Sports briefs

Dolphins' Porter ruled out of the action

MIAMI — Joey Porter won't be making any tackles this week, either.

Less than 24 hours before kickoff, the Miami Dolphins' outspoken linebacker was ruled out of Sunday's game against Tampa Bay because of a coach's decision. The Dolphins didn't give any information about the reason for the move Saturday by coach Tony Sparano.

Porter made no tackles in last week's loss to the Patriots after calling them cheaters and saying he hated them. New England quarterback Tom Brady said his team was inspired by Porter's comments.

Porter has been slowed most of the season by a sore right hamstring. The four-time Pro Bowl player sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday but participated in full drills Friday.

Kiwis qualify for the 2010 World Cup

New Zealand reached the World Cup for the first time since 1982, with Cameroon and Nigeria also qualifying Saturday for next year's soccer showcase in South Africa.

Algeria was perhaps seconds from qualifying in Cairo, but Emad Meteab headed in a goal in the fifth minute of second-half injury time, giving Egypt a 2-0 victory over the visitors that forced a tiebreaker playoff between the nations on Wednesday in Sudan.

In the first leg of European playoffs, Russia beat Slovenia 2-1, Greece was held to a 0-0 tie by visiting Ukraine, France won at Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina lost at Portugal. In the playoff for the final berth, Uruguay was at Costa Rica in the first leg of a two-game series.

Twenty-six of the 32 World Cup berths are set, with the remainder to be settled Wednesday. The draw dividing the teams into eight first-round groups is Dec. 4.

In a World Cup tuneup, the United States lost 1-0 at Slovakia, which got a 26th-minute penalty kick from Marek Hamsik. Brazil beat England 1-0 at Doha, Qatar, on Nilmar's goal early in the second half. In late games, defending champion Italy hosted the Netherlands and Argentina was at Spain.

At Wellington, Rory Fallon scored on a header off a corner kick in the 44th minute, and New Zealand held on to beat Bahrain 1-0.

The teams had played a 0-0 tie at Manama on Oct. 10 in the first leg of the home-and-home, total-goals playoff between the Oceania champion and the fifth-place team in Asian qualifying.