Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa was drawn with Sydney FC of Australia on Saturday for a quarterfinal showdown in the FIFA Club World Championship.
CONCACAF champion Saprissa faces the Oceania champion on Dec. 12 for a chance to play European champion Liverpool in the semifinals of the six-nation tournament.
The expanded Club World Championship replaces the Toyota Cup and will be staged in Japan from Dec. 11-18, featuring the top club teams from soccer's six confederations. The winner receives US$4.5 million (3.7 million euros) in prize money.
The teams representing Asia and Africa, which have yet to be determined, will square off in the other quarterfinal on Dec. 11, with the winner playing Brazil's Sao Paulo.
The Asian champion will be determined on Nov. 2, while the African finals will be played two weeks later.
England's Liverpool and Brazil's Sao Paulo, representing soccer's two strongest continents, were given byes into the semifinals.
The Toyota Cup had been staged in Japan for 25 years and featured the top club teams from Europe and South America.
Manchester United great Bobby Charlton took part in Saturday's draw along with former Japan international Masashi Nakayama.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said he won't make sweeping changes to his team for Saturday's Scottish Premier League opener after the club's embarrassing 5-0 Champions League qualifying defeat.
Celtic lost at Slovakian club Artmedia Bratislava on Wednesday in the first leg of the second qualifying round for the Champions League. It was Strachan's first competitive game in charge after taking over from Martin O'Neill.
"This freak result won't stop our vision," Strachan said Friday. "I don't think the memories will ever go away but I am not going to start wielding the ax. ... Everybody takes the blame for this result and we have to try to respond."
Real Madrid on Friday said it had signed Brazil forward Julio Baptista from Sevilla to a five-year contract.
Madrid said on its Web site that Baptista, who is currently on tour with Sevilla in Shanghai, China, will be presented on Aug. 1 in Madrid.
Financial details were not disclosed.
English clubs Tottenham and Arsenal had also been interested in signing the former Sao Paulo player.
"It's an opportunity I can't let get away," the 23-year-old international was quoted as saying on Sevilla's Web site.
"I'm leaving a club that is big in every sense. One in which I became a true soccer player and where I made my name in football."
Baptista, formerly a midfielder, scored 20 goals in 30 league games to help Sevilla finish sixth last season.
Former Rangers captain Craig Moore agreed to a two-year deal with Newcastle on Friday.
The 29-year-old defender, who left German club Borussia Monchengladbach last season on a free transfer, is to undergo a medical.
The Australia international played briefly for Crystal Palace between two stints at Rangers.
Werder Bremen signed Brazilian defender Naldo on Friday to a four-year contract.
Bremen didn't give financial details of the deal.
Naldo came from Brazil's Juventude and will replace central defender Valerien Ismael, who left Bremen for Bayern Munich.
Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf described Naldo as "perhaps the most talented Brazilian defender."
Real Madrid said yesterday it has reached an agreement with Brazilian club Santos that will see striker Robinho join the Spanish giant Aug. 25 on a five-year contract.
"The player has imposed his unshakable will to play for Real Madrid, rejecting over recent weeks offers from other clubs that were interested in him and the tough position of the directors of Santos," the Spanish club said in a statement.
Thousands of Genoa fans gathered Friday to protest their club's relegation from Serie A to the third division for match-fixing.
Fans denounced the decision made by the Italian league's disciplinary commission Wednesday.
Ultra clubs organized the demonstration, asking fans to color the entire city red and blue in honor of the team's colors.
A similar demonstration -- which turned violent -- took place Wednesday after the club was found guilty of sporting fraud for fixing its final match last season against Venezia.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
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