■ Brazil
Romario reaches 998 goals
Former Brazil striker Romario took his career tally, according to his own records, to 998 goals on Saturday after scoring his third hat-trick of the year. Romario's goals came in a 20-minute spell in the second half as he helped Vasco da Gama beat modest opponents Boavista 6-2 in the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro state) championship. The irrepressible 41-year-old former Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven player scored with a header, a penalty and a left-foot shot to drag Vasco from 2-1 down to 4-2 ahead. "A few years ago, everybody thought my career was finished," Brazil's 1994 World Cup winner told reporters. "But there's the reply."
■ France
Lyon rout Nancy
Milan Baros, Kim Kallstrom and Fred each scored on Saturday to give Lyon a 3-0 win at Nancy and move the five-time defending champion 16 points clear at the top of the French league. Lyon has 65 points from 29 rounds. Czech Republic striker Baros gave Lyon the lead in the 36th minute when the ball bounced off his thigh after a corner. Kallstrom made it 2-0 in the 76th with a powerful shot off a pass from forward Karim Benzema, and substitute Fred sealed victory in the 81st with a diving header from Kallstrom's free kick. Bordeaux moved up to third place with 44 points after drawing 1-1 at last-place Sedan.
■ Australia
Players threaten boycott
Some of Australia's top players are reportedly considering boycotting international friendlies against Argentina and Uruguay because they are unhappy at the timing of the matches. Australia are due to play Uruguay in Sydney on June 2 and Argentina in Melbourne four days later as part of their preparations for the Asian Cup, to be staged in Southeast Asia in July. Several senior players, including captain Mark Viduka, wanted the matches played later so they could have a break after the end of their European club seasons. "You need a rest and after our schedule over the past few years, it's a bit too much," Viduka told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph.
■ Italy
Palermo, Sampdoria draw
Palermo drew 1-1 with 10-man Sampdoria on Saturday to drop points for the seventh straight game in the Serie A. Striker Edison Cavani headed Palermo in front in the 53rd minute before a defensive mix-up allowed Sampdoria forward Fabio Quagliarella to level the match in the 56th. Palermo was unable to profit more from defender Giulio Falcone's expulsion in the 36th and remained winless since Feb. 2. It was Sampdoria's second straight draw. The Sicilian team took sole possession of third place in the Serie A with 47 points -- one more than Lazio, which hosted fifth-place Empoli yesterday. Sampdoria is eighth with 35 points.
■ England
Hands off, Ferguson says
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has accused Real Madrid and Barcelona of using winger Cristiano Ronaldo as a bargaining tool in their internal politics. The two Spanish giants have been linked with a move for the Portuguese international but Ferguson believes part of the speculation is fired by propaganda in the presidency battles at Real and Barcelona. "Let's be perfectly clear about Real Madrid and Barcelona," Ferguson told reporters. "Their elections are in the summer."
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
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