Sporting Briefs...

Flamengo: Flamengo scored goals on either side of the equator to beat Ypiranga 2-0 on Wednesday and progress to the third round of the Copa Brasil. The Copa Brasil is a nationwide tournament which takes the country's biggest clubs to some of the remotest corners of the nation in the earlier rounds. Flamengo were drawn away to Ypiranga, who play in the Amazonian city of Macapa where the halfway line at the city's Zerao (Big Zero) stadium runs along the equator. Fellype Gabriel opened the scoring with his first goal for the club in the 16th minute of the first leg match. Dimba, who supplied the pass, added the second from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute.

Bill McGarry dies: Bill McGarry, the former manager of Ipswich, Wolves and Newcastle, has died aged 77 after a long illness. McGarry led Ipswich to promotion to the old first division in 1968, and guided Wolves to the UEFA Cup final in 1972 and to victory in the 1974 League Cup final. Wolves lost to Tottenham in the UEFA Cup final of 1972 and McGarry's death comes just five months after that of Bill Nicholson, his opposite number in the final.

Owomoyela: Werder Bremen will sign Germany defender Patrick Owomoyela from fellow Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld at the end of the season. Werder are expected to pay around €2.5 million for the right back, who broke into the national side last year and has four German caps.

Greece: European champions Greece have named two uncapped players in their squad to play Georgia and Albania in this month's World Cup qualifiers. Coach Otto Rehhagel has called up Panathinaikos defender Loukas Vintra and striker Fanis Gekkas to replace injured Olympiakos Piraeus duo Stelios Venetidis and Giorgios Georgiadis.

In Italy: Serie B - AlbinoLeffe vs Treviso 2-2; Verona vs Triestina 0-0.

¤ Brazilian former World Cup defender Junior Baiano was banned for five matches on Wednesday for a gesture he made after being sent off during a game for Flamengo last month. Baiano, 35, made a gesture with his hand which in Brazil is interpreted as robbery after being sent off during the game against Volta Redonda in the Carioca championship. A disciplinary tribunal banned him for three matches for "moral offence" and two matches for "disrespect."