SOCCER
Arsenal win FA WSL Cup
Dutch forward Vivianne Miedema’s first-half goal on Wednesday helped Arsenal Women beat defending champions Manchester City Women 1-0 and clinch a record fifth FA Women’s Super League (WSL) Cup title. Miedema latched on to a deep cross from defender Dominique Janssen on 32 minutes and held off her marker to slot past City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck at Adams Park, Wycombe. Favorites City, holders of the Women’s FA Cup and Women’s Super League One title, went close to restoring parity through forwards Nikita Parris and Jane Ross, but Arsenal held on. “It really is a huge achievement,” Miedema said. “We’ve got a load of respect for them because they’re an amazing team. I’m really happy we managed to beat them today.”
RUGBY UNION
Jones ‘sorry’ over comments
England coach Eddie Jones on Wednesday apologized for offensive comments he made last year about Wales and Ireland. The Australian, speaking at a sponsor’s event in July last year, talked about how disappointed he was by his team’s Six Nations loss to the “scummy Irish” and described Wales as a “shit little place.” “No excuses. I shouldn’t have said what I did,” Jones told the BBC. “I am very sorry for any offense caused.” The English Rugby Football Union said it would apologize to the sport’s ruling bodies in Ireland and Wales and a spokesperson described Jones’ comments as “inappropriate.” England, whose defeat by Ireland last year was their first under Jones, play Ireland at Twickenham tomorrow.
SOCCER
Bayern breeze into last eight
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich on Wednesday eased past Besiktas JK 3-1 to breeze into the Champions League quarter-finals with an 8-1 aggregate win. It was a record 11th straight victory in the competition for coach Jupp Heynckes, who had led Bayern to the title in 2012-2013 before retiring and returning this season. The German side went ahead through Thiago Alcantara in the 18th minute to kill off any lingering hopes of a miracle recovery by the Turkish team after Bayern had crushed them 5-0 in the first leg in Munich. Bayern, who could secure their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title at the weekend, went 2-0 up seconds after the second-half restart when Gokhan Gonul volleyed a Rafinha cross into his own net. Besiktas, who were missing their entire central defense, offered little resistance despite controlling possession.
SKIING
Two skiers banned for life
South Korean freestyle skiers Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon, who competed at last month’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea, have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates, the Korea Ski Association said yesterday. The two are accused of “physically and sexually abusing female athletes” at a competition in Japan this month, an association spokesman said. After an investigation, “we decided to ban Choi and Kim permanently,” the spokesman said. The spokesman said that Choi, 24, and Kim, 23, drank together in their hotel room during the Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Akita. They asked female athletes in the next room to join them and multiple media reports say they assaulted them when the offer was refused.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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