Hamrun Spartans win: Hamrun Spartans collected their second successive pre-season win after beating Valletta 2-1 in a friendly at the Centenary Stadium yesterday. Goals from Roderick Fenech (3) and Gaetan Spiteri (20) put the Spartans 2-0 up. Valletta tried to hit back but they only managed to score once, through a Sebastian Monesterolo penalty on 38 minutes as they suffered their second successive defeat. Massimo Grima and Saviour Darmanin were sent off for Valletta while Spiteri was shown the red card for Hamrun. Last week, the Spartans beat Malta U-17 7-0 in another warm-up match while Valletta lost to Birkirkara 1-0.
Higuita: Eccentric former Colombia goalkeeper Rene Higuita returned to action on Sunday, just under three years after testing positive for cocaine for the second time in his career and being sacked by Ecuadorean club Aucas. Higuita, known for charging upfield and dribbling past opponents with occasionally disastrous results, was twice beaten as first division newcomers Guaros were held 2-2 at home by Monagas.
Eto'o recalled: Cameroon's caretaker coach Jules Frederic Nyongha has recalled Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o for this month's friendly in Japan. Eto'o was on club duty when Cameroon played their last fixture in June, an African Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda. Hamburg defender Timothe Atouba and Valladolid midfielder Daniel Ngom Kome were also brought back into the squad yesterday.
Bielsa: Argentina's Marcelo Bielsa has been offered the job as coach of Chile, the president of the Chilean FA said yesterday. "All we need is for him to say yes," said Harold Mayne-Nicholls after meeting with Bielsa. Mayne-Nicholls said Bielsa, who coached Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, had visited the team's training camp on Saturday.
Australia friendly: Australia have lined up a friendly international against China in October, Football Federation Australia (FFA) said yesterday. FFA chief executive Ben Buckley told reporters the decision to face China in Sydney had nothing to do with Australia's disappointing quarter-final elimination from last month's Asian Cup. Australia are due to play Argentina in a friendly in Melbourne on Sept. 11.
Pagotto: Former AC Milan and Sampdoria goalkeeper Angelo Pagotto faces a life ban for testing positive for cocaine for the second time, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said yesterday. The 33-year-old failed a drugs test in April after playing for Crotone against La Spezia in the Italian second division, Serie B.
German Cup: First round - Burghausen vs Bayern Munich 1-1 (aet; Bayern win 5-4 on penalties).
Scottish Premier League: Hearts vs Hibernian 0-1.