SOCCER
Ronaldo stretches streak
Cristiano Ronaldo stretched his goal-scoring streak to six consecutive league games as Juventus took top spot in Serie A on Sunday with a 2-1 win over AS Roma, whose defeat was made worse by a cruciate ligament injury that rising star Nicolo Zaniolo sustained. Juventus moved two points ahead of Inter after going two goals up in just 10 minutes in Rome. “We were very good for 60 minutes. Then, if you play against Roma, it is almost inevitable to suffer in the end,” Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri said. Defender Merih Demiral found a way through after three minutes when he connected with a Paulo Dybala free-kick. Minutes later Argentine Dybala was hauled down in the box and Ronaldo stepped up to convert from the spot to make it nine goals in six league games. Zaniolo was stretchered off in tears eight minutes before the break after sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Zaniolo, who is considered one of Italy’s most exciting young talents and was a rare bright point for Roma in a torrid first half, was to undergo surgery yesterday. “I swear to you ... I’ll be stronger than before,” the 20-year-old wrote on Instagram. Earlier, Alejandro Berenguer struck the only goal as Torino beat Bologna to climb to seventh, while Hellas Verona won 2-1 over Genoa. Elsewhere, UC Sampdoria thrashed Brescia 5-1, ACF Fiorentina beat SPAL 1-0 and Udinese beat US Sassuolo 3-0.
SOCCER
City dominant over Villa
Manchester City delivered a supremely dominant team performance to beat Aston Villa 6-1 on Sunday and take second place in the Premier League. Sergio Aguero became the league’s all-time top-scoring foreign player on 177 goals and scorer of most hat-tricks by any player with 12 as the whole City team shone in yet another big win. “I’m so happy for the record, but I thank my teammates, because they helped me this year,” Aguero said. Aguero scored three goals and had an assist for Riyad Mahrez, who scored two in a game for the first time in 16 months. Gabriel Jesus scored off a cross from Kevin de Bruyne, whose 14 assists this season are six more than any other player in the Premier League. Anwar el-Ghazi scored from a penalty for Villa. Elsewhere, Watford beat AFF Bournemouth 3-0.
BADMINTON
Momota hurt in fatal crash
Badminton world No. 1 Kento Momota was injured in a pre-dawn fatal vehicle collision in Malaysia yesterday, just hours after he secured his first victory of the season at the Malaysia Masters. The Japanese shuttler and three others were thought to have been on their way to Kuala Lumpur International Airport when the hired van they were in rammed into the rear of a 30-tonne truck, according to statements from the police and a local fire department. The driver of the van was killed in the crash and his body had to be cut free from the wreckage. Police and the Malaysian Badminton Association (BAM) said that in addition to Momota, the three others involved in the incident were his physiotherapist, his assistant coach and a Badminton World Federation official. The association said in a statement that Momota sustained multiple lacerations to his face and a fractured nose.
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
RSS