RUGBY UNION
Amatosero suspended
NSW Waratahs forward Miles Amatosero yesterday was slapped with a four-game ban for punching a teammate and leaving him with a facial fracture ahead of the Super Rugby season. The incident happened during a training session this month with the big lock unleashing on Angus Scott-Young. Local media said he threw three punches before teammates separated the pair, with Scott-Young reportedly left with multiple stitches and a fractured eye socket. “Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs confirm that Miles Amatosero has been suspended for four games following a formal review into a training ground incident earlier this month,” the Waratahs said in a statement. “Amatosero can reduce his suspension to two games upon successful completion of counselling and education programs.”
Photo: EPA
SOCCER
Levante edge Elche
Levante UD on Friday scored in the last minute of stoppage-time to beat Elche 3-2 in La Liga and notch a first home win that boosted their chances of avoiding a quick return to Spain’s second tier. Levante came into the match as the only club who had not won at home this season and that record did not look like ending after they went behind to an Alvaro Rodriguez goal after 11 minutes. However, Pablo Martinez leveled five minutes into the second half with a brilliantly executed flick. Adrian de la Fuente put Levante ahead midway through the second period only for Adam Boayar to equalize for Elche in stoppage-time with a stunning overhead-kick. Alan Matturro popped up in the 96th minute to head home from a corner-kick and spark delirious scenes at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium. “Our fans gave us that support, that belief,” Martinez said. “Thanks to them we were able to score the third goal and give them something to celebrate.” Elsewhere in Europe, Inter extended their lead at the top of Serie A with a 6-2 hammering of Pisa, Paris Saint-Germain returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a 1-0 win over Auxerre and St Pauli and Hamburg drew 0-0 in the Bundesliga.
FOOTBALL
John Brodie dies
John Brodie, who won a Most Valuable Player award and was one of the NFL’s most prolific passers during a 17-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 90. According to the 49ers, Brodie’s family said he died on Friday. Brodie had a stroke on Oct. 24, 2000. “The 49ers family is saddened to learn of the passing of one of the franchise’s all-time great players, John Brodie,” 49ers cochairman John York said. “As a kid, my 49ers fandom began by watching John play quarterback on television. He displayed an incredible commitment toward his teammates and his support of the organization never wavered after his playing days. John became a dear friend of mine, and he will always be remembered as an important part of 49ers history. We express our deepest condolences to his wife, Sue, and the entire Brodie family.” Brodie played for the 49ers from 1957 to 1973 after breaking every major passing record at Stanford. His 17 seasons are still a 49ers franchise record and his 31,548 yards passing rank second to Joe Montana on San Francisco’s career passing list.
The Philadelphia 76ers, fueled by 36 points from Tyrese Maxey and a triple-double from Joel Embiid, on Thursday beat the Houston Rockets 128-122 in an NBA overtime thriller. Cameroonian big man Embiid scored 32 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and handed out 10 assists, posting the ninth triple-double of his career to help the Sixers end the Rockets’ three-game winning streak. Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 36 points and Amen Thompson added 17, but Thompson was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Even so, the Rockets led by nine midway through the final frame, Maxey tying it at 115-115 with 40.1 seconds left. Durant missed a
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
The civil war engulfing tennis has been laid bare on the opening day of the first Grand Slam event this year, with details of Tennis Australia’s peace deal with the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) published for the first time. The PTPA last year launched an anti-trust lawsuit against the four grand slam tournaments, the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and the International Tennis Federation, accusing them of collaborating to reduce prize money, impose a restrictive ranking system and repress player promotional opportunities, but Tennis Australia was dropped from the claim last month after reaching a settlement agreement with the players’
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