SOCCER
Raja, Guangzhou go to semis
Morocco’s Raja Casablanca earned a second dramatic win at the FIFA Club World Cup by scoring in extra-time to beat CF Monterrey of Mexcio 2-1, while China’s Guangzhou Evergrande downed Al-Ahly of Egypt 2-0 to also reach the semis on Saturday. Raja midfielder Kouko Guehi scored with a header five minutes into the first added period to the delight of the home fans after the first 90 minutes ended 1-1. Raja went ahead in the 24th thanks to a goal from Chemseddine Chtibi, before Monterrey pulled level through defender Jose Basanta’s header in the 53rd. After a scoreless first half at the Agadir Stadium, Brazilian forward Elkeson put Guangzhou ahead four minutes after the break, before Argentine forward Dario Conca sealed the win in the 67th. Raja are to play Copa Libertadores victors Atletico Mineiro on Wednesday, while Guangzhou face European champions Bayern Munich.
GOLF
Van der Walt wins Mandela
South Africa’s Dawie Van der Walt fired a four-under 66 in the third and final round to win the Nelson Mandela Championship by two shots on Saturday. The 30-year-old finished the rain-shortened EPGA event on 15-under-par to finish ahead of Englishman Matthew Baldwin and Spaniard Jorge Campillo, as he picked up his second European title at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club in South Africa. The win came on the eve of the former South African president’s funeral after he passed away on Dec. 5. “It’s obviously really special, making you part of history,” Van der Walt said after his victory. “Winning the Nelson Mandela at this time, when it’s sad for everyone, everyone is mourning and tomorrow’s the big day, it means a lot and it’s something I can keep close to my heart for ever.” Frenchman Romain Wattel was alone in fourth three shots back, while South African Oliver Bekker was a further stroke back to complete the top five. Overnight leader Daniel Brooks of England blew a three-shot lead as he ballooned to a six-over score of 76 to slide to a joint 11th-place finish.
SOCCER
Verona keep Catania bottom
Hellas Verona held bottom club Catania to a goalless draw in the Serie A on Saturday, thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Rafael. Gino Peruzzi fired the rebound wide of the right upright. Rafael made another close-range save to keep out Pablo Alvarez’s header from Pablo Barrientos’ free-kick. Verona’s only real chance came on the stroke of halftime, when Juanito Gomez collected a deft backheel from Luca Toni and rolled across for Romulo, who shot wide of an open goal. Catania, which remain bottom, snapped a run of three straight defeats and are four points off safety ahead of the rest of the weekend fixtures. Verona remain sixth.
GOLF
Kuchar-English take lead
Americans Matt Kuchar and Harris English scorched the back nine in a sizzling nine-under-par 27 to seize a four-shot lead after Saturday’s better-ball format at the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Naples, Florida. Joint leaders overnight with the teams of Kenny Perry-Sean O’Hair and Charles Howell III-Justin Leonard, Kuchar and English dovetailed superbly to card a 12-under 60 at Tiburon Golf Club for a 20-under total of 124. South African Retief Goosen and Swede Fredrik Jacobson were in second after shooting a 61 in the charity event, three strokes in front of Englishmen Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood (61) and Howell and Leonard (67). Defending champions Perry and O’Hair slipped back into a tie for sixth at 11-under after a 69.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care