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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two