Sporting briefs

Gattuso: Milan's Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has injured his right thigh. It is the latest in a series of problems that have limited Gattuso's playing time this season after a serious knee injury caused him to miss much of last term.

Ketsbaia: Former Georgia international Temuri Ketsbaia signed a two-year contract as the country's national team coach. Ketsbaia, 41, replaces Hector Cuper, who resigned as Georgia coach earlier this week after a disappointing 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Mutu: Adrian Mutu will be unavailable for fifth-placed Fiorentina's visit to Udinese tomorrow and risks missing their last two Champions League group matches after the club said he needed surgery on a knee problem.

Chiellini: Giorgio Chiellini has admitted the seven-point lead Inter have built has hit Juve's morale. "We are a bit demoralised, we didn't expect to be seven points behind after 11 matches," he said. The Turin club will be depleted again for today's game at Atalanta, with Amauri suspended and Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero among those on a long injured list.

Cordoba: Colombia's 1994 World Cup goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba is to retire at the end of the season due to a spate of injuries since joining Millonarios last year. The 39-year-old, who won more than 70 caps, hurt his leg in a 1-0 defeat at Pereira in the Clausura championship on Sunday.

In England: The Championship - Derby vs Coventry 2-1. FA Cup first round - Bristol Rovers vs Southampton 2-3; Huddersfield vs Dagenham 6-1; Notts County vs Bradford 2-1.

Basketball: BOV KO (men) Athleta vs Siġġiewi 55-54. (Women) Luxol vs Starlites 69-21.

Athletics: A 16-week pregnant athlete faces sanction from Malaysian sports authorities for pulling out of December's Southeast Asian Games. China-born Yuan Yufang, a multiple gold medallist in the 20 kilometre walk at the regional Games, had disappointed officials concerned at the loss of a genuine medal chance, reports said. "She should have informed us earlier so that we could prepare another walker to replace her in the Games," Karim Ibrahim, deputy president of the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union, said.

Horse racing: Next year's 150th Melbourne Cup will carry a record US$5.5 million in prize-money, organisers of the Australian race said. Victoria Racing Club chairman Rod Fitzroy said prize money would increase by $454,000, making the 3,200-metre (two-mile) event the richest handicap horse race in the world.

Basketball, NBA: Derrick Rose scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and drilled a decisive jumper with 1:44 remaining to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 86-85 yesterday. Last season's Rookie of the Year, Rose added 11 assists as the Bulls (3-2) held off the Cavaliers with an inspired defensive effort. League MVP LeBron James scored 25 points for the Cavaliers, but lost the ball while driving to the basket for a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds.

Golf: OneAsia's tournament schedule will increase to 11 events in 2010, up from five this year, and offer prize-money of at least $1 million per event, the new Asia Pacific golf tour announced. Formed by the PGA of Australia, China Golf Association, Korea Golf Tour and Korea Golf Association earlier this year, the tour will expand by at least four more events in 2011.