■ Soccer
D.C. United edge Fire
Andy Herron scored in the 62nd minute and the Chicago Fire beat nine-man D.C. United 1-0 in a feisty Major League Soccer (MLS) match in Bridgeview, Illinois, on Sunday. United's Bryan Namoff, the recipient of a yellow card earlier in the match, was red-carded in the 73rd minute for taking down Herron. Teammate Joshua Gros was ejected in the 88th after a tackle on Thiago, who left the field holding a cloth to his face. In other MLS action, the Houston Dynamo's Alejandro Moreno apparent goal on a header in the final seconds of injury time was wiped out by an offside call, leaving them tied with Chivas USA in a 0-0 draw.
■ Golf
Poulter ends long drought
Flamboyant English golfer Ian Poulter ended a nearly two-year wait for a win on the European Tour when he won the Madrid Masters by five strokes on Sunday. Poulter carded a three-under-par 69 on his final round to finish a total of 22 under par to beat Spaniard Ignacio Garrido, who scored 66 on his final round. Welshman Phillip Price finished third, one stroke behind Garrido and one stroke ahead of Ireland's Padraig Harrington. Of the Ryder Cup team members playing in the Spanish event, Harrington finished with the best score. Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal finished nine shots behind Poulter.
■ Basketball
US women demolish France
The two-time defending champion US team crushed France 76-41 in the second round to remain unbeaten at the women's world basketball championship in Brazil on Sunday. Diana Taurasi led the US with 15 points to guarantee a berth in the final eight. With the top four advancing to the quarterfinals, the US has 8 points, the Czechs 7 and France 6, followed by Russia, Cuba and China with 5 each. The Czechs edged Russia 85-83 on 25 points from Eva Viteckova, and China beat Cuba 73-70. Australia remains the only other unbeaten team and also secured a quarterfinals spot after frustrating host Brazil 82-73. In other games, Lithuania dominated Argentina 62-47, and Spain beat Canada 85-57.
■ Soccer
Porto shuts out Naval
Two first-half goals brought FC Porto a 2-0 win over Naval and put the defending champion three points clear at the top of the Portuguese league on Sunday. Defender Marek Cech completed a counterattack with a neat scoring shot after 10 minutes. Mario Sergio deflected the ball into his own goal in the 26th as he lunged to stop a superb solo run by Bosingwa. Sporting Lisbon surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to Pacos Ferreira on Saturday, though Brazilian striker Ronny used his hand to score the goal. The referee awarded the goal despite the home team's furious protests. In other action it was, Martimo 0, Aves 0; Academica 1, Belenenses 1; Beira Mar 2, Amadora 0.
■ Soccer
Sao Paulo `reborn' with win
Smarting from its loss to Internacional in the Copa Libertadores finals last month, Sao Paulo won the second matchup 2-0 and widened its lead atop the Brazilian league on Sunday. Striker Lensilson angled in a header in the eighth minute, and even after Silva was sent off in the 54th, Sao Paulo doubled its lead when Junior drilled home his shot in the 70th. Sao Paulo was "reborn" after the victory, coach Muricy Ramalho said. The team has 46 points, followed by Gremio on 42, Internacional at 40, and Santos at 39.
■ Tennis
Baghdatis wins China Open
Third-seeded Marcos Baghdatis won his first career title on Sunday when he defeated Croatia's Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-0 in the China Open final. Australian Open runner-up Baghdatis of Cyprus upped the tempo in the second set roll past fourth-seeded Ancic, who was contesting his first tournament after a two-month layoff due to injury. After making the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year, Ancic hurt his back and knee in a yachting accident and was sidelined until this week. The China Open was his fourth finals appearance this season.
■ Tennis
Youzhny wants revenge
Mikhail Youzhny hopes to teach Andy Roddick a lesson in clay court tennis when Russia host the US in the Davis Cup semi-final this week in Moscow. Youzhny said he would love to avenge his defeat to the big-serving American in the US Open semi-finals earlier this month. "Hopefully, if we meet again the outcome would be totally different," the Russian said in an interview ahead of the three-day tie on clay at the Olympic Sports Complex. "It would be a totally different match, having little resemblance to our last meeting. It was on his terms as it was played on a hard court in New York, now we're going to meet on clay and in Moscow."
■ Soccer
German referee warns fans
A German referee threatened to end a Bundesliga match because of racist taunts from the crowd. Michael Weiner warned fans over the loudspeaker that he would end Saturday's game between Alemannia Aachen and Borussia Moenchengladbach if the words "asylum seeker" were heard again. It was directed at Moenchengladbach's Brazilian forward, Kahe, during Aachen's 4-2 home win. "The decision from Mr. Weiner was completely right," German referees head Volker Roth said on Sunday. "Racism doesn't belong in a football stadium -- that's why the referees were told again not to tolerate such smears." Germany striker Gerald Asamoah, who is black, was racially taunted last week in a German Cup match. On Friday, the German soccer federation fined Hansa Rostock 20,000 euros (US$25,446) because fans of its development team had taunted the Schalke player.
■ Rugby Union
Waseda defeat Dark Blues
A penalty goal by Ayumu Goromaru with three minutes to go lifted Tokyo's Waseda University to a 22-20 victory over Oxford University in rain in Tokyo on Sunday. The Dark Blues completed their three-match tour of Japan with one win and two defeats. They beat Osaka's Doshisha University 34-28 on Sept. 9 but lost to Kanto Gakuin University 17-7 here last Wednesday. Full back Goromaru scored the winner in the 37th minute of the second half after the home side yielded a try to Oxford in the 27th minute and gave up their 19-15 lead.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely