■ SOCCER
Japan, Aussies make semis
Japan and Australia both secured a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup on Monday, joining North Korea and China. The Australians sneaked into the last four despite suffering a 3-1 defeat to Japan in their final Group B game in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. However, the result proved inconsequential as both sides progressed due to South Korea only beating Taiwan 2-0. All three sides ended on six points but Japan and Australia had a better goal difference.
■ SOCCER
Troubled star sectioned
Troubled former England player Paul Gascoigne has been sectioned under the mental health laws in Britain for the second time in five months, police said on Monday. The 41-year-old was detained in Hemel Hempstead near London after “appearing unwell and in an agitated state,” police said. “Officers arrived and accompanied the man to hospital so he could be checked over. He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act,” Hertfordshire Police said. Gascoigne was previously sectioned — meaning he was placed in a secure unit for his own safety — in February after reports that he had been acting strangely at a hotel and bar in Newcastle in his native northeast England. His sister Anna made a plea in a Sunday newspaper that his fans should not buy him alcohol, saying: “You will have blood on your hands.” She said she feared her brother would die unless he was sectioned. “I am not saying these words lightly. I want Paul to be sectioned to save his life. That is the last hope,” she told the Sunday Mirror.
■ OLYMPICS
Offensive guide gets chop
China’s Olympic Games organizers on Monday apologized over a guide to volunteers for the Paralympics in September which was deemed offensive. The guide, which has been withdrawn, was to help 30,000 volunteers understand how to deal with disabled athletes and spectators at the event. It described disabled people as “a special group” with “unique personalities and ways of thinking.” Physically disabled people “are often mentally healthy” but “might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability,” it said. It went on to describe some disabled people as “isolated, unsocial and introspective” who “can be stubborn and controlling,” may be “sensitive and struggle with trust issues,” and “sometimes they are overly protective of themselves.” Blind people were meanwhile often “introverted,” had “deep and implicit feelings and seldom show strong emotions.” Volunteers were instructed not to call Paralympians or disabled spectators “crippled” or “paralyzed,” even if they were “just joking.”
■ SOCCER
Eriksson leaves Man City
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes was approached on Monday to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City after the Swede’s drawn-out departure was finally sealed following just one season in charge. City were immediately given permission by a reluctant Blackburn to begin discussions with Hughes. “I have enjoyed my time at Manchester City very much indeed,” Eriksson said on Monday in a statement. “In particular, I would like to thank the fans, players and staff for their amazing support over the season I wish the club, and everyone associated with it, much success in the coming years.” Manchester City said in a statement that Eriksson left by “mutual consent.” Speculation has linked the Swede with the vacant position of manager of the Mexican national team.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
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