CONCACAF
Monterrey beat Galaxy
Humberto Suazo and Aldo de Nigris scored late goals to lead Mexican side Monterrey to a 2-1 lead over the LA Galaxy in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday. A.J. DeLaGarza opened the scoring for the Galaxy in the 28th minute, before Suazo knocked home a rebound in the 82nd and de Nigris beat Galaxy ’keeper Carlo Cudicini to a headed pass from Guillermo Madrigal in stoppage-time. Monterrey head into next week’s second leg in Mexico, having won the regional club championship for the past two years. The winners will meet Mexico’s Santos Laguna or the Seattle Sounders in the finals starting later this month. Santos beat the Sounders 2-1 on Tuesday in Seattle, Washington.
ENGLAND
Spurs’ Defoe out for 10 days
Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has been ruled out for up to 10 days with a muscle injury, manager Andre Villas-Boas said on Wednesday. It means that he missed the first leg of Spurs’ Europa League quarter-final at home to Basel yesterday, and is to miss Sunday’s home game with Everton in the Premier League. “If he can’t make Basel away, he should be fit in the week when we prepare to play Manchester City,” Villas-Boas said. “It is a big blow ... He is a big miss and has shown tremendous quality this season.”
FRANCE
Brest’s director takes reins
French Ligue 1 strugglers Stade Brestois 29 have handed the reins of the first team to sporting director Corentin Martins for the remainder of the season, president Michel Guyot told reporters on Wednesday. Martins steps into the void left by Landry Chavin, who was sacked on Tuesday after a run of one win in 10 games left the Brittany side in the relegation zone. Martins, a former French international who played for Brest between 1988 and 1991, has taken charge twice before. He took over for the final five games of 2011-2012, keeping Brest in Ligue 1 after Alex Dupont was sacked. Chauvin became the fourth managerial casualty of the season in Ligue 1, with Evian Thonon Gaillard, AC Ajaccio and AS Nancy-Lorraine also having parted company with their managers.
FRANCE
PSG furious over Silva slurs
Paris Saint-Germain threatened action against Joey Barton on Wednesday after the Olympique de Marseille midfielder likened PSG’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva to a transsexual and called him an “overweight ladyboy.” “These attacks are serious and go beyond a simple verbal clash,” the Ligue 1 leaders said in a statement. “Thiago Silva and PSG reserve their right to take any necessary action.” English bad boy Barton, who has more than 2 million followers on Twitter, used the site to insult Silva with messages that drew condemnation from gay activists. Barton has been involved in an ongoing spat with Thiago Silva this week following disparaging comments the Briton made about some of the PSG player’s teammates. Marseille manager Elie Baup told a news conference that his responsibility did not extend further than the pitch, and the French Football Federation said its Ethics Committee would not take action for the same reason. Barton arrived in France on loan from Queens Park Rangers following a colorful career in England during which he spent two-and-a-half months in prison for assault. At the time of the attack, he was on bail for attacking former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo. He also stubbed out a cigar in the eye of a youth player at the club in 2004.
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