Sports Category Archive

Honda salvages 2-2 draw for Japan against Senegal with late strike

Senegal and Japan were drawing 1-1 at halftime during their World Cup clash in Yekaterinburg after Sadio Mane saw his early goal canceled out by Takashi Inui’s equalizer.

Kane fires England to record 6-1 win against Panama

England coach Gareth Southgate kept faith with Raheem Sterling up front alongside captain Harry Kane in his starting lineup for Sunday’s Group G clash with Panama in Nizhny Novgorod.

Swedes take stand against racism after Durmaz abuse

Sweden substitute Jimmy Durmaz was subjected to a storm of racial hatred and threats on social media after giving away the free kick that led to Toni Kroos’s late winner for Germany in their Group F World Cup clash on Saturday.

Kvitova sees off Rybarikova to retain Birmingham title

Petra Kvitova displayed her credentials for a third Wimbledon title after beating Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova 4-6 6-1 6-2 to defend her title at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham on Sunday.

Sweden’s sports psychologist faces big job before Mexico game

Sweden’s sports psychologist Daniel Ekvall will have his work cut out to get the national team back into the right frame of mind for their final group game at the World Cup against Mexico that they will probably have to win to progress.

France out to show they’re special against Denmark

France have yet to shine at the World Cup, but they have good reason to show they have something special when they take on Denmark in their Group C finale on Tuesday.

Federer loses No.1 spot as Coric stuns him in Halle final

Borna Coric ended Roger Federer’s 20-match winning streak on grass, beating him 7-6(6) 3-6 6-2 in the Halle Open final on Sunday while also bringing to a halt the Swiss maestro’s reign as world number one.

Argentina seek great escape via rejuvenated Nigeria

Lying a humiliating last in a group they were expected to win, Argentina must beat Nigeria on Tuesday to have any chance of progressing and keeping alive captain Lionel Messi’s dream of winning a first World Cup.

Swiss ministers support Xhaka, Shaqiri over goal celebrations

Two Swiss government ministers have backed national team players Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri after their controversial goal celebrations in Friday’s 2-1 World Cup win over Serbia.

Injured Berdych to miss Wimbledon with back injury

Former finalist Tomas Berdych has been forced to withdraw from next month’s Wimbledon with a back injury.

Major League Baseball roundup: Kemp’s grand slam pushes Dodgers past Mets

Matt Kemp’s pinch-hit grand slam blew the game open and capped a five-run eighth inning Saturday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who routed the New York Mets 8-3 at Citi Field.

FIFA fines Poland for ‘political and offensive’ World Cup banner

FIFA said late on Saturday it had fined the Polish Football Association 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,124) for what it said was an offensive banner displayed by Polish fans during their side’s 2-1 World Cup defeat to Senegal on Tuesday.

Former tennis champion Becker says diplomatic passport is real

Former tennis champion Boris Becker said on Sunday he has a genuine diplomatic passport from the Central African Republic after the country’s foreign minister called it a fake.

South America disappoints but is the demise permanent?

Three South American sides have accounted for almost half of all World Cup titles but their worst overall performance since 2002 has raised the question: Is South American football on the wane?

‘Fearless’ Mexico looking beyond last 16

Mexico captain Andres Guardado said his side have become fearless after following up their hugely impressive win over world champions Germany by beating South Korea 2-1 on Saturday to take a huge leap towards topping Group F.

Lakeland sweeps doubleheader vs. Mets

Cone collects 4 hits, 3 RBI over 2 games

Mexico win ushers in uneasy truce between Osorio and critics

Barely three weeks after chants of “get out Osorio” rang around the Azteca stadium, Mexico’s cerebral coach has won over his critics thanks to two impressive opening performances at the World Cup.

Euphoric Germany to make more changes against South Korea

World champions Germany’s last-gasp victory over Sweden on Saturday unleashed a wave of euphoria among players and coaching staff but head coach Joachim Loew said changes would be needed for their final Group F game against South Korea.

Lopetegui shadow hangs over Spain ahead of Morocco game

The shadow of the dramatic sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup still hung over Spain as they set off for their final Group B game against Morocco in Kaliningrad after midfielder Saul Niguez openly criticized the decision.

NHL notebook: Hurricanes, Flames swing five-player deal

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and Harvard defenseman Adam Fox from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm on Saturday.

Millions gather as fireworks brighten St Petersburg’s skies

Soccer fans from all over the world were treated to a spectacular celebration in St Petersburg on Saturday as millions of people gathered in the city center for Scarlet Sails, the climactic event of the annual White Nights festival.

Major League Baseball notebook: Kershaw back with Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw was activated from the disabled list to start Saturday night’s game against the New York Mets.

Golf: Squirrelly start for McIlroy prompts laughs at Travelers

Rory McIlroy hit a squirrelly first shot at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut on Saturday — but that was hardly surprising after the distraction he faced on the tee.

Golf: Flawless Casey cards 62 to take four-shot lead at Travelers

Paul Casey matched his lowest score on the PGA Tour, an eight-under-par 62 for a four-stroke lead after the third round at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut on Saturday.

Kroos missile secures last-gasp Germany win

A dramatic stoppage-time goal from Toni Kroos gave holders Germany a 2-1 win over Sweden on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup last 16.

FIFA investigates Shaqiri and Xhaka celebrations

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Switzerland players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, looking into their goal celebrations during Friday’s win over Serbia at the World Cup.

Athletics: Wimbley storms to surprising women’s 400m win

The United States found a new sprint standout on Saturday when 23-year-old Shakima Wimbley equaled the year’s fastest 400 meters time with an impressive victory at the U.S. championships in Iowa.

Kroos steps forward as Germany’s undisputed leader

Germany’s Toni Kroos emerged as the world champions’ natural leader on Saturday, stepping up to guide them to a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Sweden kept them on course for the World Cup last 16.

Rampant Mexico sees off South Korea to close on last 16

Edson Alvarez was brought in as center back for Mexico’s World Cup Group F game against South Korea on Saturday in the only change made by coach Jose Luis Osorio after the Latin Americans defeated defending champions Germany.

U.S. Open will factor maternity leave into seedings

Serena Williams was unseeded at the French Open last month due to an extended absence for the birth of her first child but she is not likely to face the same problem at the U.S. Open.

Moscow confectioners build life-size chocolate Messi for his birthday

When Moscow confectioners found out Lionel Messi would be celebrating his birthday during the World Cup, they decided he needed a gift that measured up – a life-size chocolate sculpture in his likeness.

Canadian Olympic session endorses Calgary bid for 2026 Games

Calgary’s proposed bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has won the support of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), officials said on Saturday.

Two each for Hazard and Lukaku as Belgium thumps Tunisia 5-2

Saif-Eddine Khaoui will start for Tunisia, replacing Naim Sliti, against an unchanged Belgian line-up as coach Nabil Maaloul looks to attack the World Cup Group G seeds to secure the win they need to keep their last 16 hopes alive.

Lewandowski and Rodriguez need to fire in crunch Kazan clash

The crunch World Cup showdown between Poland and Colombia on Sunday could come down to which of club mates Robert Lewandowski and James Rodriguez is able find something close to their best form at the Kazan Arena.

Croats dream of repeating their 1998 ‘miracle’

Croatia’s hugely impressive 3-0 win over Argentina moved them into the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 1998 and inevitably Zlatko Delic’s team are earning comparisons with the celebrated side who finished third in France.

‘No drama’: Southgate plays down team leak

England manager Gareth Southgate played down any confrontation with the media after a photograph was taken allegedly showing the line-up for England’s clash with Panama on Sunday.

Ozil, Khedira out as Germany make changes for Sweden game

Germany coach Joachim Loew has dropped Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira from the side that desperately need a victory over Sweden in their World Cup Group F clash in Sochi on Saturday.

Fair play may need to split Spain and Portugal

The disciplinary records of Spain and Portugal could be used to decide the winners of the World Cup’s Group B if they both win by the same scoreline in their final qualification matches on Monday.

Fanzone overcrowding fear as World Cup fever sweeps Russia

Soccer fans planning to watch Russia take on Uruguay in the World Cup on giant outdoor screens in Moscow on Monday should consider avoiding the official FIFA fan zone due to potential overcrowding, local officials said on Saturday.

England brace for sizzling sun versus Panama

When English players first imagined playing a World Cup in Russia, they would not have envisaged searing sunshine and temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius (86°F).

Hooliganism fear fading, English fans enjoy next Russian city

With fears of hooliganism and animosity from Russians disappearing fast, England fans are streaming into the tranquil, riverside city of Nizhny Novgorod for their next game, mingling happily with locals in old streets and sun-kissed squares.

Relentless Cilic edges Kyrgios to set up Djokovic final

Cilic stays cool to edge Kyrgios in Queen’s semi

It’s more than Japan brains vs Senegal brawn, says Cisse

Senegal are not unduly worried about taking on Japan in Sunday’s Group H clash despite the Asians possessing plenty of technical quality across the pitch, the African team’s coach Aliou Cisse said on Saturday.

World Cup heading for record number of penalties

One of the central themes from the early stages of the World Cup in Russia is the number of penalties being awarded, many following the intervention of video assistant referees (VARs).

Belgium outclass Tunisia but defense is a concern

Belgium outclassed underdogs Tunisia with an impressive display of speed, power and attacking football but they will quickly need to improve their defense if the country’s golden generation are to live up to expectations and go far in this World Cup.

Portugal looks to Ronaldo to overcome gritty Iran

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored Portugal’s all-four goals in the World Cup so far and the European Champions will be heavily dependent on the talismanic forward to see them through against a stoic Iran side in their final Group B match on Monday.

Russia puts in the hard yards as World Cup’s running men

The lowest-ranked team coming into their own World Cup, Russia have sparkled since the action began — and perhaps the secret to their success is not just their ability on the ball but good old-fashioned industry.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt fight to avoid last place in group

Saudi Arabia and Egypt will try to avoid finishing last in Group A as they bow out of the World Cup on Monday, a disappointing end to the tournament in particular for Egypt and their usually prolific striker Mohamed Salah.

Defending champion Kvitova races into Birmingham final

Defending champion Petra Kvitova dispatched Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-3 6-2 with a powerful display to reach the final at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham on Saturday.

World Cup fans enjoy Tatar culture at Summer festival

Football fans from around the globe visiting Kazan for the World Cup got a taste of traditional Tatar culture at the Sabantuy Summer festival on Saturday.

Panama picks same team for tougher test against England

Panama will field the same line-up that lost their opening World Cup game to Belgium when they face an England side that coach Hernan Dario Gomez expects to be an even tougher proposition on Sunday.

Murray to face Wawrinka in Eastbourne first round

Andy Murray will face fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round of the Eastbourne championships next week as both players continue their comebacks from injury.