FORMULA ONE
Russian GP to go ahead
Organizers insist Russia’s first Formula One Grand Prix will go ahead as planned, despite an airliner being shot down in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine. Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed on Thursday in eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board are believed to have been killed. Ukraine accused pro-Russian separatists of shooting the plane down, something the rebels deny. The promoters of the Oct. 12 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi said in a statement on Friday that “all the preparations are on track and run according to the schedule,” and that “organizers are confident that the inaugural Russian Grand Prix will be comfortable for all.” Sochi’s Olympic Park circuit is located in southern Russia, about 540km from the crash site.
CRICKET
Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan
Sean Williams hit a half century, while skipper Brendan Taylor made a crucial 42 as Zimbabwe eased to a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first one-day international on Friday. Chasing 224 to win, the home side reached their target with more than four overs to spare in the first of a three-match series. Williams hit 70 off 65 balls with eight boundaries and a six, while rock-solid Taylor made 43 off 52 deliveries. Afghanistan, looking to build exposure and experience ahead of their maiden World Cup appearance next year, were put into bat and lost opener Usman Ghani for nought in the second over. Experienced Samiullah Shenwari, with 65 off 84 balls with three fours and a six, while skipper Mohammad Nabi, who made a brisk 54 off 32 balls helped by three huge sixes, helped Afghanistan to 223-9 in their 50 overs.Zimbabwe had opener Vusi Sibanda dismissed for just four in the third over, but Afghanistan were always destined to struggle defending such a modest total.The second and third games take place at the same venue on Sunday and Tuesday.
SOCCER
West Brom sign Ideye
West Bromwich Albion have signed Nigeria forward Brown Ideye from Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev for a club-record transfer fee on a three-year deal, the Premier League team said on Friday. The fee was undisclosed, but the club said on their Web site (www.wba.co.uk) that it exceeds the amount they paid Sunderland for Stephane Sessegnon in September last year. The 25-year-old forward arrives at The Hawthorns with an impressive record having scored 74 goals in 182 career league appearances. Brown has scored five goals in 24 appearances for Nigeria and was called up to their 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa.
SOCCER
Juve to seal Morata move
Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is poised to seal a move to Italian champions Juventus for a reported fee of 18 million euros (US$24.3 million). Morata, 21, arrived in Turin on Friday night and was to undergo a medical yesterday. “I am very happy to start a new adventure here. I am looking forward to starting right away,” he told reporters at Turin airport. According to Spanish newspaper As, Real retain the option to buy Morata back for 30 million euros (US$40.59 million) after the first season and 36 million euros after the following campaign. A highly rated product of the Real youth academy, Morata came to the fore in the 2012-2013 season, Jose Mourinho’s last at the club as coach, but he was not able to maintain that progress during the last campaign.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
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