by Peter Stebbings © Agence France-Presse YEKATERINBURG, Russia (AFP) — With their title rivals failing to fire, France has vowed to ramp up the intensity and put their stamp on the World Cup with victory over Peru on Thursday. Didier Deschamps’s team were far from fluid against Australia in their opening game in Russia, needing VAR (the Video Assistant Referee) and consequent Antoine Griezmann penalty, then an own goal about 10 minutes from time, to snatch […]
Sports — International
Russia sours return of Egypt’s Salah to close in on last 16 of World Cup 2018
by Kieran Canning Agence France Presse SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia — The return of Mohamed Salah from injury couldn’t prevent World Cup hosts Russia from virtually sealing their place in the last 16 by beating Egypt 3-1 on Tuesday. An own goal by Egypt captain Ahmed Fathy opened the floodgates on a sodden night in Saint Petersburg before goals from Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba furthered Russian hopes they can defy pre-tournament expectations with a deep […]
Senegal beats Poland for first African win at 2018 World Cup
by Guy Jackson Agence France Presse Senegal recorded the first African win at the 2018 World Cup when they beat Poland 2-1 on Tuesday thanks to a deflected Thiago Cionek own goal and a terrible error by Polish ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny. West Bromwich Albion midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak got Poland back in the game with an 86th-minute header but Senegal hung on at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium. In a match billed as a straight fight between super-strikers Robert Lewandowski and […]
UPDATED: Japan makes history with win against 10-man Colombia in World Cup Group H opener
by Ryland James Agence France Presse SARANSK, Russia — Yuya Osako exacted sweet revenge for Japan on Tuesday as the Blue Samurai beat Colombia 2-1, becoming the first Asian side ever to beat a South American team at the World Cup. Osako’s 73rd-minute winner meant the Japanese avenged their 4-1 mauling in the group stages of Brazil 2014 as Colombia played with a man down for 86 minutes in Saransk. After leaving Brazil without a […]
Rose stretches Fort Worth lead to four strokes
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)—Justin Rose got off to a sizzling start in sweltering conditions Saturday, then held on to push his PGA Fort Worth Invitational lead to four shots with a third-round 66. England’s Rose birdied four of the first six holes at Colonial Country Club, where temperatures reached 100 degrees Farenheit (38 C). His 14-under par total of 196 put him four clear of another US Open winner, Brooks Koepka, and Argentina’s Emiliano […]
Kane grabs late winner for England, Belgium beat Panama
by Daniel Hicks © Agence France-Presse VOLGOGRAD, Russia (AFP) — Harry Kane grabbed a dramatic late winner for England on Monday, powering home a header in injury time of their World Cup opener after Belgium had earlier swept past Panama. Kane’s second goal of the game secured a 2-1 victory after it looked as if England had squandered their chance to take all three points after being rocked by a Tunsian equaliser which followed a bright […]
UPDATED: World Cup holder Germany crashes to Mexico defeat
by Martyn Wood Agence France Presse Defending champions Germany crashed to the first defeat in their opening game of a World Cup since 1982 as Hirving Lozano’s clinical finish earned Mexico a shock 1-0 victory on Sunday. The highly-rated PSV Eindhoven forward struck the winner on 35 minutes after a blistering counter-attack at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow as Mexico beat Germany for just the second time in history. Germany’s preparations for the tournament were […]
Griezmann hits historic VAR penalty as France squeezes past Australia
by Justin Davis Agence France Presse Antoine Griezmann scored the first VAR-assisted penalty awarded in the history of the World Cup as title hopefuls France battled to a 2-1 win over gutsy Australia in Kazan on Saturday. The Atletico Madrid star wrote his name into the history books after he went down under a tackle from Josh Risdon in the penalty box in the second half of the Group C fixture. Referee Andres Cunha from […]
Messi misses penalty as Iceland holds Argentina for famous draw
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Argentina were held to a draw by World Cup debutants Iceland Saturday, with Lionel Messi blowing a gilt-edged opportunity for victory when he missed a penalty. Sergio Aguero scored an eye-catching opener for the two-time world champions in the 19th minute but it was almost immediately canceled out by Alfred Finnbogason, whose team then held on in the face of immense pressure. It was a major embarrassment for Argentina and raises questions about […]
MLB: Mets avoid sweep; shut out Yankees 2-0
By Tennie Sumague EBC New York Bureau FLUSHING, NEW YORK (Eagle News) – In the final game of their three-game series at Citi Field in Queens, the New York Mets ended their eight-game losing streak, blanking their crosstown rival, New York Yankees 2-0 Sunday night. Seth Lugo, who started in place of Noah Syndergaard, was dominant against the Yankees, pitching six scoreless innings on two hits, striking out a career high eight batters […]
Ronaldo hat-trick steals the show as Portugal and Spain draw classic
By Andy Scott Agence France Presse Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear that he means business at this World Cup after his stunning hat-trick secured a 3-3 draw here with Spain in a tournament classic and saw him reach another career landmark. The Real Madrid superstar crashed in an 88th-minute free-kick to earn a point for the European champions in this Group B opener, after a second-half goal from Nacho had put the Spaniards 3-2 ahead. […]
MLB: Judge, Yankees spark comeback to edge Mets in Subway Series
By Patrick Palugod EBC New York Bureau FLUSHING, New York (Eagle News) – The visiting New York Yankees looked to ride their first game win into game two of a best of three-game “Subway Series” as they again suited up in Citi Field to take on the host, New York Mets. Nearly 42,000 attendees got to the stadium early to represent their hometown favorites. Dressed in either navy and pinstripes or blue and orange, this […]