SOCCER
PSG thrash Rennes 4-0
Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two goals and set up another as the runaway Ligue 1 champions thrashed Stade Rennais 4-0 on a wet evening in Paris on Friday. Four second-half goals at the Parc des Princes allowed PSG to equal their own record for the most points in a Ligue 1 season — 89 — with two games remaining. Ibrahimovic joined in a second-half scoring frenzy when he picked up a cross from Argentina winger Angel di Maria and sent it beyond the reach of goalkeeper Benoit Costil in the 54th minute.
Four minutes earlier, the Swedish striker had helped to set up Maxwell for the opening goal and Ibrahimovic scored again himself with a left-footed drive in the 78th minute to take his league-leading tally to 34, his best ever in a season. Edinson Cavani added the fourth goal in injury time.
SOCCER
Gijon defeat Eibar 2-0
Jonathan Rodriguez scored one goal and set up another to help Real Sporting de Gijon beat Sociedad Deportiva Eibar 2-0 on Friday, provisionally lifting them out of the La Liga relegation zone with the season reaching its close. Eibar dominated until Gijon went ahead with their first attempt on goal, as Carlos Carmona headed in Rodriguez’s cross two minutes before halftime. Eibar reinforced their attack with Borja Baston, and fellow striker Sergi Enrich almost equalized in the 72nd minute when goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar pushed his long strike onto his post. The ball then rolled across the goalmouth, but refused to go in. Rodriguez sealed the points in the 82nd minute when Eibar defender Antonio Luna mistimed his jump to clear a long pass. Rodriguez took the ball, sped into the area and slotted a shot under goalkeeper Asier Riesgo. The loss left Eibar in 11th place before the rest of the weekend’s matches.
TENNIS
Bacsinszky to face Erakovic
Top seed Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland advanced to the final of the Grand Prix SAR, beating fifth seed Timea Babos of Hungary 6-4, 7-5 on Friday.
Bacsinszky was last night to face world No. 186 Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, who defeated former champion Kiki Bertens of the Nertherlands 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-5.
BASKETBALL
Walton to coach Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers on Friday reached an agreement with their former player and current Golden State assistant coach Luke Walton to become their head coach, choosing a leader for their new era after Kobe Bryant. The Lakers grabbed Walton just five days after they fired Byron Scott, who led the 16-time NBA champions to the two worst seasons in franchise history. Walton spent nine seasons with the Lakers, winning two championship rings as a smart, steady contributor. Three years after his retirement, the 36-year-old is back to become the 26th head coach in franchise history. Walton seemed to be the ideal candidate for the Lakers from the start, given his equal fluency in the Lakers’ history and the Warriors’ cutting-edge brand of basketball. He is to have the chance to mold the Lakers’ on-court approach in any way he chooses, with the franchise ripe for reinvention after the 20-year career of Bryant. Walton, who got a multiyear contract, is to join the Lakers after the Warriors’ playoff run. That could take several weeks, because Golden State are headed for the second round with designs on a second straight championship.
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