Raul signs off as a winner as Cosmos win
NEW YORK • Former Real Madrid great Raul went into retirement in style on Sunday as his New York Cosmos beat the Ottawa Fury 3-2 to win the North American Soccer League title in his final match.
The 38-year-old played the full game, setting up the third goal of Gaston Cellerino's hat-trick with a delicate flick.
Raul began his career at Real Madrid in 1994 and spent 16 years with the Spanish side, winning six La Liga crowns, four Spanish Super Cups and three Champions League titles. He left in 2010 as Real's all-time top goal-scorer (323), but has since been overtaken by Cristiano Ronaldo.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Batsmen continue to call the shots at Waca
PERTH • Bat continued to dominate ball as Australia built a second-innings lead over New Zealand on day four of the second cricket Test at the Waca Ground yesterday.
After Ross Taylor hit a career-best 290, the highest score ever by a visiting batsman in Australia (a record that had stood for 112 years), to steer New Zealand to a first innings lead, Steve Smith and Adam Voges posted twin centuries to help the home side recover after a shaky start. At the close, Australia were 258 for two in their second innings, with Smith on 131 and Voges on 101, for an overall lead of 193.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Fifa bans officials from Nepal and Laos
ZURICH • World football body Fifa yesterday announced it had banned two officials from Nepal and Laos for taking cash during Fifa elections, extending moves to root out corruption.
Ganesh Thapa, president of the All-Nepal Football Association, was banned for 10 years and fined 20,000 Swiss francs (S$28,300), while Viphet Sihachakr, president of the Laotian Football Federation, received a two-year ban and 40,000 franc fine.
REUTERS
Park wins Ochoa Invitational
MEXICO CITY • South Korean golfer Park In Bee won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday, setting up a showdown with world No. 1 Lydia Ko in this week's LPGA Tour Championship.
She fired an eight-under 64 to reach a 18-under 270 total and finish three strokes ahead of playing partner Carlota Ciganda.
Park, the world No. 2, needed to finish eighth or better to remain in the Player of the Year chase. She is aiming to take top honours for the LPGA season and to do that she needs to regain the top ranking from Ko.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
