SOCCER
Benfica beat Spartak 2-0
Substitute Oscar Cardozo scored two second-half goals to give SL Benfica a 2-0 win over Spartak Moscow on Wednesday for their first Champions League victory this season. Cardozo came on at halftime and headed in a cross from Melgarejo in the 55th minute. The Paraguayan extended the Portuguese team’s lead in the 69th, when he received a pass from Ola John on the flank and struck a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Artem Rebrov. After two defeats and a draw, the victory kept alive Benfica’s hopes of reaching the knockout round from Group G. The Lisbon club have four points, five behind leaders Barcelona and three back from Celtic, with two group games left to play. The Russian team started strongly. Dmitri Kombarov splitting the Benfica defense with a pass for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov in the 14th, but Artur sprinted out to deny him from short range. Benfica gradually began to pick up the tempo and Enzo Perez fired just wide of Rebrov’s post in the 25th, before Jardel came close with a header. Rebrov was shown a yellow card as Spartak looked to get some breathing space, but Rodrigo kept up the pressure with a header that flew wide.
SOCCER
US face three away qualifiers
The US face three away matches in their first four fixtures in next year’s final phase of 2014 World Cup qualifying in the North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region. Jurgen Klinsmann’s US will open their campaign in Honduras on Feb. 6, while regional powerhouses Mexico host Jamaica. In the other match in the six-team round, Panama play Costa Rica. Three CONCACAF teams will advance directly to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-placed team will play off against a side from Oceania. After the Honduras game, the US host Costa Rica on March 22, then travel to Mexico on March 26. They visit Jamaica on June 7. The six teams will play each other twice, with the final fixtures slated for Oct. 15.
BASEBALL
Darvish not playing Classic
Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish will not play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic next year, saying on Tuesday he wants to focus on winning a World Series. “This was a very difficult decision for me as it is always a tremendous honor to represent my native country of Japan,” Darvish said in a statement. Darvish was a key member of the Japan squad that won the 2009 Baseball Classic, recording the victory over South Korea in the championship game, while closing out the semi-final victory over the US.
SOCCER
AFC theft charge dropped
Malaysian prosecutors have dropped a theft charge against a man accused of stealing documents from the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, his lawyer said yesterday. Kong Lee Toong, husband of former AFC finance director Amelia Gan, had in September pleaded not guilty to the charge in a court in the Malaysian capital. The charge came amid an increasingly bitter battle between Asian soccer’s governing body and its suspended president Mohammed bin Hammam, who is being investigated by the AFC for what it calls possible corrupt activities. The AFC had lodged a complaint with police over missing documents reportedly relating to Bin Hammam, a former FIFA presidential candidate. Bin Hammam had complained that documents detailing “personal payments” were stolen from his office and were included in an internal AFC audit of his activities as president.
Agencies
CYCLING
Wiggins in crash with van
Tour de France and Olympic time trial champion Bradley Wiggins was to spend the night in hospital yesterday with minor rib injuries after a collision with a van near his home in Lancashire, England. Police were alerted to the incident in Wrightington at 6pm after reports of a road traffic accident. Wiggins, 32, often rides the roads near his home where he lives with his wife and two children. “His family are aware,” said police, adding they had spoken with the van’s driver. Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France in July with Team Sky. “He is being kept in hospital overnight for observation, but the injuries he has sustained are not thought to be serious, and he is expected to make a full and speedy recovery,” Team Sky said in a statement.
CRICKET
Finn, Broad get rest
Bowlers Steven Finn and Stuart Broad were left out of England’s final warm-up match yesterday as the pace duo race against time to be fit for the first Test against India starting on Thursday next week. Finn has a thigh injury which makes him doubtful for the Test in Ahmedabad, while Broad is nursing a bruised heel. England also rested pace spearhead James Anderson and went into the four-day match against Haryana without their four frontline bowlers. Off-spinner Graeme Swann has returned home to spend time with his sick daughter, but is expected to be back in time for the Ahmedabad Test.
BASEBALL
Grandal gets 50-game ban
Major League Baseball on Wednesday suspended San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal for 50 games for a positive test for testosterone. Grandal’s suspension is to take effect at the start of next season, Major League Baseball said. Grandal, a 23-year-old from Cuba, played 60 games this year, his rookie season, hitting .297 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs. “I was disappointed to learn of my positive test and under the joint drug program I am responsible for what I put into my body. I must accept responsibility for my actions and serve my suspension,” he said.
OLYMPICS
Winter Games add sports
Russia’s 2014 Olympics will be the biggest and the most expansionist Winter Games with 12 new sports, organizers said yesterday. Sports director Irina Gladkikh outlined the new sports, ranging from women’s ski jumping to a figure skating team championship at a media briefing. Sochi will boast a total of 98 medal events in 15 sports — 69 in the mountains and 29 at the coastal cluster. The Games are scheduled to run from Feb. 7 to Feb. 23.
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