■UNITED STATES
Samuel Eto’o nets a brace
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o scored two goals to lead Barcelona to a 5-2 win over CD Guadalajara in an international club friendly on Sunday. Midfielder Xavi gave Barcelona a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, blasting a long shot that goalkeeper Sergio Rodriguez got a hand on but could not keep from rolling into the left corner. Twenty minutes later, Barcelona’s newly acquired midfielder Alexander Hleb of Belarus made it 2-0 in front of a crowd of 40,717 at Soldier Field in Chicago. In the 49th minute Barcelona substitute Eto’o tapped the ball in the net to make it 3-0. Ten minutes later Guadalajara forward Jesus Padilla blasted a long shot into the net to make it 3-1, before Eto’o scored his second goal in the 73rd minute on a cross from Bojan Krkic. Javier Hernandez scored on a header in the 88th minute for Guadalajara before Barcelona’s Jose Caceres finished the scoring in the final minute.
■ENGLAND
Drogba to miss kick-off
Didier Drogba will miss the start of Chelsea’s season, manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said yesterday. Scolari said the 30-year-old, who has spent the summer recuperating from a knee injury, is unlikely to feature until the very end of the month. He will miss the Blues’ opening Premier League games against Portsmouth, on Aug. 17, and Wigan Athletic a week later. “Didier will not play in our first game against Portsmouth and will probably miss the second against Wigan. If there are no more problems he should be ready for the game after that,” Scolari said. Scolari has penciled in the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Aug. 31 for a possible return, but admits he will not rush the Ivory Coast star. “But when you have a knee injury, you just never know,” the Brazilian said.
■SPAIN
Sneijder suffers injury
Real Madrid’s Dutch international Wesley Sneijder suffered serious knee damage following a heavy tackle by Arsenal’s Abou Diaby in Sunday’s match in London, the Spanish club said. Midfielder Sneijder was stretchered off in the second half of the Emirates Cup match that Arsenal won 1-0. “Initial tests show serious damage to his knee ligaments, but the player will undergo complementary exams, including an MRI, on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury,” Real said on their Web site.
■ENGLAND
Jones undergoes surgery
Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones was scheduled to go under the knife yesterday to repair knee ligament damage, manager Roy Keane said on Sunday following a 1-0 friendly defeat to Dutch side Ajax. Trinidad and Tobago forward Jones, who impressed as Sunderland maintained their top flight status last season, picked up the injury during a June international friendly against England. “Kenwyne’s going in tomorrow for an operation and we will know in 24 hours of the exact damage, so fingers crossed,” Keane said.
■SPAIN
Messi gets No. 10 shirt
Barcelona’s Argentine striker Lionel Messi will take over the No. 10 shirt that was last worn by Brazil’s Ronaldinho, who was transfered to AC Milan, the club said on Sunday. The No. 10 shirt is usually the privilege of the club’s star player. Messi, 21, has until now worn the No. 19, which has not been assigned to any other player for next season. Brazilian Daniel Alves, a pre-season signing, was given the No. 20, formerly worn by Portugal’s Deco, who has gone to Chelsea.
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