IN BRIEF (Page 20)

Soccer

Boca knocked out by Sao Paulo, Vasco fights back

RIO DE JANEIRO: Sao Paulo knocked Boca Juniors out of the Copa Sudamericana and Vasco da Gama overturned a two-goal deficit to eliminate Lanus on a good night for Brazilian teams against Argentine opposition on Wednesday.

Arsenal provided Argentina's consolation by beating Goias, another Brazilian side, 4-3 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires in a first-round, second-leg tie.

A second-half goal by substitute Aloisio gave Sao Paulo a 1-0 win at home to Boca, the South American champions, to send it through on away goals after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.

Despite being surrounded by three defenders, Aloisio was first to a high ball, controlling it on his chest and firing into the roof of the net in the 54th minute.

Brazilian banned 4 months for seal dribble foul

RIO DE JANEIRO: The row over Cruzeiro forward Kerlon's so-called seal dribble continued on Wednesday when a player who was sent off for fouling him was banned for 120 days.

Atletico Mineiro defender Coelho's crude foul on Kerlon 10 days ago sparked a brawl on the field and a national debate over whether the teenager's cheeky trick was an attempt to belittle his opponents.

The incident happened late in the game with Cruzeiro winning 4-3.

Kerlon collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area, flicked it up and performed his trademark dribble by bouncing the ball on his head as he ran towards goal.

The move sent the Cruzeiro fans wild but was interrupted when Coelho crashed into him and was given a straight red card.

Other Atletico players remonstrated angrily with Kerlon, leading to an angry pushing match which interrupted the game for five minutes.

Tennis

US-Russia Davis Cup final set for Portland

NEW YORK: The United States-Russia Davis Cup Final will be held at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, the US Tennis Association announced on Wednesday.

The November 30-December 2 competition at the Coliseum, site of US semifinal wins agianst Australia in 1981 and 1984, marks the first Davis Cup Final in the United States in 15 years.

The US, led by Andy Roddick, James Blake and the doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan, advanced to the final with a 4-1 victory over Sweden last weekend in Gothenburg.

Holders Russia rallied on the final day against Germany in Moscow to win their semi-final 3-2.

The US, 2-1 overall against Russia in the team competition, is seeking its first Davis Cup title since 1995 when it beats Russia in the final in Moscow.

Cycling

Valverde cleared by CAS to race in Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Germany: Spain's Alejandro Valverde has been cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to compete in the world championships, International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid said on Wednesday.

"The UCI has lost the case with the Spanish federation and Valverde," McQuaid told a news conference at the world championships, where Valverde is part of the Spanish team for Sunday's road race. "We accept the decision.

"It's not good news. It's disappointing but I wouldn't say it was such a big blow.".

The UCI banned Valverde from the competition because of his possible implication in the Operation Puerto anti-doping investigation.

The Spanish Cycling Federation challenged the decision and the UCI agreed to accept arbitration.

(China Daily 09/28/2007 page20)