Washington (AFP) – Liberian-born striker Darlington Nagbe scored in the 90th minute to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in a warm-up match for the Copa America Centenario. Nagbe, a 25-year-old midfielder for the reigning Major League Soccer champion Portland Timbers, netted his first goal for the American squad in dramatic fashion […]

Madrid (AFP) – In the dying moments of Diego Simeone's second Madrid derby as Atletico Madrid coach, a banner was lowered behind the goal his side was defending to display a stinging message: "Wanted: A dignified rival for a decent derby". Real Madrid's fans have since got far more than they bargained for as Simeone […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia's veteran top goalscorer Tim Cahill is set to stay in China next season with three clubs chasing the former Everton midfielder, according to his agent. The 36-year-old signed a short-term deal with Hangzhou Greentown in February just days after his contract was terminated by rival Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua. […]

Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England manager Roy Hodgson has challenged Marcus Rashford to make his life difficult when the Manchester United sensation auditions for a Euro 2016 place in Friday's friendly against Australia. Rashford has emerged as a late contender for a seat on the flight to France after a fine breakthrough season with […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United were locked in a second day of talks with Jose Mourinho's agents on Wednesday, hammering out a deal to sweep the controversial Portuguese boss into Old Trafford. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager has agreed personal terms on a three-year deal with a likely annual salary of at least […]

Paris (AFP) – Real Madrid and Manchester United are the richest clubs in Europe, according to a study by Dutch auditors KPMG. Both clubs have been valued at 2.9 billion euros ($3.2 billion) according to KPMG, which looked at 32 major European clubs. Barcelona were next in the list at 2.7 billion euros followed by […]

Chicago (AFP) – Goal-line technology will be used in next month's Copa America Centenario, organizers announced Wednesday, selecting Hawk-Eye as the supplier for the camera replay system. Five of the 10 top-ranked national teams in the world will take the field for the 100th anniversary edition of the South American tournament, a special event hosted […]

Kiev (AFP) – Striker Yevgen Seleznyov and defender Bogdan Butko have been added to Ukraine's provisional squad for Euro 2016, the Football Federation of Ukraine announced Wednesday. Seleznyov, who terminated his contract with Russia's Kuban Krasnodar earlier this month to join Shakhtar Donetsk, had been left out of an initial squad named by coach Mykhaylo […]

Seoul (AFP) – FC Seoul came back from the brink to win a dramatic penalty shoot-out on Wednesday as Hao Junmin's last-minute thunderbolt also put Shandong Luneng into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. In a breathless night of action, Go Yo-Han struck in the dying seconds of extra time against Urawa Red Diamonds — the […]

Rome (AFP) – Serbia's Sinisa Mihajlovic is back in a Serie A dugout again after signing a two-year deal with Torino, the Italian club said on Wednesday. Torino will be the sixth Italian club Mihajlovic, known as a free-kick specialist in his playing career, has coached after Bologna, Catania, Fiorentina, Sampadoria and AC Milan. The […]

Newcastle (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Rafael Benitez confirmed Wednesday he would stay on as Newcastle United manager in a bid to lead the north-east club's bid for promotion back to the Premier League. The 56-year-old Spaniard has agreed a new three-year deal after opting against exercising a release clause open to him in the event […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Portuguese champions Benfica have secured the services of Brazilian international goalkeeper Julio Cesar for a further two seasons, the club said on Wednesday. The 36-year-old stopper joined Benfica in 2014 in the wake of a 7-1 World Cup semi-final humiliation at the hands of eventual champions Germany. And after a poor stay […]

Piraeus (Greece) (AFP) – Portuguese defender Diogo Figueiras has joined Greek champions Olympiakos, the Piraeus team announced Wednesday. "Olympiakos announces the acquisition of Diogo Figueiras from Sevilla," said a brief statement from the club. Greek media reported that the 24-year-old has signed a three-year contract with an annual wage of 500,000 euros ($558,000). Olympiakos reportedly […]

Paris (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps accepted on Wednesday that Raphael Varane's injury is a blow to his side's Euro 2016 hopes, but called on his men to overcome their defensive absences. The injury to Real Madrid centre-back Varane comes after his first-choice international partner Mamadou Sakho was also ruled out of the tournament […]

Madrid (AFP) – Three-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has stressed his desire to remain at Spanish giants Real Madrid beyond the end of his current contract in 2018. "It is clear I want to stay here, I want to continue here," he told Spanish television station La Sexta on Wednesday. Ronaldo has […]