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The HSBC Champions in China has been elevated to a World Golf Championship this year with a new qualifying criteria and a $7 million purse, the highest ever for a golf tournament in Asia.

Tiger Woods already has said he will play, along with defending champion Sergio Garcia.

The HSBC Champions began in 2005 and had been sanctioned by every major golf tour except the PGA Tour. That changes with its designation as the fourth World Golf Championship, and the only one not staged in the United States.

Woods was runner-up his first two times playing the HSBC Champions, and will return for the Nov. 5-8 event.

It is an event that symbolizes the amazing progress of golf in Asia, and its new World Golf Championships status underlines how firmly China has established its place on the global golf calendar, Woods said. I enjoy playing around the world when possible, and having a WGC event in China is very important to the global growth of the game.

The worlds No. 1 player has won every WGC event since the series began in 1999.

The HSBC Champions again will be played at Sheshan International Golf Club. It will not count as official money in the United States.

This is one of the most significant steps ever taken in the globalization of golf, and one of the most logical, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.

The 78-man field will be limited to winners from every major tour in the world. Along with the major championships, the three WGC events in America and The Players Championship, qualifying will include winners from 23 top-rated tournaments on the PGA Tour and the European Tour, nine tournament winners from the Asian Tour and five each from the Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour in South Africa and Australasian Tour.

But it will not be known until the fall how many Americans will bother going, especially after their official season has ended and any money earned will not count toward the PGA Tour money list.

Even when a WGC event previously was played in Europe, several U.S.-based players did not attend.

Stewart Cink could have done a teleconference Monday to promote Junes Travelers Championship, where he is the defending champion.

But Cink, who is playing this week at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, instead flew to Connecticut for the day to shake hands with tournament supporters and meet with members of the media.

In these tough economic times, he said, its important for golfers to support tournaments like this one, which recently received a commitment from the insurance company to sponsor the event through 2014.

At a time when everyone else is running for safety, for Travelers to step forward like that, its a big deal, Cink said.

The event, which began in 1952 as the Insurance City Open and later became the Greater Hartford Open, was on the verge of extinction when Canon dropped out as title sponsor after 2002. Buick stepped in as a bridge sponsor before Travelers agreed to become the title sponsor for the 2007 event.

With the companys help, the tournament last year opened a state-of-the art practice facility, and this year will have an expanded Fan Zone on the golf course, with attractions such as a rock climbing wall, miniature golf and free concerts in the evening when play is over.

Cink, a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, said hes been trying to convince other golfers they also need to step up and play in tournaments like this one, to send a message of support to companies that make long-term commitments to the sport.

As the players play, the fields are better and the value is up for television, for the sponsors and its a better world for all of us, Cink said. Thats been difficult to get across to some players.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, the honorary chairman of the tournament, said its also important to the state, which looks to the Travelers as an economic driver.

Every time were on television and they say the words in Cromwell, Connecticut and then they show this beautiful course and they show these wonderful players, Im thinking to myself, Cha-ching, cha-ching, she joked.

The tournaments spot on the schedule, in June just after the U.S. Open, has hurt the field in the past. Many golfers like to take the week off after a major. But this year, the Open will be held at Bethpage on Long Island, less than 130 miles from Cromwell.

The tournament already has received commitments from players such as Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, Anthony Kim and Stuart Appleby.

The travel is the one difficult part of what we do out here, Cink said. If you take the difficulties and the stumbling blocks out of the equation than theres less reason for anybody to say no.

There has been talk of requiring all golfers to play every stop on the tournament at least once every four years. But Cink worries that would lead Tiger Woods, who has never played in Cromwell, to simply pack his bags every summer and head to the European tour.

Andy Bessette, Travelers executive vice president and chief administrative officer, agreed that such a rule wouldnt be good for the tournaments.

I think it would be very helpful if the players once in a while supported every tournament, he said. If Tiger were to play here, great, but its important to have people who want to be here.

Lisandro Lopez scored both goals as Portuguese leader FC Porto beat Setubal 2-0 on Sunday to maintain its four-point advantage over closest title challenger Sporting.

The Argentina striker scored his first in the 61st minute before adding another six minutes later for his eighth goal of the season.

Porto stretched its unbeaten run to 19 games and has 60 points with four games left. Sporting, which beat Amadora 2-1 on Saturday, has 56 points as it bids to dethrone the three-time defending champion.

Benfica beat Maritimo 3-2 to stay third with 52 points.

David Luiz opened the scoring in the 28th before Oscar Cardozo scored twice to take his seasons goal tally to 13 and the Eagles braved a Maritimo rally led by goals from Marcinho in the 43rd and Brunos penalty in the 60th to earn the win.

Luis Alberto scored a 56th-minute winner for Nacional in a 2-1 win over Belenenses and lies fourth with 46 points - one better than Braga, which beat Trofense 1-0 on Friday.

Joao Aurelio had given Nacional a 36th-minute lead at the Restelo Stadium before Saulo equalized two minutes later.

Also Sunday, Yazalde Gomezs 27th-minute goal saw Rio Ave beat Naval 1-0 to move out of one of the two relegation spots, which Belenenses and Trofense now occupy.

Leixoes looks to get back in reach of the European spots against Guimaraes on Monday, when Pacos de Ferreira and Academica meet in a matchup of mid-table clubs.

Inter Milans lead in the Italian league was trimmed to seven points on Sunday after Jose Mourinhos side lost 1-0 at Napoli and city rivals AC Milan beat Palermo 3-0.

Napolis Marcelo Zalayeta scored the only goal of a high-tempo, but uninspiring match in which both sides failed to create many chances.

Earlier Kaka converted two penalties to lead Milan to victory over Palermo, while Juventus was held to a 2-2 draw by last-place Reggina.

Reigning champion Inter remains top of Serie A with 74 points, while AC Milan is second with 67, Juventus has 65 and Fiorentina 58.

It was a victory we had to work for and werent expected to get, Zalayeta said. Weve failed to win matches that were easier than that this season.

Inter lacked imagination and was outmuscled by a more determined Napoli side, who won its first match since January and the first since ex-Italy coach Roberto Donadoni took over in February.

Obviously it is emotional to win, especially against a team like Inter, who is top of the table, Donadoni said. I think our defense did great, especially with rebounds and the second ball into the box.

Striker Ezequiel Lazezzi was the main danger for Napoli and his direct running was a constant problem for Inters defense, though it wasnt until Zalayeta came on for the ineffectual German Denis, that Napoli made the breakthrough.

Lavezzi ran at the defense before rolling the ball across the face of the penalty area for his strike partner Zalayeta to curl past Julio Cesar.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared tired in Inters attack while the teams only tactic was to hit the ball long and try to use the pace of Mario Balotelli or the height of Julio Cruz.

It seemed to me to be a typical 0-0 match. In the first half Inter had most of the ball, but we didnt threaten, Mourinho said. In the second half it was a different game and without threatening we lost control of the game.

We are seven points ahead and need three wins from five matches. We have to look at ourselves and win the nine points we need to be champions.

Milan had no such problems going forward and took a 10th minute lead after Palermo defender Mattia Cassani fouled midfielder Massimo Ambrosini and Kaka stroked home the penalty.

We started the match well with a good rhythm, Ancelotti said. Palermo always make it difficult for you in midfield, but it was a good day and our midfield competed well.

Kaka has returned well after two months out, and now the defense is also back to its best as players have returned and it is much more solid.

Ambrosini then helped to increase Milans lead 10 minutes later, when Filippo Inzaghi headed in his cross from close range.

Early in second half, Palermo defender Cesare Bovo was sent off for a foul on Kaka. Shortly afterward, Federico Balzaretti bundled over the Brazilian in the area and Kaka got up to score with his second spot-kick of the match.

Juventus continued its run of poor form, needing a dubious penalty from Alessandro Del Piero and a scrappy goal from midfielder Cristiano Zanetti.

Having been knocked out of the Italian Cup in midweek, Juventus season appears to be limping to a finish and Claudio Ranieris side was fortunate to leave Reggina with a draw.

The bottom side went ahead in the 27th when defender Antonio Barilla was left unmarked to head home midfielder Daniel Adejos cross.

Shortly after halftime, though, Adejo brought down striker Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero brought his team level with the penalty.

Midfielder Emil Hallfredsson put the home side in the lead again when he scored from long range, but Cristiano Zanetti equalized two minutes later after the ball came to him in the box.

The first half an hour, I cant say Im surprised we struggled because everyone knows about Regginas pressing, but after that we recovered well, Ranieri said. It was an intense match and we had to fight to the end. It certainly wasnt a beautiful match.

Weve welcomed back some players, such as (Mauro) Camoranesi and (Cristiano) Zanetti, but it takes them time to get back to their best.

Genoas hopes of returning to the Champions League places were hit when it slipped to a 2-0 defeat away to Bologna.

Also Sunday, it was: Lecce 2, Catania 1; Sampdoria 3, Cagliari 3; Lazio 0, Atalanta 1; and Torino 1, Siena 0.

Barcelona must guard against its form dipping at just the wrong time to prevent it challenging Englands domination of the Champions League.

While defending champion Manchester United and Arsenal warmed up for Wednesdays semifinal meeting with weekend victories, Barcelona prepared for its European showdown with Chelsea by only narrowly avoiding a Spanish league defeat Saturday - Thierry Henry scored with four minutes left for a 2-2 draw against Valencia.

The end of a seven-match winning streak was hardly ideal preparation for Tuesdays first-leg meeting with Chelsea, which continued its impressive form under temporary coach Guus Hiddink with a hard-fought 1-0 win at London rival West Ham 1-0.

But coach Pep Guardiola still thinks his relentlessly attacking team should be fine.

We finished like bulls, Guardiola said. Were a machine.

Many neutrals are hoping hes right and that Barcelona can get past last seasons runner-up. England has provided nine of the past 12 Champions League semifinalists in an unprecedented domination of the continents top club competition.

Tuesdays game at Camp Nou will go some way to proving whether Barcelona, which has scored 94 goals in 33 games to lead the Spanish league by seven points, is good enough to add a third European Cup title to its collection - three years after its last.

The best team in Europe, Hiddink said of Barcelona. Or the world.

Samuel Etoo, Lionel Messi and Henry, who scored 10 goals against Chelsea in his eight seasons with Arsenal, will line up again to pressure a defense missing suspended left back Ashley Cole and injured central defender Ricardo Carvalho.

With Carvalho out, Chelsea captain John Terry should play alongside Alex, with Branislav Ivanovic one of the contenders to replace Cole and attempt to shackle Messi.

Hiddink rested striker Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Alex at the weekend, only bringing on the midfield pair late to shore up the side.

The win kept Chelsea in contention for the Premier League title, although Manchester United and Liverpool are still ahead of the Blues. Chelseas most likely route to a trophy this season appears to be the Champions League or next months FA Cup final against Everton.

Manchester Uniteds rivalry with Arsenal has been less intense in recent seasons as the Gunners have faded from contention for major honors.

But that could change when the teams go head-to-head at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

United showed its attacking range when it rallied from 2-0 down at halftime to beat Tottenham 5-2 on Saturday, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney each scoring twice.

It gives us great belief and confidence ahead of the Arsenal game, Rooney said.

The pair are almost certain to start again against the Gunners, who had a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Sunday that was so straightforward that manager Arsene Wenger was able to replace captain Cesc Fabregas with more than 20 minutes remaining.

The key midfielder scored both his teams goals and could make use of the extra rest.

Results Wednesday in English football (home teams listed first).

Premier League

Chelsea 0, Everton 0

Manchester United 2, Portsmouth 0

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Italian Football Results

Results from the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals (home teams listed first).

Wednesdays Game

Juventus 1, Lazio 2 (Lazio advances 4-2 on aggregate)

Thursdays Game

Inter Milan vs. Sampdoria (Sampdoria won first leg 3-0)

Results from the sixth round of Major League Soccer (home teams listed first).

Wednesdays Game

Toronto FC 1, Chivas USA 0

Thursdays Game

Kansas City vs. New York

Saturdays Games

Columbus vs. Chicago

Real Salt Lake vs. New England

Colorado vs. Los Angeles

Chivas USA vs. FC Dallas

Seattle vs. San Jose

Sundays Games

New York vs. D.C. United

Toronto FC vs. Kansas City

Results from the semifinals of the German Cup (home team listed first).

Tuesdays Game

Bayer Leverkusen 4, Mainz 1, extra time

Wednesdays Game

Hamburger SV vs. Werder Bremen

Results from the 32nd round of Spains first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Tuesdays Games

Real Madrid 3, Getafe 2

Numancia 1, Athletic Bilbao 2

Wednesdays Games

Osasuna vs. Malaga

Deportivo La Coruna vs. Almeria

Real Betis vs. Valencia

Barcelona vs. Sevilla

Thursdays Games

Villarreal vs. Recreativo Huelva

Sporting Gijon vs. Espanyol

Racing Santander vs. Atletico Madrid

Mallorca vs. Valladolid

Saturday, April 25

Malaga vs. Deportivo La Coruna

Almeria vs. Numancia

Valencia vs. Barcelona

Sunday, April 26

Getafe vs. Villarreal

Recreativo vs. Mallorca

Valladolid vs. Osasuna

Athletic Bilbao vs. Racing Santander

Espanyol vs. Real Betis

Sevilla vs. Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid vs. Sporting Gijon

Liverpool salvaged a 4-4 draw with Arsenal deep in injury time but Andrei Arshavins four goals dealt the Reds English Premier League title challenge a huge setback on Tuesday.

The draw, which had seemed implausible when Arshavin scored in the 90th minute before Yossi Benayoun struck at the other end, took Liverpool back to the top of the league on goal difference.

Rafa Benitezs side, however, might not be there long as second-place Manchester United plays the first of its two games in hand on Wednesday against Portsmouth.

United are in the driving seat and we will see what happens tomorrow, Benitez said. If they win it will be more difficult but they have to win.

Fernando Torres and Benayoun each scored twice as Liverpool played out a second straight 4-4 draw, duplicating last weeks match at Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals. That result still led to Liverpools exit.

Tuesdays leaves them needing to win the five remaining matches while United loses twice in its seven.

It is really disappointing because we conceded four goals and normally we were not conceding these kind of goals, Benitez said. We made massive mistakes. It is difficult to explain because it was different players in different stages of the game.

Nine points behind Liverpool, Arsenal is in fourth place - the final Champions League qualifying spot. With much attention focused on next weeks European semifinal against Manchester United, manager Arsene Wenger fielded a depleted side at Anfield.

Theo Walcott, who had scored in his last three games, was dropped in five changes from Saturdays FA Cup semifinal loss to Chelsea.

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MADRID (AP) - Gonzalo Higuains second goal of the night in injury time helped Real Madrid rally for a 3-2 win over Getafe in the Spanish league.

Higuain ran into the area three minutes into injury time and sent a rising left-footed shot in for the winner, which came during a closing eight minutes that included four goals, a red card for Madrid defender Pepe and a Getafe penalty miss.

Madrid improved to 75 points, three behind league leader Barcelona, which can reclaim its six-point lead with a victory over Sevilla on Wednesday.

Robert Soldado headed Getafe into the lead in the 10th minute, but Higuain jumped on a defensive lapse to even the score in the 45th.

The drama really picked up from the 84th, after substitute Juan Angel Albin put Getafe ahead 2-1.

Jose Maria Guti Gutierrez equalized from a free kick in the 86th before Pepe was red-carded for a series of aggressive actions that began with a shove on Javier Casquero inside the area to set up the penalty.

Pepe then kicked Casquero in the back as he lay on the ground before stamping on the Getafe midfielder several times. Pepe then punched Albin as players attempted to pry the Portuguese player away.

It was a very tense moment in the match and in that moment I had no option but to foul him, Pepe told Cope radio. I showed very poor character, this sort of thing never happens with me normally.

Pepe also made an expletive reference to the fourth official as he left the field according to the referees match report. The Portugal defender could miss out on the last six games of the season, including a May 2 clasico against Barcelona.

I dont know why I did it, Pepe said. The least I could do was to come here and apologize to all the fans because they know Im not violent.

Madrids Marcelo goaded Cata Diaz after the final whistle with players stepping in to hold the Getafe defender back.

Thats not football, Getafe president Angel Torres said. And what Marcelo did after isnt right either. Its provocative and I think that the disciplinary committee needs to take action.

Also on Tuesday, Fernando Llorente scored a 49th-minute winner to give 10-man Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 win at last-place Numancia in a matchup of teams trying to avoid relegation.

Domingo Cismas left-footed shot in the 10th gave Numancia the lead at Los Pajaritos Stadium before the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 20th after Aitor Ocio was sent off for a second yellow card after obstructing Asier Goirias run.

Gaizka Toquerro started the rally in the 30th before Llorente slotted the winner from just inside the area for his 13th goal of the season and first in more than a month.

Numancia also finished with 10 men after Sergio Boris was sent off in the 71st.

—

FRANKFURT (AP) - Bayer Leverkusen scored three goals in extra time to beat second-division Mainz 4-1 and advance to the final of the German Cup.

Arturo Vidal, Simon Rolfes and Michal Kadlec scored the extra-time goals after a largely dull game in regulation time during which Mainz played disciplined defense against a Leverkusen team that failed to create many chances.

Leverkusen, which had eliminated defending champion Bayern Munich in the previous round, struggled until the last 10 minutes, when it stepped up the pressure.

Substitute striker Angelos Charisteas scored in the 83rd minute, tapping in the ball after Mainz goalkeeper Dimo Wache fumbled a long-range shot by Renato Augusto.

But Aristide Bance sent the game into extra time with a header at the far post in the 89th, at a time when Charisteas was down in the box claiming injury. The referee did not halt the game and Charisteas later appeared not to be seriously injured.

Vidal scored in the 93rd at the far post, after Wache again failed to control a hard shot. Rolfes secured the victory in the 104th, redirecting the ball into the net after a header by Manuel Friedrich. Kadlec finished off a solo run by rounding Wache in the 117th for the final score.

Leverkusen advanced to the final for the first time in seven years.

In the second semifinal match Wednesday, Hamburger SV plays Werder Bremen.

The final will be played on May 30 in Berlin.