U.S. soccer team in need of a victory

The U.S. soccer team will be under heavy pressure tomorrow night in a World Cup qualifier against Honduras at Chicago's Soldier Field.

After getting blown out, 3-1, by host Costa Rica in a qualifier on Wednesday night, the Americans will need a win tomorrow. Their next qualifier is in August at Mexico, where they're 0-22-1.

The No. 14 Americans dropped to 0-7-1 in qualifying in Costa Rica, including 0-7 in San Jose, where they have been outscored, 16-5.

The United States is 15-0-1 in qualifying at home since a 3-2 defeat to Honduras at Washington's RFK Stadium in September 2001.

Costa Rica (3-1) leapfrogged into first place in the six-team regional finals of North and Central America and the Caribbean with nine points, two ahead of the United States (2-1-1). Honduras (1-1-1) has four points, followed by Mexico (1-2) with three, and El Salvador (0-1-2) and Trinidad and Tobago (0-1-2) with two points each. The top three nations qualify for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy has undergone right knee surgery and could be out up to nine months.

The team said Kennedy had the posterior cruciate ligament repaired on Wednesday. He's been added to the team's disabled list and is ineligible for MLS play.

The lawyer for a woman accused of trying to extort millions of dollars from Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino has asked a federal judge to delay her trial.

Karen Cunagin Sypher's attorney said in a motion that he doesn't have all the documents prosecutors were supposed to turn over in time to go to trial as scheduled on June 29.

Prosecutors have until June 17 to respond to the delay request.

The 49-year-old Sypher, of Louisville, pleaded not guilty last month to charges of trying to extort money from Pitino and lying to the FBI. A criminal complaint claimed her demands included college tuition for her children, two cars, her house to be paid off and $3,000 per month.

The complaint says the demands later escalated to $10 million.

Cycling's governing body cleared Astana to race after Lance Armstrong's team guaranteed its finances.

The International Cycling Union said Astana provided proof it has funds in time to compete in the five-day Tour of Luxembourg starting Wednesday.

The UCI threatened to withdraw Kazakhstan-based Astana's racing license after riders went unpaid for two months.

It extended a deadline that passed Sunday after the Giro d'Italia race.

Armstrong is riding for free this season but led teammates in a protest at the Giro when they wore jerseys with the sponsor name faded out.

Astana intends to compete in the Tour de France starting July 4 in Monaco.

The Indiana Fever of the WNBA released veteran guard Tan White and rookie center Danielle Campbell.

The Chicago Bandits defeated the Philadelphia Force, 5-1, Wednesday night in Elgin, Ill., in the season-opening National Pro Fastpitch league game for both teams. The Bandits' duo of Kristina Thorson and Jennie Finch gave up just one hit - an RBI double to Audrey Lafountain - and combined for seven strikeouts and three walks.