MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Mario Balotelli gave AC Milan fans a goal to savour, and then a brief cause for concern. Balotelli and Mbaye Niang scored first-half goals, and AC Milan controlled long stretches of play in what became a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the third-place match of the Guinness International Champions Cup tournament Wednesday night. Balotelli scored in the 17th minute, and Niang extended the lead with a nifty score in the 40th. But the storied Italian club, which opens its league play at home later this month, lost Balotelli in the 79th minute. He played a ball across the field and went down immediately, holding the back of his right leg around the knee area, though apparently was only cramping up on a night where the heat index in South Florida was 96 degrees at game time. "We played a good match from a technical and effort standpoint," AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "We made a few mistakes, but feel satisfied." For the most part, so did the Galaxy. who substituted liberally at halftime and in the second half. Galaxy star Landon Donovan was among those who logged only 45 minutes in the exhibition. "I thought it was a good experience for our group," Donovan said. "Theyre a good team. Theres a reason why these guys are playing for AC Milan. I enjoyed it. I think the guys enjoyed it. It was difficult, but all in all, a great experience." AC Milan won two of its three matches in this series of exhibitions among eight club teams. The Galaxy, which beat two-time defending Serie A champion Juventus earlier in the tournament, was the only U.S.-based team in the event and dropped two of three games. The inaugural tourney wrapped up later Wednesday night, with Real Madrid beating Chelsea 3-1 for the title. Balotellis free kick from about 30 yards in the 10th minute curled left off his foot but was saved by Galaxy goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini. AC Milan didnt wait much longer to break through. The Galaxy misplayed a clearing pass in the 17th minute, and Andrea Poli played a ball into the box for Balotelli, who was marked by two defenders. He shook free with ease, splitting the pair and his low shot beat Cudicini. Donovan had a shot to tie in the 23rd minute, his blast from the top of the box going off the head of defender Cristian Zapata, who was briefly shaken up. Donovan set up another chance in the 36th, taking a run down the right side before dropping a pass into the centre for Juninho, who didnt get much on his shot, the ball skipping well wide to the left. Before much longer, it was 2-0. Niang faked around a number of defenders, then feinted clear of L.A.s Todd Dunivant before nonchalantly sending a low left-footed strike inside the far post. "A really nice goal," Allegri said. Cudicini made some fine plays, including coming off his line in the 26th minute to deflect a point-blank opportunity taken by Stephan El Shaarawy. Cudicini was among the halftime substitutions made by Galaxy coach Bruce Arena. "If we can learn from these three games, its going to help improve our team for the remaining games in Major League Soccer," Arena said. "Thats whats important." NOTES: Arenas Galaxy worked out at Florida International University, where his son, Kenny Arena, is the mens soccer coach. ... The two-time defending MLS Cup champions, currently fifth in the Western Conference for the leagues final playoff spot with 12 matches remaining, return to regular-season play Sunday at FC Dallas, which is one point behind them in the standings. ... New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire milled about in the team areas after the game, first wearing a Balotelli jersey, then removing it to expose a Chelsea jersey as he walked past the Blues dressing room. Jack Morris Jersey . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Paul Molitor Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-eric-sogard-jersey/ . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. George Bell Blue Jays Jersey . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Alen Hanson Blue Jays Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. It was No. 48 in 2016.Jimmie Johnson, driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet, won the 2016 Sprint Cup title.Johnson is a big believer in numerology and symbolism. So here are some key numbers after 36 points races, 10,523 laps and 14,929.83 miles.0: The number of laps led for Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne this year. There were 40 drivers who led laps this year, but not those two top-20 drivers.1: The finishing position of Johnson to win the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. All three drivers who have won titles in the elimination-style format have won the championship by winning the season finale.2: The number of Sprint Cup rainouts for Pocono Raceway, the first time ever both races in a year at the same track were rained out.3: Laps led by Johnson in his win at Homestead.6: Career top-10s for Danica Patrick -- the same number she had at the end of last season. Patrick was unable to build on her record for most top-10s for a female Cup driver.7: You could have guessed this one -- the number of Cup titles for Johnson. But it also means something else for Johnson -- that is where he currently ranks on the Cup career wins list.8: The number of races Jeff Gordon competed in this year as he came out of retirement to substitute in select races for Dale Earnhardt Jr.12: The spot where Brad Keselowski finished in the standings despite haaving four victories, one spot behind four-race winner Martin Truex Jr.dddddddddddd and three spots behind another four-race winner, Kevin Harvick.13: The number of Sprint Cup race winners this season.15: The consecutive number of seasons that Jimmie Johnson has a victory.24: The winless streak during the season for Johnson, the longest winless streak of his career.32: Where Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished in the standings despite missing the final 18 races because of a concussion. He finished ahead of full-time drivers David Ragan, Regan Smith, Matt DiBenedetto and Michael Annett.39: The number of drivers in the field in four races this season. After NASCAR cut the field from 43 to 40, the 39 drivers were the fewest number of drivers in a Cup race in nearly 20 years.41: Johnsons age, making him the oldest driver to win the title since 42-year-old Dale Jarrett won in 1999.49: Career wins for Tony Stewart, who retired from Sprint Cup racing after this season.80: Career wins for Johnson358: Laps led by Chase Elliott during his rookie season.588: Miles led by Martin Truex Jr. in the Coca-Cola 600, where he set the record for miles led in a race.2,230: Miles led by Truex this year. No other driver led more than 1,800 miles. ' ' '
