A round-up of today's other soccer news in brief
Kearney puts Waterford through
Waterford Utd 2 Shamrock Rovers 1
WATERFORD United got the better of Premier League side Shamrock Rovers to book their place in the semi-finals of EA Sports Cup at the RSC last night, with midfielder John Kearney turning out to be the match winning hero.
Rovers goalkeeper Barry Murphy was taking the ball out of the net on 42 minutes when Alan Carey played the ball over the visiting defence and when defender Alan Price failed to clear, United striker Willie John Kiely shot home.
Rovers equalised three minutes later when a long free-kick from Stephen Bradley caught the home defence out and Dessie Baker was on hand to fire past Michael Devine.
United regained the lead on 59 minutes and it proved too be the match winner as defender Darragh Maguire upended Graham Cummins on the edge of the penalty area and Kearney gave Murphy no chance with his left-footed free kick.
WATERFORD UNITED:Devine, Carey, Murray, Browne, Long; Dunphy (McCarthy, 88 mins), Fitzgerald, Kearney, Grincell; Kiely (Waters, 75 mins), Cummins.
SHAMROCK ROVERS:Murphy; Flynn, Price (Amond, 75 mins), Maguire, Cahill; Doyle (Cameron, 57 mins), Rice, Bradley, O'Connor, Baker. Purcell (Twigg, 68 mins).
Referee:D Tomney (Dublin).
Valencia keeping his options open
WINGER Antonio Valencia (23) is destined to leave Wigan at the end of the season but is keeping his options open, according to his agent.
Diego Herrera claims Real Madrid have already lodged a bid – reported to be €20 million-plus – with Wigan but that there are other interested parties.
TOTTENHAM are among clubs chasing Lazio striker Goran Pandev, according to his agent. The 25-year-old has yet to agree a new deal with the Serie A club.
The future of striker Darren Bent is uncertain, meaning manager Harry Redknapp could be set to lure fresh attacking talent to White Hart Lane.
Bassong loses red card appeal
RELEGATION-threatened Newcastle have lost their appeal against Sebastien Bassong’s dismissal on Saturday. The 22-year-old Frenchman was shown a straight red card after tangling with Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara.
Bassong will now miss the club’s final league game of the season at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Michael Owen could feature for Newcastle in that game. The former Liverpool striker was unavailable for last weekend’s defeat to Fulham after sustaining a groin injury but could be ready for Sunday.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing is set to have further tests on the foot injury suffered in the draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Boro go into the final match of the season, away to West Ham, second bottom and three points adrift of 17th-placed Hull. Whether Downing will be able to feature in that match remains in doubt.
Iniesta and Henry to be fit for Champions League final
ANDRES Iniesta and Thierry Henry will be ready for the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 27th, according to Barcelona medical staff, reports Sid Lowe.
Both have begun running and Iniesta is expected to return to light ball work tomorrow. Henry’s full recovery is fractionally more doubtful but Barcelona remain optimistic about both players. “They will make it (for the final),” said a source at the club.
Henry picked up a knee ligament injury during Barcelona’s 6-2 victory over Real Madrid on May 2nd and Iniesta suffered a two-centimetre tear in his thigh muscle during the 3-3 home draw with Villarreal eight days later.
"It is a little harder for Henry to get back to full fitness and sharpness because he's a tank and, besides, his problem is articular," a source revealed. "But even if it is by the skin of the teeth, he'll be there if the manager (Pep Guardiola) needs him. Just. But he'll be there." GuardianService
ITALY
captain Fabio Cannavaro will return to Juventus from Real Madrid on July 1st despite the Italian club’s fans protesting against the move.
The Serie A club, who are also interested in signing Werder Bremen playmaker Diego, said in a statement yesterday that 35-year-old centre back Cannavaro, soon out of contract at Real, had signed a one-year deal.
Juve fans were upset by Cannavaro leaving for Real in 2006 when they were demoted for match-fixing.
