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Sports Briefs

■ Cycling
Former Olympian killed
Australian Olympic cyclist Damian McDonald, who won a Commonwealth Games gold medal at Victoria, Canada, in 1994, was one of three people killed when several cars and trucks collided in a Melbourne tunnel on Friday, police said yesterday. McDonald, 34, won an Australian road championship and also competed at the 1996 Olympics, where he finished 65th in the road race. He was married to Bree McDonald, a team manager for the Melbourne Phoenix professional netball team, and the couple had a new baby.

■ Soccer
Japan see off Peru
Japan coach Ivica Osim's decision to call up Europe-based players for the first time proved successful in a weekend win over Peru, but he now wants more from them in the run-up to their Asian Cup defense. Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura set up goals by Seiichiro Maki and Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara, leading Japan to a 2-0 victory over Peru on Saturday. It was the first time that Osim called up Europe-based players since his appointment last July, which came after Japan ended a disappointing World Cup campaign in Germany with one draw and two losses. Saturday's win marked the first time Japan had beaten Peru in four tries, after two losses and one draw.

■ Soccer
Socceroos sink China
Palermo midfielder Mark Bresciano scored a goal and made another for Brett Holman to give Australia a 2-0 victory over China in a friendly in Guangzhou on Saturday. Both goals came in the opening half an hour as Australia, without a handful of their top players, made a good start to preparations for their Asian Cup debut. The Socceroos took the lead in the eighth minute when Bresciano beat two hesitant Chinese defenders to the ball out on the left and raced towards the penalty box, his square pass leaving Holman with the simple task of beating China's keeper.

■ Rugby Union
Portugal qualify for Cup
Portugal qualified for its first rugby World Cup after losing to Uruguay 18-12 but winning 24-23 on aggregate on Saturday. The Lobos won the first leg 12-5 in Lisbon two weeks ago, then succeeded in Uruguay, where the Teros had lost only two qualifiers in 14 years. Portugal filled the 20th and last berth for the World Cup in France in September, joining Pool C with New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania. Uruguay's hopes of reaching a third World Cup were handicapped after only two minutes, when lock Juan Bado was sent off for foul play at Parque Central.

■ Cricket
Police quiz Pakistanis
Three members of the Pakistani cricket World Cup team were briefly questioned by Jamaican police investigating the murder of coach Bob Woolmer, but then were allowed to leave the island with the rest of the team late on Saturday. Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, team manager Talat Ali and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed were asked by Jamaican investigators to detail their activities before Woolmer's strangling in his Kingston hotel room, squad spokesman Pervez Jamil Mir told reporters. Mir said investigators probing the murder asked "general questions about their movements, what they were doing and what time they went to bed" on the night before Pakistan's national coach was found dead.

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