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Soccer Shorts

■ENGLAND

Gerrard to miss Berlin clash

Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of the friendly against Germany in Berlin tomorrow because of a torn leg muscle. Liverpool said the midfielder picked up the injury in the club’s 2-0 victory at Bolton on Saturday. The absence of Gerrard is another blow for England coach Fabio Capello, who has also lost Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and defender Rio Ferdinand to injuries. Chelsea’s Joe and Ashley Cole and Wigan striker Emile Heskey had already been ruled out. Backup goalkeeper Joe Hart also pulled out of the Berlin game after he injured his ankle in Manchester City’s 2-2 draw at Hull on Sunday. Chelsea also said that centerback John Terry is to have a scan on a foot injury to determine whether he can go to Berlin.



■AFRICA

Al-Ahly set new record

Al-Ahly of Egypt won a record African Champions League title on Sunday after drawing 2-2 with Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon in the second leg of the final. Ahly, title favorites from the start of the competition, triumphed 4-2 on aggregate after winning the first leg 2-0 in Cairo two weeks ago. Success for the Cairo “Red Devils” earned them US$1 million and brought a place beside Manchester United in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan next month. Ahmed Hassan gave Ahly a 38th-minute lead, Lassina Karim leveled in first half stoppage time, Ousmaila Baba edged Cotonsport in front on 63 minutes and captain Shady Mohamed restored equality from a last-minute penalty. Cotonsport dominated a high-tempo match in baking heat only to waste many chances with Baba the biggest culprit. It was the third time in four years Ahly have conquered Africa.



■BRAZIL

Palmeiras problems mount

Palmeiras’ problems mounted on Sunday when they lost 5-2 to Flamengo in the championship, two days after coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo was attacked by the club’s own fans. Luxemburgo appeared on the touchline before the game with his right arm in a cast and revealed he had broken it in a clash with supporters at Sao Paulo airport on Friday evening when the team travelled to Rio for the game. “It was the attitude of vandals,” Luxemburgo told reporters before kick-off. “It was an act of cowardice, an ambush. But I’m not going to let them get away with it. If you don’t win the championship or a match, you run the risk of the supporters invading the airport and beating everyone up,” said the former Brazil coach. After the match, Luxemburgo said the team had received phone calls threatening more trouble on their return to Sao Paulo. Media said police had set up a special security operation and the players would go straight from the plane to a bus without entering the terminal. Sunday’s defeat effectively ended Palmeiras’ title chances as they dropped to fifth place, seven points behind leaders Sao Paulo with three games to go.



■GERMANY

Bremen beat Cologne

Werder Bremen rediscovered their scoring touch on Sunday to beat Cologne 3-1. Werder, surprisingly held to a goalless draw with Bochum last weekend, had no such problems in attack once Diego had put them ahead with a penalty in the 15th minute. It was only Werder’s fifth league win but it was enough to take them up to seventh place with 20 points from 13 games.“It wasn’t our best performance but it will give us a boost in confidence,” goalkeeper Tim Wiese told Premiere TV.


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