POZNAN, Poland (AP) ― There were no tears for Antonio Cassano this time, just joy.Seven months after a scary episode of stroke-like symptoms, Cassano scored the decisive goal when Italy beat Ireland 2-0 Monday to reach the European Championship quarterfinals.Cassano headed in with his back to the goal by the near post following a corner kick in the 35th minute on a warm and muggy night at the Municipal Stadium Poznan.Substitute Mario Balotelli doubled the lead in the 90th, a minute after Ireland

Jeonbuk Motors’ Brazilian midfielder Enio Oliveira became the fastest K-League player ever to rack up 50 goals and 50 assists after his assist against Daegu FC on Sunday.The 31-year-old, widely known as “Eninho,” has 69 goals under his belt and provided his 50th assist on Sunday in just 177 games.The Brazilian player surpassed the record of Russian midfielder Denis Laktionov, who completed the feat in 221 games on March 6, 2005.  Eninho’s record was belatedly acknowledged as his assist to Jung S

Spain`s Jesus Navas scores the only goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group C match between Croatia and Spain in Gdansk, Poland, Monday. (AP-Yonhap News)Unconvincing as it was, it was still enough for Spain.The defending champions advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship on Monday, getting an 88th-minute goal from substitute Jesus Navas in a 1-0 win over Croatia.Spain

Lee Chun-soo, a 2002 World Cup forward on waivers since 2009, has been ordered to pay 20 million won ($17,000) in damages to his former Korean league soccer club for contract renunciation.A high court in Gwangju ruled on Sunday that Lee must pay the damages to the Chunnam Dragons, based in South Jeolla Province. The court also ruled that his agent, surnamed Kim, pay 242 million won in damages to the team.The court said that the club has been devalued by his rude acts against a referee, suspensio

KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) ― Cristiano Ronaldo’s smile and swagger were back, and so was his scoring touch.The Real Madrid forward finally found the form he was lacking at the European Championship, scoring twice in a sparkling performance Sunday to give Portugal a 2-1 win over the Netherlands and a spot in the quarterfinals.Poised to be written off as one of the tournament’s flops, Ronaldo put a miserable two-game goalless run at Euro 2012 behind him.“Now everything is possible,” said Ronaldo, who w

(AP-Yonhap News)Cristiano Ronaldo's smile and swagger were back, and so was his scoring touch.The Real Madrid forward finally found the form he was lacking at the European Championship, scoring twice in a sparkling performance Sunday to give Portugal a 2-1 win over the Netherlands and a spot in the quarterfinals.Poised to be written of as one of the tournament's flops, Ronaldo put a miserable two-

(AP-Yonhap News)Co-host Poland and Group A favorite Russia crashed out of the European Championship on Saturday, as the Czech Republic and Greece scored 1-0 wins to advance to the quarterfinals.The Czechs won the group as a second-half goal from Petr Jiracek beat Poland, which wasted a series of chances early in the game in rainy Wroclaw.Greece recaptured the spirit and style of its surprise Euro

GDANSK, Poland (AP) ― Fernando Torres scored a goal in each half Thursday to give Spain a 4-0 win over Ireland and eliminate the Irish from the European Championship.David Silva and substitute Cesc Fabregas also scored second-half goals as the defending champions improved to four points in Group C, the same as co-leader Croatia.Spain dominated the tempo and scoring opportunities through its quick combinations, taking 26 shots and putting the team on course for a spot in the quarterfinals.Torres,

KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) ― Mario Gomez scored two first-half goals Wednesday to give Germany a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in one of the most anticipated showdowns of the European Championship.Robin van Persie pulled one back for the Netherlands in the second half but the defeat left the 2010 World Cup runner-up on the brink of elimination.“Early on we had decent chances but the German goals came out of nowhere,” Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. “We defended badly. Our offense and defense

WARSAW (AP) ― Alan Dzagoev scored his third goal of the European Championship and Jakub Blaszczykowski tied it in the second half as Russia and Poland drew 1-1 Tuesday.The match was marred before kickoff by fighting between hooligans from both countries, leaving several people injured as thousands of Russian fans marched to celebrate the Russia Day national holiday.Dzagoev darted past defender Lukasz Piszczek in the 37th minute and sent a glancing header beyond goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton after