Mon, May 26, 2008 page18

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■SOCCER

  Capello calls up Posh keeper

  England coach Fabio Capello on Saturday handed a shock international call up to goalkeeper Joe Lewis who last season was playing in English League Two, the fourth tier of soccer in the country. Lewis, who helped Peterborough United to promotion to League One, was named in the squad for the forthcoming friendlies against the US and Trinidad and Tobago. Capello originally selected David James, Chris Kirkland and Joe Hart for the double-header. But the 20-year-old Lewis has been added to the party because of fitness concerns over Kirkland, who has a back injury, while James has only recently returned from a calf injury. The Posh goalkeeper was overjoyed by Capello’s decision to promote him to the full squad. Lewis had only made his debut for the Under-21 side as a substitute for Hart in the 2-0 win over Wales as recently as May 15. “I am over the moon and thrilled with the call-up — it came out of the blue and I am enjoying every minute of it,” Lewis said. “I trained with the squad on Saturday morning and it was superb to be involved with the best players in the country. I managed to make a couple of good saves, which was a great feeling, especially from Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. It is a great end to a fantastic season.” Peterborough director of footbal Barry Fry was delighted by Lewis’ call-up. “This is fantastic news for Joe and Peterborough United,” he told www.theposh.co.uk.

  ■TENNIS

  Swedes take team title

  Sweden beat Russia 2-1 in the final to win the World Team Championships in Dusseldorf on Saturday. The 44th world-ranked Robin Soderling took part in both winning rubbers, first beating 16th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-1 before teaming up with Robert Lindstedt to beat Mikhail Youzhny and Dimitry Tursunov 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 11-9 in the deciding doubles. They saved a match-point in the final set of the crucial doubles. In the other singles match, Igor Andreev saw off Thomas Johansson 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 but it did not stop Russia falling to their fourth losing final after 2000, 2001 and 2002.

  ■TENNIS

  Davydenko wins in Austria

  Nikolay Davydenko clinched the Poertschach claycourt title for the third time on Saturday beating Argentina’s Juan Monaco 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in the final. Davydenko took the first set after breaking serve in the opening game.But second seed Monaco, the world No. 14, asserted his authority in the second set forcing the Russian into a series of errors with his powerful forehand to level the match. Monaco, the defending champion, was unable to keep up his advantage however and Davydenko enjoyed a crucial break in the third game on his way to wrapping up his second title of the year to add to his Miami Masters victory.

  ■TENNIS

  Simon wins all-French final

  France’s Gilles Simon won the Casablanca ATP tournament on Saturday with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over compatriot Julien Benneteau before quickly flying back to Paris for the French Open. Simon and Benneteau took the same plane home back to Paris a day before the tournament at Roland Garros started. The 35th world-ranked Simon made the most of unforced errors from Benneteau in the second set to claim victory. Simon, who entered the tournament too late to be seeded and had to play in the qualifying rounds, was better technically and physically throughout the match.

  ■ BASEBALL

  Jones placed on disabled list

  The Los Angeles Dodgers placed outfielder Andruw Jones on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Jones, 31, had only one at-bat since the previous Sunday, striking out as a pinch hitter to end Friday’s 2-1 loss to the St Louis Cardinals. He is to undergo arthroscopic surgery tomorrow, the team said. Jones inked a two-year, US$36.2 million contract in the offseason to bring power to the heart of the Dodgers lineup. But Jones has struggled at the plate, batting .165 with two homers and seven RBI in 43 games.

  ■SOCCER

  Fergie talks about quitting

  Sir Alex Ferguson says he will quit Manchester United within three years. “I won’t be managing here any more than three years at the very, very most,’’ the 66-year-old was quoted in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. “Without question. I can assure you of that.” Ferguson lavished praise on Friday on his Portuguese assistant Carlos Queiroz, but wouldn’t directly anoint the former Real Madrid coach his chosen successor. “What happens after I go is not my domain,” he said. “But there is no doubt I think Carlos will be here for a long time.” Ferguson previously has refused to set a timetable for his departure, but he has been discussing his exit from Old Trafford with increasing frequency in recent months. Spurring Ferguson’s decision to quit is his desire to explore the world — particularly the US. “What I would like to do is travel to places I have never been to,” he said. “I would love to go to the States and spend about three or four months there.”

  ■RUGBY UNION

  Munster win Heineken Cup

  Munster edged Toulouse 16-13 to become the first Irish team to win European rugby’s Heineken Cup for the second time. Denis Leamy scored Munster’s only try at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and Ronan O’Gara kicked 11 points. Although Munster survived a scare when Toulouse drew level at 13-13 midway through the second half, they never fell behind once Leamy had scored and held on for a hard fought victory. Toulouse took an early lead through a drop goal by Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and were causing Munster problems with slick running rugby. But Munster’s pack began to function properly, guaranteeing possession and unsettling the French team. Leamy scored the game’s first try after he broke from the base of the scrum, a score that Ronan O’Gara converted. O’Gara then made it 10-3 with a penalty before Elissalde trimmed the deficit just before half-time with a kick of his own. Munster moved seven points clear again 11 minutes after the break with a second penalty by O’Gara but Toulouse drew level shortly after. Fabien Pelous conceded a penalty in the 64th, giving O’Gara a chance that he took to put Munster back in front.

  ■CYCLING

  Sella beats Giro favorites

  Emanuele Sella of the CSF Group team overshadowed the Giro d’Italia favorites when he won the first mountain stage with a solo attack on Saturday. The Italian was part of an early 13-rider breakaway group and then jumped away alone on the Passo Manghen climb, 55km from the end of the 195-km 14th stage in the Dolomites.He stayed clear of the chasers on the steep climb to the finish at Alpe di Pampeago for the seventh win of his professional career. Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus was second four minutes and 38 seconds behind with Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain third at 5:08. Italy’s Gabriele Bosisio finished 21st but took the race leader’s pink jersey from compatriot Giovanni Visconti.
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