Achieving his goals

Hugo Sanchez is nicknamed "Hu-gol" and "Pentapichichi," referring to his five successive scoring titles in Spain's Primera Liga while playing for Real Madrid. Now Sanchez, who also performed for the San Diego Sockers in the North American Soccer League and Dallas Burn in Major League Soccer, is having similar success as a coach.

Sanchez guided UNAM Pumas to their second successive Mexican championship, defeating Monterrey, 2-1, and 1-0, in the Liguilla finals.

Sanchez set a goal of winning five titles with Pumas, but has received tempting offers from Argentina (Independiente), Spain (Racing Santander), plus UANL Tigres, according to his agent, Jose Manuel Sanz. Sanchez is also considered next in line to coach Mexico's national team and is a top critic of the current coach, Argentine Ricardo LaVolpe.

"When they invited me to work with UNAM I didn't think twice," Sanchez said, "despite the fact I had an offer from Jaguares de Chiapas. I asked for two days to think about [the Chiapas offer], the offer came from Pumas, and I accepted. They understood in Chiapas, because Pumas is my life.

"This is an unforgettable memory. And, yes, we want five, six, or seven titles, I don't know how many. I hope to have the force to win more titles. I don't want to talk about [other offers], we are going to enjoy this moment and I am going to reflect later. I already have everything planned and I want to be champion again, that is the way I think. Pumas gave me a lot and I have repaid Pumas something, and I want to continue giving more to this institution."

Evacuation day

More than 70,000 spectators evacuated Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in less than 15 minutes following a telephoned bomb threat in the second half of the Real Madrid-Real Sociedad game Sunday. The score was tied, 1-1, in the 88th minute when referee Jose Lizondo Cortes called the game off -- the final two minutes, plus four minutes of injury time, will be played behind closed doors Jan. 5.

The threat was received by the newspaper Gara and no bomb was found.

Authorities justified the evacuation because the Basque separatist group ETA had exploded a car bomb before the Real Madrid-Barcelona Champions League match May 1, 2002, injuring 17 people.

American idol

Mia Hamm played 17 years of international soccer before retiring following a farewell match, a 5-0 US victory over Mexico before 15,549 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., last week. Hamm, who made her US debut at age 15, wore the name "Garciaparra" on her No. 9 shirt for the second half of the match, which also was the final international game for Julie Foudy. Joy Fawcett also is retiring, but couldn't play because she is recuperating from back surgery. Organizers are planning a series of events in 2005, which could include a relaunch of the WUSA on a limited basis. If the WUSA is revived, Boston is assured of being involved.

Small ball

Lamar Hunt announced last week the proposed sale of the Kansas City Wizards, saying the future of MLS teams is related to soccer-specific stadia. The Wizards have played in Arrowhead Stadium for nine seasons.

Hunt will continue to operate the Columbus Crew, which revived the concept of a soccer-specific venue with the 1999 opening of Crew Stadium. Since then, the Los Angeles Galaxy have left the Rose Bowl for The Home Depot Center (capacity 27,000); the Dallas Burn are departing the Cotton Bowl for the Frisco Soccer Center (cap. 21,193), which will play host to the MLS Cup Nov. 13, 2005; the Chicago Fire have announced a move from Soldier Field to a soccer stadium in Bridgeview; the MetroStars plan to leave Giants Stadium to play in Harrison, N.J.; and the Colorado Rapids are moving from Invesco Field to Commerce City, Colo. The Revolution (Gillette Stadium) and D.C. United (RFK Stadium) are set to remain in stadia built to NFL specifications.

The Revolution are not planning to follow the Wizards' path, according to technical director Joe Cummings.

"The situation is different for the Revolution because the Krafts have just one team in the MLS and Lamar Hunt has had more than one team," Cummings said. "Some teams are going to smaller stadiums but Gillette is a multifaceted stadium and we look at it both to house the Revolution and for big international events."

Little big man

Milton "Tyson" Nunez, a 5-foot-5-inch forward, headed in the tiebreaking goal in the 75th minute as Marathon defeated Olimpia, 3-2, in the first leg of the Honduran championship finals in San Pedro Sula Sunday.

Nunez, who had a short European career in England and Greece, is again being shopped to MLS. Dallas is among the MLS teams that previously rejected Nunez, whose composure on the ball, speed, and timing more than compensate for his lack of height.

Paco stays put

Francisco "Paco" Palencia refused to leave CD Guadalajara to join Chivas USA, the club's entry in the MLS.

"I accept Paco's decision and I have no problem with it," Chivas USA coach Thomas Rongen said while the team began training in Guadalajara last week. "I was already informed that he would stay in Guadalajara and so I did not think about it any more."