Alli caps Spurs fightback to sink Brighton

$World Cup downhill leader Beat Feuz of Switzerland will be competing with a fractured hand. — AFP$

Feuz braves 'Stelvio' and Italy's Paris with fractured hand

BORMIO, Italy — World Cup downhill leader Beat Feuz will brave the legendary 'Stelvio' piste and Italian speed star Dominik Paris looking to make it back-to-back wins in the discipline this season despite competing with a broken finger in two downhill races scheduled for Bormio starting on Friday.The 32-year-old Olympic bronze medalist picked up the break in his left hand during the super-G in Val Gardena last week, with the subsequent downhill in the Dolomites postponed because of heavy snowfall, and now set for the Italian alpine resort of Bormio on Friday, followed by a second on Saturday."The hand is currently steady and I hope that I can ride a special track in Bormio again," said the two-time defending World Cup downhill champion, who finished third at Bormio last...

December 26, 2019

Feuz braves 'Stelvio' and Italy's Paris with fractured hand

In this file photo taken on May 31, 2019 Esperance de Tunis team captain Moez ben Cherifia and Tunisian prime minister Youssef Chahed pose with a trophy after winning during the 2nd leg of CAF champion league final 2019 football match between Tunisia's Esperance sportive de Tunis and Morocco's Wydad Athletic Club at the Olympic stadium in Rades. — AFP

In-form Elhouni boosts Esperance hopes of CAF title hat-trick

JOHANNESBURG — Hamdou Elhouni-inspired Esperance of Tunisia want to carry on where they left off in the Club World Cup when the CAF Champions League resumes Friday with three matchday three fixtures.Libyan Elhouni scored a hat-trick in a 6-2 rout of Al Sadd from host nation Qatar last week as his side finished fifth in the annual competition, which Liverpool won.Group D leaders Esperance are seeking an unprecedented third straight Champions League title and will enjoy home advantage against pointless V Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo.AFP Sport previews the eight-match schedule spanning Friday and Saturday with Esperance, fellow Tunisian team Etoile Sahel and TP Mazembe of DR Congo defending perfect group records.Group A Primeiro Agosto of Angola must contain Jackson Muleka in...

December 26, 2019

In-form Elhouni boosts Esperance hopes of CAF title hat-trick

Fans hold up a placard of Australian batsman Steve Smith on the first day of the second cricket Test match against New Zealand at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday. — AFP

Record crowd for Australia-New Zealand Test

MELBOURNE — More than 80,000 fans packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday in the largest single-day crowd for a Test match between the two nations, and one of the biggest against any country.The Boxing Day Test is the highlight of the cricket calendar in Australia and routinely attracts throngs of spectators, with the 91,112 who watched England in 2013 the record.The 80,473 who attended Thursday was second biggest for a non-Ashes fixture on Boxing Day, behind only the 85,661 who witnessed Australia play the West Indies in 1975.New Zealand are playing their first Boxing Day Test in Australia since 1987 and Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts said the huge crowd pointed to the popularity of the sport in both countries."Thanks so much to the Australian and New Zealand fans...

December 26, 2019

Record crowd for Australia-New Zealand Test

Smith eyes century as Australia seizes control against N. Zealand

MELBOURNE — Master batsman Steve Smith ground out an unbeaten 77 on Thursday as he zeroed in on yet another century, putting Australia in the driving seat after the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand.In the Black Caps' first Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground since 1987, skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl, and it looked to be a good decision with Joe Burns out first ball and David Warner just before lunch.But first Marnus Labuschagne, the world's leading run-scorer for 2019, and then Smith smacked half centuries to seize back control and leave them on 257 for four, frustrating the disciplined New Zealand bowlers.Along with the fidgety Smith, Travis Head was not out 25, desperate for runs after a lean spell. Labuschagne made 63 with...

December 26, 2019

Smith eyes century as Australia seizes control against N. Zealand

Yachts sail out of Sydney harbor at the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Thursday. — AFP

Supermaxis vie for early lead in Sydney-Hobart yacht race

SYDNEY — Race favorite Comanche snatched the lead after a slow start in the grueling Sydney-Hobart on Thursday, as more than 150 yachts sailed into open ocean for the annual race down Australia's east coast.Supermaxi Infotrack earlier led the boats out of Sydney Heads just hours after skipper Christian Beck played down his yacht's chances, saying victory appeared unlikely unless "someone (else) has a problem".But 100-footer Comanche, which holds the race record, soon left behind four other supermaxis including the crew of Wild Oats XI, who were fighting hard to defend their 2018 title.Wild Oats XI tactician Iain Murray declared the recently repaired boat "100 percent ready to go" after it sustained mast and deck damage last month."Comanche is one extreme,...

December 26, 2019

Supermaxis vie for early lead in Sydney-Hobart yacht race

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Mitchell Swepson of the Heat bowls during the Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and the Melbourne Renegades at The Gabba on January 27, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Australia add leg-spinner Swepson to Sydney Test squad

MELBOURNE — Australia Thursday added Queensland's Mitchell Swepson to their squad for the third and final Test against New Zealand in Sydney, raising the prospect of playing two specialist spinners.The 26-year-old leg-spinner joined the side for preparation during the ongoing second Test in Melbourne and will remain with them leading into the Sydney Test from Jan. 3, where conditions often assist slow bowlers."Having Mitch in Sydney gives us the option to play two specialist spinners if the conditions demand," national selector Trevor Hohns said."We will make those assessments when we get to Sydney."If selected, he will join Nathan Lyon in a two-pronged spin attack.Swepson, who has taken 12 wickets from six Sheffield Shield games at 26.58, was a member of...

December 26, 2019

Australia add leg-spinner Swepson to Sydney Test squad

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after scoring during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday. — AFP

Embiid leads 76ers to big win over Bucks, Warriors shock Rockets

LOS ANGELES — The Philadelphia 76ers celebrated Christmas with a rout of the NBA's top team, thumping Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks 121-109 on Wednesday.Cameroonian big man Joel Embiid scored 31 points as the Sixers ran roughshod over the league's top-rated defense.Embiid pulled down 11 rebounds and played a key role in neutralizing reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo — who was held to 18 points on eight-of-23 shooting."The whole season I've been humble, but I want to be defensive player of the year, and I feel like tonight showed it," Embiid said.Tobias Harris added 22 points, Josh Richardson had 18 and Ben Simmons scored 13 for the 76ers, whose 21 three-pointers are the most for a team on Christmas Day.Khris Middleton led the Bucks...

December 26, 2019

Embiid leads 76ers to big win over Bucks, Warriors shock Rockets

Steelers QB Roethlisberger vows to return in 2020

WASHINGTON — Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave Steelers fans the Christmas message they longed to hear, vowing to return "stronger and better than ever" in 2020.The NFL veteran was injured in the second game of the season against the Seattle Seahawks, undergoing elbow surgery that ended his 2019 campaign.An ESPN report this week hinted that 37-year-old Roethlisberger had doubts about returning in 2020 — news that Roethlisberger refuted via social media on Wednesday.After wishing his Twitter followers merry Christmas, he added: "P.S. Contrary to recent reports out there about my football future and my 'uncertainty' about playing again, I am working hard and am more determined than ever to come back stronger and better than ever next...

December 26, 2019

Steelers QB Roethlisberger vows to return in 2020

English referee Anthony Taylor, right, shows a red card to Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, in this Dec. 22, 2019 file photo. — AFP

Tottenham fails with appeal against Son red card

LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur have failed with their appeal against Son Heung-min's red card, the Football Association announced on Tuesday.The South Korean winger saw red in the second half of Spurs' 2-0 loss at home to Chelsea in a spiteful London derby on Sunday after VAR confirmed he had kicked out at Blues defender Antonio Rudiger after being fouled.Tottenham launched an appeal but the FA upheld his red card, meaning Son will now serve a three-game ban ruling him out of the matches at home to Brighton on Boxing Day, and at Norwich and Southampton on Saturday and New Year's Day respectively.Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was unhappy with Rudiger's reaction in the build-up to Son's dismissal, saying he should "stand up and play man" but Blues boss Frank...

December 25, 2019

Tottenham fails with appeal against Son red card

< Previous Next >