Pro Eleven Headline News

Bremen beats Udinese 3-1 in UEFA Cup

Diego scored two goals Thursday to help Werder Bremen beat Udinese 3-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Cup quarterfinals.

Hugo Almeida added the other for Bremen, while Fabio Quagliarella made up for wasting several chances by scoring an away goal in the 87th minute.

"They had good chances and came close to our goal many times. We shouldn't allow that," Werder coach Thomas Schaaf said. "We were careless when they scored but we managed to score three goals."

Naldo hit Udinese's crossbar with a shot from 30 meters (yards) half an hour into the game, with neither team creating big opportunities before that.

"We had to be patient because they are very dangerous on the counterattack, as they showed at the end when they scored," Werder striker Claudio Pizarro said. "We have a good chance now to advance."

Bremen then intercepted an Udinese attack, Mesut Oezil released Diego on the right and the midfielder scored with a well-placed shot inside the far post in the 34th.

Quagliarella nearly leveled the score early in the second half when he beat an offside trap and sent the ball past Werder goalkeeper Tim Wiese but it went outside the far post. The Italian then had a similar opportunity but Wiese stopped his chip from point-blank range. The striker also had a header saved by Wiese.

Diego scored against the run of play in the 67th when he faked Gaetano D'Agostino and lifted a shot into the far upper corner. Two minutes later, Almeida collected a long pass from Sebastian Boenisch, beat the offside trap and slotted the ball home with a low shot.

Wiese was nearly beaten by a free kick from D'Agostino but managed to punch the ball away as Udinese stepped up the pressure late in the game.

Quagliarella finally scored form close range after Bremen's offense failed to clear a loose ball. The striker shot high from 10 meters (yards) in injury time.

Bremen, which had eliminated AC Milan in the previous round, now has a good chance of kicking out the last Italian team remaining in European competition. USA Today


Kaka again says he wants to stay at AC Milan

AC Milan midfielder Kaka is becoming increasingly tired of the rumors circulating over his future.

Despite repeatedly stating his desire to stay at Milan, the Brazilian star has recently been linked with a move to Real Madrid after previous reports he could sign with Manchester City or Chelsea.

"I think that recently too many people have been talking," Kaka said in Thursday's edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Now it's my turn. I've had no contact with Real Madrid, no one has tried to get hold of me and I think I've already declared my desire to stay here.

"More than anything its becoming boring, especially for the public."

Kaka, the 2007 World Player of the Year, has only just returned to Milan's starting lineup following a knee injury and has had a disjointed season.

"I've had many problems: my knee, my pelvis, my feet," he said. "I've had no continuity and not been 100 percent. I hope to get there before the end of the season to help Milan secure its place in the Champions League." Associated Press