BASKETBALL
Taiwan A team trounce Iran
Taiwan’s men’s national A team yesterday beat Iran 80-63, recording their fourth win in the William Jones Cup in Taipei. The home squad were leading comfortably at halftime with a score of 41-16, and despite making a comeback in the third quarter, Iran could not hold them off. Taiwan’s B team were edged 71-69 by the United Arab Emirates. In earlier games, the US, represented by the UC Irvine Anteaters, beat South Korea, represented by Anyang KGC, 88-74, while Qatar downed the Philippines, represented by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 93-86.
SOCCER
Chelsea sign Caicedo
Chelsea on Monday took their spending on players to a staggering US$1 billion in 15 months under their US owners by signing Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported ￡115 million (US$146 million). It is a record fee for a transfer in the UK, surpassing the ￡106.7 million that Chelsea paid for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez in the January window. “I didn’t have to think twice when Chelsea called me, I just knew I wanted to sign for the club,” Caicedo said. “It’s a dream come true to be here and I can’t wait to get started with the team.” He has signed an initial eight-year deal, which continues Chelsea’s policy of handing out long contracts to spread “amortization” costs of transfer fees across the whole deal.
SOCCER
United edge Wolves
Manchester United survived an onslaught from Wolverhampton Wanderers and huge claims for a late penalty to start the English Premier League season with a 1-0 win thanks to Raphael Varane’s header on Monday. Wolves had seen manager Julen Lopetegui walk out less than a week before the new campaign, but dominated for long spells at Old Trafford. A combination of wasteful finishing and new United goalkeeper Andre Onana kept the visitors at bay until Varane headed in 14 minutes from time. However, the manner of the performance raises questions over whether United can pose a serious challenge for their first Premier League title in a decade. “There is no easy game in the Premier League and definitely not Wolves,” United manager Erik Ten Hag said. “We hope we’ll be better on the ball in the next game.”
BASKETBALL
Harden slams 76ers boss
NBA star James Harden has said he would never play for the Philadelphia 76ers again while Daryl Morey remains the team’s general manager. In scathing comments which come with the 76ers and Harden locked in a contract standoff, the former NBA Most Valuable Player said he could no longer be part of an organization that employed Morey. “Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said at an event in China for sponsors Adidas. The 33-year-old 10-time All-Star reportedly told the team last month that he wanted to be traded away from the franchise after joining from the Brooklyn Nets in February last year. US media reported on Saturday that the 76ers had shut down discussions with Harden over a trade and were expecting him to report to a training camp next month. The Athletic Web site, citing sources close to Harden, said the player has no intention of taking part in pre-season training camp.
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday poured in 35 points as the Thunder grabbed a bounce-back 118-108 victory in Portland to push their NBA-best record to 37-8. The Thunder, surprised by the short-handed Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, fended off a late surge from the Trail Blazers to snap their four-game winning streak. Jalen Williams scored 24 points and Isaiah Joe added 16 off the bench. Center Isaiah Hartenstein, back after a five-game absence with a calf injury, added 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and a big block. The Western Conference leaders were under pressure late as Portland, trailing by 15 heading
The Golden State Warriors on Wednesday withstood Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 52-point outburst to beat the Western Conference leading Thunder 116-109. Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half as Golden State erased a double-digit deficit and pulled away late for the victory. “We just stayed solid,” said Curry, who entered the contest mired in a shooting slump and had just four points on one basket in the first half. “Just all-around effort.” The Thunder, fueled by 31 first-half points from Gilgeous-Alexander, led by as many as 14 in the
Ousmane Dembele on Wednesday scored a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 4-1 win at VfB Stuttgart and qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. PSG were at risk of elimination after a disappointing league stage, with three losses and a draw, but were utterly dominant against an outclassed Stuttgart side as they confirmed their place in the playoffs. With six minutes gone, Bradley Barcola headed PSG in front after Desire Doue stood a cross up at the back post following a corner. Stuttgart probed for an equalizer, but PSG hit on the counterattack, Dembele tapping a Barcola pass into an
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