BELGIUM
Mechelen drop to sixth
Taiwan international Javier Chen’s KV Mechelen fell to sixth in the Belgian Jupiler League on Sunday, three points behind leaders KAA Gent, after a 2-1 home defeat to Club Bruges. Mechelen went behind to a Carl Hoefkens goal after just three minutes. Joseph Akpala doubled Bruges’ lead after 53 minutes, before Bruges defender Tom Hogli’s own-goal with six minutes remaining gave the hosts a glimmer of hope. Chen played the full 90 minutes.
NETHERLANDS
PSV slump to fifth
Wilfred Bouma’s equalizer in the 76th minute salvaged a 3-3 draw for PSV Eindhoven in a thrilling match at VVV Venlo in the Dutch league on Sunday. PSV dominated the first half and goals from Ola Toivonen and Dries Mertens, his seventh this season, gave them a comfortable lead at the interval, but three goals in six minutes from VVV turned the match on its head. Ferry de Regt headed home from close range, before Uche Nwofor’s long drive leveled the scores. Japan international Maya Yoshida put VVV ahead with an overhead-kick, but Venlo finished with 10 men following a late red card for Marcel Meeuwis. PSV slumped to fifth with 10 points, three behind their next opponents Ajax, who moved top after beating Heracles Almelo 3-2 on Saturday.
PORTUGAL
Braga down Gil Vicente
Nuno Gomez scored a brace to lead Braga to a 3-1 win over 10-man Gil Vicente on Sunday in the Portuguese league. Gomez came off the bench in the second half and slotted home a rebound for Braga’s 62nd-minute opener. A minute later, Gil Vicente defender Eder was sent off for a foul on Braga striker Lima and Helder Barbosa capitalized on the advantage 10 minutes later to extend the hosts’ lead. Gomez capped Braga’s third win of the season in stoppage-time. Undefeated Braga are level on points with second-placed Benfica, two points behind defending champions Porto.
RUSSIA
Anzhi’s Eto’o strikes again
Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o extended his goal-scoring streak in the Russian Premier League with a goal in Anzhi Makhachkala’s 2-1 home win over Volga Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday. Former four-time African footballer of the year Eto’o scored on his debut against Rostov the previous weekend and his second consecutive strike helped his new club to fourth spot in the table, six points behind leaders CSKA Moscow. Volga got off to a flying start by taking a fourth-minute lead through Romanian midfielder Mihaita Plesan, before Eto’o leveled in the 17th minute when he beat the offside trap to latch on to Mbark Boussoufa’s cross. The hosts continued to dominate after the interval and Anzhi were soon celebrating when Volga midfielder Alexander Shulein turned the ball into his own net in the 60th minute.
SOUTH KOREA
Blatter a ‘little brat:’ Chung
Former FIFA vice president Chung Mong-joon has called FIFA president Sepp Blatter a “little brat” who dictatorially rules world soccer’s governing body. Chung made the criticism in a memoir published last week titled My Challenge, My Enthusiasm. Chung had been regarded as a leading candidate to succeed Blatter before being defeated in an Asian election for the FIFA vice presidency early this year. “President Blatter is fluent in five languages, has a good way with words and is intelligent ... but I think he is not an international gentleman and he is like a little brat,” Chung said in the book.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and