Sports briefs

March 11, 2008 at 6:58AM

SOCCER

United States and Denmark set up rematch in Algarve Cup The United States scored four second-half goals and beat Norway 4-0 Monday in the Algarve Cup in Alvor, Portugal, setting up a showdown with Denmark in a rematch of last year's final.

A mistake by Norwegian goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth enabled Natasha Kai to break the deadlock in the 55th minute. Hjelmseth placed the ball on the ground after an American attack, and Kai kicked it into the goal.

Two minutes later, Abby Wambach scored on a cross by Carli Lloyd. Heather O'Reilly got her third goal of the tournament in the 65th with a header. Substitute Amy Rodriguez got the fourth goal with a shot in the 90th that Hjelmseth fumbled.

Last year, the United States defeated Denmark 2-0 and won the Algarve Cup for the fifth time.

• Forward Hugo Perez and women's coach Anson Dorrance were elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. No candidates received the necessary 75 percent from the player ballot. Perez (1884-94), was named off the veteran playerl ballotts; Dorrance off the buider's ballot.

IDITAROD

Mackey leads out of Shaktoolik Defending champion Lance Mackey regained the lead of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, but four-time champion Jeff King was staying close.

King arrived at the checkpoint at Shaktoolik along the coast early Monday morning, just 13 minutes behind Mackey in the 1,100-mile race from Anchorage to Nome.

Mackey, 37, has been here before. Just last year, he beat King, 51, out of the previous checkpoint at Unalakleet in the last leg of the race and went on to win the Iditarod.

GOLF

Fatigued Els will take week off Ernie Els withdrew Monday from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of fatigue, two weeks after winning on the PGA Tour for the first time in 3 1/2 years. According to Els' management company, he was tired and needed rest before the Masters.

Els is expected to play next week in the World Golf Championship at Doral, and he has said he would play in the Houston Open before going to the Masters.

AROUND THE HORN

Tennis: In an exhibition at Madison Square Garden, current No. 1 Roger Federer defeated former No. 1 Pete Sampras 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6). On hand was a sellout crowd that included Federer pal Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, Regis Philbin and Anna Wintour. Federer and Sampras played one real match, at Wimbledon in 2001, when an up-and-coming Federer edged an on-the-way-out Sampras in a five-setter on Centre Court.

Olympics: Haile Gebrselassie, the world-record holder in the marathon and perhaps distance running's biggest name, said he would not compete in the marathon at the Olympics in August because of concerns about the effects of the city's pollution, heat and humidity. Gebrselassie, 34, who has exercise-induced asthma, said he still hoped to run in Beijing in the 10,000 meters.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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