rd World Cup race, Vonn posted to her Facebook acc

BARCELONA, Spain -- Playing without the injured Lionel Messi, Barcelona needed Adrianos long strike Sunday to beat Malaga 1-0 and maintain a perfect record through two rounds of the Spanish league. Barcelona kept Bernd Schusters team pushed back in its area early on at La Rosaleda Stadium but failed to finish its scoring chances until Adriano broke through in the 44th minute. Gerard Pique used his back to deflect the ball off the crossbar for Barcelona in the 58th before Malaga finally dared to look for an equalizer it nearly found through 17-year-old Fabrice Olingas shot from close to the penalty spot that hit the post in the 68th. "We went from better to worse," said Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino. "Our first half was good, with precise, dynamic ball movement and good play on the wings, but we lacked effectiveness and scoring chances. We needed to be more consistent (in the second half). We have to finish games off and not leave the rival the possibility to come back." Neymar went on as a substitute for the third straight game for Barcelona in the second half and shone with his dribbling, pace and a pair of shots that almost doubled the final margin. Martino said that after his performance, Neymar looks prepared to get his first start. "There is a difference between what we saw from Neymar today and the other day against Levante," Martino said. "I dont know how long it will be before he is starting, but in his head Neymar is ready." Messi bruised a muscle in his left thigh during Wednesdays 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. While Barcelona may still be without its all-time leading scorer for this Wednesdays return leg at Camp Nou, Atletico warmed up by thrashing Rayo Vallecano 5-0 earlier on Sunday for its second victory in as many rounds. Also, 10-man Celta Vigo emerged victorious 2-1 from a wild match at Real Betis, while Sevilla drew 0-0 at Levante as both teams remained winless. Cesc Fabregas was tasked to lead Barcelonas attack in place of Messi, and it took him 15 minutes to start causing havoc in Malagas defence. The former Arsenal midfielders best piece of playmaking came in the 19th when he threaded a through ball to Pedro Rodriguez, only for the forward to lose control while trying to dribble goalkeeper Willy Caballero. "I always try to play the same way, with motivation and working to improve," Fabregas said. "I know this is an important season for me. Our fans have asked more from me and I am trying." Malaga was disciplined in defence but in the first half could only manage a 28th-minute free kick by Vitorino Antunes that goalie Victor Valdes did well to block. Caballero turned back Alexis Sanchezs point-blank header in the 37th, but Adriano surprised him with a blistering left-footed effort from outside the area that the Argentine got an arm on but couldnt keep out. "There is always something you could have done when they score on you, but by then its always too late," Caballero said. Adriano was substituted by Dani Alves at halftime. The club said it was "for precaution" after the Brazilian defender felt "pain in his right leg." Neymar, who scored Barcelonas goal at Atletico on Wednesday, replaced Pedro in the 63rd and immediately showed his speed and ability to break down defenders one-on-one. His dribble between the legs of Jesus Gamez earned him a shove as the humiliated defender let his anger get the best of him. Neymars footwork produced a foul on the edge of the area that he turned into a curling free kick which Caballero dove to parry in the 80th. And seconds after Valdes saved a last-gasp header by Sebastian Fernandez in the 90th, Neymar pounced on a loose ball in the area, but his low shot clipped a defenders boot and looped over the bar. "The plan was to arrive alive to the last stage of the game and then fight for a good result," said Schuster. "The only thing that went wrong was that luck wasnt on our side. If you have three chances, you have to put one in." Turkey midfielder Arda Turan scored one goal and set up two more in Atleticos rout of Rayo as Diego Simeones side continues to impress. Raul Garcia headed in his first of two goals at Vicente Calderon Stadium in the 17th. Turan passed for forward Diego Costa to make it 2-0 in the 20th with his third goal of the season before then scoring himself from a pass by Diego Costa in the 35th. Turan crossed for Tiago Cardoso to head in the hosts fourth goal in the 53rd before Garcia got his double in the 90th. After Betis and Celta had both rattled the woodwork, Manuel "Nolito" Agudo guided Celta to a 2-0 lead by assisting Charles for a headed goal in the 67th before firing in a goal of his own in the 74th. But Celtas Borja Oubina received his second booking with five minutes to play. Betis pulled one back through Ruben Castro in the 90th and grazed the draw when Manuel "Chuli" Vazquez volleyed off the goal frame in injury time. Real Madrid visits Granada on Monday amid intense speculation that it will close the transfer of Tottenham winger Gareth Bale. On Friday, Athletic Bilbao beat Osasuna 2-0, and Getafe drew 2-2 with Almeria. On Saturday, Real Sociedad drew 1-1 at Elche, Espanyol eased by Valencia 3-1, and Villarreal edged Valladolid 2-1. Cheap Jerseys Fast Shipping . -- Nelson Cruz has only two hits in 15 at-bats against the Kansas City Royals this season. Wholesale NFL Jerseys .One day after winning her record 63rd World Cup race, Vonn posted to her Facebook account Tuesday that she was happy Woods surprised her by coming to the race, and that she felt terrible that his tooth got knocked out.FRANKFURT, Germany -- Germany began an 11-day training camp in northern Italy on Wednesday with injury worries clouding the mood of the team shortly before the World Cup. Several key players, including captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, are carrying injuries into the camp in St. Leonhard, in the German speaking Alto Adige region. Lahm and Neuer will join the rest of the team later. Defender Per Mertesacker delayed his arrival by a day because of the birth of his second child. Another star, Sami Khedira of Real Madrid, will not join the squad until after the Champions League final on Saturday. Germany coach Joachim Loews camp will eventually include 27 players. The squad will return to Germany for a friendly against Cameroon on June 1, after which Loew will announce his final 23-man squad. Germany also plays Armenia on June 6, one day before departing for Brazil. The Germans open their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 16 in Salvador, then play Ghana on June 21 in Fortaleza and conclude the group stage against the United States on June 26 in Recife. Loew said earlier this week that he was optimistic about Lahm and Neuer recovering for the World Cup. "But its good and important to have them with us in South Tirol from the start, even if they cant practice," Loew said. His players, however, decided to extend their break. While the remaining squad flew to Italy, Bayern Munichs players arrived by car -- minus Lahm and Neuer. While Lahm was expected to show up on Friday, Neuer was "day-by-day," but still expected to arrive at some point, team spokkesman Jens Grittner said.dddddddddddd The decision for them to stay in Munich was reached mutually by Loew and team doctors, Grittner said. Lahm, nominally a defender, can also play in midfield, a role he has executed well at Bayern Munich. He injured his left ankle in the German Cup final on Saturday, when Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0. Doctors said he would not be able to train for up to seven days and Lahm said Wednesday he would stay home until Friday, while stressing that he would be ready for the World Cup. "I need to rest a few days but I will be top fit by the World Cup," Lahm told Bild newspaper in comments also published on the federations site. Lahm said Germany needed to work on its defence. "Weve allowed too many goals and too many chances recently. We have to pay more attention to our defence," he said. Neuer injured his right shoulder in the cup final and is wearing a brace. Khedira has yet to play a full match since coming back this month from a knee injury that had sidelined him for six months. A leader of the team, he is considered one of Loews key men. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been nursing a knee inflammation and missed the cup final. Miroslav Klose, one of only two strikers in squad, has been bothered by a hamstring injury. Defender Mats Hummels has a foot injury and played the cup final on medication. He played only 23 Bundesliga games this season for Dortmund because of various injuries. Germany also trained in the same region ahead of the 1990 World Cup in Italy and went on to win the last of its three titles. ' ' '