Wehrlein wins Misano E-Prix after last-lap heartbreak for Rowland

Wehrlein wins Misano E-Prix after last-lap heartbreak for Rowland
Pascal Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche celebrates winning the second leg of the Misano E-Prix on Sunday (Formula E)
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Updated 15 April 2024
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Wehrlein wins Misano E-Prix after last-lap heartbreak for Rowland

Wehrlein wins Misano E-Prix after last-lap heartbreak for Rowland
  • Victory for TAG Heuer Porsche driver was the sixth of his Formula E career
  • Reigning champion Jake Dennis claims second place for Andretti Formula E Team, Nick Cassidy of Jaguar TCS Racing secures third

MISANO: The Misano E-Prix saw Pascal Wehrlein of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team emerge triumphant after an intense battle for Round 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Sunday night.

At the second leg of the inaugural Misano E-Prix double-header, Wehrlein made amends for TAG Heuer Porsche’s poor performance in the first race on Saturday. His first-place trophy from Round 7 is the sixth of his Formula E career, following a heartbreaking last-lap miscalculation that resulted in the then-race leader Oliver Rowland running out of energy and retiring.

Reigning ABB FIA Formula E World Champion Jake Dennis of the Andretti Formula E Team secured second place, while Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy clinched third place at the flag by five hundredths of a second, in front of a 25,000-strong crowd.

Wehrlein’s triumph has him tied with Dennis at the top of the Drivers’ standings, with previous leader Rowland falling to third. Meanwhile, Jaguar TCS Racing leads the Teams’ table by a significant margin.

“Yesterday would have been better to win but I’m very happy about the race today,” Wehrlein said. “It was quite chaotic again in the beginning until mid-race. I wasn’t sure if I should stay in the lead or let Oli (Rowland) through the pace. His pace seemed a bit weird and too fast to try and defend so I didn’t defend him much. I was a bit surprised by his energy, I wasn’t sure if the team had the correct information or not. But in the end, it proved to be the right thing to do. It was a lot of managing; the energy, the battery, the tires. Just everything.

“It goes quickly from zero to hero, we know that in Formula E. I think we had the pace this weekend to win both races. Unfortunately yesterday with these kinds of races I was a bit of a victim with my front wing and then being at the back, but today was a big redemption for us.”

Round 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be the 2024 Monaco E-Prix on Saturday, April 27.


Lakers’ Doncic makes triple-double in winning reunion with Dallas

Lakers’ Doncic makes triple-double in winning reunion with Dallas
Updated 25 sec ago
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Lakers’ Doncic makes triple-double in winning reunion with Dallas

Lakers’ Doncic makes triple-double in winning reunion with Dallas
  • The front-running Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to eight games with a 122-82 thrashing of the Orlando Magic
  • Boston Celtics, a place behind Cleveland in the East, took their own winning streak to six games with a 111-101 victory at the Toronto Raptors

LOS ANGELES: Luka Doncic faced his old team the Dallas Mavericks for the first time since his shock move to the Los Angeles Lakers and served up a triple-double in a 107-99 win on Tuesday.

The five-time All-Star moved to the Lakers in exchange for big man Anthony Davis this month in a deal which stunned the NBA and left Mavs fans distraught.

Davis, who is injured, was present at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles and was given a tribute from the Lakers during the first timeout.

The watching Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who has been a target of Dallas fans’ anger since the move, was also given a warm welcome by Lakers fans who chanted “Thank you Nico” during Doncic’s free throws.

Doncic put up 19 points on 6-17 shooting but grabbed 15 rebounds and made 12 assists on what he conceded was a strange night against his former teammates.

“I don’t know how to explain it, I think in the first quarter, second quarter, I didn’t know what was happening. It was just different, I can’t even explain how I felt,” he told broadcaster TNT.

Doncic admitted that despite his key role, his shooting was off in a game where the Lakers needed a big fourth quarter from LeBron James to secure the win.

“I couldn’t make nothing today, I am just glad we got a win. I can’t wait to go to sleep honestly,” said the Slovenian, who made a key assist to James to make sure of the win.

James had 27 points with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

The short-handed Mavericks put up a strong fight however with Kyrie Irving outstanding as he made 35 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Klay Thompson put up 22 points for Dallas.

The front-running Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to eight games with a 122-82 thrashing of the Orlando Magic.

Ty Jerome top-scored off the bench for Cleveland making 20 points in 21 minutes while Max Strus nailed five three-pointers as he put up 17 points.

The blowout win moves the Cavs to a league-best 48-10 record on the season, despite Donovan Mitchell being restricted to just 11 points.

“We move it quickly, we move it quickly up the floor in transition, make quick decisions, everyone touches it — it is a fun style of play,” said Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson.

“It creates a lot of open looks and our skill level is super high, you have to have high skill level to play that way,” he added.

The Boston Celtics, a place behind Cleveland in the East, took their own winning streak to six games with a 111-101 victory at the Toronto Raptors.

Jaylen Brown scored 24 points with Derrick White adding 22, while Payton Prichard had 20 points and Jayson Tatum put up 19 points and provided 11 assists for the Celtics.

White shot six of 11 three-pointers in a game where Toronto trailed by 17 early in the fourth quarter.

Although the Raptors were able to cut the lead to seven with 4:18 left the outcome was never truly in doubt, with White’s last three-pointer sealing victory.

Brown did not play in the final three minutes of the game as he struggled with an injury to his left leg.

The Celtics had been without Kristaps Porzingis through illness while Jrue Holiday was rested, Luke Kornet was absent for personal reasons and Al Horford had a sore big toe.

White praised the way the team had coped with those absences.

“Standards are standards so it doesn’t matter who is playing. A lot of guys had big minutes for us, we had to figure it out and we got the win,” he said.

The Memphis Grizzlies, third in the West, needed overtime to beat a determined Phoenix Suns 151-148 with Ja Morant top-scoring with 29 points and providing eight assists.

Morant scored 15 points in the fourth quarter including the game-tying shot before the end of regulation.


Boxer has egg on his face after fight rival reminds him of failed doping test

Boxer has egg on his face after fight rival reminds him of failed doping test
Updated 26 February 2025
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Boxer has egg on his face after fight rival reminds him of failed doping test

Boxer has egg on his face after fight rival reminds him of failed doping test
  • The left-handed smack was a not-so-subtle reference to Benn’s failed doping test that derailed their planned fight in 2022
  • After Tuesday’s press conference, the sons faced off and exchanged words before Eubank Jr. pulled an egg from his pocket and hit Benn, who had to be restrained by several burly security guards

MANCHESTER, England: Chris Eubank Jr. smashed an egg into Conor Benn’s face during a staredown between the rival boxers in a chaotic encounter Tuesday to promote their April 26 bout.

The left-handed smack was a not-so-subtle reference to Benn’s failed doping test that derailed their planned fight in 2022. Benn argued successfully that his consumption of eggs elevated his testosterone levels.

It’s been more than 30 years since the boxers’ fathers — Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank — met twice in the ring in one of Britain’s great rivalries.

After Tuesday’s press conference, the sons faced off and exchanged words before Eubank Jr. pulled an egg from his pocket and hit Benn, who had to be restrained by several burly security guards. Eubank Jr. was also held back as both sides were separated.

The fighters, who will square off in a middleweight bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, later took to social media.

“That’s the only shot you’ll land on me,” the 28-year-old Benn wrote on his X account along with an expletive. “2 rounds you are finished.”

The 35-year-old Eubank Jr. wrote: “Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests. So I contaminated him with an egg.” In another post featuring a photo of Benn with egg on his face, he wrote, “Eggcellent.”

Eddie Hearn, who is Benn’s promoter, called Eubank Jr.’s actions “unacceptable.”

“The world we live in today — it will go viral, people will think it’s quite amusing. But I’ll just tell you one thing — in the fight game, everything changes now about this fight,” he told Sky Sports. “You don’t want to be backstage right now. If you see Nigel Benn tonight, run. These people, they’re not normal people, They don’t go and have a cup of tea and then forget about it and everybody calms down.”

A second press conference that was scheduled for Thursday at Tottenham was now in doubt, Hearn added.

Benn and Eubank Jr. were scheduled to fight at London’s O2 Arena in October 2022 in a catchweight bout, but it was called off after Benn’s voluntary urine test showed trace amounts of fertility drug Clomiphene, a banned substance that boosts testosterone levels while burning fat.

Benn, who has a 23-0 record, battled to clear his name and his suspension was lifted in November last year.

The WBC in February 2023 cleared Benn of intentional doping, saying the boxer’s consumption of eggs presented a “reasonable explanation” for his failed test.

The WBC said in its ruling: “Mr. Benn’s documented and highly elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection raised a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding.” The sanctioning body said there was “no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene.”


MLS fines Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for placing hand on New York City FC assistant coach’s neck

MLS fines Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for placing hand on New York City FC assistant coach’s neck
Updated 26 February 2025
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MLS fines Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for placing hand on New York City FC assistant coach’s neck

MLS fines Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for placing hand on New York City FC assistant coach’s neck
  • The reigning league MVP had some words with New York assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy and covered his mouth as two Miami assistants intervened
  • The league also fined Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez an undisclosed amount for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy in a separate incident in that match

NEW YORK: Major League Soccer fined Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount on Tuesday for placing his hand on a New York City FC assistant coach’s neck.

The incident happened during Saturday’s 2-2 draw.

Messi was exiting the pitch following the full-time whistle after receiving a yellow card for a verbal exchange with referee Alexis Da Silva.

The reigning league MVP had some words with New York assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy and covered his mouth as two Miami assistants intervened.

Messi started to walk away, then turned back toward Ballouchy. He put his right hand on the back of Ballouchy’s neck and squeezed hard enough that it appeared to stun him.

The league also fined Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez an undisclosed amount for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy in a separate incident in that match.

He grabbed New York defender Birk Risa by the back of the neck during a skirmish following the halftime whistle.

Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutierrez was suspended one match and fined an undisclosed amount for knocking down Columbus’ Yevhen Cheberko with a high elbow to the head in 4-2 season-opening loss on Saturday. He will miss the home opener against D.C. United on March 1.

The league also fined Portland Timbers defender Kamal Miller an undisclosed amount for failing to leave the field in a timely manner against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday after getting sent off with a red card in the 11th minute.


Atletico hold Barca in ‘crazy’ eight-goal Copa del Rey semi first leg

Atletico hold Barca in ‘crazy’ eight-goal Copa del Rey semi first leg
Updated 26 February 2025
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Atletico hold Barca in ‘crazy’ eight-goal Copa del Rey semi first leg

Atletico hold Barca in ‘crazy’ eight-goal Copa del Rey semi first leg
  • The Norwegian forward grabbed Atletico a last-gasp victory at Barca’s Olympic stadium in December in La Liga and he was in the right place at the right time once more to finish from Samuel Lino’s cut-back

BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid conceded a two-goal lead then fought back from two down in a wild 4-4 draw with Barcelona in a Copa del Rey semifinal first leg thriller on Tuesday.
After Diego Simeone’s side scored twice in the opening six minutes through Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann, Barca raced through the gears in a high-octane performance.
The superb Pedri Gonzalez pulled one back with Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez and Robert Lewandowski going on to score for the Catalan giants.
Marcos Llorente netted for Atletico before Alexander Sorloth struck in the 93rd minute to leave the tie perfectly poised ahead of the second leg at the Metropolitano stadium on April 2.
“It’s a terrible result when you go 4-2 up... you have to be more careful, these are things we have to learn,” Pedri told Movistar.
“Today we started badly but I’ll focus on how the team reacted.
“When we got in front we have to be calmer... it will be a difficult (second leg) but we will go there to try and win.”
Hansi Flick left Barca’s top goalscorer Lewandowski out of the starting line-up, with Ferran Torres taking his place in a false nine role.
Simeone picked a strong side despite his side’s extremely tricky fixture list, with this the first of three matches against Barca and a Champions League last 16 tie against Real Madrid on the horizon.
Atletico took the lead inside the first minute, with Alvarez pouncing at the back post after Griezmann’s cross was flicked on.
Atletico doubled their lead in the sixth minute when Jules Kounde gave the ball away and Alvarez produced a stunning pass to release Griezmann.
The French forward was being pressured by Alejandro Balde but cleverly worked room for a shot, which Wojciech Szczesny got a hand to but could not keep out.
After Atletico’s opening salvo, Barcelona dominated the rest of the first half.
Ferran Torres should have levelled for Barcelona after Raphinha sent him through on goal but his shot was week and Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso saved easily.
The La Liga leaders hit two goals in two minutes to pull back level, with Kounde setting up Pedri for the first before Cubarsi nodded home from a corner.
Torres spurned another golden chance for Barca’s third, rounding Musso but misfiring under pressure from Clement Lenglet, on loan from the Catalans at Atletico.
Szczesny saved well from Griezmann at the start of the second half, with Barca still largely in control.
Sorloth had a goal disallowed for offside as the visitors sought an equalizer, but instead it was Barca who moved further ahead.
Teenage winger Lamine Yamal created it with a brilliant dribble, blazing past Reinildo Mandava and squaring for substitute Lewandowski to tap home.
Barcelona’s performance merited their lead but Llorente’s 84th minute strike from the edge of the box opened the door for Sorloth to net late on.
The Norwegian forward grabbed Atletico a last-gasp victory at Barca’s Olympic stadium in December in La Liga and he was in the right place at the right time once more to finish from Samuel Lino’s cut-back.
“It was crazy, a lot of goals, we knew it wouldn’t be easy against one of the best teams in Europe, they’ve proved that,” Alvarez told Movistar.
“We did our work too though and there’s 90 minutes to go... we have to continue on this path.”
On Wednesday Real Madrid visit Real Sociedad in the other semifinal first leg.


Chelsea thrash Southampton, Villa beaten by Palace in race for Champions League

Chelsea thrash Southampton, Villa beaten by Palace in race for Champions League
Updated 26 February 2025
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Chelsea thrash Southampton, Villa beaten by Palace in race for Champions League

Chelsea thrash Southampton, Villa beaten by Palace in race for Champions League
  • The Blues duly delivered with three first-half goals through Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Levi Colwill for just a third league win 11 games

LONDON: Chelsea moved into the Premier League’s top four with a 4-0 demolition of hapless Southampton, but Aston Villa’s hopes of Champions League football next season diminished after a 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.
After a run of three consecutive defeats, Chelsea badly needed a response against bottom-of-the-table Saints, who are set for an immediate return to the Championship.
The Blues duly delivered with three first-half goals through Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Levi Colwill for just a third league win 11 games.
Before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, a small band of Chelsea fans gathered to protest against the club’s owners over the club’s form and discontent over ticket prices.
Once the action got underway, it was a much-needed comfortable evening for Enzo Maresca’s men which the Italian will hope can restore confidence among his squad.
Nkunku took his tally for the season to 14 but only three of those have come in the Premier League as he has often had to play reserve to the injured Nicolas Jackson.
The Frenchman stooped to head in a corner at the back post before teeing up Neto to blast home a second.
Colwill headed in Neto’s free-kick to make the points safe before the break.
Marc Cucurella rounded off the scoring with a calm finish from teenager Tyrique George’s cross.
Victory takes Chelsea two points above Manchester City into fourth.
Thanks to English clubs’ strong performance in European competition this season, a top-five finish is likely to be enough for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Villa had rejuvenated their hopes of a second consecutive season in Europe’s elite competition after beating Chelsea on Saturday.
But Unai Emery’s men have won just one of their last seven league games after a capitulation at Selhurst Park.
Ismaila Sarr’s first-half opener was canceled out early in the second period by Morgan Rogers.
Jean-Philippe Mateta quickly restored Palace’s advantage before Sarr and Eddie Nketiah maintained the Eagles fine form.
Oliver Glasner’s side have won seven of their last nine games to rise to 12th, just six points behind Villa in 10th.
Brighton won the battle of the south coast clubs with ambitions of European football next season, over Bournemouth 2-1.
Joao Pedro won and converted a penalty on 12 minutes to give the Seagulls the lead.
A wonder strike from Justin Kluivert levelled for the Cherries, but Danny Welbeck’s winner moved the sides level on points.
Bournemouth sit seventh on goal difference with Brighton in eighth, but now just one point behind fifth-placed City.
Wolves missed the chance to pull further clear of the relegation zone after a 2-1 home defeat to Fulham.
A fast start to both halves saw the visitors take the points as Ryan Sessegnon struck inside the first minute and Rodrigo Muniz got the winner two minutes into the second period.
Wolves remain five points above the bottom three.
League leaders Liverpool can take another step toward just their second title in 35 years when they host Newcastle on Wednesday.
Second faces third as Arsenal visit Nottingham Forest, while Tottenham host City.