SOCCER

CHASTAIN LEFT OFF AMERICAN TEAM

Brandi Chastain’s career with the U.S. women’s soccer team is over. The defender who joyously took off her jersey to celebrate the 1999 World Cup victory is no longer in the team’s plans, coach Greg Ryan said yesterday.

Chastain joins Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Joy Fawcett as longtime stars whose national team careers have ended recently, although the other three left on their own terms after a 2004 season that included the Olympic gold medal.

Chastain ranks sixth all-time on the U.S. team with 192 appearances. She played in three World Cups and three Olympics. She was benched for the first three games in Athens, but returned to the starting lineup for the elimination rounds and helped lead the team to the gold medal. But she is most remembered for making the final shot in the penalty kick that gave America the victory in the World Cup final against China in 1999.

MEXICO, BRAZIL REACH SEMIS AT CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Mexico and Brazil each advanced to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup with ties yesterday, the final day of group play.

Mexico’s 0-0 draw with Greece clinched first place in Group B, setting up a semifinal Sunday in Hanover against Latin American rival Argentina – runner-up in Group A.

Brazil hung on for a 2-2 tie against Asian champion Japan, putting the five-time World Cup winners into Saturday’s semifinals against Group A winner Germany in Nuremberg in a rematch of the 2002 World Cup final, won by Brazil.

Oguro Masashi’s 88th-minute goal allowed Japan to tie. Robinho gave Brazil the lead after 10 minutes, and Shunsuke Nakamura equalized in the 27th. Five minutes later, Ronaldinho put Brazil up 2-1.

Greece, the European champion, lost two of three games and failed to score in this eight-team, two-week warm-up for next year’s World Cup in Germany.

BASKETBALL

BUCKS FIRE HEAD COACH PORTER

The Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Terry Porter yesterday after the team had its worst season in almost a decade. Plagued with injuries and a revolving roster, the Bucks went 30-52 last season, Porter’s second with the team, and failed to make the playoffs.

The decision came more than a month after the team announced Porter would return for his third season. General Manager Larry Harris said the team will focus on next week’s draft while starting immediately to look for a new coach. The Bucks have the no. 1 pick in the draft.

– Associated Press