■SOCCER
Russia defeat Serbia 2-1
Russia recorded a 2-1 win in a friendly match with Serbia played in the German town of Burghausen on Wednesday. Pavel Pogrebnyak and Roman Pavlyuchenko scored one apiece for Russia, while Hertha Berlin striker Marko Pantelic was on target for Serbia. In the 12th minute Russia went into a 1-0 lead through Pogrebnyak, who fired a 35m free-kick inside the left post, the ball flying in off the woodwork. Russia dominated the play, but Pantelic nevertheless leveled at 1-1 five minutes before the break, clipping in from close range past helpless goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev following a mix-up in the defense. But three minutes after the restart Pavlyuchenko made it 2-1, firing in from 7m following a short Dmitry Sychev cross from the left.
■CRICKET
Hayden returns to Australia
Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden will return to Australia from the West Indies after failing to recover from an Achilles’ tendon injury, Cricket Australia said yesterday. Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said the decision to send Hayden home was made to ensure his fitness during Australia’s upcoming international schedule. “Matthew Hayden’s right Achilles’ tendon injury has not made sufficient progress during his time in the West Indies and as such he will not be able to participate in the second Test and was highly unlikely to be available for the third Test,” Kountouris said in a statement. “With the large volume of cricket to be played over the next 18 months it was decided he should return to Australia to undergo rehabilitation and consult specialists.”
■SOCCER
Riise earns Norway a draw
John Arne Riise converted an 85th-minute free-kick to give Norway a 2-2 draw in a friendly against Uruguay on Wednesday, twice rallying from a one-goal deficit. Riise’s free kick came after Azar Karadas was fouled shortly after entering the game to replace captain Martin Andresen. Norway had most of possession early, but Ajax striker Luis Suarez put Uruguay ahead in the 43rd minute, capitalizing when defender Jon Inge Hoeiland slipped. Tarik Elyounoussi replaced Per Ciljan Skjelbred to start the second half and it paid dividends five minutes in when he converted off a long throw from Riise. Sebastian Eguren of Villarreal restored Uruguay’s lead in the 69th minute, heading a ball from Bruno Silva past goalkeeper Rune Jarstein.
■SOCCER
Taiwan suffer loss to Aussies
Australia began their Women’s Asian Cup campaign with a 4-0 win over Taiwan yesterday. Australia rested many of their top players for the approaching Group B games against Japan and South Korea. Heather Garriock scored two goals in the first half, with her opening goal in the 18th minute coming just before a tropical downpour. After Taiwan spurned a good opportunity early in the second half, Jenna Tristram made up for hitting the bar in the opening half by converting in the 50th minute at the second opportunity. Substitute Lisa De Vanna completed the scoring in the 80th minute.
■GOLF
Ochoa pulls out of the Ginn
World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa pulled out of the USLPGA’s Ginn Tribute tournament because of an illness in her family. Ochoa said on Wednesday she was leaving for Mexico so she could spend time with her sick uncle. “I am very sorry to have to withdraw, but my uncle is very ill,” Ochoa said. “I need to be with my uncle and my family right now.”
Two people died on Thursday after fans and police clashed outside the Estadio Monumental in Santiago ahead of a game in South America’s Copa Libertadores, Chilean authorities said. The fatalities happened shortly before the match between Chile’s Colo-Colo and Brazilian club Fortaleza, when police blocked about 100 fans when they attempted to enter the stadium. There were conflicting accounts of how the fatalities occurred, with local media reporting that one of the dead was a 13-year-old boy. The other victim was an 18-year-old woman, according to a relative at the hospital where she was treated. The fans died after being caught underneath a
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen has become the first female player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after the Golden State Valkyries selected her in the third and final round of the league’s draft on Monday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship earlier this month. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament’s most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as
College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
Japan yesterday secured a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup finals appearance with a 2-1 win over 2023 champions Canada, thanks to Ena Shibahara and Shuko Aoyama’s 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win over Kayla Cross and Rebecca Marino in the qualifying doubles decider. Shibahara and Aoyama powered through the opening set 6-3, breaking twice for a quick 3-0 lead. Cross and Marino hit back in the second, edging it 7-5 to level the match, before the Japanese pair regained control in the third. Canada’s 18-year-old Victoria Mboko edged Shibahara 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-5 in a marathon opening clash. Mboko fired eight aces to
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