Sun, Oct 31, 2004 - Page 23 News List

Monaco, Marseille end in a draw

AP , PARISAP, UTRECHT, NETHERLANDSAP AND REUTERS, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND AND MADRID

Utrecht played for the win, but rarely came close to penetrating the Eindhoven defense.

PSV's Park Ji-sung missed a last minute shot after dribbling through several Utrecht defenders.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson wants to get to the bottom of the "Soupgate" affair.

Ferguson was forced to change clothes after Man United's 2-0 victory Sunday over Arsenal. He was reportedly splattered by soup and pizza, which United claims was thrown by Arsenal players as the teams exited the pitch through a tunnel.

Ferguson said Friday that Arsenal hadn't done enough to investigate the incident.

"We are very disappointed at the reaction from Arsenal, but we are doing our own thing," Ferguson said.

Ferguson seemed to be referring to statements by Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger, who said he didn't see anything happen after the match.

"We have launched our own investigation into it," Ferguson said. "We are collating a lot of information and there are a lot of statements being made by witnesses.

"We will be forwarding all the information to the Football Association and then we will let them get on with it."

Arsenal's Wenger said he welcomed United's move.

"That's exactly what they should do. For me, nothing happened. We like to look forward not backward. What happened on the pitch is important for me and the way you behave on the pitch."

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Edu acknowledged that a scuffle took place in the tunnel, but said he didn't see food thrown at Ferguson.

"Afterwards, as we went down the tunnel, I saw people being pulled apart, people pushing, pointing and shouting," Edu told the UEFA Web site.

"The United players were shouting at us and trying to wind us up about the result. But I didn't see any soup being thrown at anyone.

Mista ends mystery

Valencia striker Mista has ended speculation about a possible move away from the club by extending his contract for an extra five years.

Mista, who was the club's top scorer when they won both the Spanish title and the UEFA Cup last season, had been linked by the media with a possible move to Liverpool to join up with former coach Rafa Benitez.

But after rejecting several initial offers of a contract renewal he eventually agreed to a new deal with Valencia which will run until 2010.

"The club and the player are both very satisfied that their wish to extend the deal has been realized," Valencia said in a statement on their Web site yesterday.

The 25-year-old player, who scored 19 league goals last season, has barely featured for the club this season after being forced to play second string to new recruit Marco Di Vaio.

Valencia, who have lost their last four games and crashed out of the King's Cup at the hands of second division Lleida in midweek, were to host Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

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