ASIAN CUP
North Korea replace coach
North Korea have replaced suspended head coach Yun Jong-su with his predecessor, Jo Tong-sop, for next month’s Asian Cup campaign in Australia. Yun was banned for 12 months by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) earlier this month for “offensive behavior” during the Asian Games final in South Korea, where they lost 1-0 to the hosts. Yun and the North Korean bench remonstrated with officials after the match and accused the referee of favoring their bitter rivals South Korea, who they are still technically at war with. Yun’s ban meant the former international was not allowed to enter the dressing room or the area surrounding the pitch, but could still attend training sessions and undertake other soccer-related activities, the AFC said. North Korea, who will compete in their fourth Asian Cup in Australia, did not respond to requests to confirm the switch, but the AFC said Jo had been registered as head coach for the tournament.
ASIAN CUP
Mahmoud gets Iraq call-up
Iraq’s most-capped player, Younis Mahmoud, was named in the 23-man squad for next month’s Asian Cup, despite not playing for a club for more than a year. The 31-year-old forward, who skippered the side to the 2007 Asian Cup title, has scored more than 50 goals for Iraq in more than 130 appearances, but has not had a club contract since leaving Al-Ahli Saudi in December last year. The talisman has instead represented Iraq’s mainly under-23 side at the Asian Games in September, where they won a bronze medal after he scored four goals. Younis was the only player aged over 30 named in Radhi Shenaishil’s squad on Monday for the Group D matches in Australia against holders Japan, Palestine and Jordan. Colombus Crew forward Justin Meram, Swindon Town midfielder Yaser Kasim and talented 18-year-old playmaker Human Tareq were also named in the 23. Sydney midfielder Ali Abbas, part of the 2007 winning side, missed out on a place in the squad after suffering a serious knee injury last month.
ENGLAND
Papiss Cisse facing charge
Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been charged with violent conduct, the Football Association said in a statement on Monday, referring to an incident in a Premier League match against Everton. The charge, which could lead to a three-match ban, came after a video review panel re-examined footage during which Cisse elbowed defender Seamus Coleman at St James’ Park on Sunday. The incident was unseen by the match officials. Everton manager Roberto Martinez called the failure to punish Cisse “unacceptable,” saying the Senegalese striker attempted to “hurt” Coleman. Cisse equalized a minute later for Newcastle, who went on to win 3-2.
SPAIN
Valencia to sign Perez
Valencia said Argentina midfielder Enzo Perez is joining the club from SL Benfica on a permanent basis in next month’s transfer window. The 28-year-old Perez arrived in Valencia from Portugal on Monday night to undergo a medical examination before signing a contract, the club said. Perez joined Benfica from Argentine club Estudiantes de La Plata in June 2011 for a reported fee of 5.5 million euros (US$6.7 million) and has scored eight goals in 64 appearances. Perez made his senior international debut in September 2009 under former Argentina coach Diego Maradona in a friendly against Ghana and played in the World Cup final against Germany in July. Valencia did not disclose the transfer fee.
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
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
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,
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