Sports

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — The president of the soccer federation of men’s World Cup champion France says he is not opposed to FIFA’s push to play the tournament every two years. Noël Le Graët’s comment to French sports daily L’Equipe is a significant crack in the unity of 55-nation European

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has named two debutants in his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Gibraltar as he seeks to strengthen the team’s flanks and its last line of defense. Van Gaal says he named in-form Club Brugge forward Noa Lang to his 26-man squad because he is

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — A team doctor who caused 10 Thailand weightlifters including Youth Olympics athletes to test positive for anabolic steroids has been banned for life. Ning Liu gave or used a pain-relieving gel laced with steroids to lifters before or during the world championships and Buenos Aires Youth Olympics in 2018. The International

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — The first soccer game involving an Israeli team at the stadium built for the 1936 Olympics hosted by Nazi Germany was marred by antisemitic abuse aimed at the visiting team’s fans. Union Berlin says it condemns the antisemitic attacks against Maccabi Haifa supporters during the teams’

By The Associated Press Forwards Abdiel Arroyo of Maccabi Petah Tikva, Gabriel Torres of Costa Rica’s Alajuelense, Freddy Góndola of Venezuela’s Táchira and Ismael Díaz of Tauro were among 27 players announced for Panama’s World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador, the United States and Canada. Defender Harold Cummings of Bolivia’s Always Ready and midfielders Armando

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Mongolia-born Hakuho was famous for his diligent training that led him to be the sumo grand champion — or Yokozuna — with victories in a record 45 tournaments. He achieved 1,187 wins, an all-time record in sumo. But at 36 he has retired. Hakuho had a right-knee

By The Associated Press Alajuense midfielder Johan Venegas and Herediano forward José Guillermo Ortiz were among five additions to Costa Rica’s roster for World Cup qualifiers against Honduras, El Salvador and the United States. Herediano midfielder Orlando Galo, Muncipal Grecia midfielder Youstin Salas and Columbus Crew winger Luis Díaz also were on the 26-man roster

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drake London has been the nation’s most productive receiver in the first month of the college football season, which means the Southern California star is getting hit a whole lot more than the average wideout. But there’s nothing average about London, the 6-foot-5 former Trojans

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis is attracting more and more attention. Davis is a 6-foot-6, 340-pound senior who can occupy two or even three offensive linemen and has the speed to get up field and pressure quarterbacks. Davis has drawn raves this season for his size and mobility for

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — If it wasn’t obvious already, Justin Tucker’s 66-yard field goal to beat Detroit last weekend solidified the Baltimore kicker’s status as a legitimate NFL star. Kickers don’t often reach that level of prominence, but the Ravens have understood for a while just how valuable

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars jumped out to a surprising 14-0 lead in the first half and had the chance to add to it. But the Cincinnati Bengals stopped quarterback Trevor Lawrence on fourth-and-goal inside the 1 late in the first half in what ended up being a

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Baseball Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — LaMonte Wade Jr. singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants held their two-game lead in the NL West by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4. The Giants posted their 105th victory, one off the franchise record

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts and Corey Seager homered back-to-back in the first inning, Justin Turner and AJ Pollock did the same in the fourth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with an 8-3 victory. The defending World Series champions

By DANNY WEBSTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Diana Taurasi scored a playoff career-high 37 points and the Phoenix Mercury overwhelmed the Las Vegas Aces 117-91 on Thursday night to even the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series at a game apiece. Taurasi, the 39-year-old guard who has been dealing with a left ankle injury, was

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Conforto hit a pair of run-scoring singles, doubled and made a shoestring catch in what might have been his final game at Citi Field for the Mets, and New York routed the Miami Marlins 12-3. Pete Alonso homered twice for the Mets, raising his

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — Evan McPherson kicked a 35-yard field goal as time ran out to give the Cincinnati Bengals a 24-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, spoiling Urban Meyer’s Ohio return. Joe Burrow passed for 348 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bengals (3-1) overcome

By DAVID SMALE Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shane Bieber pitched three effective innings, Bradley Zimmer drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 to avoid a three-game sweep. Royals star Salvador Perez, who left Wednesday’s game after spraining his right ankle, started and hit a double.