IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

Boca advances into last 16

RIO DE JANEIRO: Champion Boca Juniors beat UA Maracaibo 3-0 on Tuesday to scrape into the last 16 of the Libertadores Cup on goal difference after Atlas had helped the Argentine side by drawing 1-1 at Colo Colo.

Boca pipped Chilean champions Colo Colo on goal difference for second place in Group 3 after both finished with 10 points from six games.

Mexico's Atlas topped the group with 11 points.

If Colo Colo had won, Boca's three-goal win would have been insufficient as it would have finished level on points with Atlas with an inferior goal difference.

Cahill vows to return

SYDNEY: Everton's goalscoring midfielder Tim Cahill vowed on Wednesday to be back for pre-season training after arriving in Sydney to undergo foot surgery.

The Australian star, a key figure in David Moyes' team, broke his foot last month and has been ruled out for the rest of the season, including the Socceroos' four World Cup qualifiers in June.

He arrived here with Everton physiotherapist Matthew Connery and is expected to undergo surgery in the next fortnight ahead of a 12-week rehabilitation program.

"I hope to be back for pre-season ready for the first game of Everton's next season," Cahill told Fox Sports.

Bolivia urges ban delay

LA PAZ: The Confederation of South American Football (CSF) has called on FIFA president Joseph Blatter to push back the ban on playing matches at altitude until after its 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, the Bolivian Football Federation revealed on Tuesday.

World soccer's governing body FIFA has banned the South American team from staging qualifiers above 3,500m in La Paz but the Bolivians claim they are being discriminated against.

"It's the first time that we have endured such a difficult situation. For this reason we're calling on your understanding and ask you to make a gesture at this critical moment," the CSF said in a letter to FIFA.

Schlaudraff to join Hanover

MUNICH, Germany: Bayern Munich striker Jan Schlaudraff is set to join fellow Bundlesliga side Hanover, the Bavarian club said on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old, who arrived at Bayern from Aachen in July following relegation into the second division, has played just six times for Bayern this term.

Bayern said in a statement: "Bayern has decided to terminate his contract which ran till 2010, as requested by the player, and he will join Hanover in July." No transfer fee or length of contract was given in the statement.

However Schlaudraff - capped three times by Germany - could get a call-up into the starting eleven for Thursday's UEFA Cup semifinal, first leg at home to Zenit St Petersburg.

American football

Dolphins sign blocker Long

MIAMI: University of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Miami Dolphins that will make him the top pick in Saturday's National Football League Draft.

The deal will bring the Dolphins, an NFL-worst 1-15 last season, a powerful blind-side blocker to protect the quarterback at a cost of $57.5 million with $30 million of the deal guaranteed.

"I just love going out and playing. That's why I'm here early," Long said.

The guaranteed money is similar to what was received by last year's top pick, Oakland Raiders quarterback Jamarcus Russell.

(China Daily 04/24/2008 page24)