S. Korean World Cup roster to be announced earlier than scheduled

South Korean men's football roster for this year's FIFA World Cup will be announced earlier than scheduled, the sport's national governing body said Friday.The Korea Football Association said the 23-man roster for the big tournament in Brazil will be revealed Thursday, a day earlier than initially scheduled. The KFA explained that the change is designed to give players more time to prepare themselves mentally before reporting to their training camp on May 12 at the National Football Center in Pa

May 2, 2014

Ki Sung-yueng asks to leave English club early: father

South Korean footballer Ki Sung-yueng, hoping to represent the country at the World Cup this summer, has asked his English club to allow him to return home before the end of the current season to recover from a knee injury, his father said Thursday.Ki Young-ok, father of the Sunderland midfielder, said the 25-year-old is waiting for the English Premier League club’s final decision.“Ki Sung-yueng has asked the team to let him leave early,” said the senior Ki, who is president of the municipal foo

May 1, 2014

Injured midfielder Ki Sung-yueng asks to leave English club early: father

South Korean footballer Ki Sung-yueng, hoping to represent the country at the World Cup this summer, has asked his English club to allow him to return home before the end of the current season to recover from a knee injury, his father said Thursday.Ki Young-ok, father of the Sunderland midfielder, said the 25-year-old is waiting for the English Premier League club's final decision."Ki Sung-yueng has asked the team to let him leave early," said the senior Ki, who is president of the municipal foo

May 1, 2014

Park Ji-sung to hold charity match in tribute to ferry victims

South Korean football icon Park Ji-sung is seeking to host a charity match in tribute to the victims of a recent ferry accident in his native land, the player’s father said Wednesday.Park Sung-jong, the veteran’s father, told Yonhap that his son wanted to pay his tribute to the fallen passengers aboard the Sewol through football. The April 16 disaster has left 302 people dead or missing.“He wants people affected by this tragedy to take solace from sports,” said the senior Park, who is a director

April 30, 2014

Arsenal wins to cement 4th spot

LONDON (AP) ― Arsenal remains on course for another season in the Champions League after beating Newcastle 3-0 at home on Monday.The win puts Arsenal four points clear of Everton in fourth place with two games to play in the Premier League, a position which would qualify the club for Europe’s top competition for the 17th straight year.Having been contained for the first quarter of the match, the hosts found their rhythm after defender Laurent Koscielny gave the Gunners the lead in the 26th minut

April 29, 2014

Injured fullback Park Joo-ho sets sights on WC roster

Korean World Cup hopeful Park Joo-ho said Monday he will try to fully recover from a nagging foot injury in time to make the national team for the big tournament.The 27-year-old fullback returned home from his Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05. Park underwent a minor procedure to treat inflammation on his right foot on April 7, and Mainz 05 granted him his wish to go through rehab at home and prepare for the World Cup in Brazil scheduled to kick off in June.Park told reporters that he won’t let his i

April 28, 2014

Manchester City wins as Liverpool stumbles

LONDON (AP) ― Manchester City took charge of the Premier League title race as Edin Dzeko and Yaya Toure scored first-half goals for a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.After leader Liverpool lost 2-0 against Chelsea at home, City cut its deficit to three points with one game in hand. If it wins the three remaining matches and keeps a superior goal difference, Man City will be crowned champions.Recovered from a thigh problem, Toure made a spectacular return to competition, setting up Dzeko’s op

April 28, 2014

Park Joo-ho to return home from Germany

South Korean World Cup hopeful Park Joo-ho will return home from his German-based club before the conclusion of the season there, his agency said on Friday, as the fullback hopes to recover from a foot injury and make the national team for the big tournament.The Seoul-based agency GSEN said Park, who plays for FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga, will arrive in South Korea on Monday. The German club has three games remaining this season.Park underwent a minor procedure to treat inflammation on his ri

April 25, 2014

FC Seoul reaches knockout stage

FC Seoul advanced to the knockout stage in the AFC Champions League with a victory over a Chinese opponent this week.FC Seoul edged out Beijing Guoan 2-1 at home Wednesday night.The K League Classic club clinched the top seed in Group F with 11 points, and joined two other South Korean teams, Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, in the last 16.FC Seoul will face Kawasaki Frontale of Japan, the runner-up in Group H, in the home-and-away series. (Yonhap)

April 24, 2014

Jeonbuk advances, Ulsan crashes out

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Ulsan Hyundai met contrasting fates at the AFC Champions League this week, with only Jeonbuk moving on to the knockout stage at the top Asian club soccer competition.Jeonbuk played Melbourne Victory of Australia to a scoreless draw on Tuesday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, about 240 kilometers south of Seoul. The result secured Jeonbuk a second place in Group G with two wins, two losses and two draws, good enough to reach the round of 16.Also on Tuesday, Ulsan crashed ou

April 23, 2014

Man United sacks Moyes

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― David Moyes was fired as Manchester United manager Tuesday, paying the price for the club’s spectacular and sudden decline in his 10 months in charge since replacing Alex Ferguson.United released a brief statement on its website, saying Moyes has “left the club” and that it “would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.”There was no initial announcement about who would replace Moyes.Moyes’ position has been in

April 22, 2014

Man City beats West Brom 3-1, boosts title hopes

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Manchester City stayed alive in the English Premier League title race by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1 thanks to first-half goals by three Argentines on Monday.Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero struck in the opening 10 minutes at Etihad Stadium to set third-place City on its way to a victory that trimmed the gap to league leader Liverpool to six points, with a game still in hand.Graham Dorrans’ spectacular 16th-minute volley halved West Brom’s deficit but Martin Demi

April 22, 2014

Liverpool closes in on EPL title

LONDON (AP) ― Liverpool secured a return to the Champions League on Sunday.But there’s a much bigger prize just around the corner.What was looking like a gripping finale to the Premier League title race is starting to turn into a procession for the Reds after they beat Norwich 3-2 to move five points ahead of Chelsea with three matches remaining.A first English championship in 24 years is within Liverpool’s grasp after the win at Norwich, which was paced by Raheem Sterling’s two goals and a 30th

April 21, 2014

Barcelona defends Messi, offers better contract

BARCELONA (AP) ― Barcelona’s president and manager defended Lionel Messi on Saturday from criticism for his erratic play during the team’s recent collapse, and made sure to stamp out any talk of the club’s all-time leading scorer leaving Camp Nou.Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu said the club would offer to improve Messi’s contract so he “will lead the future’’ of the team, while coach Gerardo Martino diverted the blame for their struggles to his own coaching performance.In the past two weeks,

April 20, 2014

Pohang, Seoul win in AFC Champs League

Pohang Steelers secured a place in the round of 16 at the AFC Champions League, while FC Seoul took a huge step closer toward the knockout phase at the annual Asian club football competition on Wednesday.The two K League Classic sides both enjoyed group stage victories. Pohang defeated Cerezo Osaka 2-0 in their Group E match in Osaka, as Lee Myung-joo and Kim Seung-dae had a goal apiece.Pohang, with one match remaining, clinched the first place in the group with 11 points and booked a ticket to

April 17, 2014