U.S. women's soccer team caps undefeated year

SYDNEY LEROUX scored twice in the first half and the U.S. women's soccer team completed its sixth undefeated year with a 4-1 exhibition victory over Brazil yesterday at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Abby Wambach also scored in the first half, Erika Tymrak added a goal, and goalkeeper Hope Solo made a series of diving saves in the second half.

The victory gave the U.S. team a 13-0-3 mark this year. It also pushed the Americans' unbeaten streak to 38 - and 76 at home.

In other soccer news:

* Police used tear gas to disperse rock-throwing fans outside the stadium before the African Champions League final in Cairo, an outburst that has heightened fears for an upcoming World Cup playoff between Egypt and Ghana.

* Four-time player of the year Lionel Messi injured his left thigh during the first half of Barcelona's Spanish league match at Real Betis. He will undergo tests today.

* American Tucker Fredricks won the men's 500 meters in a World Cup speedskating event at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, beating world and Olympic champion Mo Tae-bum, of South Korea. American Heather Richardson took the women's 1,000.

* Charles Hamelin won the 1,000-meter race and helped Canada capture the relay in short-track World Cup speedskating in Turin, Italy.

* La Salle women's soccer team won its second consecutive Atlantic 10 championship by defeating top-seeded Dayton on penalty kicks.

* Voters rejected plans for Munich to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, an embarrassing setback for newly elected International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, of Germany.

* Defending champion Novak Djokovic set up an enticing final today against top-ranked Rafael Nadal with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka at the ATP World Tour Finals in London. Nadal defeated six-time champion Roger Federer, 7-5, 6-3, in the other semi.

* Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will have back surgery and miss the final two races of the Formula One season.

* Valparaiso fired football coach Dale Carlson, a day after the Crusaders lost to Butler, 72-12. Carlson went 3-40 in four seasons, 1-9 this season. Assistant head coach Mike Gravier will serve as interim coach for the season finale.