AMSTERDAM, 3 August 2007 — Striker Eduardo da Silva scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 2-1 win over Lazio in the opening game of the Amsterdam tournament yesterday.
The Brazilian-born Croatia international, granted a work permit on Wednesday, netted with a fine header from a corner 10 minutes into the second half.
Danish midfielder Nicklas Bendtner had fired the London side ahead but Goran Pandev leveled five minutes before halftime.
Ajax face Atletico Madrid later.
Dynamo and D.C. United Advance
to SuperLiga Semis
In Houston, Brian Ching scored in the 50th minute as the Houston Dynamo beat D.C. United 1-0 Wednesday to advance to the SuperLiga semifinals.
Houston hosts Mexico’s Pachuca in the semifinals on Aug. 14 and D.C. United visits the Los Angeles Galaxy the following day. D.C. United wasn’t sure of advancing until Club America beat Morelia 3-2 later Wednesday.
Ching took a pass from Nate Jaqua and scored from 16 meters.
Stuart Holden’s shot from 14 meters, which hit a post in the 36th minute, was the closest either team came to scoring in the first half.
The teams were playing for the third time this season. In two Major League Soccer games, D.C. United won 2-1 in Washington and Dynamo won 1-0 in Houston. Federico Insua scored the go-ahead goal in the 85th minute at Bridgeview, Illinois to lead Club America over Morelia.
Both teams failed to advance to the semifinals.
Juan Carlos Mosqueda gave Club America a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute and Salvador Cabanas made it 2-0 in the 57th when he converted a penalty kick after Milton Aguilar took down Rodrigo Lopez in the penalty area.
Ricardo Martinez cut the lead in the 67th minute and Oscar Carrasco tied it in the 73rd.
Meantime, David Beckham will have a chance to play in the SuperLiga after all.
The England midfielder missed the Los Angeles Galaxy’s three games in the inaugural tournament between US and Mexican clubs because of a sore left ankle but could be healthy when the Galaxy host DC United in an Aug. 15 semifinal.
The Galaxy-United winner will face the winner of an Aug. 14 semi between Mexico’s Pachuca and host Houston in the title game later this month.
Beckham, uncertain of playing in the Galaxy’s next match Sunday at Major League Soccer rival Toronto, could face a gauntlet of four matches in 10 days if he is able to shrug off the ankle injury suffered in June. The Galaxy play Aug. 9 at Washington, three days later at New England, then must travel back to the US west coast to face United in the Superliga semi before flying back across the nation to play at New York on Aug.18.
Corinthians Complete 10th
Game in a Row Without a Win
In Rio de Janeiro, Corinthians completed their 10th successive match without a win in the Brazilian championship as they drew 2-2 at Atletico Paranaense while Palmeiras lost 2-1 at home to nine-man Sport Recife.
Corinthians were denied victory in Curitiba when Rogerinho scored an 89th minute equalizer for the hosts with a deflected shot. Paranaense had taken the lead with a header from defender Rodolpho before halftime but Corinthians midfielder Willian then scored twice in seven minutes after the break.
Corinthians, one of Brazil’s most popular clubs and champions in 2005, remained 16th in the 20-team table with 17 points from 15 games.
Their neighbours Palmeiras, struggling in mid-table, took an early lead against Sport on Wednesday night when Martinez scored from a free kick. But, despite having midfielder Bilica sent off in the 15th minute, the visitors equalized through Cesar on the half hour. Sport went ahead with a controversial penalty converted by Da Silva on the stroke of halftime and held on despite having Dutra sent off in the 73rd minute.
Leaders Botafogo beat visiting America-Natal 4-2 to go three points clear of Sao Paulo, who host Juventude next day.
Santos won 2-1 at Atletico Mineiro in what was billed as a grudge match between coaches Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Emerson Leao.
