SOCCER
Villarreal win with late goals
New signing Cedric Bakambu scored two late goals to give Villarreal a 3-1 win over RCD Espanyol on Friday in La Liga. Bakambu put the hosts ahead in the 87th minute and then netted again in injury time to complete a come-from-behind victory at El Madrigal. Felipe Caicedo had put Espanyol ahead in the sixth minute after Villarreal turned the ball over near the halfway line. However, Roberto Soldado — who joined from Tottenham Hotspur in the off-season — equalized with a volley in the 67th and then set up both goals for Bakambu, who had come one as a substitute. The win gave Villarreal four points from the opening two games, while Espanyol remained on three.
CYCLING
Lindeman swoops in Vuelta
Bert Jan Lindeman of Netherlands took advantage of a mistake by Jerome Cousin of France to sprint ahead and win the seventh stage of the Vuelta a Espana on Friday, while Esteban Chaves of Colombia held the overall leader’s red jersey. Cousin had led a group of five riders up the final ascent after breaking away from the pack, but within sight of the finish line his back wheel touched Ilia Koshevoy’s front tire and he lost his balance. Bulgaria’s Koshevoy finished second, nine seconds behind, and Italy’s Fabio Aru finished third, 29 seconds adrift. Cousin recovered to cross the line fourth. In the overall standings, Chaves led second-placed Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands by 10 seconds with Daniel Martin of Ireland third, 33 seconds behind.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Rousey fight moved forward
Ronda Rousey’s next UFC fight against Holly Holm has been moved up to Nov. 14 in Melbourne, Australia. The mixed martial arts promotion made the announcement on Friday night. Rousey was scheduled to defend her bantamweight title against Holm on Jan. 2 in Las Vegas, but a thumb injury to welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has changed the UFC’s schedule. Lawler was slated to defend his title against Carlos Condit in the main event at UFC 193 at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, which seats more than 55,000. Instead, Rousey (12-0) is to go after her seventh title defense against Holm (9-0), a boxing champion from New Mexico. Rousey has become one of the world’s most prominent female athletes while winning her past three bouts in a combined 64 seconds. She stopped Bethe Correia in 34 seconds on Aug. 1.
GOLF
Fitzpatrick, Edberg lead
Matthew Fitzpatrick and Pelle Edberg both shot five-under 67s on Friday to share the lead after the second round of the Czech Masters. It was the second flawless round for the 20-year-old Fitzpatrick at the Albatross Golf course near Prague. “It was very consistent today,” the Englishman said. “I played nicely and hit a lot of greens again which is always important to keep making pars and then take your chances when you have them.” Fitzpatrick holed a 20-foot putt for eagle on the par-five 12th and finished his round with his third birdie of the day on the 18th for an 11-under total of 133. The 36-year-old Edberg of Sweden had six birdies, including four on the front nine, and a bogey. “Like yesterday I putted really well,” Edberg said. “I holed a lot of putts and it was good off the tee and had some nice irons, so it added up to a good score.” Both Fitzpatrick and Edberg are seeking their first European Tour victory. Thomas Pieters of Belgium was one shot back after carding a 68.
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