Libertadores Cup: A spectacular goal by Diego Souza helped Gremio reach the final of South America's Libertadores Cup yesterday despite losing 3-1 at Santos. Souza unleashed a long-range shot in the 23rd minute to silence the crowd that had packed into the Vila Belmiro stadium to see the all-Brazilian semi-final clash. The tie ended 3-3 on aggregate but Gremio go through by virtue of the away goals rule. Gremio will play the winners of today's semi-final between Boca Juniors and Colombian side Cucuta, who have a 3-1 lead from the first leg.
Milan tour: Milan will take part in a four-team invitational tournament in Moscow. The Italian side, who beat Liverpool 2-1 in last month's Champions League final, join Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid and hosts Lokomotiv Moscow for the Aug. 3-5 tournament.
Reina: Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina has signed a new five-year deal keeping him at Anfield until 2012. Reina's signing follows new four-year deals agreed earlier in the week with club stalwarts Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. The Spain international joined from Villarreal in July 2005.
Curse removed: Romania's back-to-back wins over Group G rivals Slovenia have lifted a curse and will take them on to the 2008 Euro finals, soccer icon Gheorghe Hagi said. Slovenia's 1-1 draw in Bucharest in 2001 killed off Romania's hopes of reaching the World Cup finals in Korea and Japan the following year. Romania have failed to qualify for a major tournament since. "Now, I can say Romanians have forgotten the doomed past and they can look forward to next year's Euro finals," Hagi, who was at the helm in that fateful 1-1 draw, told Reuters.
Beretta fired: Siena have parted company with coach Mario Beretta by mutual consent, the Serie A club said yesterday. Last month, Siena were five minutes from being relegated on the last day of the season when Paolo Negro scored to give them a 2-1 win over Lazio which sent Chievo down.
Protest rejected: Egypt's protest over the outcome of Sunday's Nations Cup qualifier in Mauritania has been rejected, the Confederation of African Football said yesterday. The Egyptians, who won the last Nations Cup, had sought to have the result of their Group Two match overturned after a crowd invasion halted the restart of the second half by 40 minutes. The match in Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital, ended in a 1-1 draw.
Viduka: Striker Mark Viduka completed his move from Middlesbrough to their north-east rivals Newcastle yesterday. "Sam Allardyce has made his first summer signing," Newcastle said, adding the 31-year-old had signed a two-year contract with an option for a further 12 months.