FOOTBALL
Falcons swoop late to win
The Atlanta Falcons scored a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining to complete a dramatic 26-21 victory over a late-charging Baltimore Ravens at the Georgia Dome on Thursday. The Falcons (7-2) remained perfect at home to take sole possession of first place in the NFC South division while the Ravens (6-3) fell to second place in the AFC North. Matt Ryan connected with Roddy White on a 33-yard pass to complete a seven-play, 80-yard drive that took just 45 seconds to complete for the game-winning score. Ryan completed three passes on the drive, which was aided by a pass interference penalty on a third down that gave the Falcons a new set of four downs. The Falcons had charged out to a 13-0 lead early in the third quarter and led 20-7 before the Ravens scored two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco connecting with Todd Heap in the end zone on a nine yard pass with 65 seconds remaining to give the visitors a 21-20 lead. White had 12 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns while Jason Snelling scored the other touchdown for Atlanta, who also converted two Ravens’ turnovers into two Matt Bryant field goals. Flacco was 22 of 34 for 215 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason also scored for Baltimore.
BOXING
Margarito camp says sorry
Apologies were the order of the day for Antonio Margarito’s camp on Thursday as they sought to limit the damage over a distasteful video ahead of today’s super-welterweight bout against Manny Pacquiao. Margarito, fellow fighter Brandon Rios and trainer Robert Garcia each apologized for an internet video in which they appeared to mock the Parkinson’s disease suffered by Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach. Garcia had issued a public apology the previous day during a pre-fight news conference but he followed up with a personal apology to Roach by phone on Thursday morning. “I accept his apology and let’s just move on with the fight,” Roach told reporters on the eve of yesterday’s weigh-in. “I will shake his hand, yes. I think they [the Margarito camp] realize what they did was too much, it went overboard a little bit. He [Garcia] said I was throwing [verbal] stuff at them and they wanted to throw something back and they went too far.”
ASIAN GAMES
Prince checks out of Games
Brunei’s crown prince Al-Muhtadee Billah yesterday pulled out of the Asian Games after a luxury hotel canceled his room reservation. The prince had been due to take part in the billiards competition, but the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council said he had withdrawn because of “inconsistent treatment” from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Guangzhou organizing committee. The Brunei Times said that the Ritz Carlton Hotel had canceled his booking because the venue had been set aside only for OCA officials.
ASIAN GAMES
Fans banned from event
Spectators have been banned from watching Tenpin bowling at the Asian Games because there is no room to seat them. The squeeze on space at the Tianhe Hall venue also means that only two officials will be allowed to accompany each team when the event starts on Monday. An official Asian Games news release said that the decision drew angry protests from players whose families and friends will have to watch the action on TV outside the venue.
SOCCER
Barton out for three games
Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton will be banned for three Premier League matches after accepting a charge of violent conduct following an incident during Wednesday’s 2-1 home loss to Blackburn Rovers. The 28-year-old was charged by the Football Association on Thursday for punching Rovers’ Norway midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen in the chest, which was not seen by the referee. “I fully accept that I was in the wrong on this occasion and accept the charge that the FA have brought against me,” Barton said in a club statement, before apologizing to all involved. Barton was given until yesterday to reply to the charge and under the FA’s fast-track regulations his admission means he will now be handed a standard three-match ban. The incident is the latest in a long list of disciplinary problems faced by the former Manchester City player, who joined Newcastle in June 2007. He was jailed in 2008 for assault.
SOCCER
Malaga slay Hercules
Sebastian “Seba” Fernandez headed in a 90th-minute goal on Thursday to give Malaga a 3-2 win over Hercules to reach the fifth round of the Copa del Rey. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Portuguese forwards Eliseu and Edinho struck early to give Malaga a 2-0 advantage. Hercules’ Javier Portillo halved the difference before the break and teammate Abel Aguilar equalized in the 63rd minute, before Fernandez scored to ensure coach Manuel Pellegrini made a winning home debut at La Rosaleda. Aguilar was sent off in the 67th minute. At the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Getafe only managed a 0-0 draw against fourth-tier club Portugalete, but advanced on away goals from the 1-1 result from the first leg. Valencia hit back after an early goal by Logrones with a first-half double by Francisco “Isco” Alarcon in a 4-1 win to go through 7-1 on aggregate. Sporting Gijon and Real Mallorca drew 2-2 to see Mallorca advance 5-3 on aggregate.
SOCCER
Inzaghi to go under knife
AC Milan’s 37-year-old striker Filippo Inzaghi is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering cruciate ligament and meniscus damage in his left knee, leaving his career hanging in the balance. “After a consultation, the doctor has confirmed the need for surgery,” a Milan statement said on Thursday. Inzaghi, whose contract expires at the end of the season, suffered the injuries after coming off the bench in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Palermo that sent the Rossoneri top of Serie A. Inzaghi vowed to carry on playing once fit. “I don’t give up. I will do everything, believe me, because it is not over. I will also do it thanks to your strength and your energy,” he said in a statement to fans.
RUGBY UNION
Odds stacked against Teros
The odds are stacked against Uruguay’s rugby team emulating their soccer counterparts and reaching the World Cup finals, coach Gonzalo Camardon said. Uruguay face Romania today for the last place at next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. “There’s a very big difference [with Romania] because they’re all professionals and we only have three, but in 80 minutes anything can happen,” Camardon said in an interview. The Teros plan to play a dynamic, open game, Camardon said. “If we try to close the game down, we’ll play into their hands.” The World Cup qualifying tie will be played over two legs, with the second game in Bucharest on Nov. 27. The winners will go into Pool B with Argentina, England, Scotland and Georgia in the tournament in New Zealand.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
After nearly six years away from the NBA, New Taipei Kings player Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is set to participate in the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars mini-tournament as the coach of Team G League. The NBA announced Monday (U.S. time) that the Taiwanese-American player will join a trio of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers – Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond – as honorary coaches for four teams featuring 28 rising talents. "See you soon in the Bay," Lin wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news. As the All-Star Weekend will take place at