Italy beat Israel in Nations League

Italy beat Israel in Nations League
Italy's Moise Kean celebrates scoring their second goal with Federico Dimarco, Giacomo Raspadori and Davide Frattesi on September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 10 September 2024
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Italy beat Israel in Nations League

Italy beat Israel in Nations League

BUDAPEST: Italy continued their post-Euro 2024 recovery on Monday with a tight 2-1 Nations League win over Israel in Budapest.

Goals in each half from Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean were enough for Italy to win in a subdued atmosphere at the Bozsik Arena which hosted the Israel home fixture due to the security situation in the Middle East.

Luciano Spalletti’s team have reacted well to their disastrous European Championship title defense, which ended at the last-16 stage, and were deserved winners on a soaking night in the Hungarian capital.

The crowd of 2,000 fans meant Monday’s match didn’t have the feel of a senior international match, with the main off-pitch event coming during Israel’s national anthem ahead of kick-off, when a small group of Italy fans turned their backs to the pitch.

The Azzurri were slow starters as they were in Friday’s 3-1 win over France in Paris, but were not punished by Israel and grew into the match.

By the time Frattesi chested home Federico Dimarco’s pinpoint cross in the 38th minute, his sixth international goal since Spalletti replaced Roberto Mancini just over a year ago, Italy were firmly on top.

Sagiv Jehezkel should have levelled for Israel just after half-time when he failed to divert Dor Peretz’s scuffed shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range.

But in the 62nd minute Fiorentina striker Kean scored his first Italy goal in almost exactly three years to seal the points, with Mohamed Abu Fani’s strike in the final minute too late for Israel to mount a comeback.


Adam Scott hopeful of ending 21 years without playing on a winning Presidents Cup team

Adam Scott hopeful of ending 21 years without playing on a winning Presidents Cup team
Updated 26 September 2024
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Adam Scott hopeful of ending 21 years without playing on a winning Presidents Cup team

Adam Scott hopeful of ending 21 years without playing on a winning Presidents Cup team
  • He was part of the tie in South Africa when he made his debut in 2003, and nine consecutive losses followed
  • The Americans are led by Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, the top two players in the world

MONTREAL: Adam Scott has never played on a winning team in the Presidents Cup, a tale as woeful as the Internationals’ losing streak against the Americans.

He has played in 49 matches and partnered with 16 players. He was part of the tie in South Africa when he made his debut in 2003, and nine consecutive losses followed. The 44-year-old Australian realizes he won’t get many more chances.

And yet his optimism is as high as ever.

“We are determined to go out there this year and change the script of this event,” Scott said. “Certainly, I want to improve my record in this event and I’m very determined. I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll get, if any. So this is a big week for me.

“But I have a lot of belief in this team,” he said. “I can’t remember feeling so comfortable coming into a Presidents Cup.”

That’s been the vibe at Royal Montreal over three days of practice as the Internationals get ready for the opening session of fourballs Thursday against a US team that on paper looks to be as powerful as ever. The Americans are led by Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, the top two players in the world.

US captain Jim Furyk threw out a few wrinkles for the opening pairings.

He split up Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay for only the second time since they began playing these team cups in 2019. Schauffele is in the opening match with Tony Finau against Jason Day and Byeong Hun An, while Cantlay is the fifth and final match with Sam Burns against Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners, one of three Canadians on home soil.

Scott is in the second game out with Min Woo Lee, one of his many proteges, against Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala.

International captain Mike Weir has been preaching the present to his team. In some respects, they consider the start of these matches to be 2019, when Ernie Els spearheaded a change in logo to give a team from all over the world a new identity.

They had a great chance in Australia in 2019. They had a great rally at Quail Hollow in 2022 after getting in a big hole early with a team decimated by defections to LIV Golf.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys on the team, and they’re not remembering past defeats or anything like that,” Weir said.

Scott would not be one of those young guys, although he now is embracing the youth movement. He is one of only three players — Matsuyama (5) and Day (4) are the others — who have played more than twice in the Presidents Cup.

Nothing compares with 10 tries without winning.

“That’s a long stretch,” Finau said. “That’s tough luck at the end of the day. Adam is an incredible guy. As a competitor, I don’t feel bad for him. I’m sure he has some Presidents Cups where he had a winning record and the team loses. You can’t really solely blame it on Adam. These are team events.

“But at the end of the day I’m on the US side and for this week we don’t want any of those guys to win.”

That’s been the message for the Americans, who don’t want their own streak to end. They own a 12-1-1 record since the Presidents Cup began in 1994. But they are coming off another road loss to Europe in the Ryder Cup, and the risk being without a professional cup for the first time since 1998 if they don’t win at Montreal.

“You have to earn it,” Finau said. “It doesn’t matter how good our record is in the Presidents Cup. At some point they’re going to start winning some Presidents Cups. It’s going to happen. We’re not going to play this many and ... I obviously want the Americans to win the next 50. It’s not going to happen.

“They’re going to start (winning). We don’t want that team to be against us.”

The opening fourballs session is followed by five foursomes matches on Friday, a double session (four matches each) on Saturday, followed by the Sunday singles.

Scott is a strong voice given his experience, even though it’s mostly a losing experience. He is more determined that ever to deliver his best performance. He is running out of time.

“I started by having very lofty goals as a kid. My dreams were big, and I’ve achieved some of those but I haven’t achieved them all, including winning this event,” Scott said. “It’s the lack of accomplishing them that keeps me motivated at this point.”

What would a victory mean? Scott can’t even imagine.

“I think if I answered now,” he said, “I would probably underestimate the impact it would have if we were to get a win.”


Wolfsburg cruise into Women’s Champions League group stage

Wolfsburg cruise into Women’s Champions League group stage
Updated 26 September 2024
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Wolfsburg cruise into Women’s Champions League group stage

Wolfsburg cruise into Women’s Champions League group stage
  • The two-time champions strolled to a 5-0 win at home to the Serie A side, rubber-stamping the dominant 7-0 victory last week in Tuscany
  • An extra-time winner by Nazlican Parlak edged Galatasaray into the group stage following a 4-3 win on aggregate against Slavia Prague

PARIS: Wolfsburg completed a 12-0 aggregate rout of Fiorentina on Wednesday to book their spot in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League.

The two-time champions strolled to a 5-0 win at home to the Serie A side, rubber-stamping the dominant 7-0 victory they recorded last week in Tuscany.

Fenna Kalma opened the scoring on Wednesday in the third minute, before Vivien Endemann scored a brace either side of halftime.

Jule Brand made it four on 77 minutes and Tabea Sellner rounded off the rout with one minute remaining. Fiorentina’s Lucia Pastrenge then collected her second booking to cap a chastening two-legged tie for the Italians as they finished with 10.

“I’m extremely proud of the performance again today,” said Wolfsburg coach Tommy Stroot.

“Going out with a 7-0 win last week and a 5-0 win this week makes a coach very happy.”

An extra-time winner by Nazlican Parlak edged Galatasaray into the group stage following a 4-3 win on aggregate against Slavia Prague.

The 100th-minute strike ensured a 2-1 away win on the night for the Turkish side, after the match finished 1-1 in normal time.

There was late drama in Portugal as well as Cathinka Tandberg’s goal in the 95th minute gave Swedes Hammarby a 2-0 win at Benfica to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

Norwegian team Valerenga beat Belgians Anderlecht 3-0 at home to complete a 5-1 aggregate win.

On Thursday, Arsenal will look to overcome their 1-0 aggregate deficit at home against Sweden’s Hacken, while Manchester City seem set to qualify for the group stage after winning 5-0 at Paris FC last week.

Real Madrid will welcome Sporting Lisbon to the Spanish capital, leading 2-1 thanks to Melanie Leupolz’s last-gasp winner in the first leg.

And last year’s semifinalists Paris Saint-Germain will need to come back from 3-1 down to keep their hopes alive when they host Juventus.

Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have all automatically qualified for the group stage of the Women’s Champions League.

The draw will take place in Nyon, Switzerland on Sept. 27.


Osaka cruises through opening round at China Open with new coach

Osaka cruises through opening round at China Open with new coach
Updated 26 September 2024
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Osaka cruises through opening round at China Open with new coach

Osaka cruises through opening round at China Open with new coach
  • The 26-year-old Osaka began training with Mouratoglou in the lead-up to the Asian swing of the women’s tour, after splitting with Wim Fissette
  • Former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin progressed with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Ana Bogdan of Romania

BEIJING: Former top-ranked Naomi Osaka started the China Open with a routine 6-3, 6-2 victory over Lucia Bronzetti of Italy on Wednesday to mark her first match with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou in positive style.

The four-time Grand Slam champion was the headline act on the opening day and showed her class in closing out the first-round match against the 77th-ranked Italian player in 83 minutes.

Osaka, who claimed the 2019 China Open before COVID-19 and a WTA boycott of China over the wellbeing of Peng Shuai forced the cancelation of tournaments in China for four years, next plays Yulia Putintseva, a 21st-seeded player from Kazahkstan, in the second round.

The 26-year-old Osaka began training with Mouratoglou in the lead-up to the Asian swing of the women’s tour, after splitting with Wim Fissette following a disappointing second-round exit at the USOpen.

“I think I’m at a stage in my life that I don’t want to have regrets,” the Japanese star said Wednesday after her match. “I’d rather pull the trigger on something and — I don’t want to say ‘fail’ — but I feel like I really need to learn as much as possible in this stage of my career.”

“Patrick seemed like the guy with I guess the information that I wanted to learn from.”

After trading breaks in the first set, Osaka made the decisive break in the seventh game of the first set.

On the back of some big serving she increased the pressure in the second set, breaking Bronzetti twice more to seal victory.

Former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin progressed with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Ana Bogdan of Romania.

The 25-year-old Kenin, one of a record 15 American women in the draw in Beijing, next plays 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider in the second round.

American Taylor Townsend will join Kenin in the second round after beating Martina Trevisan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, as will Katie Volynets who had a 7-5, 6-1 win over Dalma Galfi.

Another American, McCartney Kessler, lost in a tight match to China’s Zhang Shuai 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1).

Also, China’s Wang Xinyu beat Mai Hontama of Japan 6-1, 6-3 and Yuliia Starodubtseva defeated Laura Siegemund 6-4, 7-6 (3).

US Open champion and top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka begins her tournament in the second round on Friday against the winner of the match between Zarina Diyas and Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

Top-ranked Iga Swiatek, a winner of four WTA 1000 events this season, is not playing this week citing personal reasons.

The men’s tournament begins Thursday and is headlined by top-ranked Jannik Sinner and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who accounted for all four Grand Slam titles this season.

Second-ranked Alexander Zverev said earlier in the week he would not be playing in Beijing as he recovers from an illness.

Japan Open

Second-seeded Hubert Hurkacz needed three sets to eventually subdue Marcos Giron 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 in the opening round of the Japan Open.

It was the 40th win of the season for the eighth-ranked Hurkacz, with the Polish player extending his head-to-head-record against the American to 3-0.

Matteo Berrettini started his campaign in Tokyo with a straightforward 6-3, 6-4 win over Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.

The big-serving Italian fired seven aces and broke van de Zandschulp four times.

Former sixth-ranked Berrettini, now No. 45, could next play top-seeded Taylor Fritz in the second round. Fritz, who made his first Grand Slam final at the US Open this month, plays Frenchman Arthur Fils in his opening match on Thursday.

Mariano Navone of Argentina beat Italy’s Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-4.


WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs

 WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs
Updated 26 September 2024
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WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs

 WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs
  • Clark played much better in Game 2 than she did in her postseason debut Sunday, but it wasn’t enough
  • The third-seeded Sun will now face either Minnesota or Phoenix in the semifinals which begin Sunday

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut: Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun were happy to finally close out an opening round series at home in two games.
Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Sun sweep Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever out of the playoffs with an 87-81 win Wednesday night.
Since the league changed its playoff format in 2022 the Sun have needed to win a decisive third game on the road in the first round to advance, which they did both years. This time were able to do it at home.
“Finally locked in and took advantage of homecourt advantage,” said Thomas, who had a triple-double in the Game 1 win. “We’re ready. Tested tonight and it wasn’t pretty, but that’s the nature of playoffs. We pulled out a gutsy win. We’re hungry and ready. ... We’re ready for what the playoff journey is going to unfold.”
The third-seeded Sun will now face either Minnesota or Phoenix in the semifinals which begin Sunday.
Clark played much better in Game 2 than she did in her postseason debut Sunday. The AP Rookie of the Year finished with 25 points and nine assists, but it wasn’t enough.
“Obviously it’s a tough one, especially as we climbed all the way back in and just to have our opportunities late,” Clark said.

DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Connecticut Sun falls after going up to block a shot against Temi Fagbenle of the Indiana Fever during Game Two of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs first round at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Getty Images/AFP)

Aliyah Boston added 16 points and 19 rebounds. Her layup with 2:05 left gave Indiana a 77-75 advantage but DeWanna Bonner, who was playing in her WNBA record matching 82nd playoff game to match Lindsay Whalen, answered with a 3-pointer 14 seconds later.
Neither team scored on their next few possessions until Marina Mabrey hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 45.5 seconds left to give the Sun an 81-77 lead.
Kelsey Mitchell missed a 3 on the Fever’s next possession and the Sun sealed the game from the foul line.
Trailing by seven at the half, the Fever scored the first seven points of the third quarter to tie the game up. The teams traded baskets until Lexie Hull’s layup gave the Fever a 48-47 lead midway through the period.
It was short lived as Thomas took over, scoring 10 points during a 14-4 run to close the quarter.
Clark brought the Fever back with her 3-pointer giving the team a 71-70 lead with 3:59 left and the teams traded baskets until Bonner’s 3.
Indiana got off to a fast start and was up 14-6 before the Sun scored the final 11 points of the first quarter to go up by three. With 1:29 left in the quarter after a foul, Clark pointed out a fan sitting in the second row to an official, who called security over and had the individual escorted to the back. The fan returned later and there were no further incidents.
The run continued to start the second as Connecticut went up 26-16 on Carrington’s layup with 7:32 left in the half. The Sun led 41-34 at the half. Carrington was honored before the game as the league’s Most Improved Player.
On the last play of the half, Erica Wheeler went in for a layup trying to beat the buzzer and went flying into the courtside photographers. She was down for a few minutes before getting up and walking back to the locker room. She had her left thumb looked at and didn’t return in the second half.
Clark finished the half with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The Sun were missing starting guard Tyasha Harris, who injured her ankle in Sunday’s win. Mabrey started in her place.


Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League

Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League
Updated 26 September 2024
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Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League

Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League
  • United has won just three of seven games in all competitions this season and Wednesday’s draw came after a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday

MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag questioned his players’ killer instinct after they were held to a 1-1 draw by his old club FC Twente in the revamped Europa League on Wednesday.
Sam Lammers capitalized on a mistake by Christian Eriksen in the second half at Old Trafford and raced away to fire an equalizer for the Dutch underdog.
“You saw that was the game of their life. They fought for every yard and we didn’t,” Ten Hag said. “99 percent is not enough, You have to give 100 percent. You have kill the game. You have to finish it off.”
Eriksen had put United ahead with a stunning first-half strike but was caught in possession by Lammers, whose goal secured an unexpected point for the visitors.
Ten Hag had spoken before the game of his affection for the team he supported as a boy in the Netherlands and represented as a player. He said it was “not nice to have to hurt something you love.”
Instead it was United fans left in pain, despite Eriksen seemingly putting the home team on course for victory.
United has won just three of seven games in all competitions this season and Wednesday’s draw came after a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Eriksen swept United ahead in the 35th with a first-time shot into the top corner. Connecting with a loose ball just inside the box, the playmaker didn’t break stride as he whipped his effort past past Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall with power and precision.
With one fist clenched, he ran to the corner to celebrate in front of the home fans.
But it was Twente’s supporters left cheering the loudest after Lammers’ goal in the 68th when beating Andre Onana at his near post.
“There’s a lot of football (still to play) when you (are) one up and the game takes more than 90 minutes,” Ten Hag said. “And you have to fight until the end and score the second goal.”
Like the Champions League, the second-tier Europa League has a new format and 36 teams instead of 32. It features a league system in which each team plays eight games against different opponents through January, replacing the old group stage.
Lazio cruises, Osimhen assists
In a clash between the Turkish and Greek champions, Galatasaray beat PAOK 3-1. Victor Osimhen, who moved from Napoli to Galatasaray earlier in September, made his presence felt. The Nigeria striker’s goalbound header was deflected by defender Abdul Rahman Baba into his own net early in the second half. Giannis Konstantelias equalized on a rebound before Osimhen set up Yunus Akgün to net the winner. Mauro Icardi added a stoppage-time goal.
Lazio cruised past Dynamo Kyiv 3-0. Boulaye Dia struck twice and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru added one. Both teams ended the game with 10 men.
Real Sociedad, struggling in La Liga, got a goal from Ander Barrenetxea at Nice but the home team salvaged a 1-1 draw thanks to Pablo Rosario’s goal late in the first half.
Another team struggling domestically, Bundesliga’s Hoffenheim took home a point from Denmark in a 1-1 draw with Danish Superliga’s leader Midtjylland. Darío Osorio put the hosts ahead late in the first half before substitute Max Moerstedt leveled it in the final minute.
In Brussels, Anderlecht struck twice in the span of five minutes in the second half on the way to a 2-1 victory over Ferencváros. Yari Verschaeren scored on the hour and Kasper Dolberg added the second from the spot.
Slavia Prague scored in each half for a 2-0 win at Bulgaria’s Ludogorets.
Early wins
Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt and Dutch side AZ Alkmaar became the first teams to claim victories earlier on Wednesday.
Jens Petter Hauge’s two goals guided 10-man Bodø/Glimt from a goal down to a 3-2 win over Porto while Troy Parrott netted the winner from the penalty spot for Alkmaar to beat Sweden’s Elfsborg 3-2.
Porto, a two-time champion in Europe’s second-tier league, got an early goal from Samu. Kasper Høgh’s equalized and Hauge netted twice for a 3-1 lead. Porto reduce the deficit to one in the final minute through substitute Deniz Gül.
Alkmaar answered Timothy Ouma’s opener with two goals from Ruben van Bommel on both sides of the interval. Simon Hedlund made it 2-2 before Parrott’s late penalty.
Ahead of a late game between Dynamo Kyiv and Lazio, a group of about 60 Lazio fans were stopped by German authorities in Hamburg after attempting to avoid a police escort and were found to be carrying knives, clubs and other weapons. Fans who were held overnight were banned from attending Wednesday’s game but there were no arrests.
Dynamo plays its home Europa League games in Hamburg because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.