■UKRAINE
Shevchenko rejoins Kiev
Former European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko has agreed to rejoin Dynamo Kiev from Chelsea. “Shevchenko has signed a two-year contract,” the Ukrainian club said on their Web site on Saturday. Kiev added the 32-year-old Ukraine striker would be presented as their player yesterday. On Friday, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said he could not guarantee Shevchenko first-team soccer. “I spoke with Shevchenko and he would like to play with continuity here. For me it is difficult to give him this possibility and I think he has taken the right decision [to move],” Ancelotti said.
■PORTUGAL
Porto go top of the table
New striker Radamel Falcao’s early goal helped four-time defending champions FC Porto beat Naval 3-1 in the Portuguese league on Saturday. The Colombia striker, signed from Argentina’s River Plate in the summer to replace the departed Lisandro Lopez, notched his third goal in as many games in the eighth minute at Bento Pessoa Stadium. Silvestre Varela made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, before Rolando’s own-goal in the 75th minute cut the lead to one. Ernesto Farias re-established the two-goal cushion two minutes later as Porto moved to the top of the table with seven points from three games. Also on Saturday, Pacos Ferreira drew 0-0 with Guimaraes.
■GREECE
Aris held by rivals Iraklis
Javier Campora scored two goals as Aris drew 2-2 at crosstown rivals Iraklis on Saturday in a match delayed for 45 minutes just a few seconds after kickoff when an Iraklis fan slapped and shouted obscenities at Aris goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis. Private security employees did nothing to prevent the fan from reaching Sifakis and the fan was not arrested. The draw moved both clubs to the top of the Greek league alongside Asteras, with all the teams on four points. Asteras had earlier beaten Kavala 1-0 away from home. Campora put Aris ahead with a low drive in the 21st minute, but four minutes later, Victoras Iacob leveled with a powerful header. Campora put his team ahead again with a header off a cross from Sergio Koke in the 38th minute, but in the 58th minute Denis Epstein converted a penalty. Also on Saturday, Panionios drew 1-1 at home with Ergotelis.
■NETHERLANDS
Alkmaar down Willem II
Hector Moreno and Brett Holman scored for AZ Alkmaar, who beat Willem II 2-1 to move atop the Dutch league on Saturday. Sergio Zijler grabbed the lone goal for Willem 11 in the 23rd minute. AZ lead the standings with 12 points, two more than Feyenoord and FC Twente, who have a game in hand. Also on Saturday, VVV-Venlo maintained their unbeaten run by holding NEC Nijmegen 1-1 for their fifth straight draw. Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda set up Sandro Calabro for the opening goal in the 30th minute, before Ramon Zomer equalized for NEC six minutes after the break. FC Utrecht downed Sparta Rotterdam 2-0 with goals from Jacob Lensky and Gregoor van Dijk.
■ENGLAND
Lennon set for recall
Aaron Lennon looks set to be recalled for England’s World Cup qualifier against Croatia when a victory would secure qualification for South Africa 2010. The speedy winger has impressed national manager Fabio Capello in the early weeks of the season, having helped Tottenham win their first four matches of the Premier League season.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
RSS