Interliga Winner Defeated

Guadalajara, defeated in all three of its matches at this month’s Interliga tournament in the United States, surprised tournament winner Santos Laguna, 1-0, Sunday as Mexico’s new season got under way.

The Chivas, coached by Dutchman Hans Westerhof, relied on Mexico national team goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez to hold Santos Laguna at bay in Torreon, then got the only goal when Omar Bravo scored off the rebound of a Ramon Ramirez shot in the 77th minute.

In Mexico City, a huge crowd at Azteca Stadium saw Club America and UNAM play to a 1-1 tie. Alvaro Ortiz gave America the lead early in the second half, but Bolivia’s Joaquin Botero tied it for Coach Hugo Sanchez’s Pumas in the 72nd minute.

Defending champion Pachuca also was held to a tie, 2-2, by Queretaro, with Sergio Santana and Gabriel de Anda scoring for Pachuca and Argentina’s Carlos Casartelli and Carlos Ochoa getting Queretaro’s goals.

*

Athens 2004

Brazil and Paraguay on Sunday joined Argentina and Chile in the final round of South American qualifying for the continent’s two berths at this summer’s Olympic Games in Athens.

Brazil, which, despite its five World Cup victories, has never won an Olympic gold medal, routed Colombia, 3-0, on goals by Alex, Robinho and Dudu.

Paraguay was forced to go to penalty kicks to beat Ecuador, 4-2, after the teams had played to a scoreless tie.

On Wednesday, Argentina will play Brazil and Paraguay will play Chile.

*

Saha to United

Manchester United announced Sunday that it had “reached agreement in principle” to buy French striker Louis Saha from Fulham for a transfer fee estimated at between $18 million and $32 million.

Fulham Coach Chris Coleman earlier had said that Saha would leave the London club “over my dead body,” but the increasingly strained relationship between Saha, who has scored 15 goals this season, and Fulham forced the club to buckle to United’s pressure.

Manchester United fell out of first place in the English Premier League when it was shut out, 1-0, by Wolverhampton on Saturday, and Arsenal used two Thierry Henry goals to beat Aston Villa, 2-0, on Sunday to take over first place.

United wants Saha to partner Ruud Van Nistelrooy in attack.

*

Roma’s Record

Two goals by Italian international striker Francesco Totti helped AS Roma defeat Sampdoria, 3-1, Sunday and finish the first half of the Serie A season with a record 42 points, from 13 victories, three ties and one loss. Roma held the previous record of 39 points at the halfway mark, set in 2001.

*

Mexico Wins

Mexico, which will host the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2004 Olympics at Guadalajara Feb. 3-12, defeated Honduras, 1-0, in front of 17,000 at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Saturday night. Rafael Marquez scored the game’s only goal in the 17th minute at Lockhart Stadium.

In another warmup, Mexico will play Hammaraby of Sweden at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium on Saturday. Honduras’ Olympic preparation will continue with a three-game tour of Colombia.

*

Beckham’s Legs

Real Madrid midfield David Beckham, still finding new ways to grab the headlines, told England’s News of the World tabloid Sunday that “one of my legs is shorter than the other.”

England’s captain said he discovered the difference when taking a physical before joining Real last summer.

“My left leg is shorter than my right,” he said. “I’ve tried to wear insoles to help, but I can’t wear anything in my boots,” he said.

*

Times wire services contributed to this report.