Sat, Nov 21, 2009 page18

• Soccer Shorts

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ECUADOR

  Liga storm into final

  Claudio Bieler scored a hat-trick as Ecuadorean club Liga de Quito stormed into the final of the Copa Sudamericana with a resounding 7-0 win over River Plate of Uruguay on Thursday. Carlos Espinola, Miller Bolanos, Edison Mendez and Ulises De La Cruz also scored. Liga will play Brazilian club Fluminense in the two-legged final scheduled for Nov. 25 and Dec. 2. Liga’s 7-0 win at home against River overturned the 2-1 loss suffered by the Ecuadorean club in the first leg in Montevideo a week ago. Bieler opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 18th minute after Neicer Reasco was brought down in the box. Espinola headed Edison Mendez’s corner past the dive of River goalkeeper Luciano Dos Santos in the 28th minute to put Liga ahead on aggregate. River fell further behind in first-half stoppage-time when Bieler’s looping cross was headed back across goal by Walter Calderon for an unmarked Bolanos to smash into the roof of the net. Mendez scored Liga’s fourth with a clean strike from outside the box in the 57th minute and De La Cruz added a fifth in the 78th minute. Bieler completed his hat-trick with goals in the 84th and 89th minutes.

  ■FRANCE

  Boli defends himself

  Former France international defender Basile Boli, under investigation by prosecutors for embezzlement and handling stolen goods, said on Thursday that he had been “unfairly accused.” In a statement, the former Marseille centerback said he left the Brigade for the Repression of Economic Crime on Wednesday afternoon after being questioned over the activities of the Undertaking and Succeeding in Africa (ERA) foundation that he set up. “I only regret that the news of my being taken into custody was made public,” Boli said. “Believing myself to be unfairly accused, I try to think of my attachment and my devotion to the African continent. I am more than ever convinced of ERA’s mission — bringing France and Africa together with a view to the co-development of these two cultures. It’s why I will continue to bring my modest contribution to this mission that is so close to my heart.” A judicial source revealed that “the investigation” would “be pursued.”

  ■GERMANY

  Senior figures pan van Gaal

  Louis van Gaal’s future as Bayern Munich coach appeared shakier than ever after senior figures at the club criticized him before the game against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. In a joint interview published on Thursday in the Bild newspaper, Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer and general manager Uli Hoeness both gave the Dutch coach some blunt advice. “Louis van Gaal thinks he can take care of everything himself, but one single person can’t solve everything,” Hoeness said. “He has to learn to delegate responsibility,” Beckenbauer said. Van Gaal’s team are all but out of the Champions League and six points behind Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

  ■SPAIN

  Ibrahimovic ruled out

  Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out of action for around a week, the European champions announced on Thursday. The Swedish striker has aggravated the muscle injury in his left thigh which he suffered two weeks ago against Real Mallorca. He limped out of training on Wednesday and underwent medical checks on Thursday. Ibrahimovic will miss today’s league game away to Athletic Bilbao and probably also Tuesday’s crucial Champions League game at home to Italy’s Inter. He may also miss the Spanish clasico against Real Madrid on Nov. 29.
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