Ecuador: Ecuador put internal problems behind them and fielded several newcomers to crush Bolivia 4-0 in preparation for their meeting with Brazil tomorrow. The team, coached by Sixto Vizuete, won the friendly in Florida with goals from Christian Noboa and Enner Valencia and debutants Juan Cazares and Junior Sornoza. England-based World Cup captain Antonio Valencia and winger Jefferson Montero both had asked not to be picked.
Shaqiri: Xherdan Shaqiri said Liverpool had an offer for his services rejected by Bayern Munich this summer. The Switzerland international has long been linked with a move to Anfield, with the Reds said to have been keen before he left Basel for Bayern in 2012. “Liverpool made a bid for me before the World Cup but Bayern told me, ‘We’re not going to sell you’.” Shaqiri said. “My contract runs until 2016 and I could possibly extend it.”
Guarin: Fredy Guarin’s agent said the Colombian midfielder is happy at Inter. Guarin had been on the verge of a move elsewhere this summer but could not agree terms with any of the interested clubs. “I want to make it clear that Guarin never requested a transfer,” Marcelo Ferreyra said. “Fredy is happy at Inter, always has been and will continue to be. We are absolutely not thinking about the transfer market.”
Rangers: Former Rangers commercial director Imran Ahmad has succeeded in his bid to have £620,000 of club assets frozen. Ahmad claimed he was owed a £500,000 bonus for the time he spent working at Ibrox. Ahmad, who had twice lost court bids to have Rangers’ assets ring-fenced, said he is owed money for negotiating deals and also wants £120,000 to cover legal expenses.
Poor run: Sporting Kansas City’s poor run of form continued as they lost 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls last weekend. Bradley Wright-Phillips’s penalty gave the Red Bulls the lead and Thierry Henry doubled the advantage in the second half. Dom Dwyer grabbed a goal back two minutes later but New York held on to condemn Sporting to their fourth straight defeat. That allowed DC United to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to five points.