SOCCER
Mexico win final
Raul Jimenez scored his second goal on a penalty-kick in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, and Mexico beat Panama 2-1 on Sunday night to win the CONCACAF Nations League tournament for the first time. Jimenez, the 33-year-old Fulham striker, dominated the week at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with all four of Mexico’s goals in El Tri’s two matches. After he scored on a header in the eighth minute against Panama, he used a stutter-step approach before perfectly striking a penalty awarded when defender Jose Cordoba touched the ball with his inexplicably outstretched arm while chasing after it in the 90th minute. “It’s fantastic to come back after what I’ve been through,” Jimenez said. “I’m really happy. This is just a great example that you never have to lose faith, and continue. You know what you’re capable to do.” This remarkable tournament is only the latest chapter in the comeback story of Jimenez, who incurred a serious head injury while playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in November 2020.
SOCCER
Juventus sack Motta
Thiago Motta was fired as coach of slumping Juventus on Sunday, with Igor Tudor named as a replacement for the rest of the season. “The club would like to thank Thiago Motta and all of his staff for their professionalism and for the work they have carried out in recent months with passion and dedication,” Juventus said in a statement. “The club wish them the best of luck for the future. Juventus FC also announce that the men’s first team will now be led by Igor Tudor, who will take charge of his first training session tomorrow,” the club added. Juventus conceded seven goals and scored none in their last two Serie A matches leaving them in fifth place and at risk of not qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
OLYMPICS
Brisbane plans scrapped
Australia yesterday said it is overhauling its multibillion-dollar plans for hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane after years of “chaos and crisis.” The new plan, reportedly including a new 60,000-seat stadium, rewrites much of a A$7 billion (US$4.4 billion) infrastructure scheme announced two years ago. “I do believe we’ve got a plan that can get the show back on the road,” Queensland State Premier David Crisafulli told reporters on the eve of the official unveiling of the new scheme. “It’s a plan to make sure that we do deliver generational infrastructure, and it’s a plan to make sure that we do host a great Games when the eyes of the world are on us,” the conservative state leader said. “Even the most partisan person, looking at where we are at the moment, would acknowledge that it’s been three years of chaos and crisis since we were awarded the Games.”
GOLF
Woods confirms relationship
Tiger Woods on Sunday took the unusual step of confirming his romance with US President Donald Trump’s former daughter-in-law in a brief post on social media. Golf superstar Woods — renowned for jealously guarding his private life over the years — confirmed in a post on X that he is dating Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. “Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side,” Woods wrote in a caption above two photos of himself relaxing with Vanessa Trump.
Soccer officials yesterday offered “full support and assistance” to the Iranian team in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on their homeland. Iran’s 26-strong squad arrived on the Gold Coast days before the strikes on Saturday killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic republic. They are due to open their tournament today against South Korea. The AFC in a statement said it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period.” “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and
ROAD RASH: Marc Marquez retired after a crash, marking the first time after 88 consecutive races stretching back to 2021 that a Ducati bike failed to make the podium Marco Bezzecchi yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez third. Ducati’s Marquez is chasing a record-equaling eighth world title this season, but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide, with the jolt to his bike dislodging the rear tire, badly damaging his
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
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
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