Soccer Shorts

Lita laid out for openerLeroy Lita faces a race against time to be fit for Reading's Premier League opener against Manchester United after suffering a freak injury in bed.

The England under-21 striker was unable to train yesterday after damaging a muscle while stretching and he is now a doubt for Sunday's trip to Old Trafford.

Reading manager Steve Coppell said: "Leroy is in a great deal of pain. He woke up and stretched while in bed and he has done something to his leg.

"We don't know what happened exactly. It looks to be a problem with a nerve. Maybe he has displaced one, but he could hardly walk yesterday and had to sit out training."

City make trio available

Manchester City have made Ousmane Dabo, Danny Mills and Paul Dickov available for transfer.

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will listen to offers for Dickov, Mills and Dabo, the Frenchman who was at the centre of an alleged training-ground incident with Joey Barton.

Eriksson is preparing to clear out the players he deems surplus to requirements as he closes in on his ninth signing with the arrival of Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano for €4.4 million from Palermo.

Johnson to miss league start

Birmingham captain Damien Johnson will miss the start of the Premier League campaign after a scan revealed a grade-one tear of a hamstring.

The results of the scan have confirmed the worst fears of the Northern Ireland midfielder, who suffered the setback in a pre-season clash with Walsall 10 day ago.

Under-19s fall to Chile

The Republic of Ireland's under-19 side suffered a disappointing 2-1 friendly defeat to Chile in Athlone last night, going down to a second-half Sebastian Barrientos double strike.

Everything appeared set up for an Irish victory after the visitors scored an own-goal on the hour but Barrientos's late intervention turned things around.

James Berrett had Ireland's first opportunity in the 20th minute but he failed to get a decent connection to Mark O'Toole's cross and the ball trickled wide with the Chilean goalkeeper beaten.

The Irish took the lead on the hour when Ruairi Harkin's right-wing free-kick was deflected into his own net by defender Bastian Arce.

Cristian Abarca sent Sebastion Barrientos through to level six minutes later. Irish goalkeeper Shane Redmond slipped as he advanced and Barrientos tapped home into an open goal.

Barrientos wrapped it up for the visitors in the 79th minute when he ran onto another Abarca through ball and rounded Redmond before slotting home.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:Redmond; Joyce (Donoghue 58), O'Toole, Spillane, Haverty, Fitzgerald, Harkin, Berrett (Carolan 52), Arter (Mahon 65), Liddle (Lynch 81), Onwubiko (Corcoran 52).

CHILE:Saavedra; Saez, Biskupovic (Pineda 63, Campos 89), Torres, Arce, Munoz (Torreblanca 46), Salinas, Aranguiz, Abarca, Barrientos, Orellana (Medel 46).

Referee: R Winter(Dublin).

Irish hold Czechs at games

Ireland earned a hard-fought goalless draw with the top seeds, the Czech Republic, in their opening group game at the World University Games in Bangkok yesterday.

Under pressure for most of the first half the Irish back four never wilted in the high temperatures and, with Kieran Harte, Stephen Lowry and Seamus Long working tirelessly in midfield, the Irish slowly began to gain the upper hand.

Ireland play Thailand in their next game tomorrow.The hosts overcame Canada 4-1 in the other group game, finishing much stronger with a couple of late goals.

The Irish women went down 3-0 to North Korea in their first group game and play Germany tomorrow.

IRELAND:Brennan (UCD); Ward (UU Jordanstown), Whelan (DIT), McMillen (UCD), Gallagher (DIT); Harte (UCD, capt), O'Donnell (UCD, 85 mins), Lowry (UU Coleraine), O'Sullivan (UCD, 70 mins), Long (Cork College of Commerce); Lally (Cork IT), Roche (DIT, 50 mins), Forsyth (UCD), Moran (UCD, 50 mins), Caufield (Cork IT).

Crowe gets back on track

Glen Crowe's first goal in over two months put Bohemians into the League of Ireland Cup final - despite their having to play for almost 75 minutes with 10 men.

Crowe struck to break the deadlock on 59 minutes when meeting John Paul Kelly's corner with a powerful header to score his ninth goal of the season.

Bohemians had midfielder Mark Rossiter - who was also dismissed in Saturday's defeat in Longford - sent off for a harsh second booking for a foul on David Cassidy after just 16 minutes.

In brief

Ipswich Townstriker Alan Leehas signed a new contract. The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international has penned a new two-year deal, having been chased by fellow English Championship side Hull Cityfor most of the summer. Burnleymanager Steve Cotterillhas confirmed he has turned down an undisclosed offer from Fulhamfor striker Kyle Lafferty. Lafferty played under Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchezduring his time as Northern Ireland manager but the 19-year-old is under contract at Turf Moor until 2010. West Bromhave signed Middlesbroughmidfielder James Morrisonin a €2.2-million deal. The 21-year-old signed a four-year contract. Evertonhave completed the signing of Leighton Bainesfrom Premier League rivals Wigan. Baines (22), a life-long Everton fan, has signed a five-year deal for €7.4 million now with another a1.5 million from potential add-ons.