Sir Alex Ferguson described new signing Javier Hernandez as “first class” after the striker scored against Manchester United as they went down to a 3-2 defeat by Chivas Guadalajara on the final game of their Americas tour.

Hernandez played the first half for his old club and the second for his new side and made an immediate impact as he netted after just eight minutes, to the delight of the crowd at the new Estadio Omnilife.

“Chicharito was first class, Ferguson said. “His goal for Chivas was a marvellous strike. He showed his real qualities.

“Chivas played very well and they were very quick. They pressed the ball well and made things difficult for us. They deserved to win.

“As for us, we’ve been away for three weeks. We’ve done lots of travelling and I think the players need to go home and rest now.”

After completing the first 45 minutes for the Mexican side, Hernandez changed teams and played for United until the hour mark.

“It was always my intention to give him only 15 minutes of the second half as he is in the process of recovering from the World Cup,” Ferguson said.

“He will now do some fitness training and endurance work when he arrives in Manchester and he will play more games.”

The Scot has been impressed by Hernandez in his first week of training with the Red Devils and has predicted a bright future for the player.

“Chicharito has done really well. The players have all remarked how good he is and what a great finisher he is
- I think there are similarities between him and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“The players are all supportive of him and have welcomed him to the club. I think he has a great future with us.”

As for Hernandez’s role in the team, Ferguson added: “The 4-3-3 formation suits us in some games, particularly in Europe because it’s important to guard against the counter-attack and keep possession.

“I think Chicharito can play as a lone striker, there’s no question about that. He did it in the World Cup for Mexico. But there are big possibilities of a partnership with Wayne Rooney and other players.”

Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi has invited Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez to make a bid for him, admitting that he “could never say no to a side like Inter”.

Rossi, who has played for the Yellow Submarine since moving from Manchester United in 2007, began his career in Italy with Parma and returned to play for the Serie A side on loan before transferring to Villarreal.

Marcello Lippi overlooked Rossi for Italy’s 2010 World Cup squad, with his poor club form last season blamed for the absence from the Azzurri set-up in South Africa.

But with Mario Balotelli looking set to leave the San Siro for pastures new, Rossi has emerged as a possible replacement – a link that he has welcomed.

“I am very happy at Villarreal and owe them a great deal,” Rossi told Corriere dello Sport. “However, I could never say no to a side like Inter. My phone is always on.

“It’s an honour to be linked with the champions of Italy and Europe, but for the moment there has been no official contact. I would only leave Villarreal if the call came from a big club. I am ready for a team like Inter.”

The BCCI’s working committee has turned down a request from India’s Commonwealth Games Committee to be its lead sponsor. “The Committee expressed its inability to agree to the request of the Commonwealth Games to be the lead partner by donating Rs. 100 crores (about $22 million),” the Indian cricket board said in a press release.

The Indian Olympic Association President, Suresh Kalmadi, had complained about the board’s decision to schedule Australia’s tour of India at the same time as the event, and asked for a donation to help ensure the Commonwealth Games would be a success. The BCCI has come to the aid of sporting federations in the past, most recently giving the All India Football Federation a two-year grant of Rs 25 crores (about $ 5.5. million) in 2009 to develop the sport in the country.

In light of the resolution of the WADA anti-doping issue, the board voted to seek the appointment of Dr Vece Paes, a former Olympian and father of Indian tennis player Leander Paes, a 12-time doubles Grand Slam champion, to be its anti-doping officer. According to the release, the details of Paes’ appointment are still to be worked out.

The Board also agreed to give the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association grants of Rs 20 crores (about $ 4.4 million) and Rs 25 crores (about $5.5. million) respectively for renovating stadiums, according to PTI.

Manchester City are trying to offload close to 30 players, ranging from internationals to juniors, according to some of the world’s leading football agents.

Roberto Mancini’s squad is bulging at the seams and with the announcement of his 25-man squad on the horizon, the Italian boss is determined to trim the playing personnel.

A Soccernet source revealed: “From first team squad players, through to the juniors and the kids, the club have so many players on their books, it is incredible.

“The club are devoting a lot of their time contacting clubs to place players on loan for a year, or to sell them.”

But many of City players are in no rush to leave Eastlands, having landed lucrative deals since the club’s Abu Dhabi owners first took control.

Another leading global agent told Soccernet: “The big earners are not willing to go. It is tough to get them out of the club.

“Its a case of having to pay them off, offer them hugs sums, millions, just to leave. Or they are going to be forced to subsidise the wages of players they sell.

“There is no doubt that City are going to lose a lot of money, on a lot of players. If it carries on like this, then in four or five years, Manchester City would have blown 1 billion on players.”

City, though, show no signs of halting their spending spree. It seems that while they continue talks on recruiting a big name striker, they have caused a bottleneck in the transfer market.

Inter Milan have made their move for Javier Mascherano, but Liverpool have slapped a 25 million price tag on his head, forcing the Nerazzurri to wait until they finalise a deal with City for Mario Balotelli before swooping for the Argentina World Cup captain.

Although it has been suggested that the Balotelli deal is a sure thing, Mancini has hedged his bets by keeping tabs on Edin Dzeko of Wolfsburg.

Brett Emerton and Morten Gamst Pedersen got the goals as Blackburn finished their Australia tour with a 2-1 win over Sydney FC.

With 37 minutes gone Gael Givet hit a long ball which Steven N’Zonzi flicked on and Emerton controlled before firing in the opener.

Half an hour later Rovers extended their lead when Junior Hoilett set up Keith Andrews whose effort was spilled by Sydney keeper Liam Reddy and Pedersen netted the loose ball.

Alex Brosque pulled a goal back when he was given too much time in the area with nine minutes remaining and Mark Bunn ensured Rovers hung on for victory with a late save from Shannon Cole.

Chile midfielder Jorge Valdivia will leave Al Ain for Brazilian side Palmeiras, the UAE club have confirmed.

Valdivia, 26, will return to the club he left in 2008 to join Al Ain, where he won the President Cup, Super Cup and Etisalat Emirates Cup in two seasons, and revealed he was leaving due to personal circumstances.

“I met with the team to say goodbye to my colleagues and the technical staff,” he told Al Ain’s official website. “I enjoyed a good period with Al Ain but I had certain issues which prevented me from staying with the team.”

Team manager Majed Al Owais admitted the team had been caught off guard by the Chilean’s decision.

“Valdivia surprised us by his demands to leave the team,” he said. “We clearly wanted him to stay but he insisted on leaving and returning to Brazil.

“We are currently going through negotiations to find a suitable replacement. Hopefully we can find a good replacement, although the time is not on our side.”

The Duke of Duckworth-Lewis Method

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Where’s South Africa’s next fast bowler?

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‘The more the pressure, the stronger I got’

Imran Khan on wanting to be fast, teaching Wasim and Waqar to bowl, the allrounder wars of the 1980s, ball-tampering, and more

Begging for mercy

Samir Chopra: Who has the patience for boring draws?

Fulham have demanded the removal of Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards after launching legal action against him in relation to his involvement in the transfer of Peter Crouch to Tottenham.

The Cottagers believe Richards interfered with their bid for then Portsmouth striker Crouch, leading to the England international joining Spurs for a 9 million fee – 2 million less than Fulham had offered.

An inquiry was launched into Richards’ involvement but there was found to be no impropriety on his part, a decision that was vehemently opposed by Fulham.

Richards has accepted that he did speak with Portsmouth’s then chief executive and friend Peter Storrie but denies he sought to assist Spurs over Fulham.

The Guardian published the contents of an e-mail sent round to all member clubs by Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore this week, in which he revealed Fulham’s decision to launch legal action against Richards.

“Fulham are asking the court to order an injunction restraining the chairman [Richards] from taking any role in the transfer of players or, alternatively, that the court remove the chairman from the board of the Premier League,” the e-mail said.

“The inquiry concluded the chairman’s actions had not been detrimental to Fulham, and that it was not inappropriate for the chairman to assist in such matters when requested to do so by a club.

“The claim is that Fulham have been unfairly prejudiced in their capacity as a member of the Premier League, as a result of alleged assistance provided by the chairman to Portsmouth in securing the transfer of Peter Crouch to Tottenham Hotspur in August 2009.”

If Richards were to be removed it could have serious for ramifications for his other football interests, which include positions as vice-chairman of the FA, chairman of Club England and member of the FA’s international committee.

Chicago Fire have completed the signing of midfielder Freddie Ljungberg from MLS rivals Seattle Sounders, with the two-time MLS All-Star joining Nery Castillo as a designated player for the club.

Ljungberg had found himself becoming a bit-part player recently at the Sounders, who receive a conditional pick in either the 2011 or 2012 MLS draft as part of the deal.

The former Arsenal star became Seattle’s first designated player in October 2008 and impressed in his first season – contributing nine assists in their inaugural campaign.

But he hasn’t been able to replicate his form this season, and had become increasingly marginalised – drawing criticism from Sounders coach Sigi Schmid for spending too much time complaining to officials. For the past few weeks he had been training alone while he recovered from an ankle injury.

But, revealing Ljungberg’s departure, Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauser was full of praise for the contribution of the midfielder, who commanded a $1.3 million salary.

“Freddie is a tremendous individual and an exceptional player who contributed greatly to the huge success of Sounders FC, both on and off the field, in the past year and a half,” Hanauer said.

“Freddie, along with Kasey Keller, gave this club immediate stature in the world’s game, and we are grateful for his service. We wish him all the best in Chicago.”

And Ljungberg was also keen to insist that he departed Seattle on good terms, thanking the club’s fans for their support during his time at Qwest Field.

“I want to start off by saying how proud I am to have been part of the most successful new franchise in MLS history, the Seattle Sounders FC,” Ljungberg said.

“I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I first came to Seattle but I have to say that how the city and the fans have embraced me has gone beyond my wildest dreams and for that I am forever grateful.

“I also want to thank my teammates who are absolutely great on and off the pitch. I have made some very close friends who I know I will be in contact with forever.”

France’s youngsters have redeemed the nation’s football reputation by beating Spain 2-1 in the Under-19 European Championship final on home soil on Friday.

Substitute Alexandre Lacazette scored with five minutes left to complete a dramatic come-from-behind victory to restore some pride in France after the senior side’s disgraceful World Cup campaign.

Spain had led after 18 minutes when Daniel Pacheco released a superbly weighted through ball from deep to allow Rodrigo to apply a quality finish. On track to replicate their senior team’s World Cup heroics, Spain then continued to play flowing football and dominated the match until Gilles Sunu netted a fine lob against the run of play after a one-two with Yannis Tafer .

Impressive Chelsea prospect Gael Kakuta then capped a sensational tournament by taking on Spain’s defence single-handedly, his mazy run ending in a shot palmed sideways by goalkeeper Alex. Kakuta chased down the rebound and then showed brilliant vision to chip a first time cross to the back post where he knew Lacazette would be waiting to nod home from close range.

France striker Cedric Bakambu told AFP: “It’s magic, it’s magnificent! For the second half, we told ourselves that we had nothing more to lose. We’re at home, we’ll give everything. Most of all, the fans were with us, and it was fantastic.”