BRASILIA (AP) ― Only 3 minutes into the match, Neymar got the job done.The Brazil striker scored early to help Brazil beat Japan 3-0 in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on Saturday, knocking in a firm shot from outside the penalty area.Neymar connected with the ball after Fred controlled a long cross from Marcelo with his chest. The ball bounced only once before Neymar whacked it in.“It was a very quick moment where Fred was able to control the ball and I was very lucky to get a fanta

The buildup to the key World Cup qualifier next week between South Korea and Iran has taken on a hostile vibe as the two head coaches have been engaging in a verbal war all week.Choi Kang-hee, the South Korean head coach, fired the first salvo on Tuesday. South Korea defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 at home, and at the postmatch news conference, Choi was asked to look ahead to the match against Iran the following week.In the countries’ previous showdown in Tehran last October, Iran prevailed 1-0 in a con

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) ― Tourists planning to flock to Brazil for the World Cup a year from now should brace for some of the world’s highest housing, restaurant and transport prices.Prices have gone through the roof, particularly in the country’s tourism gateway Rio, which this month is one of the hosts for football’s Confederations Cup and in July welcomes Pope Francis for a major Catholic Youth festival.Famous for its annual carnival and spectacular beaches, Rio is now the world’s third most exp

Holger Osieck, the manager for the Australian national soccer team, apologized on Wednesday for saying “women should shut up in public.” The comment caused a furor among the public.“That was not the intent. To everyone offended, I sincerely apologize,” he was quoted as saying,He told the media the remarks were not against any woman, and that the perception that they were sexist was a “complete misunderstanding.”According to media reports, Osieck made the comment prior to the press conference tha

Much-maligned for uninspired play of late, the South Korean men's national football team came alive just in time to secure a vital win over Uzbekistan in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.Youth was served as South Korea eked out a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Given South Korea's epidemic failure to score, it was perhaps fitting that the home team enjoyed the win on an own goal by an Uzbekistan defender.Still, South Korea displayed flashes of brilliance on offense, c

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) ― Oscar, Hernanes and Lucas scored second-half goals on Sunday as Brazil defeated France 3-0 in its final warm-up before the Confederations Cup.Chelsea playmaker Oscar opened the scoring with a shot from close range in the 54th minute. Hernanes added to the lead with a left-footed attempt from inside the area in the 85th, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas sealed the victory by converting a penalty kick in injury time.The result ended Brazil’s 21-year winless run against F

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Manchester City made its first big move in this summer’s transfer market on Thursday, signing Brazil international Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk to make a statement of intent ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Financial details weren’t disclosed but British media reported that Fernandinho cost City around 35 million pounds ($54.7 million) and signed a five-year deal. “This is a change, a challenge and a chance that I have been waiting a long time for,” said

MADRID (AFP) ― Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has taken a parting shot at his old team’s biggest star Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the striker thought he knew it all.Mourinho, who is returning to Chelsea next season after three divisive years at the Santiago Bernabeu, was asked why relations between the two Portuguese compatriots had deteriorated.“Cristiano had three fantastic seasons with me, all of them,” the 50-year-old Mourinho told Spanish television Intereconomia’s sports program Punt

Son Heung-min, a striker for Hamburg SV and one of South Korea’s top soccer prospects, may move to Bayer Leverkusen, German media reported Wednesday.According to Kicker Online, Son is close to reaching a deal with Leverkusen, the team on which Korean soccer star Cha Bum-kun used to play.The website expected Son’s transfer fee to be about 10 million euros ($13 million).Leverkusen’s spokesman Dirk Mesch told Goal.com that the club could not confirm this report. Son’s agent Thies Bliemeister was un

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) ― Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, tying Australia 1-1 Tuesday night on Keisuke Honda’s penalty kick in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.Before a crowd of 62,172, Tommy Oar put Australia ahead in the 82nd minute. But Matthew McKay’s hand ball set up the penalty kick for Honda, who beat goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with a left-footed shot to the top corner.

As soccer draws go, this was as dramatic as it could get. South Korea managed a 1-1 tie against Lebanon in the countries’ World Cup qualifier in Beirut Tuesday, as Kim Chi-woo netted the equalizer on a free kick just moments from the whistle.The score brought South Korea back from the brink of a stunning loss to a heavy underdog, but the last-gasp goal masked deeper problems. South Korea entered the game ranked 42nd in the FIFA table, 87 spots ahead of Lebanon. On paper, the match should have be