Straits Times Interactive - SPORT

Ronaldo picked despite injury

8 Nov 2009 23:02 GMT

LISBON (PORTUGAL) - CRISTIANO Ronaldo was included in Portugal's squad on Sunday for the two-legged World Cup playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina despite not having played in nearly a month due to an ankle injury.

The 24-year-old Real Madrid winger was selected in Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz's squad for Saturday's home match at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz. The second leg is at Zenica four days later.

Beckham may miss friendly

8 Nov 2009 22:54 GMT

LONDON - DAVID Beckham will miss England's friendly against Brazil next week if his MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy beats Chivas USA in the Western Conference semifinals.

Beckham was named in the England squad for Saturday's match against Brazil, but on the proviso that he would be spared international duty if the Galaxy beat Chivas USA on Sunday to reach the Western Conference final. The final will be played during the same weekend that England face Brazil in Qatar.

Murray wins Valencia title

8 Nov 2009 22:50 GMT

VALENCIA (Spain) - BRITISH top seed Andy Murray defeated Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Valencia ATP title and capture his sixth trophy of the season.

The world number four, playing his first tournament following a six-week break to rest a wrist injury, took just 69 minutes to see off the unseeded Russian and wrap-up the 14th title of his career.

Terry puts Chelsea on track

8 Nov 2009 22:34 GMT

LONDON - CHELSEA'S chances of reclaiming the Premier League title were given a huge shot in the arm on Sunday as a 1-0 win over Manchester United sent Carlo Ancelotti's side five points clear at the top.

Chelsea captain John Terry was credited with applying the decisive blow with a header from Frank Lampard's 76th-minute free-kick, although Nicolas Anelka also celebrated as if he had got the final touch.

Federer, Nadal to face-off

8 Nov 2009 22:04 GMT

PARIS - TOP two seeds Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are on course for a first showdown since May in the Paris Masters which started on Sunday.

The last time their rivalry was renewed on the court was when Federer defeated Nadal in the final of the Madrid Masters in May, after the Spaniard had been exhausted by his marathon semi-final win over Novak Djokovic. Since then their paths have not crossed.