■RUSSIA
CSKA bounce back to win
CSKA Moscow bounced back from their Champions League quarter-final exit to beat Alania Vladikavkaz 3-1 on Sunday and move into second place in the Russian Premier League. CSKA have 10 points, but are behind leaders Spartak Nalchik on goal difference. CSKA, knocked out of the Champions League by Inter in midweek, took the lead at Vladikavkaz through Brazilian striker Giulherme, who scored after a Mark Gonzalez free-kick had come back off the woodwork in the seventh minute. They were 2-0 ahead when Serbian winger Milos Krasic scored after a good piece of individual play in first-half stoppage-time. Alania striker Sergei Kuznetsov reduced the deficit with a header 12 minutes after the interval, but Alan Dzagoev restored CSKA’s two-goal lead with a penalty in the 69th minute. Zenit St Petersburg, who won their only Russian title in 2007, also moved on to 10 points with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Lokomotiv Moscow. Vladimir Bystrov scored the only goal, nine minutes after the break. Meanwhile, nine-time champions Spartak Moscow battled back from a goal down to clinch a 2-1 win over Terek Grozny.
■GREECE
Panathinaikos claim title
Panathinaikos won the Greek title for the first time in six years by beating Iraklis 2-0 on Sunday. Coach Nikos Nioplias’ side went into their penultimate Super League match six points clear of arch rivals Olympiakos Piraeus and needing to avoid defeat to secure their 20th championship. Panathinaikos made a perfect start at the Olympic Stadium when France striker Djibril Cisse converted Sebastian Leto’s headed pass in the first minute for his 29th goal of the season. Young Greek Sotiris Ninis doubled the advantage on the stroke of halftime with a stunning volley from the edge of the penalty area. The final whistle was greeted by jubilant scenes among the 60,000 crowd who last saw Panathinaikos claim the championship in the double-winning season of 2004. Panathinaikos can land their eighth league and cup double when they play Aris Salonika in the Greek Cup final on April 24. Deposed champions Olympiakos won 2-0 at relegated Panthrakikos thanks to first-half goals from Vasilis Torosidis and Kostas Mitroglou.
■ENGLAND
Torres to visit specialist
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will visit a specialist to assess the full extent of the knee injury that forced him to miss Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham. Torres, the Reds’ top scorer with 22 goals this season, has been struggling with the problem for several weeks and boss Rafael Benitez confirmed his star forward will go for specialist advice about the injury. There is no indication yet whether Torres’ participation in the World Cup is under threat.
■SCOTLAND
Terrors through to final
Dundee United booked their place in the Scottish Cup final by beating Raith Rovers 2-0 in Sunday’s semi-final at Hampden Park. Goals from David Goodwillie and Andy Webster either side of the break ensured the Terrors will return to Hampden on May 15 to face Ross County — shock winners over Celtic in Saturday’s semi.
■BRAZIL
Flamengo to face Botafogo
Vagner Love scored a goal in each half on Sunday to help Flamengo defeat Vasco da Gama 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Rio Cup, the second stage of the Rio de Janeiro state championship. Flamengo will play Botafogo, who beat Fluminense 3-2 in Saturday’s semi-final.
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
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