■FOOTBALL
Cardinals release Leinart
The Arizona Cardinals on Saturday released quarterback Matt Leinart, ending his sometimes prickly tenure with the team that drafted him 10th overall in 2006. Leinart, winner of the 2004 Heisman Trophy as the country’s outstanding college player, played in 29 games with 17 starts for the Cardinals, and threw for 3,893 yards with 14 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. The onetime University of Southern California star had been looking to use the upcoming NFL season to finally prove himself in the professional ranks and show he was ready to shoulder the responsibilities of a starting quarterback, but after two lackluster pre-season starts he took a backseat to Derek Anderson, who started in the next two pre-season contests.
■SOCCER
Ecuador spoil Flores’ debut
Christian Benitez scored after only 40 seconds to set up Ecuador’s 2-1 win over Mexico in a friendly on Saturday. It was Ecuador’s first victory over Mexico in 14 years, spoiling the debut of Mexico’s interim coach Efrain Flores. Benitez’s opener was canceled out by an own-goal by Luis Checa in the 40th minute. Jaime Ayovi struck the winner in the 58th minute. Mexico had a chance to tie the game in the 59th minute, but Ecuador goalkeeper Maximo Banguera deflected Carlos Salcido’s long drive off his finger tips — and then off the crossbar. The victory marked a successful debut for new Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda. Rueda took Honduras to this year’s World Cup, but resigned afterward to take over Ecuador.
■SOCCER
Honduras win shootout
Goalkeeper Noel Valladares made two shootout saves as Honduras beat El Salvador on penalties in a 2-2 draw in a friendly on Saturday. Rodolfo Zelaya put El Salvador ahead in the 42nd minute, before Oscar Garcia equalized for Honduras with a long-range curling strike in the 58th minute. Young striker Roger Rojas looked to have given Honduras victory when he scored with a diagonal shot in the 86th minute, but Zelaya pulled El Salvador level with a stoppage-time penalty. However, Zelaya missed his spot-kick in the shootout, as Valladares saved his shot, and the Honduras goalkeeper also went to his right to block Rudis Corrales’ attempt.
■SOCCER
Dawson out with injury
England defender Michael Dawson has been ruled out for up to eight weeks because of injury and will miss tomorrow’s European Championship qualifier in Switzerland. Dawson was carried off during the second half of Friday’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria with what his club Tottenham Hotspur said on Saturday was damage to his left medial knee ligament and his left ankle. Spurs said he will be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Gary Cahill of Bolton Wanderers came on as a substitute for Dawson at Wembley and could replace him in the starting lineup.
■BOXING
Burns rallies to win belt
Scotland’s Ricky Burns recovered from a first-round knockdown on Saturday to win the WBO super-featherweight belt from the previously unbeaten Roman Martinez. Burns was put on the canvas by a firm right hand from the Puerto Rican and labored through the first three rounds, before rallying strongly with a string of powerful shots to win unanimously on points after 12 rounds. The judges scored the bout 115-112, 115-112 and 115-113 in favor of the 27-year-old Burns. Martinez had gone into the fight with 15 knockouts from 25 fights. Burns now has 29 wins in 31 bouts.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
TOP OF THE TABLE: Evann Guessand put the visitors ahead early in the game and Flavius Daniliuc equalized before Youri Tielemans got the winner in the second half Aston Villa on Thursday extended their winning streak to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Basel in the UEFA Europa League to secure at least a playoff spot. Villa were tied with Olympique Lyonnais, who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1, and Midtjylland, 1-0 winners over Genk, atop the standings of the second-tier European competition on 15 points with five wins from six games. They have bounced back from a poor start to the season and are third in the Premier League, including a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday. At St Jakob-Park in Basel, summer signing Evann Guessand
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
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