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Sung Kang made the most of a morning re-start, and now he's the man to beat heading into the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson.
Kang was trailing Matt Every by a shot with nine holes to go in the third round when play resumed Sunday morning at Trinity Forest, but he birdied three of his first five holes en route to a 3-under 68. It moved the 31-year-old to 19 under for the week, three clear of Every and five ahead of third place as he looks to win for the first time on the PGA Tour.
Kang has won four times before in Korea and has a pair of top-10 finishes on Tour this season, highlighted by a T-6 finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational that also earned him a spot in The Open. He moved to the top of the leaderboard in Dallas with a 10-under 61 in the second round that tied the course record.
Every was the overnight leader but struggled after third-round play resumed, carding four straight bogeys on Nos. 12-15, and ultimately signed for a 4-under 67 that left him at 16 under. He is in search of his third career win and first since Bay Hill in 2015.
Scott Piercy moved into a tie for third thanks to a third-round 63, where he is joined by world No. 3 Brooks Koepka. Koepka, who is the only player in the field ranked inside the top 10 in the world, has carded three straight rounds of 68 or better and trails Kang by five shots. Jordan Spieth will start the final round in a tie for 12th at 11 under, eight shots off the lead after a third-round 67.
The tournament winner will receive the final spot in next week's PGA Championship if not otherwise exempt. Kang is already in the field for Bethpage, as are Piercy and the defending champ Koepka, while Every would need to win to qualify for his first major since the 2015 PGA at Whistling Straits.
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Real Madrid slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Real Sociedad on Sunday as Zinedine Zidane's men confirmed third position in La Liga with their 11th loss of the campaign.
Zidane returned as manager in March after a nightmare run of form that resulted in Madrid's title challenge falling away as well as elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Ajax. But Sunday's defeat was the club's third in Zidane's second spell as manager, with the club having one more match to play, at home to Real Betis, in what has been a testing season.
Brahim Diaz gave Madrid the perfect start with a sensational solo strike on six minutes but Mikel Merino equalised with a left-footed effort that arrowed into the net.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Jesus Vallejo was sent off for handling the ball on the goal line, but Thibaut Courtois saved the resulting penalty from Willian Jose.
Madrid fell behind on 57 minutes when Joseba Zaldua headed home as Courtois lost his footing and Ander Barrenetxea made it 3-1 on 67 minutes.
Madrid started their penultimate match of the season off the back of a 3-2 win over Villarreal last time out and they were soon ahead thanks to former Manchester City man Diaz. After some neat skill down the left, Diaz cut in and finished superbly from an acute angle to put Madrid in front.
Sociedad were level on 25 minutes when Willian Jose found Merino, and he drove his effort past Courtois to peg Madrid back, before Zidane's side went down to 10 men. Willian Jose met Mikel Oyarzabal's pass and looked certain to make it 2-1, but Vallejo blocked his effort on the line.
Replays showed Vallejo handled the ball and the referee pointed to the spot before brandishing a red card but Sociedad could not capitalise. Willian Jose blasted the ball but Courtois guessed the right way and saved his spot kick.
Madrid were stretched with a man light in the second half and the home side went in search of a second, with Igor Zubeldia forcing Courtois into a smart stop six minutes after the re-start. Aihen Munoz was next to go close, but his effort whistled past the post.
Zidane responded by taking off Isco for Luka Modric but soon after the change, his side fell behind. Zaldua planted a header into the corner but it should have been routine for Courtois, who slipped at the crucial moment and saw the ball bounce in.
Courtois was again at fault when Barrenetxea's effort squirmed underneath his grasp to deepen the gloom on Zidane's men.
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Barcelona bounced back from a midweek Champions League loss to Liverpool with a 2-0 win against Getafe at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Arturo Vidal opened the scoring for the hosts before half-time, knocking home a rebound from a Gerard Pique header to give Barcelona a 1-0 lead at the break.
Dakonam Djene's own goal for the visitors padded the lead for La Liga champions Barcelona, who were playing their last home match of the season, while Getafe will have all to play for in the final weekend of the season to hold on to the final UCL spot ahead of Valencia.
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MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted at major changes over the summer, saying executive vice chairman Ed Woodward and the club's owners know the extent of the rebuild required at Old Trafford.
United ended the season 32 points behind champions Manchester City after signing off with a dismal 2-0 home defeat to relegated Cardiff.
It leaves Solskjaer with a mountain to climb to get the club back to competing for major honours, and he said the owners and the board knew the work that needed to be done.
"I've had loads of conversations and they've been up front and honest -- we know where we are," he said.
"The end of the season makes it clearer than when we had that great run of form. We played some great football at times, and towards the end we've seen that exceptional efficiency we had didn't last and they know we're in for a rebuild."
Solskjaer started his reign with 14 wins from 17 games in all competitions but ended the campaign with two wins from the final 12 matches.
United have not won for a month and have taken just eight points from the final 27 available to fall out of the race for the top four, eventually finishing sixth.
"We've been poor," Solskjaer said. "We've hit a brick wall towards the end of the season. It's very disappointing, and a big plus is that the season is over.
"We are too far behind where we want to be. We're five or six [points] behind third, fourth and fifth, and that's who we need to challenge next year."
Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia ended their United careers against Cardiff, while there are doubts over the futures of Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, Juan Mata, Eric Bailly, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba.
Solskjaer is hopeful of finalising his squad before the players return to Carrington on July 1 but, following the defeat to Cardiff, the 46-year-old refused to go into specifics about what his rebuild could look like.
"It's going to be a very important preseason for us," he said. "David [De Gea] has got one year left and we want to extend with him and we're in talks, and let's hope it will get sorted.
"Alexis has a contract with us. I'm not going to speak about individuals."
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Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 on the final day but, despite finishing with 97 points, were denied a first league title since 1990 as Manchester City also won 4-1 against Brighton.
Sadio Mane scored in the first half to give Liverpool hope, but despite going a goal down, City came back to claim back-to-back titles for the first time in England since Man United did it in 2009.
"As long as City are around, with the quality and financial power, it's not easy that any other team will pass them. That is clear," Jurgen Klopp said.
"We have to be very close to perfection to win the Premier League, I think this is the case. The season is a very long, hard one. You have to deal with setbacks.
"We were always competitive. City got the points they have because we were there. They have 198 points in two years, that's special. We made such big steps. It's only the first step."
Fresh off their remarkable Champions League comeback against Barcelona in midweek, Liverpool knew they needed to win to stand any chance of lifting the title and Mohamed Salah was back in the XI again after missing out through injury. Champions League hero Divock Origi also kept his place with Roberto Firmino still not fit to play.
Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges but Liverpool took the lead on 17 minutes as Trent Alexander-Arnold found space to cross low from the right and the ball found Mane unmarked in the box, who hammered it home.
Controlling possession, Liverpool almost had a second as Andrew Robertson (fit again after being injured against Barcelona) lined up a powerful shot that was well blocked by goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Fans were celebrating in the Anfield stands as news filtered through of a goal from Brighton, but it was a false alarm. Then, incredibly, a few minutes later Glenn Murray scored. But, inside 83 seconds, Sergio Aguero levelled for City to return things to how they were.
Back in Liverpool, Salah blasted a shot over the bar and Diogo Jota wasted a good chance for Wolves after getting in behind the defence and failing to pick out a teammate with his cross.
Since scoring, the Reds looked nervous and those nerves were felt in the crowd as news came through of Aymeric Laporte's goal to put Man City 2-1 up.
Things almost went from bad to worse before half-time as a flowing break from Wolves saw Matthew Doherty slid through on the right, but his looped shot deflected off the top of the bar with Alisson beaten.
Early in the second half, Alexander-Arnold tried a speculative effort from a free kick that hit the side netting and Ryan Bennett was booked for hacking down Mane on the break.
Doherty again found space down the right after a fine pass, but his cross found nobody in the box and Joel Matip was there to block a long shot from Jonny. Raul Jiminez then hammered a shot well wide.
Origi sent Mane away and the Senegal winger's ball across was deflected back into the striker's path, but he shot over the bar after turning well. It was his last action of the game though, as James Milner replaced him.
On 63 minutes, the crowd fell silent again as Riyad Mahrez made it 3-1 to Man City, leaving Liverpool needing a miracle. Then Jota was sent through but Alisson did well to come out and stop him before he could get a meaningful shot on goal.
As 71 minutes ticked by, Jota's point blank header was saved by Alisson and City made it 4-1 on the south coast through Ilkay Gundogan -- virtually assuring themselves of the title. Georginio Wijnaldum appeared at the back post to almost get another for Liverpool but the atmosphere in the stadium mirrored those of the players.
Liverpool fans were given something else to cheer as Alexander-Arnold whipped in another fine cross for Mane to head his second goal and make the result more comfortable. Then Premier League Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk was denied by the crossbar.
But it was the result in Brighton that mattered and Liverpool missed out on the title by a single point. Though of course they do have a Champions League final on June 1 to play.
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Manchester City retained the Premier League after surviving a scare on the final day of the season to eventually see off Brighton and beat Liverpool to the title.
For 21 minutes, Liverpool were champions on the final day as they led Wolves with Manchester City falling behind at the Amex, but Pep Guardiola's men found their stride to finish on 98 points -- one ahead of their nearest challengers. Liverpool's 97 points is the highest total amassed by a runner-up in English top flight history.
"Back to back, it was the hardest and most satisfying ever. Liverpool were exceptional this year. I don't mean to rub it in -- they didn't deserve to lose," Vincent Kompany said.
"But we played against such a good team all season and until now we were able to stay in front."
"It means a lot. We have to say congratulations to Liverpool as well. They helped us to push on. It's been an incredible season for us," Guardiola said.
"I think last season, Ciy raised the standard higher. To win the title, we needed 14 wins in a row and couldn't drop points. So, it's incredible to do it after 100 points (last season). Liverpool helped us.
"It was the toughest title win in all my career so far."
Glenn Murray gave Brighton a shock lead on 26 minutes, his clever flick from a corner sending Liverpool fans at Anfield into delirium, but City soon responded.
First, Sergio Aguero struck through Mat Ryan's legs after a fine touch from David Silva two minutes after City fell behind and then Aymeric Laporte headed unmarked from a corner on 38 minutes to make it 2-1.
Riyad Mahrez, making a rare start, finished excellently just after the hour mark and Ilkay Gundogan's majestic free kick put City further in control as their fans celebrated another success.
City were comfortable in the second half as the goals flowed, killing off any lingering Liverpool hope and making it the first time a team has retained the league since Manchester United in 2009.
With the title destiny in their hands before kick-off, City started tentatively with Brighton bright and posing problems on the counter attack.
Bernardo Silva had a good chance to settle the nerves early on but he was blocked in the area as he burst through on goal.
City were sloppy in patches and fell behind when Murray got ahead of his marker to beat Ederson and put Brighton 1-0 up. It sparked joyous scenes at Anfield as Liverpool were top as it stood, but City hit back.
Aguero got City back on level terms with a fine finish past Ryan and then Laporte's header put Guardiola's men in front before the break.
Mahrez then jinked his way through and finished with a brilliant right-footed shot into the top corner to make it 3-1 to the visitors. Lewis Dunk was turned inside out by Mahrez, whose effort was met with exuberant celebrations on the City bench.
Gundogan put the finishing touches on a fine win and another Premier League title when he hit a sublime free kick 18 minutes from time as City finally saw off a spirited title challenge from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, who beat Wolves 2-0.
"I am delighted. This is why I came to the club -- to win trophies. The mentality is the best here -- no matter what game it is, it's all about winning," Raheem Sterling said.
"Players challenge each other. Nobody is comfortable here. It's been a lovely season, I'm happy to have a decent season."
Kompany added: "I had no interest in what Liverpool were doing all season. If anyone wanted to try and figure out permutations or see what they were doing I would have lost my head and lost my mind.
"We didn't come this far having to worry about someone else. We played Brighton and we knew we could beat them playing our way and that's what we needed. I'm so happy that we could go behind and come back with the big players who make the difference in big games."
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ICC satisfied England did not tamper with ball against Pakistan
Published in
Cricket
Sunday, 12 May 2019 07:48
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The ICC are satisfied England did not tamper with the ball in their second ODI against Pakistan amid a swirl of social media speculation.
Unverified footage from Saturday's match, which England won by 12 runs having scored 373 for 3 and managed to contain Pakistan to 361 for 7, highlighted England pace bowler Liam Plunkett moving fingers over the ball whilst preparing to run in and vision of the ball with one side looking extremely rough.
The ICC is believed to have seen the video and spoken to Plunkett, who alerted them to the footage, and are not concerned that anything untoward occurred.
"The ICC is aware of the unverified video that is currently circulating on social media," the ICC said in a statement on Sunday. "The match officials are comfortable that there was no attempt to change the condition of the ball or any evidence of this on the over by over examinations of the ball throughout the game."
The video does not show any evidence of wrongdoing by Plunkett or any other player and the condition of the ball, if accurately depicted, would appear to be consistent with one bashed around during such a high-scoring game. The ball used in the Royal London Cup semi-final between Hampshire and Lancashire on the same Ageas Bowl pitch the following day did not look dis-similar after 44 overs and 230 runs being scored.
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Aliza Riaz stars as series decider ends in high-scoring tie
Published in
Cricket
Sunday, 12 May 2019 10:06
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South Africa women 265 for 6 (Luus 80, Lee 57, Wolvaardt 56, Riaz 2-49) tied with Pakistan women 265 for 9 (Javeria 74, Riaz 71, Klaas 3-55, Kapp 2-57)
The final match of the series not only became a high-scoring nail-biter, but also ended in a result that would please the visiting Pakistan side: a tie.
Asked to bat in Benoni, South Africa rode on half-centuries by openers Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt and an 84-ball 80 from captain and No. 4 Sune Luus to put up 265 for 6. Pakistan's chase looked dead in the water when Javeria Khan was dismissed for 74 to leave them at 165 for 6 after 37 overs. But Aliya Riaz fought with her career-best 82-ball 71, and Nashra Sandhu hit a six in the last over to ensure her team got out of the contest with honours shared.
When Riaz walked out to join Javeria, Pakistan were 91 for 4, with Nahida Khan, Sidra Ameen, Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar all dismissed, and South Africa on top.
Riaz is an allrounder, but an ODI average of 12.88 before this game wouldn't have given Javeria - or their team - too much confidence. But it was to be Riaz's day. She had earlier been Pakistan's best bowler with 2 for 49, and turned it on with the bat, first adding 74 with Javeria - her contribution only 25 - and then pretty much bossing the remainder of the chase. She scored 46 of the 84 runs scored between Javeria's dismissal and her own, in the 48th over with Pakistan needed 17 from 14.
Shabnim Ismail conceded just four off the penultimate over before Sandhu slammed a six off the penultimate ball and sealed the tie with a single off the last ball.
For South Africa, Masabata Klaas and Marizanne Kapp, who finished with 3 for 55 and 2 for 57 respectively, struck at key moments to almost always keep their team slightly ahead. The point from the game was a big one for Pakistan, who had won the first game of the series after bowling South Africa out for just 63, as it took them above New Zealand to fifth spot on the ICC Women's Championship table, just below South Africa, who have 16 points, both teams having played 15 games.
Earlier, Lee, (57 off 61), and Wolvaardt (56 off 84) gave South Africa strong start. The two added 75 for the first wicket before the aggressive Lee was caught behind off Riyaz, and after Andrie Steyn's third failure in the series, Wolvaardt and Luus took them to 150 midway through the 35th over before Wolvaardt was dismissed.
Luus was in charge after that, and with Chloe Tryon scoring a quick 15-ball 28, they put up a big total on the board. Another day, it might have been enough to stop Pakistan short, but Riaz, Javeria and Sandhu made sure it didn't happen.
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No Lord's final for Hales as Nottinghamshire fall to Somerset at semi-final hurdle
Published in
Cricket
Sunday, 12 May 2019 10:56
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Somerset 337 (Trego 73, Azhar 72, Banton 59) beat Nottinghamshire 222 (Slater 58, Hales 54) by 115 runs
There will be no Lord's final for Alex Hales, not that even the most ardent county cricket follower would claim that was adequate compensation for missing out on a place in England's World Cup campaign. Instead, Hales was part of a Nottinghamshire side shouldered aside by Somerset in an emphatic manner that will bring delight in the south-west.
Somerset have reached Lord's the hard way. Since finishing third in South Group courtesy of a must-win floodlit tie against Surrey at Taunton on Tuesday night, they have seen off Worcestershire in the play-offs by 147 runs and now Nottinghamshire, this time by a margin of 115.
Hales' dismissal for 54, as he fell to his favoured square cut, was the fourth Nottinghamshire wicket to fall, on 135, in a sequence of four wickets for 25 in 45 balls which changed the complexion of the match. Craig Overton ran jubilantly into the off side, pursued by the rest of the Somerset team, the importance of the wicket apparent. Sometimes you don't have to just take a wicket, you have to kill a suspicion that fate is not on your side.
Somerset now contest the final of the last 50-over competition that will actually mean something and it is good that a county which still treasures the county game will be represented. In 2020, it will be denuded by running in direct competition with The Hundred. The most powerful counties will contest it while most of their squad are on loan elsewhere. Results will be devalued and statistics misleading. One giant-sized work experience scheme to give professionals who remain unsold in the auction for The Hundred something to do.
In Restaurant Six, Trent Bridge's acclaimed new fine-dining restaurant and bar, the view of the cricket below became ever-more discouraging. One of the imaginative offerings of Dan Warren, Britain's bartender of the year in 2018, is the Grass Cutter cocktail which evokes the smell of freshly-mown grass. Long before the end, it was the sort of day to put some extra gin in it.
Trent Bridge hosts so many big scores that no first-innings score ever feels safe. But Somerset's 336 was a challenging total, disguised by several bad dismissals. The pitch was central (even if one of ropes was brought in more than necessary) and the ball did not purr onto the bat quite as conveniently as normal. Steven Mullaney termed the total "chaseable," but conceded that Nottinghamshire had been outplayed in every department.
For Somerset to reach 182 for 1 by the 29th over was a considerable achievement. If Tom Banton's edge against Jake Ball, on 1, had not fallen just short of Matthew Carter at second slip, the outcome might have been different. But Banton, Azhar Ali and Peter Trego all made fifties, the admirable Lewis Gregory held the later stages together with 37, and the Overton twins made merry with 46 off 30 late on, their stand once again having the appealing atmosphere of a bit of a singalong at the end of something more serious.
Banton, after his century against Worcestershire, had to deal for the first time with national acclaim - most obviously in the form of Michael Vaughan's Twitter feed. Vaughan told his 1.08m followers that Banton's style reminded him of Kevin Pietersen. As Vaughan remarked, no pressure there then.
It is an apt comparison. Banton might have been influenced by Jos Buttler, who studied at the same school, but there are definite reminders in his long-limbed sweeps and reverse sweeps. Tall and elegant, he can rarely have played more methodically until he burst ahead with 24 off Matthew Carter's second over, striking the offspinner over the ropes three times.
He fell for 59, flicking at a ball from Harry Gurney to be caught at the wicket, the only success for Gurney who had only just returned from a stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, stood in for Darren Pattinson, who has a sore side, and Stuart Broad, not released by England, and went for 86 in 10 overs.
Alongside him, Azhar progressed furtively. His 71 from 70 balls was shorn of excess, a shrewd assessment of the nature of the pitch, until he swung and missed at Jake Ball. There was a similar run-a-ball contribution from Trego, who played with great responsibility for 73 until he was run out, sold down by the river by Gregory's push into the leg side and change of heart over a single. George Bartlett's second-ball duck, making room against Mullaney, suffered for the vaulting ambition of youth. Ball's well-disguised slower balls helped him to 4 for 62 and Luke Fletcher, although wicketless, was also on the money.
Nottinghamshire perished with Hales, although the unsung Ben Slater played well for 58 until he worked Jamie Overton to short midwicket. When Ben Duckett reverse-swept to deep square, the bowler, Roelof van der Merwe, jumped to attention with the ball in the air as if the Duke of Edinburgh had suddenly walked onto the square and requested an audience.
There were still 11.4 overs remaining when the end came, Fletcher's demise at long-on after a hard-hitting but futile 43 allowing Somerset to celebrate their second complete performance in 48 hours. For Tom Abell, already a much-loved Somerset captain at 25, a Lord's final now lies ahead.
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Djokovic bests Tsitsipas for third Madrid title
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Breaking News
Sunday, 12 May 2019 12:41
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MADRID -- Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to win his third Madrid Open title Sunday, tying Rafael Nadal for most Masters 1000 trophies with 33.
It was the second title of the season for the top-ranked Djokovic, adding to his triumph in the Australian Open. He hadn't won in Madrid since 2016, with his other title in the Spanish capital coming in 2011.
Nadal and Djokovic each have five Masters 1000 titles more than Roger Federer, third on the all-time list.
Djokovic was in control from the start against his 20-year-old Greek opponent, who had defeated Nadal in the Madrid semifinals and was trying to become the first player to win three tour titles this season.
The Serb broke Tsitsipas early in the first set and late in the second to close out the match at the Magic Box center court.
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