Page 119 - Sports

VAR denies Brazil as Venezuela battle to draw

Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw against Venezuela in the Copa America as a late strike from Philippe Coutinho was disallowed after a controversial VAR decision. Coutinho thought he had fired Brazil into the quarter-finals in the 87th minute when he bundled home a finish from Everton Soares' driving run down the left wing at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova Tuesday. But for the second time in the match, Chilean referee Julio Bascunan ruled out the Brazilian goal after being alerted to an infringement by the video assistant referee. The goal appeared to have been disallowed due to a touch by Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, although it was not clear that Firmino had been offside as the ball grazed him on the way into the net. Brazil left the field to boos but remain top of Group A with four points from two games, and one game to play. Venezuela have two points from two games and will fancy their chances of advancing with their final game coming against Bolivia, who suffered their second ...

Marta dedicates World Cup record to 'anyone fighting for equality'

Marta secured her place among the legends of football after the Brazilian become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer in the 1-0 win against Italy in Valenciennes. "This record doesn't belong to me, it belongs to all of us," said the 33-year-old after crashing home a penalty with 16 minutes left to score her 17th World Cup goal Tuesday. "I share it with anyone fighting for more equality." Brazil set up a knockout stage clash with either hosts France or Germany after the 74th-minute strike moved Marta one goal ahead of the German Miroslav Klose in the record books. "Do you think he'll change his mind about retiring and play at the next World Cup?" Marta joked. Brazil finished third on goal difference in Group C behind Italy and Australia -- who beat Jamaica 4-1 -- after all three ended level on six points. Marta wasn't fazed by the possibility of facing France, who topped Group A with a perfect nine points after scraping past Nigeria on Monday. "To play against the host nation would

Platini released in 2022 World Cup probe, denies wrongdoing

The banned ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini was released from custody on Wednesday after hours of questioning in connection with a criminal investigation into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. The French football legend who led European football's governing body from 2007 to 2015 was held Tuesday by French anti-corruption police investigating alleged corruption in the 2010 vote to award the competition to the gas-rich Gulf state. He denied wrongdoing and a statement from his representatives said the facts of the case were "unknown to him." In the early hours of Wednesday, Platini's lawyer William Bourdon said he had been released without charge, adding that there has been "a lot of fuss over nothing". Platini, 63, looked drawn as he left the police anti-corruption office in Nanterre in the western Paris suburbs. "It was long but considering the number of questions, it could only be long, since I was asked about Euro 2016, the World Cup in Russia, the World Cup in Qatar, Fifa," .

Guerrero, Farfan put Peru on brink of Copa America knock-outs

Captain Paolo Guerrero and forward Jefferson Farfan each scored one and created another as Peru took a huge step towards qualifying for the Copa America quarter-finals with a 3-1 Group A victory over Bolivia. Bolivia took the lead from the penalty spot when Marcelo Moreno sent goalkeeper Pedro Gallese the wrong way from 12 yards. But Guerrero equalized before half-time and Farfan gave Peru a deserved lead before Edison Flores put the seal on Peru's victory in stoppage time at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium on Tuesday. With four points from two games ahead of their final group encounter with hosts Brazil, Peru can rest assured that no team has ever failed to qualify for the knockout rounds with that total since the current 12-team format was adopted in 1993. Bolivia face a must-win clash with Venezuela in their final game to stand any hope of reaching the quarter-finals. Peru took control of the match early on with pacey right-winger Andy Polo carving out the opening chance, .

Yuvraj seeks BCCI's permission to play in foreign T20 leagues

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has sought the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) permission to play in foreign T20 leagues, following his retirement from international cricket last week.

Record-breaker Marta representing women after firing Brazil into World Cup knockouts

Marta said she was representing women in football after becoming the leading scorer in the history of the men's and women's World Cups by firing home the penalty that downed Italy and secured Brazil's place in the last 16 of this year's tournament in France. The 33-year-old, widely considered the best player in the history of the women's game, slammed home from the spot in the 74th minute against Group C winners Italy to secure qualification and take her World Cup tally to 17 after Debinha was bundled over by Elena Linari. That puts her one ahead of former Bayern Munich and Lazio striker Miroslav Klose in the all-time rankings, and the veteran attacker said the goal was more than just a personal triumph. "The feeling is a joyful one, definitely, not only for breaking the record but for being able to represent women in doing so," she said Tuesday. "And for being able to help my team which is what matters most, qualifying for the next stage of the tournament." Marta's record-breaking ...

Didn't think I could produce innings like that: Morgan

England skipper Eoin Morgan was in beast mode against Afghanistan as he scored the fourth fastest World Cup century during his side's emphatic 150-run win at the Old Trafford.

Sharapova makes victorious return in Mallorca

Maria Sharapova defeated Viktoria Kuzmova of Slovakia to make progress in the 2019 Mallorca Open.

Women's WC: Marta creates history with record 17th goal

Marta became the top scorer in the history of FIFA World Cups, including the men's tournament, after scoring her 17th overall goal in Brazil's 1-0 win against Italy in the Women's World Cup here.

Trent Boult desires to play against AB de Villiers

Amid all the controversy regarding AB de Villiers wanting to feature in the Cricket World Cup, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult said that it would have been 'awesome' to play against him."I really enjoy bowling to the likes of the ABs, Chris Gayles, the Virat Kohlis. I'm sure every bowler does. They grow up wanting to play this game for a reason, and that's to challenge yourself against the best players in the world. In my opinion, AB is still one of those players. It would be awesome to be playing against him," Sport24.ca.za quoted Boult as saying.Soon after De Villiers expressed his desire to play in the premier tournament, his offer was rejected. Even skipper Faf du Plessis opined over the issue saying that De Villiers' offer came in too late to consider.Boult comments came ahead of his side's World Cup clash against South Africa. The Proteas have been on a dismal run in the tournament as they have only managed to win one match whereas, New Zealand, on the other side, have defeated ...

England, Morgan break records to flatten Afghanistan

England and their captain Eoin Morgan re-wrote record books in a scintillating batting display to flatten Afghanistan by 150 runs in a World Cup clash here on Tuesday and to zoom to the top of the points table.

CWC'19: Scintillating Morgan guides England to 150-run win over Afghanistan

Scintillating skipper Eoin Morgan helped England beat Afghanistan by 150 runs in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match at the Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday.Chasing a mammoth target of 398, Afghanistan suffered an early blow as Jofra Archer rattled the furniture of Noor Ali Zadran for a seven-ball duck. Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib and Rahmat Shah rebuild the innings, however, it was cut short as Mark Wood got Naib (37) caught behind and ended a brief 48-run stand for the second wicket.Hashmatullah Shahidi joined Rahmat and they added 52 runs before Adil Rashid gave another dent to Afghanistan as he dismissed Rahmat (46), who gave a catch to Jonny Bairstow at deep midwicket. Rashid returned and got hold of Asghar (44), breaking a 94-run partnership with Hashmatullah, and then dismissed Mohammad Nabi for nine, reducing Afghanistan to 210/5.A well-settled Hashmatullah's innings was ended by Archer, who bowled the Afghanistan batsman for 76. As he walked off the park, ...

Captain Morgan smashes records, England pummel Afghanistan

England captain Eoin Morgan smashed a world record 17 sixes in his blistering 71-ball-148 as the hosts crushed Afghanistan by 150 runs in a World Cup encounter here on Tuesday. England scored their highest World Cup total 397 for 6 riding on brilliant batting performances of Morgan, Joe Root (88 off 82) and Jonny Bairstow (90 off 99). The Afghans were never in the contest and managed only 247 for 8 with Adil Rashid picking up 3 for 66 and the talented Jofra Archer taking 3 for 52. With this win, England moved a step closer to the semi-final qualification with four wins from five matches while Afghanistan are out of the competition having lost all five games. Tuesday's game belonged to England captain, who enroute his career-best knock also hit the fourth fastest hundred in World Cup history, getting his 13th ODI hundred off only 57 balls. Apart from 17 sixes, the left-hander also hit four boundaries. Morgan broke the record which was jointly held by Rohit Sharma (vs Australia 2013), ..

ISIC to participate in Indian Wheelchair Cricket Premiere League

The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) on Tuesday said it will participate in the 2019 Indian Wheelchair Cricket Premiere League with its franchise of Delhi Superstar wheelchair cricket team.

Colombia, Qatar eye moving closer to Copa America QF

Colombia and Qatar national teams are set to square off here on Wednesday with an aim to move a step closer to qualifying for the 2019 Copa America quarters.

Real Madrid present young Brazilian Rodrygo to fans

Real Madrid on Tuesday presented 18-year-old Brazilian forward Rodrygo Goes to fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The youngster, actually signed a year ago, spent the last season on loan in Brazil to continue gaining experience, reports Xinhua news agency.

Osaka grinds out opening win on grass

World number one Naomi Osaka progressed to round two of the Birmingham Classic on Tuesday, but was made to work for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win over Greece's Maria Sakkari. Osaka admitted in her pre-tournament press conference that she still does not feel comfortable on grass. However, she got off to a flying start in her first match since losing in the third round of the French Open. Osaka broke the Sakkari serve three times in romping through the first set. The world number 33 fought back in the second to take the match to a deciding set. Osaka needed to stave off five break points in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead but then pounced immediately for the only break in the final set. Yulia Putintseva will face Osaka in round two after easing past Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-4. Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko set up a second round clash with Britain's Johanna Konta with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Iga Swiatek. World number three Karolina Pliskova will face her twin sister Kristyna Pliskova in .

Afghanistan's World Cup players in restaurant row

Police were called after members of the Afghanistan squad were involved in an altercation at a Manchester restaurant on Monday. The incident took place the night before Afghanistan's World Cup match against tournament hosts England at Manchester's Old Trafford. According to the BBC, the unnamed squad members took exception to being filmed by a member of the public, and confronted him. Meanwhile, a statement from Greater Manchester Police issued Tuesday confirmed that officers attended Akbar's restaurant shortly after 11:15 pm local time (2215 GMT). "Shortly after 11.15pm on Monday 17 June 2019, police were called to reports of an altercation at a premises on Liverpool Road in Manchester," said a GMP statement. "Officers attended the scene. No one was injured and no arrests have been made. Enquiries are ongoing." On the field England, aided by some sloppy Afghanistan fielding, piled up their highest World Cup score of 397-6, with captain Eoin Morgan hitting a one-day international ...

Rashid becomes most expensive bowler in World Cup history

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan Tuesday endured the ignominy of becoming the most expensive bowler in World Cup history during their match against hosts England at Old Trafford here. Rashid Khan, the world's No.3 ODI bowler, leaked 110 runs off nine overs as England racked up a gigantic 397 for six after electing to bat. The 20-year-old spinner, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in Indian Premier League, was in the firing line of English batsmen Eoin Morgan (148), Jonny Bairstow (90) and Joe Root (88) on a flat pitch here. The record earlier belonged to New Zealand's Martin Snedden, who had conceded 105 runs for two wickets against England in the 1983 World Cup. Ahead of this match, Rashid had taken one for 52 against Australia, before snapping two for 17 against Sri Lanka. He leaked 45 runs without taking a wicket against South Africa. Rashid's woeful figures also makes him the joint second most expensive in ODI history. Pakistan's left-arm Wahab Riaz had leaked 110 runs in 10 ...

Cyclist Geraint Thomas taken to hospital after crashing out of Tour de Suisse

Cyclist Geraint Thomas on Tuesday was taken to hospital after he went down in a crash at the Tour de Suisse, INEOS, a professional cycling team, confirmed.The winner of Tour de France 2018 and double Olympic gold medallist Thomas was attended by team and race medical personnel during the final 30 km of stage four at the event.In a series of tweets, Team INEOS revealed that Thomas was forced to abandon the Tour de Suisse and taken to a hospital for further checks."As we head into the final 30km of stage four at #TourDeSuisse @GeraintThomas86 has gone down in a crash. Team and race medical personnel are with him now. The Welshman is sat up talking to the team. Further updates to follow," INEOS tweeted."Sadly @GeraintThomas86 has been forced to abandon the #TourDeSuisse. He was alert and speaking to the team after the crash and will be taken to hospital for checks. Further updates to follow," INEOS added..