In brief: U.S. men post their first soccer win over Italy
Soccer: The United States gained a rare victory over a soccer power, beating Italy 1-0 Wednesday night in Genoa, Italy, on Clint Dempsey’s goal in the 55th minute for its first win over the Azzurri in 11 games over 78 years.
Dempsey, a Texan who has become an increasingly important element of the American team, took a short pass from Jozy Altidore following Michael Bradley’s cross and put a right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area just past an outstretched hand of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
“I’d like to think that we’re closing the gap and hopefully one day we can do something special,” Dempsey said.
After returning to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years in 1990 and advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002, the Americans have struggled to make additional progress. They were knocked out in the first round of the 2006 World Cup and the second round of the 2010 tournament, eliminated both times with defeats to Ghana. They wasted a two-goal lead against Mexico last June and lost 4-2 in he final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, their regional championship.
That prompted to U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Bob Bradley and replace him with Jurgen Klinsmann, the former German national team star player and coach.
The Americans had been 0-7-3 against Italy and had been outscored 32-4.
• U.S. women rout Denmark: Alex Morgan scored two goals, Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd and Sydney Leroux had one apiece, and the United States opened defense of its Algarve Cup title with a 5-0 win over Denmark in Lagos, Portugal.
The U.S. plays Norway on Friday, then closes first-round play in Group B against Japan on Monday in its first meeting since Japan won last year’s Women’s World Cup final.
Bearcats make push for NCAA tourney
COLLEGE MEN: JaQuon Parker scored a career-high 28 points in a take-it-to-the-hoop attack, leading host Cincinnati to a 72-61 victory over No. 8 Marquette that embellished the Bearcats’ NCAA tournament chances.
The Bearcats (21-9, 11-6 Big East) have won six of their last eight, including home victories over then-No. 17 Louisville and Marquette (24-6, 13-4). The Golden Eagles had won five straight, including a 95-78 drubbing of the Bearcats in Milwaukee on Feb. 11.
• South Florida upsets Louisville: Jawanza Poland scored 16 points and South Florida ruined No. 19 Louisville’s senior night with a 58-51 victory at Louisville, Ky., that gives the Bulls the signature win they have desperately sought for their NCAA tournament resume.
South Florida (19-11, 12-5 Big East) has won six of seven. • Colorado State rallies past UNLV: Dorian Green scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, leading Colorado State back from a 16-point deficit to upset No. 17 UNLV 66-59 at Fort Collins, Colo.
The Rams (18-10, 7-6 Mountain West) capped a perfect home mark in league.
• Zeller leads Tar Heels: Tyler Zeller had 30 points in his final home game to help No. 6 North Carolina beat Maryland 88-64 at Chapel Hill, N.C.
John Henson added 19 points for the Tar Heels (26-4, 13-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who led all game to set up a matchup with No. 4 Duke this weekend to determine the league’s regular-season championship.
• Buckeyes edge Northwestern: Jared Sullinger banked in a turnaround shot with 3.1 seconds left and No. 10 Ohio State recovered after squandering a 13-point second-half lead to beat host Northwestern 75-73 at Evanston, Ill.
Sullinger’s winner completed a 22-point, 18-rebound night for the Buckeyes’ sophomore star.
Bulls stay hot behind Rose
NBA: Derrick Rose scored 29 points and the visiting Chicago Bulls stayed on a roll by cooling off the streaking San Antonio Spurs 96-89.
Rose shook off a scary-looking collision with Tony Parker early that kept the reigning MVP on the floor clutching his right knee for several minutes. But he never left the game and the Bulls became just the second team to win in San Antonio this season.
The Bulls have won 11 of 13 and nudged a half-game past Miami for first place in the Eastern Conference.
• Stuckey scores 29: Former Eastern Washington University standout Rodney Stuckey scored 29 points and Greg Monroe added 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons routed the visiting Charlotte Bobcats 109-94.
• Knicks win 10th in February: Jeremy Lin had 19 points and 13 assists, Carmelo Anthony scored 22 and the host New York Knicks turned around the game with their reserves to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-103.
Steve Novak had 17 points off the bench as the Knicks turned a 17-point deficit into an easy win, outscoring the Cavs 71-42 in the second half. They capped a 10-5 month, their first 10-win February since going 10-3 in 1996-97.
• Blazers fall again in Denver: Ty Lawson had 18 points and nine assists in his return to the lineup, Kenneth Faried scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets beat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 104-95.
The Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers for the 16th time in the last 17 games in Denver.
The Trail Blazers’ only win in that span came on Dec. 16, 2007.
• Durant sparks Thunder rally: Kevin Durant scored eight of his 23 points down the stretch to lead visiting Oklahoma City to a 92-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers – the Thunders’ sixth straight win.
Penguins win fourth straight
MISCELLANY: Pascal Dupuis converted in the fourth round of the shootout and the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins won their fourth straight, 4-3 over the Dallas Stars.
Dupuis fired past Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen and Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury denied Michael Ryder’s attempt to clinch the extra point.
• Blackhawks snap losing streak: Marian Hossa scored twice as the struggling Chicago Blackhawks overcame an early two-goal deficit and defeated the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 to end a three-game losing streak.
• Stanford extends home streak: Nnemkadi Ogwumike had 19 points and 11 rebounds in her final home game as the second-ranked Stanford Cardinal women’s basketball team (27-1) beat Seattle 76-52 for its 79th straight home win at Stanford, Calif.