Robin van Persie wasted no time in picking up where he left off last season with the final goal in Manchester United’s comfortable win over the A League All Stars in Sydney.

AUSTRALIA coach Pim Verbeek continues to test out his options ahead of next year’s World Cup after naming three newcomers and recalling Ante Covic and Patrick Kisnorbo to the squad for the friendly against the Republic of Ireland on August 12 at Thomond Park in Limerick.

TIM CAHILL scored twice in the last six minutes and John Aloisi added a third in injury time as Australia made a winning return to the World Cup finals with a dramatic victory over Japan.

THE Serbian government declared a state of emergency last night amid fears of a breakdown in law and order following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.