LONDON (AP) ― Barcelona received the maximum points in AP’s global soccer rankings on Tuesday, with the team’s striker, Lionel Messi, coming close to top marks.The Catalan team was rewarded by the Associated Press’ panel of 20 soccer journalists for its 4-0 rout of AC Milan to overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit and qualify for the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the sixth season in a row.“We rediscovered the best Barcelona at the best possible moment,” Cedric Rouquette of Eurosport in Fr

In the early going of the 2013 season of the K League Classic, a team once considered a heavy underdog has charged up to first place, while the defending champion, a constant serious title contender, has yet to win a game, all part of an unexpected tale of mixed fortunes.The Pohang Steelers have taken the lead three matches into the new season in South Korea’s first-division football league. Pohang is one of three undefeated teams so far with two wins and a draw and has taken first place thanks

Lampard’s 200th Chelsea goal lifts Blues to third

South Korea on Monday replaced three injured players on the national soccer team roster ahead of a World Cup qualification match.The Korea Football Association said Hwang Ji-soo, of the Pohang Steelers in the domestic K League Classic, will replace Kim Do-heon in midfield. Kim, playing for another K League Classic side the Suwon Samsung Bluewings, tore a knee ligament during a league game against Pohang Sunday and has been ruled out for six months.Also, Choi Chul-soon, a defensive back for the s

A Greek soccer player says the seeming Nazi salute he gave after scoring a goal was no Nazi salute.Giorgos Katidis of EK Athens received a lifetime ban even though he insisted he wasn‘t thinking fascism when he stripped off his jersey raised his arm to the crowd while celebrating a goal against Veria during a Super League match Saturday.“I despise fascism,” Katidis remarked on Twitter after reportedly being peppered with criticism from other players and various Greek politicians.“I would not hav

LONDON (AP) ― Chelsea staged a thrilling comeback to beat Steaua Bucharest 3-1 and reach the Europa League quarterfinals, but Inter Milan failed to advance despite a second-leg recovery of its own on a breathless night of last-16 action on Thursday. John Terry and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to help Chelsea, the reigning European champion, squeeze past Steaua 3-2 on aggregate at Stamford Bridge. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Inter thrashed Tottenham 4-1 at the San Siro for a 4-4

MUNICH (AP) ― Bayern Munich barely staved off an improbable comeback attempt by Arsenal and advanced in the Champions League despite a 2-0 loss Wednesday night, leaving England without a team in the quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years.While the Gunners’ win tied the home-and-home series 3-3, Bayern Munich advanced because of a 3-2 advantage in away goals.After losing the first leg 3-1 at home on Feb. 19, Arsenal went ahead on Olivier Giroud’s goal in the third minute. Laurent Koscielny

BARCELONA (AP) ― Hailed as perhaps soccer’s greatest team ever, Barcelona faced a challenge no club had overcome: advancing in the Champions League after a 2-0 first-leg loss on the road.Lionel Messi & Co. came through in spectacular fashion with another record-setting night.Messi started the revival with a pair of first-half goals, and Barcelona overwhelmed AC Milan 4-0 Tuesday to reach its sixth straight Champions League quarterfinal with a 4-2 aggregate win.“It had been a long time since we h

LONDON (AP) ― Cristiano Ronaldo surged to the top of the AP’s latest global soccer rankings on Tuesday, thanks to decisive goals for Real Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League.Ronaldo was awarded 153 points in the Associated Press survey of 16 global soccer journalists, comfortably beating Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, who earned 82 points, just six ahead of fellow Argentine Carlos Tevez of Manchester City.“Cristiano Ronaldo’s three goals in two games, one of them against Man United, earn

LONDON (AP) ― Eden Hazard and Ramires scored second-half goals as defending Chelsea rallied for a 2-2 tie at Manchester United and forced a replay to determine which team will play Manchester City in the semifinals.Coming off Champions League elimination against Real Madrid on Tuesday, Manchester United built a 2-0 lead on goals by Javier Hernandez in the fifth minute and Wayne Rooney in the 11th. Hazard began the comeback when he scored in the 59th minute, and Ramires tied it nine minutes later