Sports

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — While they are fighting for survival in the English Premier League, Leeds, Leicester and Southampton are advancing in the FA Cup. Securing top-flight status remains the priority for all three but the cup is providing some welcome relief from their battles against relegation. Leeds won

PARIS (AP) — Second-place Lens has extended its unbeaten run to 10 games in the French league thanks to a late equalizer from new signing Adrien Thomasson in a 1-1 draw at Troyes. The attacking midfielder netted from close range in the 88th minute after good work from striker Wesley Said.

By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Pedri has scored to help Barcelona eke out a win 1-0 at Girona and increase its Spanish league lead. The Spain midfielder made his 100th club appearance at just 20 years old. Girona stymied the visitors until fellow substitute Jordi Alba found Pedri with a low

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has two major offensive players at his fingertips in receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The two are the first pair of Bengals wideouts to gain 1,000 yards in back-to-back season since Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2006 and 2007.

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports have selected Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller and Jenson Button will drive the special Garage 56 car that will race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Johnson has lobbied for the seat and Rockenfeller has done all

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Top-ranked Rory McIlroy and rival Patrick Reed are two shots off the lead at the halfway point of the Dubai Desert Classic. Richard Bland, Thomas Pieters and amateur Michael Thorbjornsen all reached 10-under overall at Emirates Golf Club for a share of the lead after two rounds. The weather-impacted

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — DeMeco Ryans might be in San Francisco, but he still has some influence in Philadelphia. He finished his player career there and four teammates who are still with the Eagles say they learned a lot from him. Ryans has helped put together the

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — Union Berlin fans brought fire to the city derby as their team closed the gap on Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to one point by beating Hertha Berlin 2-0. Bayern was later held 1-1 at home by Eintracht Frankfurt for its third consecutive draw. Goals either side

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer If Vegas oddsmakers are correct — and there’s a reason those casinos are huge and luxurious — then football fans are in for a treat this weekend. The NFL’s conference championship weekend is here: The Philadelphia Eagles will host the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC title while the

By PAT GRAHAM and EDDIE PELLS AP Sports Writers ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — There’s a legion of freestyle skiers and snowboarders at the action park who refuse to subscribe to the “spin to win” theory. It’s the idea that maxing out flips and twists is the only way for them to score big with the

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Leeds and Leicester avoided potential upsets to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup — though Premier League survival remains the priority for both clubs. Leeds won 3-1 against third-tier Accrington Stanley, while Leicester overcame fourth-tier Walsall 1-0. The wins provided a temporary

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer Georgia athletic department officials say the vehicle involved in a crash that killed a football player and employee on Jan. 15 was for recruiting activities, not personal use. That’s according to a statement from the athletic association. Two athletic department employees and two players were involved in the early-morning

TURIN, Italy (AP) — United States midfielder Weston McKennie has been left out of the Juventus squad for this weekend’s match amid a potential move to the English Premier League. McKennie has been strongly linked with a move to Leeds. The English club is coached by American Jesse Marsch. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says he

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy have been here before. Just not in the NFL. The two met in November 2019, when Hurts was the QB for Oklahoma and Purdy was the QB for Iowa State. In that game, Hurts passed for three touchdowns and ran

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — The question of if and how Russia competes at the Olympics hangs over the 2024 Paris Summer Games. Just as it has now for five straight Olympics during Thomas Bach’s leadership of the IOC. The Bach-led International Olympic Committee’s support this week for some Russians to