GAMBLE: Briana Scurry, US coach Greg Ryan's surprise choice in goal, had a rather nervous first half and went on to concede four goals against the nippy Auriverde
Brazil are into the final of the women's World Cup and the US' bid to win a third title is over.

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The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) was examining an abnormal test result for Giro d'Italia champion Danilo Di Luca yesterday that could result in the rider being excluded from Sunday's road race at the world championships.

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Russia's Dmitry Tursunov shrugged off exhaustion to book a place in the Thailand Open quarter-finals in Bangkok yesterday, downing France's Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

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BYE-BYE BRIAN: The Pacific Islanders farewelled their suspended captain, Brian Lima, by picking up a win against the US in their last game of the Rugby World Cup
Samoa withstood a second-half fightback from the US to salvage their World Cup pride with a 25-21 win in a Pool A match in St. Etienne on Wednesday.

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Georgia coach Malkhaz Cheishvili masterminded his country's first World Cup win and then set his sights on a second by beating France in Marseille on Sunday.

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Reigning champions England's hopes of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals rest solely on the result of today's clash with Tonga.

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Manchester United are expected to revert back to their experienced players for their Premier League game at Birmingham today after an embarrassing exit from the League Cup.

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David Beckham flew to Britain on Thursday because his father was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack.

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ATONEMENT: Wang Chien-ming allowed two runs and seven hits for his 19th win as the Yankees eliminated league champion Detroit from postseason contention
The New York Yankees pounded the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 12-4 on Wednesday to clinch a playoff berth for the 13th straight season.

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BY PAUL HUANG
Chen Lien-hong homered for the second-straight game, Nelson Figueroa pitched eight effective innings of two-run ball and the President Lions topped the Sinon Bulls 6-4 in Tainan on Wednesday evening to win their seventh in a row.

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EXTENDING THE BRAND: The Anaheim Ducks will need a combination of meanness, leadership, grit and scoring if they want this season's championship run to succeed
The NHL will enter uncharted territory and return to its outdoor roots during a new season that begins tomorrow with the Anaheim Ducks starting their Stanley Cup defense on European ice.

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Dual WBA champion Anthony Mundine is "legally blind" in one eye but will still fight for the undisputed world super middleweight title next year, he said yesterday.

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■ ITALY
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