CHINA
Surging China beat Paraguay
Asian Cup finalists China continued their encouraging form under Alain Perrin as they beat Paraguay 2-1 in a home friendly on Tuesday to record their first win over the South American side. Captain and AFC Player of the Year Zheng Zie opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the ninth minute after sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, with Wu Lei converting a second at the back post in the 18th. Nestor Ortigoza pulled one back for Paraguay in the 82nd with a header at the back post, but Perrin’s side hung on for the morale-boosting win in Changsa. China have lost only once in seven games since the Frenchman took charge as they continue preparations for January’s tournament, where they have been drawn in Group B with Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and North Korea.
UNITED STATES
Colombia, Ecuador triumph
James Rodriguez scored in the 74th minute to give Colombia a 1-0 victory over Canada on Tuesday in an international friendly. The Real Madrid striker rescued his side from a spirited display by a the 120th-ranked Canadian squad. The match was the closer of a twin bill at the Red Bull Arena in New York that opened with Ecuador defeating El Salvador 5-1. Two goals each from Enner Valencia and Joao Plata powered Ecuador to the win, while Cristian Penilla added the match’s final goal in the 83rd minute. The only Salvadorean goal came off a penalty kick by Rafael Burgos in first-half stoppage-time. In another Tuesday friendly between South American teams, Chile drew Bolivia 2-2 at home.
UAE
UAE boss furious over loss
United Arab Emirates (UAE) boss Mahdi Ali hammered stay away fans and bemoaned losing out in a club-versus-country row as his side’s three-year unbeaten run at home ended with an emphatic 4-0 defeat by fellow Asian Cup finalists Uzbekistan in Dubai on Tuesday. The five changes Ali made to his lineup from Friday’s game against Cup hosts Australia fell flat and the coach said the shakeup was influenced by local clubs. “The players are under pressure from their clubs because the league resumes in three days and they are thinking of those matches more than the national team’s friendly,” Ali was quoted as saying by local media. “It is also shameful the national team doesn’t have any home support from the fans for home games. When we arrive at the stadium, we find a few fans and that gives the feeling that we are in a strange country. There is no support from our own fans, so how will the players be motivated?” The loss was just the third of Ali’s reign, which began in 2012, and the first for the UAE at home since a 2-0 defeat by South Korea in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2011.
ARMENIA
Gignac makes comeback
Andre-Pierre Gignac marked his first start for France in more than four years with a goal and two assists as the Euro 2016 hosts eased to a 3-0 friendly win in Armenia on Tuesday. Gignac set up goals for Loic Remy and substitute Antoine Griezmann either side of converting a second-half penalty in Yerevan as Didier Deschamps’ side followed up their 2-1 friendly win over Portugal at the weekend with a comfortable victory. Though ensuring he should remain part of Deschamps’ future plans, Gigan refused to get carried away, saying: “The competition for places in attack is ferocious. I don’t think I scored any points tonight particularly.” France’s next friendly is next month against Albania, while Armenia, who are yet to win in Group I, go to Portugal.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
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
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just