Thu, Apr 10, 2008 page18

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ SOCCER

  Portsmouth book UEFA spot

  Nico Kranjcar scored the only goal as Portsmouth won 1-0 at West Ham United to cement their hopes of sealing a spot in European soccer. The Croatian turned and shot from the edge of the box on the hour mark to keep them in sixth place, four points clear of Aston Villa and in line for a place in the UEFA Cup. West Ham created very little of note, with an attempt by Dean Ashton their only chance to talk about as David James fumbled his long-range effort. West Ham remain in 10th place, out of trouble but too far behind to win a European place.

  ■CRICKER

  Proteas eager for hat-trick

  A buoyant South Africa will be keen to capitalize on India’s form and fitness worries ahead of tomorrow’s third and final Test in Kanpur, India, to complete a hat-trick in the sub-continent.

  The visitors lead 1-0 in the series following their crushing win by an innings and 90 runs in the second Test in Ahmedabad last Saturday after the opening match ended in a draw in Chennai. South Africa need only a draw to make it three-in-a-row in the sub-continent, having clinched Test series in Pakistan last year and in Bangladesh this year. Adaptability is the key to South Africa’s success in recent months in South Asia, where home spinners usually make merry on low, slow pitches. Graeme Smith’s South Africans look better prepared than most of the visiting teams as they have not allowed the home spinners to dictate terms with their determined batting. India’s spin duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, proven match-winners at home, looked below their best in the last two Tests while pacemen failed to match their South African counterparts.

  ■HOCKEY

  Canada into women’s final

  Sarah Vaillancourt scored a pair of goals in the second period yesterday as Canada defeated Finland 4-2 in Harbin, China, to advance to the final of the World Women’s Hockey Championship. Vaillancourt scored a powerplay goal 11:23 into the second period and added another 37 seconds later to give the Canadians a 3-1 lead. Canada, the US and Finland are playing in the round-robin playoffs. The teams with the two best records meet again for the gold medal on Saturday. Katie Weatherston made it 4-1 for Canada late in the second. Jayna Hefford scored in the first period for the Canadians. Finland upset the US 1-0 on Tuesday. The US needs a win today against Canada if they are going to play for gold again on Saturday. Finland, with two points in the group, can still earn a spot in the final. As long as the US earns no more than one point against Canada today, Finland and Canada will meet in the gold-medal game. Should the US win in regulation or overtime, they would be the second team in the final.

  ■ GYMNASTICS

  Hypolito beats dengue fever

  Gymnastics world champion Diego Hypolito was released from hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday, a day after being diagnosed with dengue fever. “My recovery process will continue from home,” Hypolito told reporters. “I’m optimistic. A mosquito will not get in the way of my preparation for the Olympics Games in Beijing.” Hypolito had been hospitalized at the Copa D’Or Hospital in Rio de Janeiro since last Thursday with symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease, which causes high a fever, severe headaches and joint pain. The 21-year-old Hypolito contracted dengue fever while recovering from right knee arthroscopic surgery on March 25.
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