FRANCE
Top teams advance in Cup
Francois Clerc produced a nasty shock for his former club as Nice knocked Olympique Lyonnais out of the French Cup with a 1-0 extra-time win as most top-flight teams advanced to the lasts 16 on Sunday. While Saturday was a day of upsets, on Sunday the elite teams generally enjoyed better fortunes. Tulio de Melo’s goal in the 40th minute was enough for Ligue 1 leaders Lille to beat neighbors Wasquehal of the fifth division 1-0. Stade Rennais initially struggled at minor league (sixth division) Vaulx en Velin, but prevailed 2-0 with second-half goals by midfielders Alexander Tettey and Yacine Brahimi. Holders Paris Saint-Germain looked on course for a routine win at fifth division Agen when Mathieu Bodmer opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but the amateurs did not give up without a fight. Mamoudou Daffe headed home four minutes before the interval to level the match, but Nene was at his brilliant best after the break, setting up Peguy Luyindula and Guillaume Hoarau as PSG opened up a two-goal lead. Anthony Vandersnick pulled one back for Agen to make the final score 3-2.
PANAMA
Honduras edge Costa Rica
Honduras beat ten-man Costa Rica 2-1 to win the Central American Cup on Sunday — the third time they have clinched the regional title. Honduras, who have not won the competition since 1995, took the lead in the eighth minute of the final with a close-range effort from Walter Martinez. Costa Rica, six times winners of the Cup, enjoyed the better possession, but sank a further goal behind in the 53rd minute to a lovely curling free-kick from Emil Martinez. Costa Rica then found themselves a man down after Dario Delgado was dismissed for an elbow on Walter Martinez, but that incident sparked Los Ticos into action and Marco Urena pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute with a half-hit low shot from the edge of the area which sneaked past unsighted Honduras keeper Noel Valladares.
ITALY
AC Milan sign Emanuelson
Serie A leaders AC Milan signed Ajax left wingback Urby Emanuelson to a permanent deal on Sunday to increase their defensive and midfield options for the title run-in. “AC Milan announce the purchase from Ajax of Urby Emanuelson, who has signed a contract until June 30, 2014,” a club statement said without adding any financial details. Dutch media reports said Ajax would receive 1.7 million euros (US$2.3 million) for the player. With Gianluca Zambrotta injured and Luca Antonini inconsistent at left back, the 24-year-old Dutch international will provide competition in Milan’s defense, but could also be used further forward in Massimiliano Allegri’s 4-3-3 formation.
GERMANY
Ba bound for West Ham
Hoffenheim’s want-away Senegal striker Demba Ba is set to join Premier League side West Ham United on loan until the end of the season, the Bundesliga club said on Sunday. The 25-year-old fell out with Hoffenheim recently when he refused to attend a training camp, but a transfer to Stoke City fell through last weekend when he failed the medical examination. Ba is now set to join West Ham on a short-term deal, Hoffenheim manager Ernst Tanner confirmed. “Nothing has been signed, but everything points to the fact that he will go on loan at West Ham,” Tanner said. Ba passed the medical on Saturday and the deal is due to be finalized soon. Hoffenheim are still hoping to recruit Liverpool’s Dutch striker Ryan Babel as a potential replacement.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
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