SOCCER
Monaco snatch late win
AS Monaco recovered from two goals down to steal a 3-2 win against lowly Montpellier Herault with a penalty by Brazilian Fabinho five minutes into stoppage-time in a thrilling Ligue 1 clash on Thursday. The hosts looked to be heading for a first league win of the season as they took 2-0 lead into the break, but Monaco fought back and Fabinho scored from the spot with seconds remaining after goalkeeper Jonathan Ligali brought down Fabio Coentrao. The victory took Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco up to 10th on 11 points from seven games, six adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain, while Montpellier are bottom with just one point. Home defender Daniel Congre opened the scoring after 26 minutes when he netted from close range after Hilton’s header from Ryad Boudebouz’s corner was saved by Danijel Subasic. Boudebouz was also involved in Montpellier’s second goal when his curling free-kick struck Monaco striker Guido Carrillo on the back and settled in the bottom corner of the net. Coentrao pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 56th with a low shot past Ligali following a corner before Thomas Lemar leveled nine minutes later after Nabil Dirar’s cross. The stage was then set for Fabinho to step up and score the winning penalty after the hapless Ligali had spilled a cross and bundled into Coentrao as he tried to collect the ball.
SOCCER
Toloi goal downs Empoli
Brazilian defender Rafael Toloi scored in the first half to give Atalanta BC a 1-0 win against Empoli in Thursday’s lone Serie A match. Atalanta moved level ninth with AS Roma, seven points behind leaders Inter. Empoli remained one point above the relegation zone. Toloi redirected a cross from Maxi Moralez shortly after the half-hour mark with a header for his first Italian league goal. Empoli protested fruitlessly for a penalty in the 85th when Toloi collided with Manuel Pucciarelli inside the area.
MOTOR RACING
Grosjean tipped for Haas
French driver Romain Grosjean is the leading candidate to join the new US-owned Haas Formula One team. Haas have scheduled a news conference for a driver announcement on Tuesday next week at their Kannapolis, North Carolina, headquarters. Grosjean drives for Lotus, who have severe financial problems and are in takeover talks. The team’s freight arrived late for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix and its hospitality unit was not in operation yesterday at the Suzuka circuit. Haas founder and chairman Gene Haas is co-owner of the successful Stewart-Haas NASCAR team. The team is said to favor an experienced driver. The 29-year-old Grosjean, who made his F1 debut in 2009, has said he has made his mind up his future, without publicly declaring the team.
GOLF
Hebert, Wiesberger lead
Benjamin Hebert of France and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria shared the lead at seven-under-par after the opening day of the European Open Bad Griesbach, Germany, on Thursday. Hebert fired eight birdies and had a bogey on the seventh to finish the day on 64. Wiesberger had seven birdies and no bogeys to tie for the lead. Two Englishmen had a share of third place at six-under. Graeme Storm shot six birdies in his opening round and Richard Bland opened his round by carding birdies in each of his first four holes. Also at six-under were Richard Green of Australia, Darren Fichardt of South Africa and Richard Finch of England. A group of 11 golfers followed at five-under, including German veteran Bernhard Langer.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and