Mexico warmed up for opening the World Cup with a 5-1 victory over Gambia thanks to two goals apiece from Javier Hernandez and Adolfo Bautista.
Mexico will kick off the tournament on June 11 against host South Africa. The Mexicans dominated Gambia on a rainy day in southern Germany and looked sharp on counter attacks, but wasted a number of chances, too.
Hernandez gave Mexico a 1-0 halftime lead and doubled it five minutes into the second half. Bautista then scored his first, before Gambia earned its only goal through Ebrima Sohna’s header in the 65th after a corner.
PHOTO: EPA
Bautista connected at the far post to make it 4-1 and Alberto Medina slotted home from the left side after a counter attack to complete the win in the 80th.
Chile beat Northern Ireland 1-0 on Sunday in their penultimate warm-up match before they head to the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Striker Esteban Paredes scored the only goal of the match with a header at the back post from a corner after 30 minutes.
The Chileans, who will play in group H alongside Honduras, Switzerland and Spain, dominated possession, but seldom threatened the Northern Irish goal.
Chile Coach Marcelo Bielsa has narrowed his squad down to 24 players, but needs to drop one more man before today, the FIFA deadline for naming definitive World Cup squads.
Chile beat Israel 3-0 in their last friendly before heading off to South Africa later on Sunday.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a