Manchester United signed Antonio Valencia from Wigan on Tuesday as it looks to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Real Madrid.

Brazilian star Kaka successfully passed his medical with Real Madrid, the Primera Division giants have confirmed.

The 27-year-old had already completed a first set of medical tests with Madrid whilst on international duty in Brazil prior to the official announcement of his transfer from AC Milan on June 8.

Kaka, who Madrid have paid Milan a fee reportedly in the region of £56m for, will be presented by his new club at the Bernabeu on Tuesday evening at a ceremony starting at 2030 local time.

The former Sao Paulo player arrived in Madrid having just helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup in South Africa - being named player of the tournament in the process.

Kaka underwent various tests at the Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital in the Spanish capital, which he passed with flying colours according to the club’s medical team.

Carlos Diez, Real Madrid’s medical chief, said: ”The tests taken today show that he is a player in perfect condition to play football at the highest level as has been seen at the Confederations Cup.

”These test have been done to complement the ones done in Brazil. We have incorporated new protocols, such as a biomechanic study, which allows us to study the player and be able to prevent future injuries and optimise his performances.”

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)—Agustin Herrera and Matias Vuoso scored 13 minutes apart in the second half to send Santos Laguna to the SuperLiga semifinals with a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards on Sunday.

Juan Pablo Rodriguez added a stoppage-time goal for Santos, which won for the first time in six SuperLiga matches and finished second in Group B. The Guerreros will face Group A champion Tigres UANL—another Mexican first division side—in the semis, with the first leg set for July 15.

Santos, making its second straight appearance in the three-year-old SuperLiga, needed a win to advance after Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution beat Mexican side Atlas 1-0 earlier Sunday.

In the 61st minute, Herrera took a through ball from Walter Jimenez and fired a low shot to keeper Kevin Hartman’s left from 13 yards. Vuoso’s looping header in the 74th minute, off a long cross from Osmar Mares, made it 2-0.

Both goals came on runs through Kansas City’s central defense, which was missing Jimmy Conrad. The Wizards captain, who has been called up to the United States for the Gold Cup later this month, left late in the first half after aggravating a sore hamstring.

Claudio Lopez scored on a free kick in the 80th minute for Kansas City, cutting the margin to 2-1, but the Wizards failed to capitalize on several late scoring opportunities before Rodriguez put away the match with his stoppage-time goal.

JOHANNESBURG (AP)—FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave Confederations Cup organizers an encouraging grade of 7.5 out of 10 on Monday while stressing work remains on transportation and housing for next year’s World Cup.

The Confederations Cup, in which Brazil rallied past the United States 3-2 in Sunday’s final, was a dress rehearsal for the World Cup and was considered a major success on the field. But Blatter and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke say the tournament revealed problems that must be resolved in 11 months when the World Cup makes its debut in Africa.

By the time of the World Cup draw in Cape Town on Dec. 4, Blatter says the organizers may merit a score of 8 and possibly 10 by the end of the monthlong, 64-game showcase.

“I am a very satisfied and a very happy president of FIFA, together with our friends in South Africa,” he said. “We know there are logistics that we have to work on. There are problems and transport linked with accommodation—we don’t intend hiding behind compliments.”

“This is a special matter,” he added, “because South Africa is expecting 450,000 visitors for the World Cup, fans from all round the world who want to find somewhere to sleep and it’s not easy to go to camping sites because it is winter time and they have to be transported from one venue to another. This is a big challenge.”

Valcke said a successful World Cup depends on overseas visitors being satisfied with facilities. Organizers are still 15,000 hotel rooms short of their target and could accept offers on lodging from neighboring countries.

“Transportation is an issue, accommodation is an issue,” he said. “These are things that have to be done. Yes, the park and ride does not work. Yes, the media shuttle system has not worked. Yes, the signage has not worked. It was difficult to come in and out of the stadium.”

Still, Valcke is confident organizers can fix these problems.

“We have to take into consideration that hundreds of thousands of people will be coming to South Africa for the World Cup,” he said. “But there’s not a single issue where we have the feeling that in 11 months we might not be able to solve them.

“Around the final draw I am sure we will be able to tell you exactly what are our solutions are to all these issues we are facing from the Confederations Cup.”

Mixed Nuts, Spring Cup Champions

Match Day Recap

WCWFC Co-ed Cup Final: Spring 2009, By Neil Cruz

Windy City Wanderers F.C is taking over. Forgive me if that sounds a bit bold but allow me to provide you with a brief history of playing soccer in Chicago. Like many of you I used to wait along the side lines for a pick-up game on the fields at Montrose or the park on Belmont and Marine Drive. What I loved was the fact that you could meet individuals from every nationality and play to your hearts’ content. Unfortunately, consistency was always an issue as people would either show up or not show up at all. Not to mention the ever arrogant European ex-pat who could not understand that pick-up is for fun and not a World Cup qualifier. In addition, there was also the issue of elitism in many competitive leagues making hard for someone to be a part of without a resume of college or semi-pro experience.

With the spring session of the WCWFC co-ed and men’s league in the record books, the things Chicago soccer enthusiasts looked for in a soccer league were accomplished and even exceeded. Some of these things include, several leagues on quality fields, excellent competition, unique tournaments, a fan network with the Chicago Fire, and consistent weekly pick-up games is what many individuals had been clamoring for years. Add to the mix a laid back meeting spot (Sully’s House) and you have an organization where soccer is king and not an afterthought to softball or flag football.

The WCWFC co-ed Cup tournament final took place this past Sunday June 12^th, at the Rauner Family YMCA. After a grueling cup competition, filled with tough matches, heartbreaking losses and developing rivalries all in attendance were treated to a competitive albeit lopsided final.

The concept of premier and first division in the co-ed division has provided a new challenging format different from any other league in the city. Teams can rise to the premier division from the first division and teams can also be relegated. Yet the Cup competition is even more unique in that it that allows all of the co-ed teams to battle it out during the course of the season to determine the best overall team. Was it hard work? Absolutely! Was it confusing at first? A bit… Yet over the past two months we have been treated to a series of entertaining and competitive matches.

This past Sunday pitted the Mixed Nuts against the Small Bar. Both teams encountered stumbling blocks throughout the season and each team had difficult games against their respective rivals. Gone were some favorites as Neal’s Indian Grill, The Champagne Footballers, Atlas, Los Medicos and the Bad News Bears who were all eliminated in prior rounds.

Due to some technical difficulties, the game began shortly after the scheduled time of 7:30 p.m. Both the Mixed Nuts and Small Bar would not only be battling each other but the setting sun as well. Surprisingly, there were some players missing on both sides with neither side having more than one substitute, What made it more surprising was that this was a WCWFC Cup final game as well.

The Mixed Nuts got on the board early and often en route to a 5-0 drubbing of the Small Bar. Small Bar had various opportunities to score but were unable to capitalize. Rob Johnson provided a good deal of the offense with incredible throw-ins’ and free kicks that looked like they were placed by hand rather than foot, but the strikers could not capitalize. Missing from the ranks of the Small Bar were players Rejii Hayes and goalkeeper Clay Cochran. (Ballz to the Wall Award Recipient) A questionable call came towards the end of the first half where Small Bar strikers claimed a hand ball in the penalty area by the defenders of the Mixed Nuts. Their pleas went unanswered by referee Carlos and play was ordered to continue…

Team captain J.C Groon opened the scoring in the 11’ minute for the Mixed Nuts with a brilliant header that found its way into the corner of the net. Mike Flanagan a late arrival added a second goal towards the end of the half. In the second half, Groon muscled his way past a defender to score two minutes into the half. Small Bar was unable to muster much offense during the second half except for a few shots that sailed over the oppositions net. Flanagan added two more goals at the 47’ and 49’ minute which included a deflected shot that the Small Bar goalkeeper could not control. Shortly towards the end of the half the final goal sailed past the keeper for a final score of 5-0.

As the cup was presented to the Mixed Nuts and the team photo was taken, team captain J.C Groon gathered his players who will be ready to defend their trophy for the summer session. Groon added a few comments which were primarily a set of clichés about team work and having a great season. The best comment came from a member of the Mixed Nuts who stated his feelings about his experience in the league and his first cup title, “it was worth the sunburn!” Summer session begins this weekend at the Rauner YMCA. Congratulations to the Mixed Nuts and to WCWFC for a successful spring campaign, here’s to a great summer… See you on the pitch