Barcelona hit five to begin Spanish title defense

Barcelona began the defense of their La Liga crown with a convincing 5-0 win over Villarreal in the Nou Camp Monday night.


Goals from new recruits Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez followed an opener from the promising Thiago Alcantara.

Lionel Messi then added a double for Pep Guardiola's all-conquering team who have already added to their trophy cabinet with victories in the Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup before the start of their league campaign.

Arch-rivals Real Madrid opened their title bid with a 6-0 rout of Real Zaragoza Sunday and Barca were just as impressive once youth team graduate and Spanish under-21 international Thiago had set them on the way with a 25th minute opener.

Home goalkeeper Victor Valdes made a brilliant save to deny Giuseppe Rossi in a rare Villarreal attack before the champions stretched their lead.

Fabregas, who combined superbly with Messi in midfield, used that understanding to latch on to a neat through ball from the Argentine ace and add the second just before halftime.

Any hopes of a Villarreal comeback were snuffed out quickly after the break as Chile winger Sanchez used his pace to burst clear of the visiting defense and notch the third.

Messi weaved his way to add the fourth and fifth to add the icing on the cake for the three-time defending Spanish champions.


Source:  http://edition.cnn.com

Murray fights back to beat Hasse in Flushing thriller

Britain's Andy Murray battled back from two sets down to beat Robin Hasse at the U.S. Open in their second round match at Flushing Meadows Friday.

The 24-year-old eventually won through against the Dutchman 6-7 (5-7) 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-4 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium to set up a meeting with Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

The fourth seed looked down and out as he trailed by two sets to love, having thrown away a strong position in the first set which Haase clinched on a tiebreak.

But 2008 runner-up Murray refused to lie down and then swept through the next two sets for the loss of just two games to level at two sets all.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/

Arsenal sign South Korean star Park from Monaco

Arsenal clinched the signing of South Korea striker Chu Young Park and were linked with several big money moves as transfer deadline day loomed Tuesday.

The Gunners, humiliated 8-2 by Manchester United Sunday in the English Premier League, have money to spend after the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

The 26-year-old Park leaves relegated Monaco for north London after manager Arsene Wenger moved late to sign the South Korean captain for a reported fee of $8 million.

Park, who has scored 25 goals in 91 appearances for the club formerly managed by Wenger, was delighted by the move.

"It is a dream to be here and I am really proud to be an Arsenal player," he told their official website.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/