Jack Grealish shines as Everton christen new stadium with victory over Brighton
Jack Grealish put in a man-of-the-match display as Everton claimed a 2-0 win against Brighton in the first Premier League game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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Rashid Khan to lead spin-heavy Afghanistan in Asia Cup
KABUL: Rashid Khan will lead a spin-heavy Afghanistan at the next month’s Asia Cup with uncapped mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar also named in the 17-member Twenty20 squad on Sunday. Khan was named captain and is joined by Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi as the other seasoned spinners for the Sept. 9-28 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, where pitches are expected to help slow bowlers at Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Afghanistan hasn’t played a T20 since beating Zimbabwe in December last year.
Bahrain Victorious rider Pickering’s mad dash pays off in Grand Tour debut
Bahrain Victorious rider Finlay Pickering had to scramble to make it to Turin in time for the Vuelta a Espana’s start, arriving without his luggage after being drafted in as a last-minute replacement. The 22-year-old Briton received a call to replace injured teammate Damiano Caruso less than 24 hours before the opening stage began, triggering a frantic journey involving a 200-km taxi ride from Andorra to Toulouse and a flight delay. He went on to finish Saturday’s first stage in 153rd place. “It was actually really lucky, because I had a problem with a pair of training wheels and they were in a bike shop, so I was a bit late going out training,” Pickering told reporters. “I was on the way to pick them up when I got a call from management saying ‘How quickly can I be in an airport’? Well, if I drive fast, I guess the answer’s — pretty quick... The first flight was delayed, so I didn’t get my suitcase. “But at least I managed to pack two pairs of shoes (in hand luggage) so I can start today.
Shnaider downs Alexandrova to claim Monterrey Open title
Russian Diana Shnaider continued her impressive winning streak in tour-level finals at the Monterrey Open on Saturday, beating compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 4-6 6-4 in the WTA 500 event’s final. Shnaider had little trouble in the opening set but struggled in a topsy-turvy second, as Alexandrova clinched the set’s fifth and decisive break at 5-4 to force a decider. Third seed Shnaider carved out an advantage early on in the third set when she broke Alexandrova in the first game and held serve to go 2-0 up, an advantage she would not relinquish. World number 12 Shnaider is now unbeaten in her last five finals on the WTA Tour, adding the Monterrey crown to her triumphs in Hong Kong, Budapest, Bad Homburg and Hua Hin last year. The win also saw Shnaider level her head-to-head record with Alexandrova, who was faced with a quick turnaround for the final after her semifinal against Czech Marie Bouzkova was moved from Friday to Saturday due to a rain-enforced suspension. Both players will have little time to rest after the final before they make the nearly 2,000 mile journey from Monterrey to New York to play in the first round of the US Open, which begins on Sunday. Shnaider will face Germany’s Laura Siegemund, while Alexandrova takes on Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia.
Son Heung-Min scores first MLS goal to help LAFC earn 1-1 draw with Dallas
FRISCO: Son Heung-Min scored his first goal to help Los Angeles FC earn a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday night. Heung-Min scored unassisted for his first goal six minutes into his third MLS appearance to give LAFC (11-6-8) the lead. Dallas (7-11-9) pulled even in the 13th minute when Logan Farrington used an assist from Patrickson Delgado — his third — to score his career-high fifth goal. Farrington had four goals in 29 appearances as a rookie last season. Michael Collodi finished with four saves for Dallas in his fifth career start.
Aubameyang scores 2 as Marseille moves on from players’ locker room fight with big win over Paris FC
MARSEILLE, France: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Marseille ended a week of turmoil with a 5-2 win over promoted Paris FC in the French league on Saturday. Marseille could even afford a missed penalty from Mason Greenwood late on. But the victory wasn’t a given amid the unusual buildup to the game. Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi said Friday that teammates Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe had brawled as if in a pub fight after the team’s season-opening loss at Rennes last weekend. Both players have been put on the club’s transfer list. Greenwood opened the scoring Saturday with a penalty before the Aubameyang show started with a spectacular finish in the 24th minute. Ilan Kebbal pulled one back four minutes later with a brilliant strike inside the far post and he played in Moses Simon to equalize early in the second half with a perfectly placed through ball. Aubameyang restored Marseille’s lead after a gift from the Paris defense, Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg made it 4-2 in the 81st, and impressive substitute Robinio Vaz completed the scoring in stoppage time after Greenwood missed his second opportunity from the spot.
Shades of Arsenal legend as Gyokeres announces himself to Gunners faithful
LONDON: Striker Viktor Gyokeres announced himself to Arsenal’s fans with two goals in a 5-0 Premier League win over Leeds in his first home league game, with his opener reminding many of them of their previous hero in the number 14 shirt he now wears, Thierry Henry.
Medvedev and Sabalenka face tricky tests in US Open first round
The U.S. Open's first round begins on Sunday with defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka looking to recapture top form, while former men's champion Daniil Medvedev faces a familiar foe whom he has failed to beat in previous meetings.