Mon, Mar 15, 2010 page19

• Sport Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■GOLF

  Schwartzel, Els share lead

  Charl Schwartzel may have to find alternative accommodation if he wins the CA Championship title. Schwartzel stayed last week with Ernie Els at his fellow South African’s home in West Palm Beach and is scheduled to be a guest there next week too. “He owes me. He might be sleeping in the garden,” Els joked after earning a share of the third-round lead with Schwartzel in the World Golf Championships event on Saturday. Els putted tentatively in a testing northerly breeze at Doral’s “Blue Monster,” shooting a two-under 70, while Schwartzel carded a 67. They were at 12-under 204, one stroke ahead of Irishman Padraig Harrington (67) and two in front of Australian Robert Allenby (71).

  ■GOLF

  Chad Collins out in front

  Chad Collins of the US held a one-stoke lead over three players midway through the second round of the weather-affected Puerto Rico Open on Saturday. Collins was on nine-under having completed 11 holes of his second round, following a three-under 69 in the first round that was completed on Saturday after rain delayed play on Thursday and Friday. Only six players completed the second round before darkness ended play. Collins has a one-shot advantage over compatriot Paul Stankowski, who has finished both his rounds, Jeff Overton and Colombian Jhonattan Vegas.

  ■BADMINTON

  Tago on brink of history

  Unseeded Kenichi Tago saved a match-point before beating Chinese sixth seed Bao Chunlai on Saturday to become the first Japanese to reach the men’s singles final at the All England Championships since 1966. If he overcomes world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, the 20-year-old will be the first Japanese to win the men’s title in a tournament dating back to 1899. Only top seed Lee now stands in Tago’s way. The Malaysian made the final for the second year in a row with an impressive 21-17, 21-14 win over Denmark’s Peter Gade. In the women’s singles, Denmark’s Tine Rasmussen reached the final for the third year in succession after edging past gallant Indian seventh seed Saina Nehwal 21-19, 21-17. Rasmussen won the title in 2008, but lost out last year to top-ranked Chinese player Wang Yihan. The Dane will have a chance for revenge in the final after Wang won 21-17, 26-24 against Wang Xin.

  ■SAILING

  Kiwis win despite breakage

  Team New Zealand overcame a broken spinnaker pole to beat Italy’s Azzurra by 42 seconds yesterday and remain unbeaten after five races at the Louis Vuitton Trophy sailing regatta for America’s Cup teams. The New Zealanders, with All Blacks rugby star Dan Carter sailing as 18th man, broke the pole that holds up the giant downwind sails on the second of four legs, but maintained a large lead for most of the race. Also yesterday, All4One beat Aleph by 1 minute, 6 seconds; Mascalzone Latino defeated Artemis by 1 minute, 3 seconds; and TeamOrigin downed Synergy by 1 minute, 18 seconds.

  ■NORDIC SKIING

  Bjoergen grabs 34th win

  Norway’s triple Olympic champion Marit Bjoergen’s domination of Nordic Skiing continued on Saturday when she won the World Cup 30km race for her 34th career victory and fourth this season. In the men’s sprint, victory went to Sweden’s Emil Jonsson, who extended his lead in the World Cup standings. Later on Saturday, Norway won the team event in the Nordic Combined ahead of Olympic champions Austria, while Germany were third.

  ■CRICKET

  England lead by 434 runs

  Bangladesh claimed five wickets to restrict England to 131-5 in their second innings yesterday, but the visitors took a 434-run lead into the third day of the first Test. Earlier, Graeme Swann claimed five wickets as Bangladesh were dismissed for 296 in their first innings in reply to England’s 599-6 declared. England then elected not to enforce the follow-on, keen to rest their bowlers before a likely declaration today. At tea, England were 12-0, but they lost skipper Alastair Cook (39) and four others in the last session. Ian Bell (0) and Matt Prior (0) will resume today.

  ■SOCCER

  Bordeaux held by Monaco

  Coach Laurent Blanc was pleased with Girondins Bordeaux’s defensive display as the Ligue 1 leaders drew 0-0 at Monaco on Saturday. Champions Bordeaux, who have won just one of their last six league matches, have 53 points from 27 games and stay ahead of second-placed Montpellier on goal difference. Blanc rested several important players at Monaco, including France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff. Montpellier, who have played one more match than Bordeaux, fought back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with third-placed Auxerre. Auxerre went ahead when Kenya striker Dennis Oliech squeezed through two defenders to score just before halftime. Argentine midfielder Alberto Costa put the home side level on 66 minutes, before Auxerre had Jeremy Berthod sent off in the dying stages. Olympique Lyonnais also recovered from a goal down to record a 1-1 home draw with Saint-Etienne.

  ■SOCCER

  Fiorentina bounce back

  Fiorentina came back from a goal down to defeat Napoli 3-1 on Saturday, bouncing back in style from their shattering midweek Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich. Ezequiel Lavezzi gave Napoli the lead early in the second half, but Alberto Gilardino leveled on the hour mark. Gilardino added a second three minutes from time, before Stevan Jovetic scored Fiorentina’s third in stoppage-time. It was Fiorentina’s first win in Naples in 15 years and adding to their delight was the performance of 16-year-old Kouma Babacar, who had a hand in both goals. The result moved the Florence side into ninth place.

  ■BOXING

  Soto claims lightweight title

  Mexico’s Humberto Soto claimed the WBC lightweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over David Diaz of the US on Saturday. Soto prevailed in just his second fight at lightweight. He had previously held the WBC’s super featherweight and interim featherweight titles. He knocked Diaz down in the first round and dominated the fight. He also dropped Diaz late in the final round, but the American got up just as the bell sounded to end the fight. Also on the card, former WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo announced his retirement after quitting on his stool in his bout against Alfonso Gomez. Castillo landed just 47 punches before telling the referee after the fifth round that he’d had enough.

  ■BOXING

  Huck knocks out Richards

  Marco Huck of Germany has retained his WBO cruiserweight title by knocking out Adam Richards of the US in the third round. Huck connected with a flurry of punches on Saturday after already flooring Richards earlier and the American went down with 30 seconds left in the third round. The referee didn’t bother to count and waived the fight over.
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