ENGLAND
FA charge Sunderland
Sunderland were charged by the Football Association on Wednesday with failing to control their players during a recent Premier League draw with title contenders Manchester City. The charge related to an incident in the 43rd minute of the 3-3 draw at Eastlands on Saturday, when Sunderland players reacted angrily after referee Phil Dowd awarded a penalty following Craig Gardner’s challenge on Edin Dzeko. Mario Balotelli scored from the spot to bring the hosts level and later scored again as City recovered from 3-1 down to rescue a point. Sunderland have until 4pm on Wednesday next week to respond to the charge.
SPAIN
Real great dies aged 81
Former Real Madrid player Jose Maria Zarraga, who won five European Cups with the club between 1956 and 1960, died on Tuesday at the age of 81. The Basque midfielder played for Madrid from 1949 to 1962 and also won six La Liga titles, one Spanish Cup and one Intercontinental Cup. Zarraga played alongside such greats as Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, and won eight international caps for Spain. Madrid’s players wore a black armband as a mark of respect in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against APOEL Nicosia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
CONCACAF
Monterrey, Santos advance
Defending champions Monterrey booked a return trip to the final of the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw against fellow Mexican club Pumas. Angel Reyna scored in the 35th minute for Monterrey, who advanced with a 4-1 aggregate victory after a 3-0 first-leg win. Antonio Garcia scored in the 71st minute for Pumas. Monterrey is scheduled to host Mexican Clausura leaders Santos in the first leg of the final on April 17, with the return leg slated for April 24. Santos thrashed Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC 6-2 in Torreon to advance 7-3 on aggregate.
AUSTRALIA
Gold Coast exit A-League
Gold Coast United were axed from the A-League yesterday, but the national competition will remain at 10 teams following this week’s announcement of a new Western Sydney franchise. Football Federation Australia (FFA) said their level of public and corporate support fell below the minimum requirements for a professional club. The future of Gold Coast United was thrown into doubt after the FFA stripped billionaire miner Clive Palmer of his ownership license in February for contravening competition regulations.
SOUTH AFRICA
Ranties on target for Pirates
Orlando Pirates joined Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Premiership league table on Wednesday after Tokelo Ranties scored the only goal in their win over AmaZulu. Ranties put Pirates ahead after just five minutes and they held their advantage at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as AmaZulu missed a string of chances, which keeps them hanging midtable. Sundowns were held to a goalless draw by Golden Arrows, but despite their fifth game without a win still cling to the top spot ahead of Pirates on goal difference. Meanwhile, Free State Stars renewed their title hopes by climbing to fourth after a 2-1 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic. David Mathebula netted his ninth goal of the season in the third minute for Moroka Swallows, who whipped Bidvest Wits 3-0.
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
SIBLING RIVALRY: Marc Marquez was locked in a duel with his little brother, falling behind at one point before recovering for his first season-opening victory since 2014 Six-time world champion Marc Marquez yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening Thailand Grand Prix to complete a dominant debut weekend at his new Ducati Lenovo Team, having also romped to Saturday’s sprint. The Spanish great took the 26-lap grand prix by 1.732 seconds for his 63rd MotoGP victory from younger brother Alex Marquez, who is still seeking a first checkered flag, with Francesco Bagnaia third to complete an all-Ducati podium. It completed a perfect weekend for Marc Marquez, who took pole position, the sprint victory and the grand prix win for a maximum 37 points to open the 22-leg 2025 campaign. He led from
LONG TIME COMING: With the addition of Marcus Smart, the Washington Wizards finally held a team to under 100 points, the last team this season to do so The Detroit Pistons on Monday won their seventh straight game in the NBA with in-form Cade Cunningham making 32 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 106-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pistons, who are in the playoff position, moved to 32-26, their best record at this stage of a season for 17 years. It was an all-round effort from Detroit with Tobias Harris adding 20 points and Jalen Duren making 19 rebounds along with his 12 points. It was a tight contest until Detroit pulled away late in the third quarter to tie their longest winning streak since the 2014-2015
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