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German veteran keeper Jens Lehmann conceded three second half goals as former club Arsenal beat his new side Stuttgart in a pre-season friendly late Wednesday.

Lehmann, 38, saw goals from fringe Gunners players Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere, plus another from Nicklas Bendtner secure the win for the English Premiership side, for whom the keeper starred for five seasons prior to a summer move.

Last season, Lehmann fell out with Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, who benched him for much of the campaign, preferring Spaniard Manuel Almunia.

But Lehmann still starred for Germany as Die Mannschaft reached the final at Euro 2008 before bowing to Spain.

Before joining Arsenal he played for Schalke 04, with whom he won the UEFA Cup, and then starred in a Bundesliga title win with Dortmund after a brief spell at AC Milan.

Lehmann recently said he hoped to stay in the frame for Germany but coach Joachim Loew is inclined to give younger shot-stoppers Rene Adler and Manuel Neuer a chance.

On Thursday, Lehmann was quoted as saying he had made his mind up and would inform Loew.

“I know what I am going to do but I will speak first with Joachim Loew. As yet, we’ve not discussed the matter,” said Lehmann, who admitted it was “possible I will stop” playing for his country.

The Chicago Bulls waived guard JamesOn Curry on Thursday.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Curry was the team’s second-round pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

Curry was suspended for one game July 10 by the NBA after he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors in Idaho.

Curry, a former Oklahoma State standout, was arrested in January and pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and urinating in public.

Curry spent most of last season in the NBA’s Developmental League.

Rafael Benitez believes he has already seen signs that his new strike force of Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres will gel ahead of the start of Liverpool’s coming campaign.

Keane made his Liverpool debut following his 20 million pound (40 million dollar) move from Tottenham Hotspur as Benitez’s side played out a scoreless friendly draw with La Liga outfit Villarreal here Wednesday.

The Irishman played just 45 minutes and was withdrawn before Torres came on as a second-half substitute.

But with his side’s first competitive game—a Champions League qualifier—looming in less than two weeks’ time on August 12, Liverpool manager Benitez knows the duo will have to bed in before the serious business of the season gets underway.

Their first taste of joint action could come when Liverpool continue their pre-season preparations with a friendly against Scottish giants Rangers on August 2.

“You could see Robbie was working hard against Villarreal and trying to impress and that was the key,” said Benitez. “We’ll have enough games left now to play him with Torres.

“In the next game Torres could play maybe 45 minutes so I hope they can play together. They’ll definitely play together before the start of the season,” the Spaniard added.

Keane, who grew up a Liverpool fan and watched from the Kop as a boy, admitted his first experience of playing for the club was an emotional one.

But he made clear his move from Tottenham was not merely a sentimental one and that his aim was to challenge for the major trophies that eluded him during a six-year spell at White Hart Lane.

His first showing offered plenty of effort but it will be in two weeks’ time that the new player’s impact will be truly tested.

“I was delighted to get that game under my belt,” said the forward. “I’ve been dreaming about that moment since I was a kid. I enjoyed every moment of it. It has sunk in I’m a Liverpool player - it had to.

“The trip to Spain has been good for me to get to know the lads and I’m just looking forward to this season.”

Liverpool remain unbeaten in their pre-season programme and Benitez declared himself satisfied at his team’s progress, particularly against a side they could face at some stage during the coming Champions League campaign.

He added: “It was difficult to play against a team that held the ball well, moved the ball well and passed the ball well, especially now when we’re not quite there yet physically.”

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Arthur Rhodes was ejected from Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes.

Rhodes walked the bases loaded and, after surrendering a sacrifice fly to Michael Young, was tossed after arguing with home plate umpire Paul Nauert.

The reliever was visibly upset after a 3-2 pitch to Marlon Byrd was called a ball by Nauert one batter earlier, loading the bases.

Mike Mussina entered this season almost an afterthought in the Yankees’ rotation, the old man on a staff of budding stars. What a difference four months makes.

Mussina walked off the Yankee Stadium mound Wednesday to rousing “Mooose!” calls from the sold-out crowd, having thrown eight economical innings in New York’s 5-1 win over the Minnesota Twins for their 10th straight home victory.

Last year “I physically couldn’t do what I wanted to do. The whole year was miserable,” Mussina said after giving up six hits without allowing a run.

“Today was probably a good day,” he said with a smirk.

Alex Rodriguez and Justin Christian each had two-run doubles and Richie Sexson had a sacrifice fly and 11 putouts and three assists at first base as the Yankees completed a 6-0, post-break homestand with sweeps of Oakland and the Twins.