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.
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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