A round-up of other soccer stories in brief...
Millwall end Leeds' promotion hopes
Leeds Utd 1 Millwall 1
Millwall win 2-1 on aggregate
MILLWALL midfielder Jimmy Abdou stunned a full house at Elland Road last night to send the Londoners through to the English League One play-off final. The Frenchman turned home substitute Lewis Grabban’s cross in the 73rd minute to silence most in the biggest crowd outside the top flight this season.
Leeds striker Luciano Becchio had bundled home a 52nd-minute equaliser to level the tie and send most of the 37,036 attendance into delirium.
Jermaine Beckford, Leeds 34-goal forward, saw a 48th-minute penalty saved, before Argentinian team-mate Becchio appeared to have sent a nerve-jangling second leg towards extra-time.
But Abdou popped up to convert Millwall’s only chance of the match and the Londoners edged through to their first play-off final at the fourth attempt.
Perez pledges 'spectacular project' if he gets Real job
FLORENTINO PEREZ yesterday officially confirmed he would be re-running for the Real Madrid presidency with the promise of a “spectacular project” to get the Spanish giants back to the elite of world football.
Perez was Madrid president for six eventful years from 2000-2006, during which time the club won two Primera Liga titles and the Champions League, and was characterised by the famous “Galacticos” policy.
That policy saw Madrid sign a host of superstar players such as Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo, and Perez yesterday hinted his campaign bid could follow a similar pattern – although he refused to name names.
“We are working towards and we will work to create a spectacular project, and that is to make Real Madrid the best club in the world once more,” said Perez, considered the favourite to win the election.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka are two of the names that have been closely linked with a move to Madrid.
Hamilton fight to hold on to McCarthy
HAMILTON were yesterday fighting to keep hold of midfielder James McCarthy after Celtic made their move for the teenager. Hamilton manager Billy Reid confirmed the club had received a bid from the Scottish champions, which was set to be rejected.
But agent Willie McKay claims 18-year-old McCarthy has his heart set on a move to Parkhead and as long as Celtic meet Hamilton’s valuation, it looks likely he will leave New Douglas Park this summer.
Reid refused to divulge the amount of the offer for McCarthy, which is the second bid for the player in just over a week after Portsmouth saw an approach rejected.
Pompey reportedly wanted to pay €550,000 to land arguably the hottest prospect in Scottish football, but Reid is not prepared to entertain anything less than a seven-figure bid, he said.
Buffon to stay with Juventus
GIANLUIGI BUFFON will stay at Juventus despite a period of turmoil at the club, the Italy goalkeeper said yesterday.
The 31-year-old has been linked in the media with a move away after Juve slipped out of the Serie A title race.
SUNDERLAND boss Ricky Sbragia is refusing to consider on-loan striker Djibril Cisse’s future until Premier League status is secured. Cisse was dropped for last week’s 0-0 draw with Bolton.
“He [Cisse] is a Sunderland player, we pay him. He knows the situation, the fact that, if we get over the line, we will address the situation,” said Sbragia.
ARGENTINA Under-17 goalkeeper Damian Emiliano Martinez is set for a trial at Arsenal. Martinez, who is on the books of Independiente, will fly to England tomorrow along with Argentina youth goalkeeping coach Miguel Angel Santoro.
