U.S. Women Top France in Algarve Cup
Angela Hucles scored two goals, and Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach and Lindsay Tarpley each had one to lead the defending champion United States past France, 5-1, Sunday in the Algarve Cup at Ferreiras, Portugal.
Hamm, a two-time FIFA player of the year, set up Wambach for the first U.S. goal in the 16th minute. Hamm scored on a penalty shot in the 27th minute after Wambach was taken down.
“The difference today is that we finished the opportunities we created, we got forward in numbers,” Hamm said.
Hucles scored her first goal of the match in the 31st minute and her second two minutes later.
Tarpley, a second-half substitute, scored the fifth goal in the 47th minute. Sonia Bompastor scored moments later for France.
U.S. to Play Grenada
Grenada advanced to a second-round game against the U.S. in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament with a 3-1 victory over host Guyana at Blairmont.
Grenada, which will play the U.S. in June, got goals from Rickey Charles, Jason Roberts and Tyron Bubb.
European Roundup
Arsenal stayed on track and AC Milan won again, but Real Madrid suffered another setback as soccer returned to Spain after last week’s terrorist attack.
Arsenal, the English Premier League leader, beat Blackburn, 2-0, to extend its unbeaten run to 28 games. Thierry Henry and Robert Pires scored.
Manchester United may have taken itself out of the title chase with 10 games to go after losing to Manchester City, 4-1.
Real Madrid’s lead in Spain was cut to four points after being held to a 1-1 home draw by Zaragoza.
It was the first league match in Spain since 200 people were killed and 1,500 were injured in a terrorist attack Thursday in Madrid. A minute of silence was observed at all games. Players wore black armbands and most goal scorers gestured toward the sky in memory of those who died in the train bombings.
Milan extended its lead in Italy’s Serie A to seven points after beating defending champion Juventus, 3-1, at Turin.
At Parma, striker Roberto Baggio scored the 200th goal of his career in Serie A. Baggio, 37, helped Brescia tie Parma, 2-2.
Beckham Responds
David Beckham said he has no reason to leave Real Madrid and has dismissed reports he was trying to return to the English Premier League.
Newspapers in England have suggested Beckham and his family have been unable to settle in Spain and he was about to move out of his rented villa. The papers have linked him with a move to Chelsea at the end of the season.
Feuding Goalies
Germany Coach Rudi Voeller laid down the law to Oliver Kahn, hoping to end a feud between his No. 1 goalkeeper and Jens Lehmann of Arsenal.
Voeller made it clear to Kahn the three would meet next month to air out the two goalies’ differences.
Kahn said he would attend the meeting only as Germany’s captain. The two players haven’t been speaking.
The feud was triggered last month by Lehmann, who said he deserved to be the country’s No. 1 goalkeeper.