In brief: Marta leads Brazil into quarterfinals
World Cup: Marta scored twice in a 3-0 win over Norway to lead Brazil into the quarterfinals of the women’s World Cup on Sunday at Wolfsburg, Germany.
The five-time FIFA world player of the year scored the first goal in the 22nd minute before putting the game out of reach in the 48th.
On a wet and windy evening at the sold-out 26,000 capacity stadium, Norway started strong before Marta swung the game in the South Americans’ favor with the opening goal.
She might have had a hat trick if not for a good save from Ingrid Hjelmseth in the 69th minute.
Norway’s best chances of the first half were from Madeleine Giske in the 18th minute, when the 23-year-old’s first shot was blocked by Aline’s face and her next was straight at Brazil goalkeeper Andreia.
Cristiane capitalized on a mistake by Mjelde to help create Marta’s second goal.
• Australia beats Equatorial Guinea: In Bochum, Germany, Australia kept alive its chances to reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup by beating Equatorial Guinea 3-2 in a game that will be remembered for a penalty that wasn’t called.
Australia’s Leena Khamis, who scored the first goal, hit the post in the 16th minute. As the ball bounced back, Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna grabbed it with both hands, held it, then casually dropped it again.
Australia took the lead for good with two goals early in the second half by Emily Van Egmond and Lisa De Vanna.
Australia now plays Norway in a decisive game World Cup on Wednesday.
Yanks send Nova down for Hughes
MLB: Ivan Nova is the odd man out in the New York Yankees’ crowded rotation.
Despite an 8-4 record, Nova was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to open a spot for Phil Hughes, who is just about ready to come off the disabled list.
It appears Hughes will take Nova’s turn in the rotation Wednesday night in Cleveland.
• Tigers fire pitching coach Knapp, promote Jones: The Detroit Tigers have fired pitching coach Rick Knapp.
Bullpen coach Jeff Jones was promoted to replace Knapp, who was in his third season with the Tigers.
• Indians put Carmona on DL: The Cleveland Indians have placed starter Fausto Carmona on the 15-day disabled list after he strained his right thigh in a mishap while running the bases in an interleague game.
Sharks trade Heatley to Wild for Havlat
NHL: The San Jose Sharks have traded forward Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for forward Martin Havlat.
The trade is the second major deal this offseason between the two teams. San Jose acquired All-Star defenseman Brent Burns from Minnesota late last month for a package headlined by Devin Setoguchi.
• Leafs acquire Lombardi from Predators: The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Matthew Lombardi and Cody Franson from the Nashville Predators.
In return, Toronto sent the Predators defenseman Brett Lebda and forward Robert Slaney.
The deal also includes a conditional fourth-round pick that Nashville acquires if Lombardi plays more than 60 games over the next two seasons.
If he doesn’t, Toronto takes the Predators’ pick in 2013.
Former Duke player joins Israeli team
Miscellany: Former Duke basketball star Jon Scheyer joined Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv, saying his college experience prepared him well for coping with high expectations.
Because he is Jewish, Scheyer is eligible to become an Israeli and not count against a league cap on foreign players. He is expected to take a leading role for the defending Israeli champion, which lost the title game of this year’s European championship to Greece’s Panathinaikos.
• Phelps wires 100 fly at Canada Cup: In Montreal, Michael Phelps handily won the 100-meter butterfly at the Canada Cup.
He didn’t challenge his world record in the event, but led from wire to wire and won in 51.32 seconds.
• Vanhoenacker sets Ironman triathlon world record: In Klagenfurt, Austria, Marino Vanhoenacker won the Ironman Austria triathlon in a world record time, beating the 14-year-old previous best mark by nearly 4 1/2 minutes.
The 34-year-old Vanhoenacker finished the race in 7 hours, 45 minutes, 58 seconds to break the record set by fellow Belgian Luc Van Lierde in Roth, Germany, in 1997.
• Flashpoint wins Monmouth Park feature: Flashpoint drew off in the stretch to win the $150,000 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park, beating C J Russell by seven lengths at Oceanport, N.J.