The Korea Herald

Missed chance: Barca draws in Copa

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) ― Lionel Messi missed a penalty as Barcelona was held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday.Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Alves dived to his left to stop Messi’s 56th-minute spot kick after Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara had been fouled inside the area.Valencia made a better start in the match and scored first when Jeremy Mathieu sent a pass between Barcelona defenders for Jonas to rifle the ball into the top corner in the

Feb. 2, 2012

Over 70 killed in Egypt’s worst soccer violence ever

Celebration over unexpected victory turns into bloody melee; Cairo’s ability to manage crowds questioned At least 74 people were killed and hundreds injured after soccer fans rushed the field in the seaside city of Port Said Wednesday following an upset victory by the home team over Egypt’s top

Feb. 2, 2012

Over 70 killed in Egypt’s worst soccer violence ever

Koo joins FC Augsburg

South Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol has switched clubs in the top German football league.Koo, formerly with VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, has joined FC Augsburg in the same circuit, Koo’s new team announced Tuesday.The 22-year-old midfielder will be with FC Augsburg until the end of the ongoing season in May, the team added. Koo went to the German league in January last year, leaving Jeju United in the domestic K-League to sign with VfL Wolfsburg.His stock soared earlier that month after lea

Feb. 1, 2012

Man United wipes out City’s lead in Premier League

LONDON (AP) ― Manchester United wiped out Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Stoke as its neighbor went down 1-0 at Everton to a goal by a former United player.Darron Gibson, who left Old Trafford earlier in January, struck on the hour for Everton against City, which is now only top due to its superior goal difference over United.Defending champion United scored both goals from the penalty spot through Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.

Feb. 1, 2012

Cologne signs Jong Tae-se

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) ― Cologne says its has signed North Korea striker Jong Tae-se from second-division side Bochum.The Bundesliga club did not disclose how much it paid for the 27-year-old forward or the length of the contract.Jong, who is called Chong Te-se in Germany, will step in for the injured Lukas Podolski who was ruled out for at least three weeks with a foot injury.Podolski partially tore a tendon in his left foot during Saturday’s 4-1 league defeat at home to Schalke.Sporting directo

Jan. 31, 2012

Sudan reaches quarters for first time in 42 years

BATA, Equatorial Guinea (AP) ― Sudan reached the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 42 years on Monday, beating Burkina Faso 2-1 to end an 11-game winless streak at the tournament and edge out Angola on goal difference.Mudather Tayeb scored both of Sudan’s goals at Estadio de Bata to deliver the nation’s biggest football moment since it won the African Cup on home soil in 1970. It was Sudan’s first victory in the four tournaments it’s played at since that triumph.M

Jan. 31, 2012

World Cup hero Ahn bids teary farewell

Former national team striker Ahn Jung-hwan has always been a quiet man who displays little emotion. On Tuesday, however, he was in tears as he announced his retirement from football.“Sorry, I can’t help myself. I feel sad, because this is my last time to do this as a footballer,” Ahn said during his press conference in Seoul.The 35-year-old striker hangs up his boots after having made 71 appearances and scored 17 goals for the national team, including three goals at the World Cup.Ahn is still co

Jan. 31, 2012

World Cup hero Ahn bids teary farewell to football

Former South Korean World Cup hero Ahn Jung-hwan bid an emotional farewell to football on Tuesday, saying it was the right time to leave the game though he still had much left in his tank. Ahn Jung-hwan (Yonhap News)The 36-year-old had a globe-trotting career that spanned 14 years, six countries and

Jan. 31, 2012

World Cup hero Ahn bids teary farewell to football

Dirk Kuyt gives Liverpool FA Cup win over Man United

LONDON (AP) ― Liverpool reached the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday at the expense of its fiercest rival, a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Manchester United leaving the famous competition without the English Premier League’s top two teams.While Chelsea progressed with a 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers thanks to Juan Mata’s second-half penalty, Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt scored the winner for Liverpool in the 88th minute at Anfield.United earlier dumped out neighbor Manchester City ― the Prem

Jan. 29, 2012

Dirk Kuyt gives Liverpool FA Cup win over Man United

Valencia eliminates Levante, to face Barca

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) ― Valencia advanced to a meeting with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinals after beating Levante 3-0 thanks to Pablo Piatti’s double on Thursday for a 7-1 aggregate score.Piatti, who has had a subdued role for Unai Emery’s side since his arrival this summer from Almeria, played his best game of the season.The Argentine forward provided a constant threat for the visitors at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium and drew various fouls from Levante’s frustrated defense.Piatti saw his

Jan. 27, 2012

Soccer executive offers to resign over scandal

A high-ranking football official offered to resign on Friday over a corruption scandal involving a dismissed junior colleague.In a statement, Kim Jin-kook, executive director at the Korea Football Association, said he had “no intention of staying in his post” if it hindered development of local football or unity of the KFA.On Thursday, Kim came under fire for paying a former KFA employee a large settlement on his way out, after the employee threatened to disclose corruption within the KFA.The em

Jan. 27, 2012

Barcelona holds off Madrid rally

BARCELONA (AP) ― Pedro Rodriguez and Daniel Alves scored first-half goals, and Barcelona held off a spirited Real Madrid comeback attempt to eliminate the defending Copa del Rey champion with a 2-2 tie Wednesday night.Following the ninth clasico between the rivals in nine months, Barcelona advanced to the semifinals on 4-3 aggregate and next plays Valencia or Levante.Pedro entered in the 30th minute after Andres Iniesta limped off and put Barcelona ahead in the 43rd off a pass from Lionel Messi,

Jan. 26, 2012

Source: Korean FA paid settlement to corrupt worker

The nation’s governing body of football paid an employee suspected of embezzlement a large settlement after he threatened to disclose corruption within the agency, a source said Thursday.According to the source, who is privy to matters at the Korea Football Association, the agency decided on Jan. 13 to pay the employee a settlement of 150 million won ($133,690).The employee, identified by his surname A, was fired on Dec. 31, about a month after he was caught stealing football equipment from anot

Jan. 26, 2012

South Korea unveils Olympic soccer roster

A roster of 21 footballers for the nation’s Olympic squad was set Wednesday ahead of the final road trip in the ongoing regional qualification.South Korea will retain most of the stars from the recently concluded King’s Cup tournament in Thailand. The Koreans came out on top with two wins and a draw after round-robin play against Norway, Thailand and Denmark.Forward Kim Hyun-sung and winger Seo Jung-jin, who each scored twice in Thailand, will be on the Olympic team. They’re joined by midfielder

Jan. 25, 2012

Cardiff reaches League Cup final

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) ― Tom Heaton saved two penalty kicks, and Cardiff reached its first English League Cup final by beating Crystal Palace 3-1 in a shootout on Tuesday night.Cardiff dominated but only managed a 1-0 edge on a seventh-minute own goal by Anthony Gardner, leaving the aggregate 1-1 in the home-and-home, total-goals series. Gardner had scored in the first leg.Palace played a man short after captain Paddy McCarthy received his second yellow card in the 78th, and Cardiff hit the crossba

Jan. 25, 2012

South Korea rises to 30th place in FIFA rankings

South Korea ranked 30th in FIFA's world football rankings for January, a two-notch gain from the month before, the world's football governing body said Wednesday.The country ranked 29th in September, but lost ground in the following months to end 2011 in 32nd place. This placed it third among Asian-

Jan. 18, 2012

QPR, Bolton avoid upsets in Cup replays

LONDON (AP) ― Danny Gabbidon headed in Shaun Wright-Phillips’ corner kick in the 73rd minute, and Queens Park Rangers beat the third-tier MK Dons 1-0 in a replay Tuesday night to reach a fourth-round matchup against London rival Chelsea in the FA Cup.Bolton also reached the last 32 of soccer’s oldest knockout competition, defeating fourth-tier Macclesfield 2-0 on goals by Kevin Davies in the first minute and Martin Petrov in the 26th. Bolton will play Swansea next in another all-Premier League m

Jan. 18, 2012

German soccer chief calls for gays to come out

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ― The outgoing German soccer federation president says it’s time for gay players to come out.Theo Zwanziger called on gay players “to have the courage to declare themselves,” although he conceded it was surely difficult to acknowledge one’s homosexuality within a team. He pointed to the example of Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, who came out years ago.Speaking at a discussion on the subject organized by the federation, Zwanziger said Tuesday that society was more understandi

Jan. 18, 2012

Maradona leaves hospital

Diego Maradona has left a private hospital in Dubai after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones.A statement released by the Dubai-based club Al Wasl said the coach and former Argentina great was discharged from the Canadian Specialist Hospital on Monday following the operation Sunday night. It said Maradona will take a day off to rest and recuperate and is expected to return to the club on Wednesday.Maradona was admitted to the hospital after complaining of abdominal pains.Maradona coached

Jan. 17, 2012

Arsenal’s slim title hopes hit by defeat

LONDON (AP) ― Arsenal’s hopes of a late challenge for the English Premier League title took what could be a decisive blow on Sunday with a 3-2 defeat at newcomer Swansea.Robin van Persie put the Gunners ahead early with his 18th goal of the season but Swansea outplayed and outpassed what has long been one of England’s most attractive teams.Scott Sinclair struck a 16th-minute penalty before Nathan Dyer made it 2-1 to the Swans 12 minutes after halftime. Theo Walcott equalized in the 69th but Arse

Jan. 16, 2012

Arsenal’s slim title hopes hit by defeat