Ferguson faces up to Europa

sport24.co.za - Manchester - Alex Ferguson said his remark that having to play in the Europa League was Manchester United's "penalty" for not reaching the Champions League knockout stage was not a criticism of the second-tier competition and they wanted to win the trophy.

United missed out on the Champions League last 16 after a 2-1 defeat in Basel on Wednesday but despite that disappointment their manager told a news conference on Friday they now needed to focus on trying to win Europe's second-tier competition.

"It's a good competition. (When) you see some of the teams left in it, it has got to be a strong competition," he told reporters.

"When I say it's a punishment for us to be in the Europa League what I mean by that is for 20 years what this club has only thought about is the Champions League. All we've thought of is winning that European Cup.

Video MU vs Basel (Manchester United knocked out of Champions League)

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Manchester clubs exit Champions League at group stage

(CNN) -- Manchester United and their city rivals Manchester City both made embarrassing exits from the European Champions League on Wednesday.

United were beaten 2-1 in Basel to leave the Swiss side and Benfica as the qualifiers from Group C, while City beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium but went out as Napoli won 2-0 at Villarreal.

It left Bayern and the Italians to go through from Group A to complete a chastening first experience of Europe's top club competition for Robert Mancini's expensively assembled side.

(CNN) -- It was the most neck-breaking assignment I've ever covered.

For 15 long minutes I strained my neck looking upwards as I interviewed the seven-foot-six Yao Ming just after he was drafted to the North American National Basketball Association's (NBA) No. 1 pick in 2003.

Yao was the first ever NBA No. 1 pick from overseas.

"I'm happy to join the Houston rockets," he told me. "Hi, Houston. I'm coming." That was all he could say when I asked him to say something in English on camera.

As an NBA rookie, he was then about to sign a four-year contract with the Rockets worth about $9 million, a mind-boggling bonanza considering the average yearly income per person in China then was less than $1,000.

The Shanghai phenomenon confessed to feeling the pressure of representing one billion Chinese in the NBA.

Portugal defeats Argentina on penalties

Portugal defeats Argentina on penalties[ Eds: Updates with quotes.[ AP Photo XRM115, XRM114, XFLL120, XFLL118, XRM112, XRM109, XFLL117[ By ERIC NUNEZ= Associated Press=

CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) - Portugal defeated six-time champion Argentina in a penalty shootout Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Under-20 World Cup.

After being locked 0-0 following extra time, Portugal won the shootout 5-4 when goalkeeper Mika stopped the last attempt from Nicolas Tagliafico.

Portugal, which has not allowed a goal in five matches at the tournament, will next face the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between France and Nigeria. Portugal is going for its third U-20 title following triumphs in 1989 and 1991.

"The victories are all different, but this has been the most satisfying," Portugal coach Ilidio Vale said.

Argentina led the shootout 3-1 and needed only to convert one of its next two chances. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez drove his attempt into the crossbar and Alan Ruiz was then stopped by Mika witha diving save to his left.

As the Argentines missed, Portugal converted its next two to level it at 3-3.

Portugal's Tiago Ferreira made it 4-3 and Argentina leveled at 4-4 when Agustin Vuletich converted. Portugal's Sergio Oliveira then made it 5-4, setting the stage for Mika to bat away Tagliafico's attept.

"It was a very close game - a lot of work and not many chances," Argentina coach Walter Perazzo said. "At the end, they had the luck."

Argentina's ouster is another setback for the proud South Americans. Last month its senior team was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Copa America at home inArgentina, which led to the firing of coach Sergio Batista.

Perazzo acknowledged during the tournament that the team needed to reach the semifinals for him to keep his job.

The penalty shootout was the most exciting part of an otherwise dull match, with Portugal's stout defense standing strong and Argentia unable to break it down.

There were few chances in regulation time with both teams stacking the midfield.

Portugal had a few more chances in the first half, its best in the 21st when Caetano broke in from the right and Argentina keeper Esteban Andrada tipped his close-range shot over the crossbar. Teammte Sergio Oliveira tested Andrada with a low shot minutes later.

Erik Lamela had Argentina's best chance, sailing a free kick just high in the 19th.

The second half was much of the same. Argentina's best chance was in the 48th when Facundo Ferreyra just missed tapping in Lamela's free kick. Portugal came lose in the 68th when Argentina keeper Andrada batted away a dangerous free kick from Sergio Oliveira.

Neither team had a decent chance in the 30 minutes of extra time, worn down by the 32 Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) heat in Cartagena and the high humidity.

thejakartapost.com - Portugal defeated six-time champion Argentina in a penalty shootout Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Under-20 World Cup.

After being locked 0-0 following extra time, Portugal won the shootout 5-4 when goalkeeper Mika stopped the last attempt from Nicolas Tagliafico.

Portugal, which has not allowed a goal in five matches at the tournament, will next face the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between France and Nigeria. Portugal is going for its third U-20 title following triumphs in 1989 and 1991.

Fabregas transfer saga ends

sport24.co.za - London - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is set to join Barcelona after the Gunners accepted a 36-million-euro offer for the Spanish midfielder, British press reported on Thursday.

Multiple reports said the saga of Fabregas' return to his boyhood club was likely to be settled before the start of this weekend's Premier League campaign as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger attempts to draw a line under the affair.

Fabregas's likely departure ends years of speculation surrounding the 24-year-old World Cup winner, who had made no secret of his desire to one day return to the Nou Camp.

Several outlets reported that Fabregas would forfeit five million euros in compensation he is contractually entitled to because of Arsenal's decision to sell him to Barcelona.

Barcelona had tabled a bid for Fabregas last summer only to have it rejected by Arsenal, who insisted the player was not for sale.

NASA set to launch spacecraft to Jupiter

bbc.co.uk - The American space agency, NASA, is planning to launch a new mission to Jupiter today.

The unmanned solar-powered spacecraft, called Juno, will take five years to reach the planet -- the largest in the solar system.

Once there, it will make thirty polar orbits in a bid to discover how much water is in Jupiter's atmosphere and whether the gas giant has a solid core.

The chief scientist on the project (Scott Bolton) said Jupiter held the secret to understanding how all the planets, including Earth, were formed.

Romeu swaps Barcelona for Chelsea; Jeffren joins Sporting Lisbon

(CNN) -- English club Chelsea have completed the signing of Oriol Romeu from Spanish and European champions Barcelona.

The 19-year-old is currently playing for Spain at the World Under-20 Championships in Colombia and has signed a four-year deal with last season's Premier League runners-up.

The deal is worth $7 million and includes a buy back clause, set at $14 million after the first year and $21 million after the second.

Romeu started his career at Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol before joining the Camp Nou academy in 2004.

Tiger Woods will return to professional golf next week

(CNN) -- Golfer Tiger Woods returns to professional play next week, according to statements on his Twitter account and his website.

He will participate in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, which begins on August 3.

Woods withdrew from the PLAYERS Championship in May because of an injured left knee and a strained Achilles tendon. He missed the British Open earlier in July, along with the U.S. Open last month, because of his injuries.

He has since been working to rehabilitate his injuries, and recently began hitting practice shots, the statement on his website said.

Former Japan star Matsuda dies aged 34

(CNN) -- Naoki Matsuda, a former Japan defender who played for his country when they co-hosted the 2002 World Cup, has died after suffering a suspected heart attack during a training session on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old's death was confirmed by his club, third-tier side Matsumoto Yamaga, on Thursday after he had been rushed into hospital two days ago having collapsed.

Matsuda, who also had a 15-year spell with Yokohama Marinos between 1995 and 2010, represented his country on 40 occasions and was part of the Blue Samurai squads which won the Asian Cup in 2000 and 2004.