■SOCCER
Defensor knocks out Boca
Six-time champions Boca Juniors were knocked out of the Libertadores Cup on Thursday after losing 1-0 at home in the usually impregnable Bombonera to unfancied Uruguayans Defensor Sporting. Diego de Souza scored in the 27th minute to give Defensor a 3-2 aggregate win in the second round tie and hand Boca their first home defeat in the competition since 2003, a run of 30 matches. Defensor will face Estudiantes, Argentina’s sole survivors in the competition, in the quarter-finals. The Uruguayan championship leaders went ahead when De Souza was first to Pablo Pintos’ cross and scored with a shot on the turn which went in off the underside of the crossbar.
■SOCCER
Chelsea chooses Lampard
Frank Lampard has been named Chelsea’s Player of the Year for a record third time. The England midfielder is the first player to win the accolade three times, the English Premier League club said on Friday. Winner in 2004 and 2005, Lampard was again voted leading performer over the season by Chelsea fans. The award was some consolation for the midfielder who, despite what he describes as his best season to date, failed to win awards from the Professional Footballers’ Association or the Football Writers’ Association. Chelsea head to Wembley next Saturday to play Everton in the FA Cup final and Lampard is eager to send off popular outgoing manager Guus Hiddink with silverware. Defender Ashley Cole was awarded Chelsea Players’ Player of the Year while a Michael Essien volley at home against Barcelona was voted Goal of the Season. It was the second time in three years the Ghanaian has won the accolade.
■SOCCER
Ronaldo to go on trial
Ronaldo will go on trial at a Brazilian sports tribunal next week for pulling the hair and pinching an opponent in a Brazilian league match. The three-time world player of the year could miss up to three matches if found guilty, the sports tribunal said on Thursday. The 32-year-old Ronaldo was denounced after TV images showed him grabbing the hair and pinching defender Fahel in a ball dispute inside the area last Sunday in Corinthians’ scoreless draw against Botafogo at Engenhao Stadium. Ronaldo was retaliating for Fahel grabbing his jersey. Ronaldo complained he was fouled and deserved a penalty kick. “Without a doubt, Ronaldo is a phenomenon,” sports tribunal prosecutor Paulo Schmitt said. “But all players are equal to the tribunal and when they do something wrong they must be denounced.” Fahel told local media he could testify in favor of Ronaldo if requested. “I think he was just upset at the time,” Fahel said. “What happens on the field should stay there.”
■RUGBY UNION
Smith wins another award
Wallabies flanker George Smith has claimed the Australian Player of the Year in the Super 14 competition for a fourth consecutive season. The ACT Brumbies’ loose forward overhauled NSW Waratahs and Wallabies prop Benn Robinson to finish with 18 points to take the award, which was announced late on Thursday. Robinson was second on 16 points, followed in equal third position on 14 points by the Western Force’s James O’Connor and Queensland Reds Digby Ioane. Smith and former Test fullback Chris Latham have dominated the award with Latham also winning it four times. Reporters decided on the top three Australian players from each Super 14 match involving the NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Western Force and Brumbies.
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