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Messi leads Barcelona past Manchester United

Lionel Messi scored one goal and created another in a mesmerizing 3-1 win for Barcelona over Manchester United in the Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium.

Barcelona's David Villa celebrates scoring against Manchester United. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Barcelona's David Villa celebrates scoring against Manchester United. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)Read more

Lionel Messi scored one goal and created another in a mesmerizing 3-1 win for Barcelona over Manchester United in the Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium.

Barcelona dominated possession with its trademark one-touch passing. But with Wayne Rooney having equalized Pedro Rodriguez's first-half opener, the Spanish champions could not force the crucial breakthrough until Messi conjured a 54th-minute goal from the edge of the area.

Messi was tracked tightly by Patrice Evra, but the two-time world player of the year spotted a gap and hit a shot down the middle to beat goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Messi, selected as man-of-the-match, followed his goal with a feint and run that eventually led to David Villa curling a shot into the top corner.

The performance was so comfortable that Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola was able to bring on injury-hit team captain Carles Puyol for the last few moments.

But in a gesture symbolizing Barcelona's ethic, Puyol handed the armband over to Eric Abidal - whose place in the team had been in doubt after surgery this season to remove a liver tumor - so his teammate could lift the trophy.

Red Bulls tie Whitecaps

MLS: Patrick Ianni and Lamar Neagle scored as the Seattle Sounders pinned a 2-1 loss on Real Salt Lake, the host's first regular-season home defeat at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy Utah.

Luke Rodgers scored in the 34th minute to help the visiting New York Red Bulls tie the Vancouver Whitecaps, 1-1.

In Columbus, Andres Mendoza had two goals and the Crew rallied to tie Chivas USA, 3-3.

Miguel Lopez scored off an assist from David Beckham to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution in Foxborough, Mass.

Colin Clark scored his second goal of the season as the host Houston Dynamo rallied to tie FC Dallas, 2-2.

Chicago's Cory Gibbs scored in the 80th minute and the Fire took a 2-2 tie with the San Jose Earthquakes in Bridgeview, Ill.

Ryan Smith scored in the 75th minute to lift Sporting Kansas City to a 1-1 tie with the Colorado Rapids in Denver.

Botafogo tops Santos

Futebol Brasileiro: Defender Fabio Ferreira scored in the 35th minute and Botafogo made the score stand in a 1-0 win over perennial champion Santos in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Arsenal takeover OKed

Arsenal received approval from the English Premier League for Stan Kroenke, who also owns the St. Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Rapids, to take control of the London club.

Bin Hammam withdraws

Accused of bribery, challenger Mohamed bin Hammam withdrew from FIFA's presidential election, clearing the way for incumbent Sepp Blatter be re-elected unopposed.

Bin Hammam, Blatter and FIFA vice president Jack Warner still face an ethics hearing on Sunday.