BEST OF THE REST

Last updated : 26 May 2004 By Editor
From The Guardian:

Roy Keane's international return is starting to resemble a Samuel Beckett-style play, Waiting for Keano. Although the midfielder belatedly joined his team-mates last night for tomorrow's friendly with Romania, Ireland fans will not be taking anything for granted.

Keane flew in a day behind schedule after undergoing treatment for knee and thigh injuries sustained in the FA Cup final, and he remains a doubt. Having missed last month's game in Poland because of hamstring problems, the former captain's much-anticipated return is in danger of being delayed a second time.

"He took a severe knock on Saturday and it was quite sore [on Monday]," Ireland's manager Brian Kerr said yesterday.

"His knee was sore and he had some swelling on his thigh muscle. It's improved a bit but if it's improved [enough] for him to be involved on Thursday we have to wait and see."

Keane's decision to travel is not without significance. It helps show that he is willing and keen to play friendlies for his country wherever possible. He will miss their three other games over the next fortnight, however - against Nigeria, Jamaica and Holland - because of prior commitments.

If Keane cannot play tomorrow his comeback will take place at the earliest in a mid-August friendly. That constitutes Ireland's final preparation for the 2006 World Cup campaign and falls between Manchester United's Champions League qualifiers.


BUENOS AIRES, May 25 (Reuters):
Defending champions Boca Juniors survived a scare before going on to beat Sao Caetano on penalties and reach the Libertadores Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.

Boca, who could face River Plate next if their arch-rivals overcome Colombia's Deportivo Cali on Wednesday, came from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw at home in the quarter-final second leg match and force penalties after a goalless first leg.

The Argentine team also missed their first effort in the shootout before winning 4-3, helped by wayward shooting from the Brazilians.

Champions three times in the last four years, Boca were banned from playing at their usually impregnable Bombonera stadium because of problems at their Argentine championship derby with River ten days ago. Instead, they staged the game in the stadium of neighbours Racing Club.

Boca rarely looked dangerous and their only first-half chance fell to Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who fired over from close range after Sao Caetano's Anderson Lima had inadvertently chested the ball to him.

Sao Caetano midfielder Gilberto, who hit the crossbar early on, put the visitors in front in the 58th minute with a superb effort, collecting a back-heeled pass form Fabricio Carvalho, cutting inside a defender and placing the ball into the corner.

Substitute Antonio Barijho equalised with his first touch in the 70th minute, clinically finishing after an astute pass from Carlos Tevez.
Away goals and extra time are not used in the competition so the tie went straight to penalties.