BASKETBALL
Taiwan beaten into silver
Nnemkadi Ogwumike of Stanford scored 24 points, while Elena Delle Donne of Delaware added 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead the US to a 101-66 rout of Taiwan in the gold medal game at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China, on Sunday. Skylar Diggins of Notre Dame had 19 points and six assists for the US (6-0). Taiwan hung with the US team through the first quarter, trailing by eight, and then cut the deficit to 31-25, before the US scored the next nine points. The US led by 17 at the half and cruised the rest of the way. Chen Yu-chen scored 21 points to lead Taiwan, who earned the silver medal.
BADMINTON
Cheng strikes gold in China
World No. 8 women’s badminton player Cheng Shao-chieh defeated her compatriot Pai Hsiao-ma yesterday to clinch Taiwan’s sixth gold medal at the Universiade in Shenzhen, China. Cheng won the match 21-18, 21-15. Cheng and Pai also advanced to the final in the women’s doubles, which they later lost to their South Korean rivals. Mixed doubles duo Li Sheng-mu and Hsieh Pei-Chen also lost to South Korean players, resulting in silver medals for the pair. Meanwhile, Li and Fang Chieh-min failed to defend their title against Thailand and finished with silver in the men’s doubles. Taiwan’s team set a new record, garnering one gold, four silvers and four bronzes.
SOCCER
Chelsea agree deal for Mata
Valencia have reached an agreement to sell their 23-year-old winger Juan Mata to English Premier League giants Chelsea, the Spanish club said Sunday. The deal is subject to a medical, the club added in a statement posted on its Web site. The club gave no financial details, but Spanish media said the deal was for about 27 million euros (US$39 million). Mata has long been tipped to leave Valencia, but Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were thought to be his main pursuers. Mata joined Valencia from Real Madrid in 2007 and has emerged as one of their most important players.
SOCCER
Milan gain revenge on Juve
AC Milan gained swift revenge on Juventus with a 2-1 victory at the San Siro on Sunday to win the pre-season Berlusconi Cup, sponsored by the Rossoneri’s president, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in memory of his father Luigi. Just three days after having lost to their Turin opponents by the same score in a 45-minute match in the three-way TIM Cup — which Inter won, with their neighbors finishing last — Milan turned the tables, despite missing several stars. Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and veteran Dutchman Clarence Seedorf gave Milan a two-goal lead at the break, before Mirko Vucinic pulled one back in the second period.
SOCCER
Ajax drop their first points
Champions Ajax dropped their first points of season after being held to 2-2 draw by VVV Venlo in the Dutch league on Sunday. Ahmed Musa put hosts VVV ahead early in the second half, netting from close range after good work by fellow Nigerian Michael Uchebo, before adding a second on the hour. Skipper Theo Janssen pulled one back for a lackluster Ajax after 68 minutes with a well-placed long drive and two minutes later Kolbeinn Sightorsson grabbed the equalizer. Twente Enschede are top of the table with maximum points after three matches following their 5-1 thrashing of Heerenveen on Saturday. Ajax, Feyenoord and Vitesse Arnhem follow on seven points.
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
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about £2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
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