Sports briefs

March 12, 2008 at 5:00AM

SOCCER

U.S. is tied by Cuba in Olympic qualifier Freddy Adu's stellar performance wasn't enough to get the U.S. soccer team a victory against Cuba.

The U.S. could only manage a 1-1 tie against surprising Cuba in the first round of Group A play in the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifier on Tuesday in Tampa, Fla.

Adu had six shots on goal, but only one found the net. It came in the 14th minute, when he powered one in with his left foot to give the U.S., considered the team to beat in the group, a 1-0 lead.

But Cuba, with far fewer shot attempts (19-6) and shots on goal (9-4), made the most of its limited opportunities in the first under-23 match between the countries.

Roberto Linares' goal in the 42nd minute, a shot inside the penalty box with his left foot that was assisted by Yordany Alvarez, tied the match.

"I feel like we had a lot of chances, but we were a bit unlucky," Adu said. "We're going to go back to the drawing board."

The U.S. and Cuba are both 0-0-1 in Group A round robin play.

• Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini said he will quit at the end of the season, with four years left on his contract with the Italian soccer champion.

SKIING Cancellation costs Miller chance at downhill title Bode Miller criticized race organizers for canceling the season's final World Cup downhill in Bormio, Italy, because of fog and snow, which allowed Didier Cuche to clinch his second discipline title in a row. The Swiss skier had a five-point lead on Miller heading into the race.

Miller leads in the overall Cup standings and is vying with Cuche and Austria's Benjamin Raich for the overall title. Miller leads Cuche by 169 points and Raich by 264.

"The Swiss have an angle to not race because their guy wins the title if we don't race today, and it's very risky for them to get that title if we do race," Miller said. "The Austrians have an angle because they don't want an extra bunch of points that Raich isn't going to score -- that me and Cuche would score -- for the overall title."

AROUND THE HORN

Football: The late Pat Tillman, a former Arizona State linebacker who gave up an NFL career to join the military, is among 19 players up for election to the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time this year.

Volleyball: Brigham Young was put on NCAA probation for three years for violations in men's volleyball.

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