SPORTS in brief

Balotelli, De Rossi missing for Italy

ROME (AP):

Mario Balotelli is out injured and Daniele De Rossi has been dropped due to a code of ethics violation for Italy's friendly at World Cup holder Spain on Wednesday.

Missing two key starters, coach Cesare Prandelli gave Torino forward Ciro Immobile and Parma defender Gabriel Paletta their first call-ups to Italy's squad yesterday.

Balotelli injured his right shoulder toward the end of AC Milan's 1-0 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Feb. 19.

De Rossi was punished for hitting Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi while playing for Roma in a 0-0 draw on Saturday. De Rossi was not punished by the referee but is expected to be banned by the Serie A judge with the use of TV replays today.

The 24-year-old Immobile is among the Serie A's top scorers with 13 goals this season. The Argentina-born Paletta, 28, just obtained Italian citizenship.

Italy is also without injured forward Giuseppe Rossi for the match at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid.

Ronaldo rescues Madrid

(AP):

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late equaliser as Real Madrid avoided a bruising derby defeat at Spanish title rivals Atletico Madrid with a 2-2 draw yesterday.

Ronaldo pounced on a loose ball inside the area to net the 82nd-minute equaliser — his 23rd goal of the season for the league leaders.

Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead at the Vicente Calderon Stadium after three minutes but, instead of wilting, Atletico hit back with two goals to take the lead by half-time.

Koke smashed a low shot beyond Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who then watched Gabi Fernandez's swerving effort from 30 yards fly past him just before the break.

Madrid stayed three points ahead of Atletico, but Barcelona were able to cut their deficit to Madrid to one point after a laboured 4-1 win against Almeria at the Camp Nou.

Ajax beat rival Feyenoord 2-1

AMSTERDAM (AP):

Ajax beat arch rival Feyenoord 2-1 yesterday in Rotterdam to cement their position at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie.

Feyenoord top scorer Graziano Pelle gave his team the lead on the half hour before Iceland international Kolbeinn Sigthorsson equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Defender Joel Veltman sealed the win for three-time defending champion Ajax by scoring off a corner from substitute Lerin Duarte in the 72nd minute.

Ajax are now eight points clear of FC Twente and Vitesse Arnhem with eight rounds to play.

Quincy Promes celebrated his call-up to the Netherlands squad by giving second-placed Twente an 18th-minute lead at Utrecht, but Tommy Oar equalised immediately after half-time to earn the home team a point.

Tanaka to make second start

TAMPA, Florida (AP):

Masahiro Tanaka will make his second spring training start for the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced yesterday the Japanese star will pitch in the road game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater.

Tanaka threw two shutout innings in his debut Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out three in the Yankees' 4-0 victory over Philadelphia. He is set to go three innings Thursday.

"I thought he handled the situation really well because I think there's been a lot of anticipation," Girardi said.

Tanaka signed a $155 million, seven-year contract in January. He was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year while leading the Rakuten Golden Eagles to a Japan Series title.

St Lucian teenager on trial at Arsenal

CASTRIES, St Lucia, (CMC):

Seventeen-year-old Saint Lucian, Caniggia 'Ginola' Elva has captured the attention of the world, as he continues to soar in his football career.

Last week, international media reports informed that the St Lucian who is based in Calgary, Canada had been given a trial with Arsenal FC, popularly known as the 'Gunners'.

Arsenal FC is one of the top-five teams in the Barclays Premier League.

Elva currently plays for the Canadian side, Calgary Southwest United. The club has confirmed, via its official Twitter account, that the talented 17-year-old was headed to a trial with one of the biggest names in English club football.

Players wear rainbow laces in anti-homophobia move

ROME (AP):

More Serie A players are wearing rainbow-colored shoelaces this weekend in an expanding anti-homophobia demonstration.

Cagliari midfielder Daniele Dessena received online attacks after wearing the laces last weekend and as a result three teammates - South Americans Fernando Avelar, Victor Ibarbo and Mauricio Pinilla - joined him in wearing the multi-colored laces for yesterday's 3-0 win over Udinese.

On Saturday, Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, a former teammate of Dessena's at Cagliari, wore the rainbow laces during a 0-0 draw with Inter Milan.