SOCCER
Team lose 30-0, quit league
Yanick Djouzi Manzizila broke a 60-year-old Swedish scoring record with 21 goals in a game, but they will not be added to his season tally after his demoralized opponents quit the league. The 25-year-old forward scored almost at will for Kongo United as they beat Balrog Botkyrka Sodertaelje — who had three players sent off — 30-0 in their division seven league clash. With twin brother Alex as playmaker, and facing eight players by the end of the match, Manzizila had it all too easy against a team that had failed to earn a point all season. Swedish soccer historian and statistician Claes-Goran Bengtsson confirmed that 21 goals in a game was a Swedish record, but the gloss was taken off Manzizila’s achievement when Balrog subsequently withdrew from the league. Their decision means the 21 goals will be chalked off — as will all the team’s results for the season — although Manzizila’s individual scoring record will stand.
SOCCER
Ebola forces qualifiers move
Guinea and Sierra Leone have been ordered to move their African Nations Cup qualifiers next month to neutral territory following the outbreak of the Ebola virus in west Africa, which has killed more than 1,000 people. The Confederation of African Football on Tuesday said that Liberia, who are out of the Nations Cup, must also move matches although there are none imminent at senior, club or junior level. Guinea are due to host Togo on Sept. 6. Sierra Leone have already asked Ghana to stage their game against Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sept. 10, but have been told government permission must be granted.
CRICKET
Hendricks out of ODI series
Fast bowler Beuran Hendricks is out of South Africa’s three-match one-day international (ODI) series with Zimbabwe that starts on Sunday. Hendricks has a back strain, suffered while touring Australia with the A team, Cricket South Africa said in a news release on Tuesday. He will not be replaced in a squad already missing rested pace trio Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. Kyle Abbott, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Marchant de Lange and uncapped Mthokozisi Shezi are to fill the fast bowling roles.
CRICKET
NZ A beat England Lions
Hamish Rutherford led New Zealand A to victory in the triangular one-day series with a seven-wicket win over the England Lions on Tuesday. Chasing a rain-revised target of 220 from 36 overs at New Road, Rutherford struck 95 off 84 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes before Tom Latham’s 48 not out saw New Zealand A to victory. The Lions, England’s second-string side, had defeated Sri Lanka A on Monday, but they struggled in this winner-takes-all clash, and only fifties from Jonny Bairstow and Tom Smith helped them to 255-8, after they had collapsed to 89-5.
FOOTBALL
Scandrick fails drug test
The NFL has slapped Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick with a four-game suspension for failing a drugs test. Dallas owner Jerry Jones acknowledged the ban to reporters on Monday night, saying the 27-year-old Scandrick failed a test. The league confirmed Scandrick violated the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The violation reportedly occurred while he was vacationing in Mexico. Scandrick started 15 of 16 games for the Cowboys last season, making 64 tackles and grabbing two interceptions. Scandrick will be eligible to return to the Cowboys on Sept. 29.
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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