SOCCER
Pride win NWSL title
Orlando Pride on Saturday won the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship for the first time with Zambian Barbra Banda getting the goal in a 1-0 win over Washington Spirit. Orlando, inspired by veteran Brazilian star and captain Marta, had already won the NWSL Shield for the best regular-season record and followed that up with victory in the playoff final at Kansas City. For 38-year-old Marta, widely considered to be the greatest woman player of all-time yet one who has a large collection of silver medals with Brazil, it was an emotional occasion. Her mother had traveled from Brazil to watch her play in the NWSL for the first time and witness her daughter taste victory after seven years with the Florida club. “I didn’t expect to have her in this moment, but I believe so much that God knows what time is the right time for things to happen,” Marta told broadcaster CBS after the game. “I just figured out her visa in the last minute. She missed the semi-final game. We made the final, and then she’s here. This means so much.”
Photo: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / USA Today
GOLF
Smylie beats idol for title
Elvis Smylie yesterday claimed a “life-changing” two-shot victory at the Australian PGA Championship after staring down major winner Cameron Smith to secure his maiden DP World Tour title. The 22-year-old Australian began the third and final day of the Brisbane tournament, which was shortened to 54 holes due to torrential rain, level with Smith at 10-under-par. Left-hander Smylie held his nerve with a bogey-free 67 to finish at 14-under while playing in the final group with his idol, who carded 69 for outright second. Smylie, the son of former tennis Grand Slam doubles champion Liz Smylie, said Brisbane had been an unforgettable week. “It’s life-changing for me and I can’t wait to get started,” he said after securing two years’ worth of status on the DP World Tour. “I won’t forget this day playing with Cam and Leish. They are guys I’ve grown up watching on TV and have idolized. It was just a dream come true.”
Photo: AFP
TENNIS
Djokovic teams up with rival
Novak Djokovic on Saturday announced that his retired long-time rival Andy Murray is joining the 24-time Grand Slam-winning player’s coaching team, starting at the Australian Open in January next year. “I’m thrilled to have one of my biggest rivals on the same side of the net with me, this time as my coach. I look forward to starting the season with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we’ve shared many exceptional moments throughout our careers,” Djokovic said in a statement.
SNOOKER
O’Sullivan crashes out
Ronnie O’Sullivan on Saturday crashed out on the opening day of the UK Championship with a 6-4 defeat to Barry Hawkins in York. Hawkins reeled off four frames in a row to haul back a 4-2 deficit and clinch only his third win over O’Sullivan, the defending champion, in 21 career attempts. “I just think Barry played a good match and deserved his win, so you have to give all credit to him,” a clearly disappointed O’Sullivan said. “He looked strong and took his chances. I’m all right about it and I’m pretty much used to it. You just have to roll with it. It is what it is.”
US national team star Folarin Balogun was among the scorers as AS Monaco on Friday won 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, dealing a blow to the side from the French capital before they face Chelsea in a crunch UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. Maghnes Akliouche gave Monaco a first-half lead at the Parc des Princes, and Aleksandr Golovin doubled their advantage early in the second half of the French Ligue 1 clash. Bradley Barcola pulled one back for the reigning European champions, but Balogun struck shortly after with a fifth goal in his last five games as Monaco claimed a precious
Teenage star Lamine Yamal’s superbly-taken goal on Saturday earned Barcelona a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in Spanish La Liga. The champions restored their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who had on Friday temporarily closed the gap by beating Celta Vigo. Atletico Madrid tightened their grip on third with an entertaining 3-2 win over Real Sociedad. Yamal, 18, curled into the top corner after 68 minutes to split the sides at Athletic’s San Mames stadium. “We’re already seeing what Lamine can do — he puts it right in the top corner, and there’s nothing the keeper can do,” Barca
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
CHANCE TO QUALIFY: Both teams now have three points from two games, and Taiwan sit ahead of Vietnam and behind Japan, who last night beat India 11-0 Taiwan yesterday defeated Vietnam 1-0 to move into second place in Group C at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup with one match remaining. Su Yu-hsuan scored the decisive goal in the 26th minute after Taiwan midfielder Saki Matsunaga’s shot hit the crossbar, leaving Su to nod the rebound into an empty net for the team which won the last of their three Asian Cup titles in 1981. It was a deserved victory for Taiwan, 2-0 losers to Japan on Wednesday, who created several chances to extend their lead. Vietnam, the 2022 quarter-finalist, beat India in their opener, but struggled to
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