SOCCER
Martinez joins Atletico
Porto’s highly rated Colombian striker Jackson Martinez has signed for Atletico Madrid for a transfer fee of 35 million euros (US$38.91 million), the Portuguese club announced late on Tuesday. The 28-year-old forward is to replace Croatian Mario Mandzukic, who has moved from Spain to Juventus in Italy for 19 million euros. Martinez has been the top scorer in Portugal for the past three seasons, having joined Porto from Mexican outfit Jaguares de Chiapas. He scored 21 goals in 29 league appearances as Porto finished as runners-up to St Benfica last season. Martinez had previously agreed a move with AC Milan, and had been targeted by Arsenal, before instead opting for a switch to Atletico. Martinez is expected to sign a four-year deal with Atletico.
ICE HOCKEY
Coyotes acquire Gordon
Boyd Gordon never really wanted to leave Arizona, so the veteran forward is thrilled to be back in the desert. The Coyotes filled a need at center on Tuesday, acquiring Gordon from the Edmonton Oilers for forward Lauri Korpikoski. “It was tough to leave Phoenix,” Gordon said. “I heard the news today and I’m excited to come back.” Gordon was a steadying influence with Arizona from 2011 to 2013, helping the Coyotes reach the 2012 Western Conference finals with his heady play, penalty killing and faceoff ability.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Aldo out of McGregor fight
UFC lightweight champion Jose Aldo has pulled out of his title defense against Conor McGregor at UFC 189 on July 11 with a rib injury. Chad Mendes is to face McGregor for the interim title instead. UFC president Dana White made the announcement on Tuesday. Aldo was hurt while training in Brazil, damaging cartilage in his ribcage. Aldo initially said he could still fight despite the pain. McGregor is among the UFC’s biggest rising stars, and the loquacious Irishman’s bout with Aldo was the promotion’s most anticipated fight of the summer. Mendes has lost twice to Aldo, but has won every other fight of his mixed martial arts career.
GOLF
Allenby robber pleads guilty
A Hawaii man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to using Robert Allenby’s credit cards after the Australian golfer said he was robbed and beaten in Honolulu. Allenby recounted a bizarre saga in January that involved having no memory of what happened for two-and-a-half hours after he left a Honolulu restaurant. He went to dinner, and said he later woke up in a park with a bloodied face. Owen Harbison was arrested in February on charges of identity theft, attempt theft and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information. As part of a plea deal, Harbison agreed to a five-year prison term, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Delaplane said. Harbison used Allenby’s credit cards and ID around Honolulu to buy gift cards, clothing and jewelry, Delaplane said. It is still unclear what happened to Allenby after he left Amuse Wine Bar. Harbison is the only person who has been arrested in connection with the case. The saga generated interested when Allenby took a photograph of his scraped and bloodied face and posted it to his Facebook page after he got back to his hotel. He first said he was beaten, robbed and thrown from the trunk of a car. He later said he was told that by a homeless woman who helped him escape from a park. However, one homeless man told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Allenby injured himself by passing out and hitting his head on a rock.
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
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