HOUSTON: New York catcher Brian McCann hit a grand slam as the Yankees won 9-6 at Houston on Saturday in a see-sawing contest that needed two surges by the visitors to win.
The victory kept the Yankees within half a game of the lead in the closely fought American League East division, where Toronto — which suffered a home shutout defeat at the hands of Texas — is in fourth place but only two games off the top.
The overall AL leader Kansas City won narrowly at Oakland while the National League’s top team, St. Louis, comfortably beat the Chicago Cubs to become the first team in the majors to reach 50 wins.
New York jumped ahead early at Houston, with McCann’s four-run shot coming in the first inning. A two-run homer by Chris Young off Brett Oberholtzer — later ejected for hitting Alex Rodriguez with a pitch — put the Yankees up 6-0.
The AL West-leading Astros fought back and tied the game in the fifth inning when rookie Carlos Correa hit a two-run homer, and Jose Altuve followed in the next at-bat with a long shot of his own.
The Yankees went ahead for good when Mark Teixeira hit a two-run double in the eighth.
Texas’ Yovani Gallardo extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 23 innings by pitching into the ninth inning and guiding the Rangers to a 4-0 win at Toronto.
Gallardo (7-6) fell two-outs shy of his first shutout and first complete game since 2011 but won his fourth straight decision and ended Texas’ six-game losing skid.
Toronto starter Matt Boyd made his major league debut and gave up three homers.
Kansas City’s Chris Young bounced back from his worst start of the season to pitch six innings and guide the Royals to a 3-2 victory at Oakland.
Young (7-3) allowed four hits and one walk.
Kendrys Morales hit a two-run single in the sixth that erased a 2-1 deficit and lifted the Royals to their fourth win from five games on this road trip.
St. Louis’ Michael Wacha pitched six solid innings to steer the Cardinals past the Cubs 8-1.
Wacha (10-3) allowed just one run in a good response to his previous start when he gave up five runs against Philadelphia.
Jason Heyward reached base four times in St. Louis’ fifth straight victory.
Pittsburgh won 8-4 against out-of-touch Atlanta but lost star center fielder Andrew McCutchen to injury after he was hit on the left elbow by a pitch.
McCutchen took a fastball from Julio Teheran (5-4). X-rays were negative and the 2013 NL MVP will be reevaluated on Sunday.
Starling Marte got three hits and scored three times for the Pirates, who scored five runs in the first inning and sent the Braves to their fifth successive loss.
Tampa Bay kept just ahead of the Yankees in the AL East by defeating Boston 4-1.
Rays starter Matt Andriese (3-2) retired his first 11 batters and struck out five in a career-high six innings, combining with three relievers to limit the Red Sox to only three hits.
Jake Elmore hit a two-run homer for Tampa Bay.
San Francisco’s Buster Posey drove in two runs for the Giants, who rallied to beat Colorado 7-5.
Andrew Susac had a three-run double in the seventh inning off Rafael Betancourt (2-3).
Colorado’s Nolan Arenado extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI double for the Rockies, who had won five of six.
Miami’s Tom Koehler pitched seven innings to direct the Marlins to a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Seattle’s Robinson Cano was hit in the head by a stray ball during an inter-innings warm-up and was forced out of the game as the Mariners lost 4-2 against the Los Angeles Angels.
San Diego’s Justin Upton hit a two-run homer as the Padres beat Arizona 7-2 and won consecutive games for the first time in three weeks.
Minnesota’s Torii Hunter homered twice and doubled to lead the Twins past Milwaukee 5-2.
The game between the New York Mets and Cincinnati was suspended at 1-1 after six innings due to showers and will be completed on Sunday, while three other games did not start due to rain: Detroit at the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore at Cleveland and Philadelphia at Washington.Mc
McCann slam helps Yankees win see-sawing contest at Astros
McCann slam helps Yankees win see-sawing contest at Astros
Beterbiev-Bivol rematch date announced in ‘one of the greatest cards ever’
RIYADH: Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will meet in Riyadh for the much anticipated rematch for the undisputed world light heavyweight crown on Feb. 22, organizers announced early Wednesday.
Beterbiev was victorious against Bivol by majority decision in October at IV Crown Showdown in the Saudi capital.
Turki Alalshikh, the head of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, announced the fights and said the event has “one of the greatest cards ever”.
The Riyadh Season event, dubbed “The Last Crescendo” features a stacked card of championship fights including a matchup between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker for the IBF heavyweight title.
The other under card clashes include:
Shakur Stevenson v Floyd Schofield
Carlos Adams v Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz Jr v Israil Madrimov
Joshua Bautsi v Callum Smith
Zhilei Zhang v Agit Kabayel
No Ronaldo, no points: Al-Nassr suffer last-minute loss
- Al-Sadd claim victory with penalty
RIYADH: A last-minute penalty gave Al-Sadd a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr to end the unbeaten record of the Saudi Arabian club in the AFC Champions League Elite.
The one positive, on a night when the Yellows did not impress against the Qataris, is that they had already secured a place in the round of 16 and are still in third.
In the absence of the rested Cristiano Ronaldo, who was watching from the sidelines, Talisca did his best to step up early on. The Brazilian fired an early shot wide and came closer after 17 minutes when he hit a post. He should have scored from close range as he was found by a smart Sadio Mane pass but while Meshaal Barsham was beaten, Talisca’s shot came back off the woodwork.
That near miss came just after Al-Sadd should have taken the lead. Marcelo Brozovic played a blind pass across the face of the penalty area and right into the path of Cristo Gonzalez. The Spaniard was completely unmarked on the edge of the area but his low shot was saved by Bento.
Mane should have broken the deadlock in the 24th minute. The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward got on the end of a Sultan Al-Ghannam cross that was swinging into the area from the right, but his diving header at the far post went just wide. So too did a low Angelo shot from outside the box that had Barsham scrambling to get down.
Eight minutes after the restart, Al-Sadd took the lead. Akram Afif ran onto a through pass from Gonzalez, outpaced Mohammed Al-Fatil and then, from just inside the area, calmly rolled the ball past the diving Bento and into the far corner.
Al-Nassr came back at the hosts with Aymeric Laporte and Wesley having attempts on goal, and with 19 minutes remaining Mane went even closer by hitting the post.
Then, with 10 minutes left, Al-Nassr got back on level terms. It may have been an own goal but much of the credit must go to Wesley who got to the left byline to fire over a low cross that was turned in from close range by Romain Saiss.
But Al-Sadd then won it. Adam Ounas stroked home from the penalty spot in the 99th minute after Al-Fatil had brought down Afif. It sent the Qatari club into the round of 16.
Earlier in the day, two penalties from Ivan Toney gave group leaders Al-Ahli a 2-2 draw at home to Esteghlal as Pitso Mosimane returned to Jeddah after being dismissed in 2023, and became the first coach to take some reward from his former club in the tournament.
Twice Al-Ahli had to come back from behind. The Iranians took the lead three minutes before the break, Raphael Silva volleying home past Edouard Mendy after a free-kick was floated into the area by Jaloliddin Masharipov.
At the end of the half Riyad Mahrez hit the bar, but there was still time before the interval for Al-Ahli to draw level. Didier Ndong brought down Fahad Al-Rashidi and Toney stepped up to make no mistake.
Mohammad Hossein Eslami put the Tehran giants back in front seven minutes into the second half with a spectacular volley from the edge of the area.
But Esteghlal’s hopes for a famous win were dealt a blow nine minutes from time when Eslami received a red card.
Toney scored from the spot again with four minutes remaining, his fourth in the space of a week, and Al-Ahli thought they had won it in added time when Firas Al-Buraikan netted but it was ruled out by VAR. The Greens, though, stay top of the group.
Saudi Pro League reveals vision for football growth, global impact
- Speakers at World Football Summit highlight rapid progress in both men’s and women’s games in the Kingdom
- Potential for investment in Saudi football is huge, Al-Hilal head coach Jose Herrera tells Riyadh forum
RIYADH: At the World Football Summit in Riyadh, leaders from the Saudi Pro League gathered to discuss the league’s rapid evolution and its broader vision for football in the Kingdom.
SPL CEO Omar Mugharbe, along with Monika Staab, women’s football technical director for the South Asian Football Federation, and Jose Herrera, head coach of Al-Hilal, shared insights on the league’s transformation, its growing appeal to global audiences, and plans for long-term development in both men’s and women’s football.
“I think it’s important that we continue to open our doors to welcome people to experience things firsthand,” Mugharbe said during a panel titled “Inside the Revolution: unveiling SPL’s transformation,” emphasizing the league’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity.
“The work that is happening across the board when it comes to support, transformation, and development is happening not only with the league but … our approach to transformation is really looking at every single aspect of the game. Once you come and see and experience what’s really happening on the ground, you’ll definitely (have) a completely different opinion and will be a believer,” he said.
Mugharbe’s comments reflect the sweeping changes happening across the league, from improving the standard of football to creating a more open, inviting environment for both fans and international stakeholders.
“Global audiences are starting to see a lot of attraction in terms of media looking at the stadiums,” he added. “I would definitely want to share and support our love for the game, how competitive our league is, and how deeply ingrained football is within our society. Football is definitely a key.”
The discussion then shifted to women’s football, with Staab offering her perspective on the growth of the women’s game in Saudi Arabia in a panel discussion titled “Unraveling the opportunities for women’s football: the need to better understand ground reality for long-term impact.”
“When I arrived here, I couldn’t believe what I saw,” Staab said, reflecting on the enthusiasm and commitment of young female players in the Kingdom.
“These girls should have their opportunity to play football. They love the game. Saudi has just started, and we are doing grassroots programs. And this is important.”
Drawing a striking comparison with the history of women’s football in Germany, Staab noted how quickly Saudi Arabia is advancing. “It took us 40 years in Germany before this happened, and only three years here in Saudi Arabia,” she said, highlighting the impressive progress the country has made in such a short time.
Herrera spoke about the potential for investment in Saudi football, particularly as the league continues to grow.
“If you are an investor and want to invest, do it here. This is the right place,” he said. “We are a league, we are a country that is growing rapidly. My players and all players here have the passion and commitment to the game.”
As the panelists highlighted at the Riyadh summit, the sport is changing rapidly in Saudi Arabia, with a commitment to both domestic growth and global expansion. The country’s infrastructure, investment opportunities, and development of both men’s and women’s football represent a new chapter in its footballing history.
With a strategic vision that focuses on grassroots development, inclusivity, and international collaboration, the SPL is well on its way to becoming a global force in the sport. As Mugharbe, Staab, and Herrera emphasized, the future of football in Saudi Arabia is not just about expanding a league, but also building a sustainable and thriving “football ecosystem” that can compete on the world stage.
World Football Summit in Riyadh aims to shape future of game regionally
- Summit comes ahead of FIFA’s official announcement of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, expected on Dec. 11
- Jan Alessie: WFS Asia 2024 represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of football business in the GCC region
RIYADH: The World Football Summit kicked off on Monday in Riyadh, promising to be a key gathering for shaping the future of football in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and beyond.
Running from Dec. 2-3 with the participation of leading figures from the football world, the summit comes ahead of FIFA’s official announcement of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 World Cup, expected on Dec. 11.
The WFS Asia 2024 in Riyadh follows on from the first WFS held last year in Jeddah, which saw two days of discussions, strategic networking, and the acceleration of business and sports opportunities.
This year’s summit is expected to welcome more than 2,000 attendees, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Participants will discuss various topics related to football development, including the integration of football technology and innovation in fan engagement, the development of sports tourism and sustainability in football, the growth of women’s football, and youth development programs.
The lineup of industry leaders taking part includes Hammad Albalawi, the Saudi FIFA World Cup 2034 bid head; Omar Mugharbel, Saudi Pro League CEO; Mauricio Macri, former Argentine president and FIFA executive chairman; Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al-Hilal; Monika Staab, SAFF women’s football technical director; James Bisgrove, CEO of Al-Qadsia Club; La Liga President Javier Tebas; and Juventus CMO Mike Armstrong.
Other representatives from premier football organizations include UEFA, the Saudi Pro League, Serie A, and clubs such as Manchester United and Al-Nassr, who will also contribute to discussions that will take place over the two-days.
“WFS Asia 2024 represents a crucial milestone in the evolution of football business in the GCC region,” said Jan Alessie, co-founder and director at World Football Summit.
“By bringing together the industry’s most influential voices in Riyadh, we are not just hosting an event — we are creating a platform that will accelerate the next chapter of football’s growth. The caliber of participants and the depth of discussions planned reflect our commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and partnerships that will impact the entire football world.”
SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal welcomed the guests to the conference, highlighting the significant progress the Kingdom is experiencing in hosting global sports events, supported by the Saudi leadership’s backing of the sports sector along with the Ministry of Sports.
He said that the WFS reflects the SAFF’s ongoing efforts to contribute to the advancement of football-related businesses that serve the global standing of Saudi football.
The summit’s agenda features panels such as “Saudi Arabia’s growing importance in World Football” and “One nation, one dream: The FIFA World Cup 2034 bid journey to success.”
Notably, the Saudi bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 has received a rating of 419.8 out of 500, the highest technical rating ever given to a file submitted to host the event, the federation said.
FIFA’s announcement came ahead of the federation’s general assembly on Dec. 11 to decide which countries would host the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, the Saudi Press Agency reported early on Saturday.
On July 29, a Saudi delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, minister of sport and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Al-Misehal officially submitted the Kingdom’s bid book to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 at a ceremony hosted in Paris, France.
Last October, a FIFA delegation arrived in the Kingdom to review the details of the bid. As proposed, 48 teams will be participating at venues in one country for the first time in history.
Australia women, Fiji men crowned champions at Dubai 7s
- Fiji beat Spain 19-5 to lift the men’s trophy and claim their first SVNS tournament victory since 2022
- Australia secured a fifth successive women’s tournament victory in Dubai but they had to work hard for it in an epic final against Olympic champions New Zealand
DUBAI: The Emirates Dubai 7s concluded on Sunday with wins from the Fiji men’s team and Australia’s women’s side in the first leg of the HSBC SVNS 2025 Series.
Fiji beat Spain 19-5 to lift the men’s trophy and claim their first SVNS tournament victory since 2022, and their first in Dubai since 2016. Argentina claimed the men’s bronze medal with a convincing 14-0 win over New Zealand.
Australia secured a fifth successive women’s tournament victory in Dubai but they had to work hard for it in an epic final against Olympic champions New Zealand which finished 28-24. France overcame Great Britain 15-12 to take home the women’s bronze medals.
The weekend also featured a three-day lineup of artists and DJs performing across the event’s three stages.
Alongside the HSBC SVNS action, the festival attracted teams from around the world to compete in invitational rugby, netball, cricket, padel tennis and fitness tournaments. This year saw the event’s biggest number of teams yet competing for the sought-after Dubai 7s trophies.
The Emirates Dubai 7s’ dedicated cricket zone was headed by a lineup of cricket ambassadors including former Indian international Dinesh Karthik and English players Tom Hartley and Georgia Elwiss, while global cricket supporter groups Bharat Army and Barmy Army flew to Dubai to compete in the event’s Open Competitive cricket tournament.
Mathew Tait, festival director of Emirates Dubai 7s, said: “This weekend has been our biggest Dubai 7s to date. The double-header music schedule, combined with our expansive F&B offering, thrilling international rugby and entertainment to suit all ages reinforces our reputation as the best weekend of the year for UAE residents of all ages.”
