest of the season and doubts remain about Emmanuel Adebayor's future at Eastlands.

But with Mario Balotelli set to return from a knee problem in three weeks, Serbian defender Kolarov, who arrived from Lazio in the summer, thinks that City's attack has to be feared.

"Edin is a great player and he was very good in his first game," he said.

"It's a shame that he didn't score against Wolves, but he made one for Yaya (Toure) and he is very happy about that. We scored four goals as a team, and Edin and Carlos already look good together in attack - they may be the best in the Premier League.

"But we have all to keep on working hard and building on what we do in training."

City have suffered just one defeat in their last 16 matches in all competitions as they prepare for their replay against former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's Leicester.

But after keeping three consecutive clean sheets, they conceded two poor goals in the 2-2 draw at Leicester, before letting in three against lowly Wolves.

Kolarov admits Mancini's side cannot afford to be so careless if they are to end their trophy drought this season.

He added:"It's never, never over in the Premier League until the 90 minutes has gone and you have to stay focused.

"We made a couple of mistakes against Wolves, and you just can't do that at this level. We can't be making mistakes like that."

Judging by his selection from the first game at the Walkers Stadium, Mancini is likely to pick a strong side against the Championship team for the replay.

David Silva made a brief substitute appearance against Wolves and may be given a start against Leicester and Mancini may also take the chance to give Dzeko another taste of English football.

Micah Richards is unlikely to be risked after a back injury, while Balotelli is still on the sidelines.

Yakubu, who has joined Leicester on loan for the rest of the season from Everton, is eligible to play after scoring on his debut in a 1-1 draw at Preston.

Eriksson has helped the Foxes into mid-table since his appointment at the start of October and returns to Eastlands as a manager for the first time since he was sacked by City in 2008.

He feels his Leicester players, who are unbeaten in four matches, are starting to take his ideas on board after more than three months in charge.

"I know we are getting closer to what we want," said the former England manager.

"It will happen very soon. We keep improving and I believe we can still achieve our aims.

"We came close to another away win against Preston but now we move on to the FA Cup and our replay against Manchester City. We will do all we can to achieve a result and send our supporters home happy."

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Uzbeks hold China to reach Asian Cup last eight

DOHA (AFP)– Uzbekistan reached the Asian Cup quarter-finals after drawing 2-2 with China in a topsy-turvy and fiercely contested final Group A game at the Al Gharafa Stadium here on Sunday.

Having fallen behind early on, Uzbekistan equalised and then went ahead early in the second period through a fine long-distance effort from one-time CSKA Moscow forward Alexander Geynrikh.

Schalke midfielder Hao Junmin brought the East Asian champions level with a magnificent free-kick but despite sustained pressure China could not find a winner that would have brought qualification down to head-to-head records.

Yu Hai had given China the lead in the sixth minute, in front of a disappointing crowd of just 3,529, with Odil Akhmedov replying for Uzbekistan.

"It's destiny," said Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov, whose side beat Kuwait and hosts Qatar in their first two matches.

"I want to thank my players because they played very well against Kuwait, Qatar and China and have tried to do their best at all times.

"I don't want to talk about our defensive play today, but we knew what result we wanted."

Abramov's team finish top of Group A and will play the runners-up in Group B -- one of Japan, Jordan or Syria.

"I have to say that today was a great match," said China assistant coach Fu Bo, who attended the post-match press conference after coach Gao Hongbo was sent from the touchline for dissent in the dying stages.

"They did very well today -- you can see that all the players tried their best. We were unlucky. It was minor details that cost us victory."

Asked about the reason for Gao's remonstrations, Fu replied:"Maybe you should ask the referee."

An open start saw both sides threaten, with veteran Uzbek striker Maksim Shatskikh shinning over from six yards and Li Xuepeng drawing a brilliant reaction save from Ignatiy Nesterov at the other end with a glancing header.

From the ensuing corner China took the lead.

Yang Hao whipped the ball in from the Chinese left and Yu Hai's flicked header at the near post took a slight deflection off Akhmedov's arm that bamboozled Nesterov.

Uzbekistan sought an immediate reply, with China goalkeeper Yang Zhi forced into a flying one-handed save to repel Server Djeparov's free-kick.

China had several chances to extend their lead and came close to a glorious second goal when a swerving 25-yard effort from midfielder Zhao Xuri slammed against the bar.

They were made to rue their profligacy on the half hour, as Akhmedov raced onto Djeparov's slick through-ball down the inside-left channel before dinking the ball into the bottom-right corner to level the scores.

It took a breath-taking save from Nesterov to prevent China restoring their lead in the 36th minute.

Gao Lin's point-blank header seemed destined for the top-left corner but the Bunyodkor keeper stretched to tip the ball over the crossbar, to the open-mouthed disbelief of the Chinese players and fans.

Uzbekistan caught China cold in the opening seconds of the second half, with Geynrikh picking the ball up in midfield and launching a rising drive that flew into the net from 25 yards.

The momentum swung back in China's favour 10 minutes later, however, as Hao -- the only member of China's squad not playing in his homeland -- found the target with a sublime free-kick that arched into the top-left corner.

Gao Lin saw three chances go begging, heading wide when unmarked from 10 yards, shooting over from a tight angle and then stinging Nesterov's palms with a fierce effort on the turn.

Despite China's best efforts there was to be no late drama and amid the tension in the closing stages, coach Gao's complaints about Uzbek time-wasting saw him sent to the stands.

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Houllier eyes derby victory to win over Villa fans

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom (AFP)– Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier views Sunday's derby against Birmingham City as the perfect opportunity to win over the club's supporters.

The Frenchman has found his position under scrutiny in recent weeks following Villa's slide into the relegation zone and fans even called for him to be sacked after their most recent Premier League game, the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at Villa Park.

Last weekend's 3-1 victory at Sheffield United in the FA Cup relieved at least some of the pressure and Houllier believes a win over Villa's biggest rivals in the St Andrew's clash would be the ideal way to gain their support.

"The players and I are aware this is an opportunity to please our fans," said Houllier.

"Like them, we are hurt and not happy with the position we are in at this moment in the Premier League.

"It is another incentive to do well, first of all because it is a derby and for the fans it is very important. But also because we don't want to stay in the position we are. We know that.

"It is a challenge and we need to get out of this position as soon as possible. It is a derby, it is a different ball game as everyone knows. There will be a lot of commitment. It will be fierce. But at the same time it will be something the two sets of fans will relish."

Houllier, who could complete the transfer of Jean Makoun from Lyon this weekend, is also set to hand striker John Carew a surprise return against City.

Carew, Villa's top scorer in the previous three campaigns, looked to have played his last game for Villa after falling out of favour under the Frenchman in recent weeks but the absence of suspended duo Ashley Young and Emile Heskey has forced Houllier's hand.

The Norway international, a target for West Brom, has not started a game for Villa since the defeat at home to Arsenal in November, while he has failed to feature in any of their last eight games.

"He had a very good work of training to be fair and we worked extremely hard especially on Tuesday and Wednesday," said Houllier.

"In the games yesterday morning he looked fit. He looked good - in fact he looked very good. I told him.

"He was scoring goals, it's a good omen. He will be in the squad. He'll be involved."

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish admits Villa's position has not come as a total shock.

"Nothing surprises me in this league, you've got to respect this league. This season has been crazy, the quality and competitiveness has gone up, five points separate West Ham (at the bottom) and Everton (in 12th). We are one of a few in that mix," said McLeish, whose side are just a point further ahead of Villa.

The Scot is eager to avoid a repeat of the on-field riots which unfolded on the St Andrew's pitch after their League Cup win on December 1, scenes he described as like"a return to the dark ages".

"Derby games are definitely the ones where you need the passion but have to keep a discipline," he continued.

"I am looking forward to it. We are at home, the rivalry between the fans, and we look forward to a great game and we look forward to the fans supporting their teams from the terraces and having the banter that goes with it."

McLeish, linked with a six-million-pound swoop for Tottenham's Robbie Keane on Friday, is expected to hand a debut to loan signing David Bentley but Scott Dann is ruled out with a torn hamstring.

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Keisuke Honda scores Japan's 1,000th goal

DOHA (AFP)– World Cup hero Keisuke Honda has led Japan to yet another milestone after scoring their 1,000th international goal in the controversial 2-1 win over Syria at the Asian Cup.

The CSKA Moscow midfielder slotted in the winner through the legs of Syrian goalkeeper Mosab Balhous from a penalty in the 82nd minute to move Japan closer to an Asian Cup quarter-final spot from a tight Group B on Thursday.

"It was a little bit shaky but I was relieved it went through," the 24-year-old with bleached blond hair told Japanese media.

"The result was alright."

The goal came only six minutes after Syria had equalised from a penalty awarded after Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima had been red-carded for bringing down a Syrian player who had been flagged offside.

Japan's first international goal was scored by Ryuzo Shimizu in 1923 in Osaka, when they lost 2-1 to the Philippines at the Far East championships.

"We must win the next match," Honda said as Japan, with four points, prepared for their final group match on Monday against fellow three-time champions Saudi Arabia, who crashed out of contention with two straight losses.

"The Saudis are stronger than Syria or Jordan. We want to out-fight them, but it is going to be close."

Honda has been heralded as the future of Japanese football by the domestic media for his eye-catching achievements since moving to VVV Venlo from J-League Nagoya Grampus in 2008.

After two successful years in Holland, where he was hailed'Kaiser Keisuke', he joined the Moscow side a year ago.

With a goal and an assist, Honda helped CSKA to a 3-2 aggregate victory over Sevilla in the Champions League, becoming the first Japanese player to reach the quarter-finals of Europe's premier club tournament.

He scored in the 1-0 upset of Cameroon in South Africa in June for Japan's first World Cup win on foreign soil.

His left-foot free kick also produced the opening goal in the 3-1 rout of Denmark that led Japan, 2002 co-hosts, to the World Cup last 16 for the first time abroad.

Japan Football Association president Junji Ogura told media in Tokyo that the 1,000th goal should be feted as part of his organisation's 90th anniversary celebrations this year.

"It is a good idea to display his boots at our Japan Football Museum," he said."Maybe he knew it would be the 1,000th goal all along."

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Bin Hammam rules out World Cup date change

LONDON (AFP)– Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam on Friday ruled out shifting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to winter or staging tournament matches around the Gulf region.

Bin Hammam told Sky News in an interview that he was"unimpressed" by suggestions from FIFA President Sepp Blatter that the tournament could be moved to a winter time slot to avoid sweltering summer temperatures in Qatar.

He also took aim at remarks by UEFA President Michel Platini earlier this week that the 2022 tournament could be a"Gulf World Cup", with matches taking place in several countries surrounding Qatar.

Bin Hammam's stinging rebuttal of recent comments from Blatter are certain to fuel speculation that the Qatari is planning to challenge the FIFA chief at elections later this year.

"I believe Qatar can stand alone and organise the competition by itself," Asian Football Confederation President Bin Hammam told Sky.

"And I'm really not very impressed by these opinions to distribute the game over the Gulf or change the time from July to January - it's actually premature, you know, it's people's opinions and they're just discussing it on no basis or no ground," the Qatari official added.

English football clubs have said switching the World Cup to January or February would be a logistical nightmare that would need at least a two-month mid-season break to the Premier League.

Bin Hammam appeared to sympathise with European leagues likely to be affected by a date change as he continued his criticism of Blatter's remarks.

"It's not up to one, two or three members of Fifa to talk about changing the time without getting the real stakeholders' opinions," Bin Hammam added, without mentioning Blatter or Platini directly.

"I know that football in Europe has quite a history, it is quite a business involving a lot of financial, media, marketing - a lot of things," he said

"It is unfair to these people that we talk about changing the calendar or the time without their full consultation and their full approval and their full agreement - I'm actually not happy to see that happening without the real stakeholders' part of this discussion."

FIFA has said world football's governing body would need to receive an official request from the Qatar FA before any change of the 2022 tournament dates could be formally discussed.

Bin Hammam, a member of FIFA's executive committee, said no request would be forthcoming.

"We are not interested - we are very happy and we are promising the world that we are going to organise an amazing world cup in June and July," he said.

Bin Hammam's comments are the latest in a series of criticisms of Blatter, who will run for re-election as FIFA President in May.

Asked by Sky if he was planning to run against Blatter, Bin Hammam replied simply:"No comment."

Bin Hammam's reluctance to confirm his intentions are in stark contrast to comments he made in August last year, when he categorically ruled out a bid to topple Blatter.

FIFA's decision to award the World Cup to Qatar in Zurich last month has attracted a firestorm of criticism after a bidding campaign dogged by allegations of corruption.

Bin Hammam said FIFA needed to be"more transparent" if it wanted to avoid a reputation for corruption in future.

"It's (FIFA) an organisation which is more than 104 years old," he said.

"We should modernise ourselves in such a way as to reflect the real stakeholders - member associations, leagues, clubs, players, coaches," he said.

"A lot of things could be done. Maybe the actual administration can do that, they have to commit themselves to doing that.

"The structure is not helpful or useful for our world," Bin Hammam added.

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Van Bommel to remain Bayern captain: coach

BERLIN (AFP)– Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel will captain defending German champions Bayern Munich against Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg on Saturday, despite being out of contract in June, says coach Louis van Gaal.

The 33-year-old van Bommel's contract expires at the end of the season while his potential replacement, Brazilian Luiz Gustavo, has signed for 15 million euros (19.7 million US dollars) from Hoffenheim.

With Bayern 14 points behind current Bundesliga leaders Dortmund, Munich resume their quest to close the gap against 2009 German champions Wolfsburg and van Bommel is set to take charge of Bayern on the pitch.

Wolfsburg have gone eight games without a win and ex-England coach Steve McClaren is under pressure to keep his job after his side were dumped out of the German Cup by second division Aachen before Christmas.

"I think van Bommel will be the captain against Wolfsburg," van Gaal told German daily Bild on Thursday with his side fifth in the Bundesliga and Wolfsburg 13th.

The Dutch midfield enforcer, who played in the World Cup final defeat to Spain in July, faces a fight to keep his place in the Bayern midfield alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger with Gustavo waiting in the wings.

According to reports in the Italian media, van Bommel and his agent met with AC Milan boss Adriano Galliani on Wednesday.

The transfer window closes at midnight on January 31.

Meanwhile, van Gaal has caused a stir in the German media by saying he wants former Bayern boss Jurgen Klinsmann to return to the club he was fired from in April 2009 to work as his assistant coach.

"Why? Because I want it to happen," insisted van Gaal in Bild.

The former Germany coach was sacked as Bayern boss after just 10 months in charge.

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N. Korea cling to Asian Cup hopes after draw

DOHA (AFP)– North Korea are holding on to their hope of surviving the Asian Cup group stage after salvaging a scoreless draw with the United Arab Emirates ahead of big matches against Iran and Iraq.

After captain Hong Yong-Jo squandered an eighth-minute penalty, the UAE relentlessly attacked the disorganised East Asian side, firing off 23 shots, including five on goal, against six for the Koreans.

"After failing the penalty shot, the players could get no goals as they were psychologically very tense," said North Korean coach Jo Tong-Sop.

"Because it was our first match, the players could not display all of their skills and abilities. But just about 80 percent."

UAE coach Srecko Katanec meanwhile rued the lack of sharpness in his strikers, who wasted a plethora of chances in the scoreless draw.

"I'm satisfied with the way we played. The players showed character, nice skills," Katanec said.

"Unfortunately, we created a lot of chances but we didn't score. This is the problem," added the Slovenian who took the UAE job in mid-2009.

"This problem in this area has been there for a long time. Our strikers in the league, they don't play. They don't care too much about practice. But I can't change it here a lot."

North Korea, who were 1980 Asian Cup semi-finalists, badly needed three points for their bid to reach the knockout stage in only their third appearance on the continent's big stage and their first since 1992.

In their next match on Saturday, the Chollima (flying horse) face three-time winners Iran who beat old foes Iraq 2-1 in their opening Group D match on Tuesday.

"I know Iran and Iraq are stronger than the UAE," said Jo, who took over the job from his former boss Kim Jong-Hun after North Korea bowed out of their first World Cup in 44 years last June without a point.

"We have the analysis of the weaknesses of these two teams. We'll try to use that and try to earn good points, win points in the remaining matches."

The 51-year-old admitted his side could not play in their collective style based on airtight defence with Japan-born Bochum striker Jong Tae-Se and Hong spearheading their attack.

"In the second half, we tried not to concede a goal. We were focused on our defence and tried to score on the counter-attack. But physically the players still did not play well," the coach said.

"We have experience from this game and so we will do our best in the next two games."

Jong, who has scored eight Bundesliga goals for Bochum since moving there after the World Cup, did not have the opportunities as his side remained mostly on the defensive.

Still hampered by a nagging knee problem, the 26-year-old former J-League Kawasaki Frontale striker was substituted in the 83rd minute.

"I substituted him not because of the injury but because he had spent a lot of energy," the coach said.

Jong, known as the"People's Wayne Rooney" for his combative style, similar to the England and Manchester United star, told reporters:"We had two chances but we lost them. But we tried hard and played a good game.

"My condition is not good at all. I need to improve it step by step and I will do," he added."I'm very happy to be here because some people told me before the Asian Cup that I could not take part in this tournament."

The German second-division side had initially refused to release him for the continental showpiece because North Korea's football association failed to submit a request for his international call-up before the formal deadline.

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Injury woes plague Lampard

LONDON (AFP)– Chelsea star Frank Lampard has said he faces the prospect of never being fully fit again for the rest of his career.

The England midfielder was sidelined by a hernia and groin problem for four months late last year and has only just returned to action.

The injury was far worse than at first thought and he is still in some discomfort.

"I've got to try to keep it strong because I've got a weakness there," Lampard said.

"My tendon came off the bone and it doesn't go back, you just have to stay very strong in that area.

"I've spoken to players who've had it and they know the frustrations and the aftermath and what you have to do.

"It's no problem - you just have to do an extra two or three sessions a week in the gym to keep it strong.

"It was a bad injury and I still feel it occasionally.

"There are no sharp pains or anything, but the more games I play, the sharper I'll be, and I'm determined to have a good second half to the season because I basically missed the first half."

Lampard's absence saw an alarming slump in form from reigning champions Chelsea, who are now in fifth place, nine points behind leaders Manchester United and having played one game more.

It was their worst run in the league for almost 15 years.

Lampard, who helped lift some of the gloom at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with a double in the Blues' 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Ipswich, said:"There's a bit of a gap. We can't afford to look around too much.

"We just need to win game by game. That's the position we're in now.

"We were up there early in the season, playing some great stuff, but now we're not."

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Birmingham make offer for Blackpool's Adam

LONDON (AFP)– Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam could be set to join Birmingham City with an initial offer of two million pounds already rejected.

City boss Alex McLeish is eager to boost his squad as his side hover just above the drop zone and he is also closing in on the loan signing of David Bentley from Tottenham, subject to a medical.

McLeish is also optimistic that Rangers striker Kenny Miller will move to St Andrew's despite reports that he has rejected the move.

The former Scotland boss said:"We are delighted David has chose us because there were half a dozen other clubs interested and he is a quality player.

"As for Kenny, he's not said yes or no. He's not knocked us back as some reports have suggested. Let's wait and see."

Meanwhile, Birmingham midfielder, Michel, is wanted by AEK Athens in a loan deal until the end of the season.

Michel has been unable to earn a first-team spot since his move from Sporting Gijon 12 months ago.

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Indian striker credits Houghton for Asian Cup berth

DOHA (AFP)– Striker Sunil Chhetri heaped praise on veteran coach Bob Houghton on Sunday, saying India's first appearance at the Asian Cup since 1984 is entirely down to the Englishman.

India face the might of Australia on Monday in Group C, but Chhetri insisted his side would not be overawed or out of their depth.

"Three or four years ago we only heard about the Asian Cup and I?m sure there are players in our team who didn?t follow the Asian Cup, but thanks to our coach we have a chance to be in this competition," Chhetri told reporters.

"It's because of him that we started thinking positively that we could do this and the most important thing is that we?re not scared."

Perennial underachievers India have been transformed under the 63-year-old former Malmo, China and Uzbekistan coach -- to mention just a few of the sides Houghton has managed in a coaching career spanning more than 40 years.

He overhauled the squad after his appointment in 2006 and two years later India stormed to the AFC Challenge Cup, winning them a ticket to Doha.

But it would be a major surprise if the vastly experienced Houghton were to steer India out of a group that also includes Bahrain and one of the favourites to win the tournament, South Korea.

"I don?t know what?s going to happen but we?re here to do our best and that belief we have is because of our coach," added Chhetri.

"I think four or five months ago, when we learned we were playing Australia in the first match, we did think these kinds of things, there?s going to be Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer and all this kind of thing.

"To be honest we did get intimidated. But in the last month or so, whenever we talk about the players, we think about ourselves.

"This is only about us so as far as the players are concerned, we know what we can achieve and we know exactly where we stand."

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Uzbeks spoil Qatar's Asian Cup party

DOHA (AFP)– Odil Akhmedov and Server Djeparov shattered Qatari dreams with second-half goals to hand Uzbekistan a 2-0 win over the below-par hosts in the opening game of the Asian Cup on Friday.

Central defender Akhmedov bagged the first goal of the tournament when he sent a looping 30-yard shot crashing off the underside of the bar and into the net in the 58th minute.

Captain Djeparov sealed the win 18 minutes later when he made the most of a sloppy back pass by Ibrahim Majed, firing the ball past goalkeeper Qasem Burhan.

The football festival, featuring the region's top 16 teams, runs for three weeks up to the final on January 29 with the opening match played at the Khalifa Stadium, the 40,000-capacity jewel in Qatar's footballing crown.

And the fans turned out en masse for the near sell-out Group A game as the tiny country looks to prove itself after being controversially awarded the 2022 World Cup.

"It was a difficult match for us against the home team and I'm very sorry for the Qatar people, but this is the game," said Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov.

"But I'm happy for Uzbekistan. I think we were the better team."

Qatar came into the game with plenty to prove -- their previous best Asian Cup showing was a quarter-final exit at the hands of China in 2000.

In their six other appearances -- including one as hosts in 1988 -- they have failed to progress beyond the group phase.

Coach Bruno Metsu was bitterly disappointed at how poorly they played.

"Today was a very bad day for our team. We wanted to play a good game for the people of Qatar, but we played a very bad game," said the Frenchman.

"I'm sorry for the fans and everyone because they wanted us to give the best and today we did not not. I hope we can get better."

The hosts signalled their intentions early on with Brazil-born midfielder Fabio Cesar getting the first chance of the game, steering a header wide after a probing cross by Hussain Yaser.

But the pressure got to them and they gave the Uzbeks too much space with Alexander Geynrikh breaking free of his marker to rattle the post barely a minute later.

The Qatari back line was ragged and Geynrikh again burst free to find Jasur Khasanov in the six-yard box, with the speedy winger's shot forcing a scrambled save from Burhan.

Uzbekistan may not have made their Asian Cup debut until 1996, but they have improved with each participation.

Eliminated in the group phase on their competition debut 15 years ago, the Central Asian heavyweights suffered the same fate four years later but have since reached the quarter-finals at successive tournaments.

Playing in perfect 22 degrees Celsius conditions, they displayed their emerging pedigree.

Khasanov should have put them in front on 18 minutes when he found himself in acres of space, only to take a touch too much and angle his shot wide of the post.

Uzbekistan were dominating possession and Qatar barely got a look in until seven minutes before half-time when Cesar curled a left-footed freekick round the wall and onto the post.

It sparked them into life and they came out after the break fired up with Hussain having a glorious chance to break the deadlock when the ball fell to him in the box, but his shot was weak and easily cleared.

It got the crowd going but they were soon silenced when Akhmedov smashed in his goal. And when Djeparov got the second thousands started flocking home, leaving the stadium half-empty for an embarrassing end to the game.

The other two Group A teams, China and Kuwait, face each other on Saturday.

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Keane sacked as Ipswich boss

LONDON (AFP)– Former Manchester United star Roy Keane has been sacked as manager of Ipswich after 20 months in the job, the club confirmed Friday.

The club have lost seven of their last nine games and the 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Monday left them sitting 19th in the Championship, England's second division.

"I can confirm that Ipswich Town have amicably terminated the contract of our manager Roy Keane with immediate effect," Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg said at a press conference to announce the decision.

"It's a sad day for the football club," Clegg added, saying Keane had reacted to his dismissal with"disappointment and sadness."

Keane, 39, led the club from eastern England to the semi-finals of the League Cup where they will face Arsenal.

Keane's sacking also comes just 48 hours before Ipswich face Chelsea in the FA Cup third round on Sunday. First-team coach Ian McParland will take charge at Stamford Bridge.

A combative Irish midfielder who captained United when they won the treble of league, FA Cup and Champions League in the 1998-99 season, Keane started his management career at Sunderland.

He guided Sunderland to promotion to the Premier League but resigned in December 2008 with the club struggling against relegation. He joined Ipswich in April 2009.

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Indonesia's rival football league ready for kick-off

JAKARTA (AFP)– Indonesia's rebel football league will kick off at the weekend, its organisers said Thursday, defying the official league sanctioned by the sport's governing body.

The Indonesian Premier League (LPI), which is backed by oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro, will kick off Saturday with 19 clubs from"many provinces," said LPI general Arya Abhiseka.

"Our aim is to improve conditions for football in Indonesia, which we think is in a slump," Abhiseka told AFP.

The LPI series will compete with the Indonesia Super League (ISL), which began its season in September under the auspices of the FIFA-approved Indonesia Football Association (PSSI).

Despite the PSSI warning players competing in the LPI that they will not be eligible for the national squad, the rival league has attracted at least one big club, Persema Malang, which fields star striker Irfan Bachdim.

Other big teams who have joined the new league are Persebaya Surabaya and Persibo Bojonegoro, who have all moved away from the ISL.

"We still have to wait and see whether LPI can really produce quality players," said football analyst Anton Sanjoyo."There's no such thing as an instant success in football."

Indonesia's national team has enjoyed a surge of interest in the country of nearly 240 million people, and last month came second to Malaysia in the AFF Suzuki Cup, which is contested by Southeast Asian countries.

Indonesia is 127th in the FIFA world rankings.

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Newcastle complete Ben Arfa deal

LONDON (AFP)– English Premier League side Newcastle have transformed French winger Hatem Ben Arfa's loan move from Marseille into the first permanent signing of new manager Alan Pardew's St James' Park reign.

Ben Arfa has signed a four-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

He has been sidelined since suffering a double leg fracture in a challenge with Manchester City's Nigel de Jong in October but had already done enough in four appearances to make Newcastle want to keep him in the north-east.

"I am absolutely delighted to be signing for Newcastle United on a permanent basis," Ben Arfa said in a Newcastle statement issued Wednesday.

"During my short time at the club, I thoroughly enjoyed playing for the team and for the supporters too. This is a great club and I am very happy to be committing my future to them.

"I am getting back to fitness as quickly as I can and am really looking forward to getting back to St James' Park, seeing the lads again and working with Alan Pardew and his staff.

"During my time out, I have been inundated with messages of support from fans and I want to repay them all with good performances on the pitch later this season."

Although Ben Arfa was initially recruited by sacked former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, Pardew insisted he had wanted to make him a Magpies player on a permanent basis, amid reports of interest from other clubs.

"When I came to the club last month, one of my priorities was to secure Hatem on a permanent deal," Pardew said.

"The last thing I wanted was for us to lose him when his loan ended, so we are really pleased to have agreed that deal today.

"He's obviously a top player and he's shown that in France, at international level and in his short time here at Newcastle.

"I'm delighted to secure Hatem as my first signing and once he's back fit, I have no doubt he will confirm just what a superb player he is."

Ben Arfa, a product of the French national football academy at Clairefontaine, near Paris, made Newcastle fans sit up and take notice with a stunning winning goal against Everton in only his second appearance for the club in September.

Newcastle believe his pace and crossing ability can act as a source of goals for Magpies and England striker Andy Carroll.

Pardew's men, 1-0 winners away to Wigan last time out, are at home to relegation-threatened West Ham on Wednesday in a match where Newcastle will kick-off in 10th place, five points above the Premier League's bottom three.

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Blackburn'bid 20 mln pounds'for Ronaldinho

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)– English Premier League side Blackburn have made a 20-million-pound (31-million-dollar) move for AC Milan midfielder Ronaldinho, BBC Radio Lancashire reported on Tuesday.

The club's new Indian owners Venky's have said that their local office in Brazil is negotiating with Ronaldinho's manager and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to land the former world player of the year.

Venky's chairmain Anuradha Desai told BBC Radio Lancashire:"He is keen to play in the EPL (English Premier League) and I think that goes in our favour."

The deal is reported to be for three years.

Desai also revealed that Rovers had made attempts to sign former England captain David Beckham on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.

Ronaldinho is set to close the door on his AC Milan career after leaving their winter training camp in Dubai, coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Brazil international has reportedly been poised to return to his homeland to re-join either formative club Gremio or Flamengo, having fallen out of favour at Milan this season.

Ronaldinho joined Milan from Barcelona in 2008 but despite occasional flurries of his best form he lost his place in the starting XI after Milan signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho last summer.

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Benzema admits to lack of ambition in the past

MADRID (AFP)– French striker Karim Benzema, who has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Real Madrid, says he did not try hard enough in the past to earn time on the pitch in an interview published Monday.

"I know when I play well and when I do it badly and if at any moment I have played less it is because I did not make enough of an effort to deserve it. Today I know that I make an effort and that is why I am playing," he told sports daily AS.

"What is key is that I have recovered my speed, I can't guarantee that I will score three goals in every match but I will do everything possible to score at least one," he added.

The 22-year-old former Lyon frontman, who joined Real in July 2009 for 35 million euros, has enjoyed more playing time in recent weeks due to an injury to Real team-mate Gonzalo Higuain.

He scored two hat-tricks last month, the first during Real's 4-0 Champions League win over Auxerre on December 8 and the second during the club's 8-0 thrashing of Levante in the King's Cup 14 days later.

Benzema has made 15 appearances for Real this season in La Liga, having started in just four.

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Fergie forecasts Rooney goal-spree as drought ends

WEST BROMWICH, England (AFP)– Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Wayne Rooney to go on a goalscoring run after the striker began 2011 by ending his barren spell.

The England forward took just two minutes and 15 seconds to find the net in Saturday's 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion for what was only his third United goal of the season and first club goal from open play since March.

Ferguson was thrilled with Rooney's all-round display after he also created United's 75th-minute winner, delivering the corner which was headed home by Mexican substitute Javier Hernandez.

"He was out of this world," Ferguson said of Rooney."He drove us on. I'm very pleased for Wayne. He's got his goal so that's him off the mark.

"Hopefully, that's him on a run now."

Victory saw United stay top of the Premier League on goal difference from Manchester City following their rivals' win over Blackpool.

Ferguson admitted what was only United's second away league win of the season was a hugely significant boost their hopes of wresting back the title from Chelsea.

"It was a massive result for us," he told Sky Sports."We've had to battle in games a lot down the years and this was one of them.

"In fairness to the players, even though some of them didn't play well, they battled all the way through."

His sentiments were echoed by defender Rio Ferdinand, who said:"You've got to win games. I don't care how we win. The three points is all that counts.

"You've got to dig deep in these games and these are the type of games you can make up a lot of ground in the league."

It proved to be a tale of two penalties at The Hawthorns after referee Chris Foy had denied the Baggies a spot-kick with the score at 1-1 when Gary Neville, United's last man, clearly brought down Graham Dorrans inside the area.

Foy later awarded a penalty for a foul by Ferdinand on Jerome Thomas only for Peter Odemwingie to disappoint the home crowd by firing wide.

Ferguson admitted his team were fortunate to escape the first claim, which should also have resulted in a red card for veteran right-back Neville.

"It was a penalty," he said."I thought it was difficult for the referee. At the time I thought Gary had got it but when I saw the replay he had got the outside of the player's leg."

West Brom manager Roberto di Matteo, who had seen his side equalise through James Morrison's exquisite volley, bemoaned Foy's failure to give a penalty following Neville's challenge and the Italian was adamant it had a major bearing on the outcome.

"It was a very clear penalty," di Matteo said."Everyone saw it except the main man who was supposed to. It would have changed the game completely.

It didn't mean we would have won but we would have tried. It was a goalscoring opportunity. He (Neville) would have had to go."

The Baggies now head to Fulham on Tuesday bidding to avoid a fifth straight defeat and former Chelsea midfielder di Matteo said:"We are talking again about not deserving to lose, but we have.

"There comes a point where we need to pick up points as well."

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Tottenham plan Beckham loan offer

LONDON (AFP)– Former England captain David Beckham could be set for a sensational return to English football after Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp confirmed he would try to land the midfielder on a short-term loan.

Redknapp revealed on Friday he would ask club chairman Daniel Levy to persuade Los Angeles Galaxy to lend the 35-year-old to Tottenham until the start of the Major League Soccer season in March.

The Spurs boss denied that the move was designed simply to produce the commercial revenue that Beckham's signing could bring.

Redknapp said:"He wouldn't be coming here just to sell shirts. In the short term, he's not going to sell a load of shirts."

Redknapp, who has guided an attacking Spurs side to the knockout round of the Champions League and into a top-six position in the Premier League this season, also insisted Beckham had no financial motive to return to England.

"He isn't going to come here and get big money -- we aren't massive payers at this club," he said.

"He has probably got a fantastic house with a pool and he could sit out there every day and enjoy his life for a few months before he starts with LA Galaxy again.

"But he wants to come over here to the freezing cold and play football.

"Doesn't that tell you something about the boy that he lives in Los Angeles and he might be a billionaire?

"I've heard stories about how much he earns, it is just incredible, mind-blowing.

"He could buy any football club in this country if he wanted to.

"He is not going to do it for the money is he? That tells you everything about him."

If the deal goes through, it would be the first time that London-born Beckham has played for an English club since he left Manchester United to join Real Madrid in 2003.

Beckham has spent the last two MLS close seasons on loan at AC Milan, partly in a bid to extend his England career, but injury ruled him out of last year's World Cup finals where England flopped.

With United, Beckham won the Premier League title six times and the 1999 Champions League title.

He won a Spanish league title with Real before joining LA Galaxy in 2007.

Source