Socceroo hero Kennedy keen for double duty

Striker Josh Kennedy doesn't want to be one of the Socceroos rested from their 48-hour international football survival test.

Kennedy, who scored twice on his return to the national team in the 3-0 win over New Zealand in Adelaide on Sunday, is happy to do double duty in the clash with Serbia in Melbourne on Tuesday night.

The Adelaide match was his first national team outing in eight months, with a back injury keeping him out of the Asian Cup.

And now - in front of a home crowd - the Japan-based Victorian wants more and hopes coach Holger Osieck will give him some role at Etihad Stadium against the world No.16.

"Backing up and playing two games in two days, it's obviously a big ask when we've obviously got (club) games on the weekend," said Kennedy, originally from northeast Victoria.

"When you come back (to Australia), you always want to play games. It's an international, it's my hometown Melbourne game. Of course you want to play."

Kennedy's J-League club side Nagoya Grampus play Jubilo Iwata on Saturday.

But after his double against the Kiwis, Kennedy - a striker who keeps goalscoring form once he finds it - would love another chance to boost his international goal tally.

What made the 28-year-old happiest about his second goal - a headed bullet from a corner - was that it was a set-piece worked on in training prior to the match.

With Kennedy and fringe Socceroos like James Troisi and Michael Zullo performing well, there was also hope that Australia's depth is developing nicely ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers starting later this year.

"The second goal - we'd worked on it in training and it worked out really well," Kennedy said.

"We played well as a team, and every game we better as we play with each other."

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CONCACAF suspend Austin

The power struggle at CONCACAF continues after acting president Lisle Austin was provisionally banned for an alleged rule violation.

Austin has been acting as president of the North, Central American and Caribbean governing body in Jack Warner's absence.

FIFA's ethics committee suspended Warner from all football-related activity pending the outcome of a full inquiry into bribery accusations made by fellow executive committee member Chuck Blazer.

Austin was drafted in as CONCACAF chief but, according to a statement on the confederation's website, he has now been suspended, with Honduran official Alfredo Hawit appointed in his place.

The statement read: ''Lisle Austin has been provisionally banned from all football activities within CONCACAF and at the national level by a majority of the CONCACAF Executive Committee members for apparent infringement of the CONCACAF Statutes.

''This suspension took effect on Thursday, June 2, 2011. Notice of this suspension is being sent to FIFA to be extended worldwide.

''As the senior most Vice President of CONCACAF, Alfredo Hawit, assumes the role of acting President under the CONCACAF Statutes.''

Austin and Blazer have been at loggerheads this week as the former attempted to sack the FIFA whistle-blower.

However, CONCACAF general secretary Blazer slapped down the threat and a statement on the body's website said the move was an ''unauthorised declaration''.

Austin will face a hearing on July 13 and has until June 13 to appeal the provisional ban. The Notice of Provisional Measure did not specify the case details.

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Lukaku hopes for imminent switch

Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed he is hopeful of sealing a move to the Premier League in the next week.

Lukaku, 18, has been strongly linked with all of them Premier League's top four clubs, with Chelsea and Manchester City thought to be leading the race for his signature.

Amid talk of an £18 million move, Lukaku has now said that is keen to seal a switch to England in the coming days.

"I would like my future settled by next Monday," he said in the Daily Mirror. "My college exams start the next day and I don't want any other concerns.

"I'll be going to be one of the top two or three clubs in England - or else I'll stay at Anderlecht. I want to leave, because I want to score goals in a stadium where there are 50,000 people, and play in the Champions League."

Anderlecht revealed recently that Barcelona had been priced out of a move for the striker. Real Madrid had also openly expressed interest in Lukaku.

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Blatter 'takes no joy' in rival's plight

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter says "he takes no joy" in seeing presidential rival Mohamed Bin Hammam hauled before the ethics committee and has rejected "ludicrous and completely reprehensible" claims that he may have masterminded the situation.

Bin Hammam, who is the president of the Asian Football Confederation and is running against Blatter to be the new president of football's governing body, is under investigation over bribery allegations made by executive committee member Chuck Blazer.

Blazer, who is the general secretary of the CONCACAF federation, has alleged that violations were committed under the FIFA code of ethics during a meeting organised by Bin Hammam and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner on May 10 and 11 - the same time Lord Triesman had accused Warner of demanded money for a World Cup 2018 vote - in relation to the upcoming FIFA presidential election, which takes place on June 1.

FIFA announced on Wednesday that they had opened an investigation to examine the conduct of four officials - Bin Hammam and Warner, along with CFU officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester - and that all must attend a hearing in Zurich on Sunday, May 29.

The allegations made against Bin Hammam, who is the only candidate standing against Blatter, are certain to hinder the Qataris campaign, but the current FIFA chief says it gives him no pleasure to see a close friend publicly accused of wrong doing.

Blatter said: "To make a point very clear, let me say this: I take no joy in having to observe yet another Ethics Committee hearing and investigation. And I take absolutely no joy in seeing my friends and colleagues of many years dragged before the ethics committee.

"I take no joy to see men who stood by my side for some two decades, suffer through public humiliation without having been convicted of any wrongdoing: nobody is guilty until a judge has found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

"To now assume that the present ordeal of my opponent were to fill me with some sort of perverse satisfaction or that this entire matter was somehow masterminded by me is ludicrous and completely reprehensible.

"I say it again because it is important that those who apparently know everything start understanding something that their modest intellect seems unable to take on board: I am shocked, saddened and deeply unhappy about the charges levelled against a man whose friendship I enjoyed for many years. It gives me no pleasure to see him suffer public disgrace before an investigation would even have started."

The chairman of the ethics committee, Claudio Sulser, will not oversee the proceedings because he shares Swiss nationality with Bin Hammam's presidential rival Blatter, and this could be construed as a conflict of interests. The meeting will instead be chaired by the committee's deputy chairman Petrus Damaseb of Namibia.

Blatter added: "Whatever the outcome of this most recent investigation by the FIFA Ethics Committee will be, it must encourage FIFA's leadership and world football to re-invigorate its determination to do the right thing and to govern itself without any tolerance for wrongdoing in the years to come.

"FIFA does not need a revolution. What FIFA needs is iron-clad laws that are implemented forcefully and allow world football's governing body to conduct its affairs transparently, properly and professionally in every respect.

"I shall make it a key initiative of my last term as FIFA president, if re-elected, to do just that: open the doors, re-enforce dialogue, improve our corporate governance and handle our public affairs with the kind of priority it deserves and must deliver."

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Osieck leaves door open for Bresciano

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has left the door open for veteran midfielder Mark Bresciano to play a part in Australia's 2014 World Cup qualification campaign.

Bresciano, 31, has not played for the Socceroos since last year's World Cup in South Africa, after which he asked not to be considered for national team selection so he could focus on club duties with Italian club Lazio.

It was thought Bresciano could make his return in next month's friendly matches against New Zealand and Serbia but he was left out of Osieck's 23-man squad on Tuesday.

However, the German coach says Bresciano is on his radar and could make his return to national colours as Australia build towards the beginning of their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign in September.

"I considered it (picking Bresciano) and a couple of weeks ago we had some contact," Osieck said.

"But when I was in Europe recently I have to admit I couldn't get to Italy for some other reasons and there were so many other games and the schedule was not really appropriate.

"Down the road I could imagine that he may come back into our team."

Bresciano, who has 11 goals for Australia in 57 caps, made 20 appearances for Lazio this season and has another year left on his contract.

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Emerton scores again as Rovers survive

Socceroos veteran Brett Emerton completed his season transformation by scoring a cracking goal to help guide Blackburn to English Premier league safety on a dramatic final day.

Rovers headed into Sunday's round with five sides below them on the table but not assured of avoiding relegation for next season.

With relegated sides estimated to lose up to STG50 million ($A76.34 million) in revenue the following season, Emerton continued to provide a cool head just when his club needed him most.

After Jason Roberts opened the scoring in the 22nd minute against fellow relegation battlers Wolverhampton, Emerton provided a finish of sheer class in the 38th minute in his side's 3-2 away victory.

A long punt into the home side's box was not completely dealt with and Emerton struck the sweetest of right foot volleys into the corner of the net for a 2-0 advantage.

Emerton, who is off contract at the end of next season, has been a key figure in his side's scrap for survival over the past month.

He provided a telling assist in Blackburn's 1-1 draw at West Ham a fortnight ago and then scored with a sweeping left foot shot in last week's 1-1 home draw against champions Manchester United.

It has been quite a turnaround for the 32-year-old Australian.

He only started two of his club's opening eight matches of the season and lost his starting spot with the Socceroos at the business end of the Asian Cup.

Rovers skipped out to a 3-0 lead before halftime thanks to David Hoilett before Wolves scored two second half goals to confirm their place in the Premier League for another season.

However while Emerton and his teammates can celebrate their final day showing, fellow Socceroo David Carney's future at Blackpool is uncertain following the side's relegation on Sunday.

Carney, who is on the mend from a shoulder operation, joined the Tangerines from Dutch club FC Twente this season on a one-year deal.

Blackpool captured the imagination of the Premier League this season with their freewheeling ways but paid the price at the back as Manchester United downed them 4-2 at Old Trafford on the final day.

Of all the escape acts of the day, none was better than Wigan Athletic's.

Hugo Rodallega scored the 78th minute winner in their 1-0 win at Stoke with Birmingham's 2-1 loss at Tottenham pushing them into the abyss.

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Lille clinch title, Monaco on brink

Lille claimed their first Ligue 1 title in 57 years as both they and nearest challengers Marseille drew 2-2.

Going into their penultimate league match with a six-point cushion, they needed only not to lose at Paris St Germain, or for Marseille to fail against Valenciennes to officially be confirmed as champions. As it was both sides of the bargain were fulfilled with a pair of four-goal draws.

Lille twice led through Ludovic Obraniak's fifth-minute goal and Moussa Sow's 59th-minute strike.

PSG had equalisers from Guillaume Hoarau, who was sent off moments into the second period, and Mathieu Bodmer, but it was not enough to deny Lille.

Indeed, by the time the final whistle went they were already champions as Marseille had been denied victory by Remi Gomis' 66th-minute equaliser.

Marseille had led after goals from Andre Ayew and Loic Remy had cancelled out Foued Kadir's opener in a hectic four-minute period in the first half.

The relegation issue remained as murky as ever as a clutch of teams fighting for safety secured wins or draws. Any of Monaco, Nancy, Caen, Valenciennes, Nice, Brest or Auxerre could still go down depending on results next week.

Monaco kept their survival hopes alive with a tense 1-0 win at Montpellier. The victory, secured by Benjamin Moukandjo's goal in the 56th minute, was not enough to lift Monaco out of the relegation zone, though. It means they need to get something from their final game of the season, against Lyon, and hope at least one of the teams above them drops points.

Nancy secured a vital win as they defeated Europa League qualifiers Rennes 2-0 at Route de Lorient. Bakaye Traore and Julien Feret got the goals for the visitors as they claimed three points to ensure they remain just a place and a point above the drop zone.

Brest avoided being in the bottom three as Larsen Toure gave them a 1-0 win at Auxerre, while Caen kept the right side of the line thanks to a goalless draw at Lyon.

Nice would also have been in the relegation zone but for Eric Mouloungui's brace giving them a 2-0 win over Lorient, who had Jacques Romao sent off late on.

Even Toulouse could have finished the day in the drop zone but, as it was, their 2-0 win over Bordeaux was enough to secure their safety.

The fact that Valenciennes face Nice next week means Toulouse and Montpellier are safe, despite being just three points above the drop zone.

Elsewhere, a double from Brown Ideye saw Sochaux secure their Europa League place with a 2-1 win over St Etienne, whose goal, a first-half equaliser, came from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while relegated Arles claimed their first away win of the season at Lens, who are also down.

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Bafana Bafana to play on

The South African Football Association (SAFA) is being advised by government intelligence on the security situation in Egypt ahead of their Africa Nations Cup qualifier in Cairo on June 5.

The recent political unrest in the North African country has been a cause for concern but there is every indication that Bafana Bafana will travel to Egypt for the match.

Steven Pienaar will captain South Africa for the second time in a competitive game, but his Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Bongani Khumalo has not recovered from a broken toe and was unavailable for selection.

However, Khumalo's injury did not reopen the door for former captain Aaron Mokeona. Instead, Hapoel Tel-Aviv's Bevan Fransman has been included in the 23-man squad. Defender Tsepo Masilela, who also plays in Israel at Maccabi Haifa, has recovered from a knee injury and has also been added.

Pienaar, Fransman and Masilela are three of eight foreign-based players who have been included in the squad. Leeds United striker Davide Somma, Panseraikos' Bernard Parker, Kagisho Dikgacoi - who is with English championship side Crystal Palace - and Belgium-based Siboniso Gaxa and Anele Ngconga are the other overseas players.

Coach Pitso Mosimane was able to pick a full strength squad as most international leagues have come to an end. The match will be crucial to both teams chances of playing in next year's continental championship. South Africa are top the table with seven points and a win will all but confirm their participation in the tournament, which they last featured in 2006.

It's a must-win match for Egypt, who are defending champions and will not be able to participate in the tournament if they don't win. It's Mosimane's mission to end the Pharoahs' run of 16 consecutive appearances at the event.

"Once we kick Egypt out of the group we then have one less tough team at the Nations Cup," he said.

The last time Egypt didn't qualify for the event was in 1978. With a proud record to defend and 80,000 people at the National Stadium to do it in front of, Mosimane is not expecting any hospitality from the fans.

"What happened in Freetown when we played Sierra Leone last year will be the same as Cairo in terms of hostility. It will be a difficult match and we all know what this match means to them [Egypt]. Obviously, they will be at their best and, unfortunately, we'll be the ones to face them."

South Africa's squad will assemble on Sunday, a day after the Premier Soccer League concludes and will conduct a week-long training camp in Rustenburg, north west of Johannesburg from Monday. Pienaar and Masilela are expected to meet up with their team-mates a little later because of club commitments.

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We can beat Porto, says Paciencia

Braga coach Domingos Paciencia admits that Porto are the favourites to win Wednesday's Europa League final but insists his team can upset the odds and beat the Portuguese champions.

Both sides are now in Dublin ahead of the first all-Portuguese Europa League final and Paciencia is plotting one more giant-killing feat before he leaves Braga, probably to join Sporting Lisbon, in the summer. But it will be no easy task as Andre Villas-Boas' Porto have already won the Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese Liga to secure their return to the Champions League next season.

Braga are 7-1 outsiders to win Europe's second club competition at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night, but Paciencia maintains the club can bring an end to the favourites' stellar season and win his club their first silverware since 1966.

"Porto have always had a very strong team, and right now Porto are a team that could do well in the Champions League. They are a Champions League club," said Paciencia. "In a final, and given how the season has gone, it's natural that Porto are big favourites. But it's a final - it's just one match.

"With the right inspiration and motivation, many situations can occur in a match that can get you a goal. That is what makes us believe it's possible to win."

Braga finished 38 points behind Villas-Boas' all-conquering outfit and they warmed up for Wednesday's game with a disappointing home defeat to Sporting Lisbon in their final league match of the season on Saturday.

They have saved their best form for the continent this term, though, overcoming Sevilla and Celtic in the Champions League play-offs to make the group stages where Arsenal edged them out in the running for a place in the knockout phase.

Since dropping into the Europa League they have beaten Liverpool, Dynamo Kiev and last year's Portuguese champions Benfica to reach the final, giving former Porto striker Paciencia reason for optimism ahead of the final in the Irish capital.

"All matches are a great motivation, particularly against great teams," Paciencia added. "When you face a Liverpool, a Dynamo Kiev, even the champions of Poland, Lech, those are big names, and automatically the players gain motivation. I also think the players' capacity for hard work and their daily efforts are reflected in where they are now."

Paciencia has crossed paths with opposite number Andre Villas-Boas before, when playing at Porto. Villas-Boas wrote a letter of support to then-Porto boss Bobby Robson and Paciencia has not forgotten his impact.

''Andre talked to me on many occasions and we worked together on many occasions,'' he said. ''This happened when I was part of Robson's team and I was selected, and was chosen, and was proud to know that Andre liked my style.

''Most of all, a coach has to play with the right players, have the right president and with the right moments. Football is really influenced by those moments. Andre, as a young coach was not very experienced but he had all the right qualities.''

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Melbourne Victory bow out of Asia

Australia has been put out of its Asian Champions League misery, with Melbourne Victory exiting the competition on Wednesday night.

The Victory were brave in a 1-1 draw with South Korea's Jeju United in Jeju but still finished bottom of Group E.

The Victory join Sydney FC on the Asian scrapheap - both A-League clubs failing to progress from their groups.

An excellent second-half effort from the Victory was not enough to lift them into the competition's second stage.

Their result was made irrelevant with Japan's Gamba Osaka beating Tianjin Teda of China 2-0 in the other Group E match to finish top, with Tianjin qualifying second.

In two-time championship skipper Kevin Muscat's last match as a player, the Victory were denied two clear goals through incorrect offside decisions.

Striker Danny Allsopp had the ball in the net on four minutes but the linesman ruled he was offside - failing to notice a languishing Jeju defender.

But Jeju recovered from their early lapse and created the better first-half chances.

Midfielder Park Hyun-ben fluffed a sitter in the 12th minute, as did Brazilian striker Santos six minutes later.

Then striker Kim Eun-jung gave the home side the lead in the 25th minute, making no mistake from a neat move which sliced open the Victory's defence.

Forced to chase the game, the Victory had their chances to equalise - striker Robbie Kruse coming closest on 33 minutes when Jeju defender Kang Ju-nu cleared his shot off the line.

The Victory then should have had an equaliser eight minutes into the second half but were denied by another poor decision.

Striker Archie Thompson had the ball in the net, but the other linesman ruled him offside - incorrectly as television replays showed.

However the Victory deservedly equalised through a stunning 61st minute goal from midfielder Diogo Ferreira, whose superb 20-metre volley was one for the highlights reel.

The Victory had the ball in the net three more times but all were correctly ruled offside.

Jeju had Ju-nu sent off with three minutes left for elbowing Victory defender Matthew Foschini in the head.

The Victory's demise continues Australia's poor run in the ACL.

Only two Australian clubs have ever advanced to the competition's second stage.

Adelaide United made the 2008 final and qualified for the round of 16 in 2010, while Newcastle Jets made the round of 16 in 2009.

In Osaka, Gamba qualified with second half goals to Japanese international Yasuhito Endo and a late penalty to Takashi Usami.

They now host crosstown rivals Cerezo Osaka in the round of 16, while Tianjin head to South Korea to play Jeonbuk Motors.

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Republic confirm Azzurri date

The Republic of Ireland have agreed to take on Italy in a friendly in Belgium next month.

Confirmation of the June 7 fixture came from the Football Association of Ireland on Monday.

Republic coach Giovanni Trapattoni will be taking on his native country, having coached the Azzurri from 2000 to 2004.

The match will take place at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne, home to Standard Liege, three days after the Republic take on FYR Macedonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

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Stekelenburg drops Dutch trophy

Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has followed the example of Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos after he managed to drop the Eredivisie trophy from the top of a bus.

Ramos dropped Spain's Copa del Rey trophy, which was crushed beneath the team's bus, last month and now Stekelenburg (usually a safe pair of hands) has followed suit. The Dutchman looks set to leave the club in the summer, with Manchester United keen on his signature, but had one final impact on the club.

Amateur video taken on Sunday shows the trophy fall backward off the bus, apparently after colliding with overhead tram wires. It was handed back by a fan, to the applause of onlookers.

Ajax sealed their 30th league championship with a 3-1 win over Twente on Sunday.

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Ajax end seven-year wait for Dutch title

Ajax lifted the Eredivisie trophy for the first time since 2004 after a 3-1 victory in their title decider against FC Twente at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Siem de Jong drilled them in front and Denny Landzaat's own goal put the hosts two goals up early in the second half.

Theo Janssen quickly pulled a goal back but De Jong scored his second and Ajax's third to ensure there was no repeat of the late drama which saw Twente snatch victory in last week's KNVB Beker final between the same two sides.

PSV Eindhoven missed out on Champions League qualification as they drew 0-0 with fifth-placed Groningen, failing to get the win that would have seen them leapfrog FC Twente into second place in the Eredivisie table.

Fred Rutten's team will have to settle for Europa League football next season while Groningen will have to earn their place via the play-offs after finishing fifth.

A hat-trick from Belgian striker Dries Mertens helped FC Utrecht seal a top-half finish in the Eredivisie table with a 5-1 demolition of AZ Alkmaar on the final day of the season.

The visitors were soundly beaten but still finished fourth and have qualified for next season's Europa League ahead of FC Groningen who were held to a goalless draw by PSV Eindhoven. Mertens scored twice inside the opening 15 minutes before his compatriot Maarten Martens pulled one back for AZ but Mertens third and a brace from Ricky van Wolfswinkel wrapped up the points in the final 10 minutes.

Feyenoord saw their slim hopes of claiming a UEFA Europa League play-off berth evaporate as they rounded off a disappointing Eredivisie season with a 1-1 home draw against NEC Nijmegen.

Mario Been's men needed a win to stand any chance of edging into the top eight, and while results elsewhere would render that quest irrelevant Feyenoord also failed to keep their side of the bargain.

Lasse Schone put the visitors in front in the 12th minute but Luc Castaignos equalised for Feyenoord two minutes before half-time. The point secured Feyenoord a 10th-place finish, just ahead of their opponents.

Excelsior fell just short of securing their Eredivisie status, despite a storming finish to their match against relegation rivals Vitesse Arnhem, which saw them secure a 4-1 triumph.

Alex Pastoor's side needed a four-goal victory to subject today's opponents to the relegation play-offs - and three goals in the final 13 minutes at the GelreDome almost saw them achieve it.

However, a 4-1 victory means Vitesse's presence in the top flight is assured for another season, while the Rotterdam side's fate will be decided by the play-offs.

De Graafschap ensured their Eredivisie status this afternoon with a hard-fought 1-0 home victory over VVV-Venlo.

The Doetinchem club headed into the final game of the season three points above third-bottom Excelsior in the final relegation play-off place and needed a draw to guarantee survival. But they went one better as Rydell Poepon's sixth-minute strike proved enough to secure all three points against a second-bottom VVV side long since consigned to a play-off berth.

Relegated Willem II bowed out of the Eredivisie on a low note as Julian Jenner's late goal handed NAC Breda a 1-0 win at Koning Willem II Stadion.

The hosts had endured a miserable season that has yielded just three victories, and they were made to pay today for failing to take their chances as Breda's win handed the visitors a 13th-place finish.

Roda JC sealed their highest Eredivisie finish in 10 seasons with a goalless draw against Heerenveen.

Roda had already sealed their place in the Europa League play-off places and, with Heerenveen safe of danger and nothing else to play for, it proved a drab end-of-season affair. The match only briefly entertained late on with Laurent Delorge and Bas Dost both hitting the woodwork at either end inside the final 10 minutes.

Heracles Almelo secured a place in the Europa League play-offs today with a convincing 3-0 win against ADO Den Haag.

Heracles started the day in ninth, two points ahead of FC Utrecht and needing at least a draw to finish there and give themselves the chance of competing for a place in Europe's second-tier competition.

They did better than that, although the game was up for grabs until the remaining 20 minutes when Willy Overtoom scored twice and Samuel Armenteros netted a late third.

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Muscat farewelled as Victory stay alive

Kevin Muscat has farewelled Melbourne, but the exit door hasn't quite slammed shut on the Victory's Asian Champions League hopes.

Melbourne Victory's 1-1 draw with Japanese rivals Gamba Osaka in their Group E clash at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night leaves them bottom of the group with one match remaining.

But Tianjin Teda beat Korea's Jeju United 3-0 in China in the other group match to seal their top two spot and give the Victory the slimmest of second stage lifelines.

The Victory must now beat Jeju in Korea next Wednesday, and hope Tianjin beat Gamba in Japan in the other match to qualify for the round of 16.

It is still a tall order for the Victory, but they can at least say they farewelled Muscat with a fighting performance against the 2008 ACL champions.

Muscat was playing his last match on Australian soil before he retires at the end of the ACL campaign.

And his teammates gave their two-time championship skipper the perfect start, stunning Gamba after just 12 minutes when centre-back Adrian Leijer powered home a header from a Carlos Hernandez corner.

Just three minutes later Victory also had a solid penalty shout turned down by the Qatari referee when Gamba defender Akira Kaji appeared to handle the ball inside the area.

Gamba lifted their rating soon after though, and blanketed the Victory for the remainder of the half.

Their equaliser came two minutes before halftime when Yamaguchi Satoshi hit the post, then Nakazawa Sota headed home the rebound.

But Victory were comfortably the better side in the second half, with winger Isaka Cernak and midfielder Leigh Broxham outstanding.

They poured on the late pressure and came closest to netting the winner they needed to stay alive for a top two finish in their group through Hernandez.

The Costa Rican's 87th minute thunderbolt was well saved by Gamba keeper Yosuke Fujigaya.

Muscat paid tribute to his side's gutsy effort to see him off with a quality performance against one of Asia's best teams.

Gamba had thumped the Victory 5-1 in their ACL opener - which led to the sacking of previous coach Ernie Merrick.

Muscat said he was humbled by how much his team - minus three key players in Robbie Kruse, Grant Brebner and Surat Sukha through suspension - lifted in his milestone match.

"Everyone who took the field a couple of months ago in that game (against Gamba) let themselves down, let the club down," Muscat said.

"The effort that the boys put in tonight in the last game for me in Melbourne was an unbelievable effort and I couldn't be prouder."

Gamba coach Akira Nishino admitted the Victory under new coach Mehmet Durakovic were much improved from their hammering in Osaka.

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Suwon knock Sydney out of ACL

Sydney FC's Asian Champions League campaign has come to shuddering halt in the group stage with Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the A-League club.

Goals from Ha Tae-Goon, Croatian import Mato Neretljak and Yeom Ki-Hun put the nail in the Sky Blues' coffin, with Sydney striker Bruno Cazarine getting one back for the visitors at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on Tuesday night.

With Japanese heavyweights Kashima Antlers beating Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 earlier on Tuesday to go clear atop Group H, both teams were vying for second place before facing their last group match.

While Sydney did have some impressive spells, it was mainly one-way traffic with the Bluewings looking menacing from the start.

Striker Tae-Goon and Lee Yong-Rae both threatened early, with defender Kwak Hee-Ju's header rattling the crossbar in the 15th minute.

A poor defensive error by Sydney's Swiss import Stephan Kellar almost saw the hosts break the deadlock early in the match, forcing a composed Sydney keeper Liam Reddy to step off his line to clear the ball from approaching striker Lee Sang-Ho.

But moments later a Scott Jamieson foul saw Suwon awarded a free kick, with a waiting Tae-Goon rising up in the box to nod his header into the back of the net sending the Bluewings to the break 1-0 up.

The hosts came out on the attack in the second half and didn't have to wait long for it to pay off, again exposing Sydney FC in a set-piece with Neretljak's free kick beating the visitors' wall for a 2-0 lead in the 49th minute.

But Sydney were lightning fast on the counter attack with Brazilian import Cazarine taking advantage of a Suwon defence caught napping to reduce the deficit for the visitors less than a minute later.

The Sky Blues missed a golden chance to equalise in the 75th minute when Andrew Durante found himself in front of goal, but instead passing to Rhyan Grant who couldn't get there before Jung Sung-Ryong cleared the effort.

Again a lacking Sydney defence paid the ultimate price when Ki-Hun was left unmarked, with his lashing left-foot strike beating Reddy, to put Suwon into the knockout phase for the third consecutive time.

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World Cup blow for Matildas

The Matildas have suffered a significant blow ahead of next month's FIFA women's World Cup with star striker Kate Gill ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

Gill underwent surgery in Adelaide on Tuesday after damaging her anterior cruciate ligament while playing for her Swedish club side Linkoping in Stockholm last week.

The 26-year-old loomed as a key figure in Australia's campaign in Germany, where they will face Brazil, Equatorial Guinea and Norway in the group stage.

Gill was instrumental in the Matildas' historical Asian Cup win last year and was named Asian player of the year.

Australia open their World Cup campaign against Brazil in Moenchengladbach on June 29.

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Marseille fail to return to top

Marseille missed out on the chance to return to the top of Ligue 1 on Sunday - but third-placed Lyon were unable to take advantage in the race for a Champions League spot.

OM were on course for the summit after Mathieu Valbuena put them 1-0 up against Auxerre early in the second half - but they were forced to settle for a point after Jung Jo-gook's 77th-minute equaliser and they trail leaders Lille by a point.

That gave Lyon the chance to move within three points of second place with a win at Toulouse - but they went down 2-0 and had two men sent off.

Mauro Cetto headed the opener before Michel Bastos was sent off after collecting two yellow cards in the space of a minute. Left-back Aly Cissokho then took centre stage in Lyon's implosion, slicing an attempted clearance over his own goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to gift the hosts their second goal before picking up a straight red card late on for a wild lunge at Daniel Braaten.

At the other end of the table, Caen boosted their survival hopes as a thumping 4-0 victory at 10-man Nice lifted them out of the relegation zone.

Romain Hamouma put the visitors ahead after 34 minutes and Yohan Mollo doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time with a free-kick after Renato Civelli was sent off. Hamouma and Youssef El Arabi were on target in the final two minutes to add further gloss to the scoreline and lift Caen above their hosts, who had started the day in 14th, on goal difference.

Montpellier's chances of qualifying for European football next season suffered a dent as they were held to a goalless stalemate against Brest. Marco Estrada's late long-range strike for the hosts was chalked off after the referee blew for an infringement, depriving the game of a rare moment of brilliance.

Monaco edged clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone with a battling point on the road at St Etienne. Dimitri Payet fired the hosts ahead after 11 minutes but the principality club levelled on the half-hour when Georgie Welcome fired home.

The visitors then held on for a valuable 1-1 draw despite playing the last 30 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of Layvin Kurzawa. The draw moves Monaco to 14th, but they are just one point above the bottom three. St Etienne stay in ninth.

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Boskovic stars in Nasaf rout

Ivan Boskovic scored four times as Nasaf recorded the biggest victory in the AFC Cup with a 9-0 rout of Dempo at Karshi Central Stadium that sealed their place in the knockout stage.

Boskovic opened the scoring with a 12th-minute header before setting up Andrejs Pereplotkins for the second 14 minutes later.

Ilkhom Shomuradov nodded in the third and Artur Gevorkyan finished off a flowing move to net the fourth goal before Boskovic raced clear in first-half injury time to score his second and Nasaf's fifth.

Boskovic completed his treble with another header just before the hour mark and Gevorkyan fired home from outside the box to make it 7-0 with his second goal of the game.

Boskovic nodded in his fourth goal in the 78th minute before Shuhrat Mirholdirshaev's fine free-kick completed the rout.

It was Nasaf's fourth consecutive victory and sees them continue to top Group A with a perfect record.

The other game saw Al Tilal reignite their hopes of a place in the last 16 as goals from Ruffin Motshumba and Sami Karama Salem sealed a 2-0 win at Al Ansar.

Arbil took command of Group E with an impressive 5-0 victory at Al Arouba.

The two sides went into the contest locked together at the top of the table on five points, but a double from Muslim Mubarak plus further strikes from Younis Mohammed, Ahmed Ibrahim and an own goal sealed a comprehensive win for the Iraqis.

Al Karamah drew level with Al Arouba after they saw off Al Ahed 3-2.

Mohamed Al Hamwi scored twice for the hosts while Abdulrazak Al Husein also got on the score sheet. Mahmoud El Ali and Ali Bazzi replied for Al Ahed.

Muang Thong United took a big step towards progressing from Group H with a 4-0 win at Victory SC.

Christian gave the visitors a seventh-minute lead when he headed home unmarked and Naruphol Ar-Romsawa added a second 14 minutes later.

Shifan Mohamed then missed a penalty for Victory before Christian claimed his second in first-half stoppage time.

Substitute Boonmatoon Khapfa rifled the fourth into the bottom corner midway through the second-half.

Tampines Rovers boosted their qualification hopes with a 3-1 win over Song Lam Nghe An.

Ahmad Latiff gave the hosts a two-goal lead in the first-half, opening the scoring with a stinging drive from the edge of the box before a spectacular half-volley doubled the advantage.

Gonzalo Marronkle pulled a goal back for Hanoi before the break but Aleksandar Duric made the points safe with a clinical finish in the second half.

Finally, Al Faisaly went top of Group C with a 1-0 win at Al Nasr, Abdelhadi Al Maharmeh's goal on the hour mark separating the two sides.

Al Jaish moved level with Duhok following a 1-0 win in Iraq. Maher Al Said netted the only goal of the game eight minutes after the break.

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Marseille back on top in France

Marseille returned to the top of the Ligue 1 table thanks to a thrilling 4-2 win over lowly Nice courtesy of Andre Ayew's hat-trick.

Knowing they needed maximum points to go back above Lille, Didier Deschamps' side took the lead through Ayew, only for Abdou Traore to level before the break.

But Ayew restored his side's lead and Jordan Ayew made it 3-1 before Andre Ayew's last-minute goal completed his hat-trick. Renato Civelli scored a consolation for the visitors.

A last-minute goal from Yoann Gourcuff ensured Lyon kept their title hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over Montpellier.

Les Gones led twice at Stade Gerland with strikes from Ederson and Lisandro Lopez, but were pegged by equalisers from Olivier Giroud and Souleymane Camara.

However, Lyon dug deep in the dying seconds and Gourcuff produced the goods which leaves them five points behind Marseille, who top the standings following their win over Nice tonight.

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Pele: I'm still the best

Brazilian legend Pele claims his record as a player is unrivalled compared to anyone else's in the history of the game.

Pele, who was named FIFA player of the century in 2000, is regarded as one of the finest talents of all time and won three World Cups during a 25-year career.

The 70-year-old believes modern players do not achieve the same heights as their predecessors and insists no-one has yet matched his own success.

"Nobody did what Pele did," the former striker told CNN. "Being champion of the world at 17-years-old, won three World Cups, scored more than 1,208 goals, only him.

"Then until now nobody did this, to me, Pele is the best. You can mention players that played for 10 years, for example [Franz] Beckenbauer, [Michel] Platini, [Eric] Cantona, Bobby Charlton, George Best, then come [Diego] Maradona, Zico.

"Those players used to play a long time. Now the players they play one year, two years, then disappear."

The Brazilian is understood to have a frosty relationship with Argentinean icon Diego Maradona, also seen as one of the all-time greats, and his comments come just days after Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi notched his 50th goal of the season for the Spanish giants.

Pele lifted the World Cup three times but regards the Brazil team that triumphed in Mexico 1970 as the finest side South America has ever produced.

"In 1958, 1962, Brazil had excellent individuals," he added. "We had Garrincha, we had Didi, Djalma Santos. Also Pele, [Mario] Zagallo were excellent players. But as a team all together I think 1970 was no doubt the best team."

Brazil will host the tournament in 2014 and despite concerns regarding the stadiums set to be used, Pele insists his country will be ready.

He said: "Of course they [the stadiums] will be ready. The state of San Paulo ... we don't decide yet, we don't start [building] the stadium yet. This I think is a little bad for the reputation of Brazil, for the reputation of those who work for Brazil. That's my worry."

The current honorary president of the New York Cosmos, having played for the American club after a lengthy spell with Santos, is also determined to help soccer grow in the United States.

"They wanted to make soccer big in the United States. That was the reason I come back to play. Then I start my mission. Now I am here because of this," he remarked. "We are going to revive New York Cosmos, to be fantastic. Because [when when I started] with New York Cosmos [football] became a very big sport in the U.S., and now we come back."

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