Argentina continue to impress

Ariel Ortega scored in the last minute to clinch a 2-0 friendly victory for Argentina over South Africa at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires last night.

It was the final World Cup warm-up match for two-time winners Argentina, while South Africa complete their preparations for the finals next month with a match against Iceland in Germany on June 6th.

Gabriel Batistuta put the South Americans ahead with a 49thminute header after Claudio Lopez sold Willem Jackson a dummy and crossed. Batistuta scored a hat-trick against Bosnia, snatched the winner against Chile, and also scored against the Republic of Ireland in recent friendlies. Argentina also beat Brazil 1-0.

South Africa lived up to the promise of French coach Philippe Troussier and attacked from the outset. Brendan Augustine went close twice and German Burgos made excellent reflex saves from a Phil Masinga header and a fierce shot by John `Shoes' Moshoeu.

Quinton Fortune from Spanish club Atletico Madrid, one of two changes from the Zambia match, was a revelation on the left side of midfield as their own until near half-time.

South African Helman Mkhalele was sent off by Uruguayan referee Gustavo Mendez for a late tackle on Ortega with 14 minutes left in a match that also produced six cautions.

Chile had a disappointing 2-2 draw with Uruguay in a friendly on Sunday. With about 60,000 people watching at Santiago's National Stadium, Chile's Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas scored in the ninth and 24th minutes.

But in the second half, Uruguay's Nicolas Olivera and Marcelo Zalayeta equalised with goals in the 62nd and 80th minutes. "It is better that this happens now than in the World Cup," Zamorano told reporters.

Ernie Stewart and Tab Ramos scored goals as the US dominated Kuwait with a 2-0 victory on Sunday in a World Cup warm-up in Portland. Stewart scored in the 38th minute and Ramos in the 82nd. Striker Eric Wynalda, making his first appearance after recovering from a strained knee ligament, played the entire second half and showed no ill effects from his injury.

Brazilian striker Romario was passed fit to play in the finals after a magnetic imaging session indicated there was no major problem with a calf injury that was troubling him. Romario suffered the injury during the world champions' first training session in France on Friday.

Brazilian team doctor Lidio Toledo said: "There is nothing seriously wrong and Romario will be ready for the World Cup."

Romario is nonetheless likely to be rested for Brazil's May 31st friendly against Spanish club Athletic Bilbao.

Italian-based striker Alen Boksic is struggling to be fit to play for Croatia's squad for next month's finals. Boksic, who has a knee injury, is facing minor surgery that could rule him out of Croatia's first two Group H matches, team doctor Boris Nemec said yesterday.

AC Milan yesterday named former Udinese coach Alberto Zaccheroni as Fabio Capello's replacement at the club. A club spokeswoman said Zaccheroni, who took Udinese to third place in serie A this season, had signed a two-year contract with Milan.

Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo has admitted he would jump at the chance to return to the Italian Serie A. Di Matteo, currently with Italy's World Cup squad, said that although he is not unhappy at Chelsea, "if the chance came to return to Italy I certainly wouldn't turn it down".