The Japan Times - Sports (English)

Zaha and Baribo make their mark in MLS

Wilfried Zaha scored on his debut for Charlotte FC and Israeli Tai Baribo scored a hat-trick for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer on Saturday.

Read more

Reds coach Kiss declares Super Rugby 'alive and kicking'

Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss declared Super Rugby was "alive, healthy and kicking" after their last-gasp win over Western Force, with the Pacific tournament proving far more competitive this season.

Read more

'Flat' Chiefs notch third win to top Super Rugby standings

Coach Clayton McMillan says his Waikato Chiefs were "a bit flat" before dismantling the ACT Brumbies in dynamic style, firing a warning to the rest of their Super Rugby rivals.

Read more

Timberwolves' Edwards fined $35,000 for tossing ball after ejection

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Saturday for failing to leave the court and tossing a ball into the stands when he was ejected from a game on Thursday.

Read more

49ers reportedly agree to trade receiver Samuel to Commanders

The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to trade star wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders, ESPN reported on Saturday.

Read more

Knapp aiming for wire-to-wire win at Cognizant Classic

Leader Jake Knapp made a birdie on the 18th hole to ensure he heads into Sunday's final round of the Cognizant Classic at Palm Beach Gardens with a chance of a wire-to-wire victory.

Read more

Atletico go top after Real Madrid stumble at Betis

La Liga champions Real Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Real Betis on Saturday, which coach Carlo Ancelotti said was a "big blow" to their title defence, while Atletico Madrid took advantage to move top of the table.

Read more

PSG send Liverpool warning with rout of Lille in Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 4-1 win over Lille on Saturday to extend their lead in France to 16 points ahead of their heavyweight Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Read more

Willis 'dreaming' of Lions call-up despite Toulouse commitments

Toulouse's English flanker Jack Willis said on Saturday he dreams of playing for the British and Irish Lions this summer, after scoring two tries in a 63-21 hammering of Vannes in the French Top 14.

Read more

Messi rested by Miami for MLS game at Houston

Lionel Messi will sit out Inter Miami's Major League Soccer game at the Houston Dynamo on Sunday as the club look to manage his minutes.

Read more

Alvarez takes Atletico top with narrow Bilbao win

Atletico Madrid scraped a nervy 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao to move provisionally top of La Liga on Saturday.

Read more

Leverkusen stay in sight of Bayern before Champions League showdown

Bayer Leverkusen cut Bayern Munich's lead in the Bundesliga back to eight points ahead of the sides' Champions League last 16 clash, with a 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Read more

Man City survive Plymouth scare, Palace's Mateta hospitalised in Millwall win

Manchester City survived a scare to beat giant killers Plymouth 3-1 and progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, after Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta was hospitalised in the Eagles' 3-1 win over Millwall.

Read more

Man City survive FA Cup scare as O'Reilly sinks Plymouth

Nico O'Reilly spared Manchester City's blushes as the teenager's double inspired a comeback 3-1 win over giant-killers Plymouth in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

Read more

Isco's Betis upset Liga champions Real Madrid

La Liga champions Real Madrid suffered a dent to their title defence with a 2-1 defeat at Real Betis on Saturday.

Read more

Leverkusen cut gap on Bayern before Champions League showdown

Bayer Leverkusen cut Bayern Munich's lead atop the German Bundesliga table to eight points ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last 16 clash between the two, with a 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Read more

Billing saves Napoli in draw with Serie A title rivals Inter

Philip Billing kept Napoli right on Inter Milan's tail at the top of Serie A after scoring a late equaliser in Saturday's exciting 1-1 draw in Naples.

Read more

Jansen confident South Africa can stick to basics under knock-out pressure

Marco Jansen said South Africa can stay focused and overcome their poor form in knock-out matches after they reached the Champions Trophy semi-finals by beating England on Saturday.

Read more

McCullum backs Buttler for 'huge role' after captaincy exit

Coach Brendon McCullum backed Jos Buttler to play a big role for England after standing down as the team's white-ball captain following a dismal Champions Trophy campaign.

Read more

Palace's Mateta in hospital after 'reckless' foul in FA Cup clash

Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta was hospitalised by a "reckless" challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts during the Eagles' 3-1 win in the FA Cup fifth round, while Bournemouth reached the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out victory against Wolves on Saturday.

Read more

Scotland's Kinghorn fires Toulouse to Vannes romp

Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn scored a try as a second-string Toulouse side hammered Vannes 63-21 on Saturday to extend their lead at the summit of the French Top 14 table.

Read more

Palace's Mateta in hospital after 'reckless' boot to the head

Jean Philippe-Mateta said he is doing well and hopes to be back soon after being hospitalised by a horrific challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

Read more

Tsitsipas overcomes Auger-Aliassime and Dubai final jinx

Stefanos Tsitsipas won his first title in almost a year and broke a finals hoodoo as he cruised past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 in the Dubai final on Saturday.

Read more

Guirassy scores in Dortmund win, Leipzig freefall continues

Serhou Guirassy scored as Borussia Dortmund boosted their slim top-four hopes with a 2-0 win at St Pauli on Saturday, while RB Leipzig's slide continued with a home loss to Mainz.

Read more

New Zealand's Phillips says winning form gives confidence against India

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips on Saturday said his team's recent victories more than past records gave them confidence in their final group game against India in the Champions Trophy.

Read more

Outsider Waerenskjold wins season opening cycling classic

Norway's Soren Waerenskjold won the season opening Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Belgian cycling classic on Saturday when the 197km race over 11 hills came down to a bunch sprint.

Read more

South Africa upstage hapless England to reach Champions Trophy semis

South Africa qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy on Saturday with a convincing seven wicket win over a hapless England in a Group B match in Karachi.

Read more

Palace's Mateta in hospital after 'reckless' horror challenge

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish branded the challenge by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts that left Jean Philippe-Mateta in hospital as "the most reckless" he has ever seen.

Read more

Kristoffersen nails Slovenia giant slalom to break Brazil hearts

Henrik Kristoffersen kept his head to deliver a flawless second run and seal his first giant slalom win of the season in Slovenia on Saturday.

Read more

Barca defying expectations with treble fight: Flick

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Saturday that at the start of his reign nobody expected the Catalan giants would be fighting for three trophies in March.

Read more

German skier Aicher lands first World Cup win at 21

Germany's Emma Aicher secured her first career women's alpine ski World Cup win on Saturday in the downhill at Kvitfjell.

Read more

Kristoffersen leads after Slovenia giant slalom first run

Henrik Kristoffersen led the times after the men's World Cup giant slalom first run at Kranjska Gora in Slovenia on Saturday.

Read more