LIGUE 1
Stade Rennais beat Metz
A first goal of the season for Valentin Rongier on Friday gave Stade Rennais a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Metz and moved them up to fourth in the French league. The fourth win in a row for Rennes took them above RC Strasbourg Alsace and Lille OSC ahead of the rest of the weekend’s matches.
Photo: Reuters
BUNDESLIGA
Raum rues late miss
RB Leipzig’s David Raum on Friday was left to rue a late shot that hit the woodwork as his side played out a goalless draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach that prevented them from making much of a dent in Bayern Munich’s lead at the top of the German league. The draw left second-placed Leipzig on 26 points, five behind Munich, ahead of the rest of the weekend’s games.
EUROPA LEAGUE
Eagles fine Edvardsen
Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles on Friday fined striker Victor Edvardsen for making fun of VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller’s appearance during their Europa League clash on Thursday. Edvardsen made gestures toward his nose directed at Stiller, mocking the Germany international as Stuttgart thrashed Go Ahead Eagles 4-0. Sweden’s Edvardsen later apologized for his behavior. Go Ahead Eagles fined the 29-year-old Edvardsen 500 euros (US$579.75), which the team said would be donated to the club’s social branch. “I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my behaviour... Things were said and done between us that have no place on a football pitch,” Edvardsen said in a statement.
WORLD CUP
Iran boycotts draw
Iran is to boycott the FIFA World Cup draw in Washington next week because the US denied visas to members of its delegation, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Friday. The agency quoted Iranian soccer federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi as saying that officials faced visa obstacles that go beyond sports considerations. There was no immediate comment from the White House. Alavi said the federation had reached out to FIFA and hoped it could help resolve the issue. Soccer’s ruling body did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
BOLIVIA
Blooming and Oruro brawl
A Copa Bolivia quarter-final between Club Blooming and Real Oruro descended into chaos, with the referee dishing out a staggering 17 red cards, including 16 following a massive brawl that required police intervention with pepper spray. The fracas began with what Bolivian media firm El Potosi described as a scuffle involving some Blooming players, and Oruro’s Sebastian Zeballos and Julio Vila. The altercation quickly spiraled as punches and kicks broke out in a frenzy, with both clubs’ staff, including Oruro coach Marcelo Robledo, also getting involved. Oruro posted a picture on Instagram showing Robledo in hospital after Tuesday’s brawl, which resulted in four of their players receiving red cards. Blooming had seven players sent off. The other six red cards were given to the teams’ backroom staff, including the Oruro coach. Blooming advanced to the semi-finals after winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate. They face Club Bolivar in the semi-finals.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
The Kashima Antlers won a record-extending ninth Japanese title on the final day of the J. League season yesterday, holding their nerve to beat the Yokohama F. Marinos 2-1. Watched by Brazilian legend and former player Zico, the Antlers went into the game at their packed home stadium with a one-point lead over Kashiwa Reysol in the table. A goal in either half from Brazilian striker Leo Ceara put the Antlers in control, but Yokohama struck in the first of five minutes of second-half injury time to set up a nail-biting finale, with Reysol winning their game 1-0. The Antlers saw out the
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
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