In brief: Border battle beginning to boil
Line Mexico and the United States up anywhere – a World Cup qualifier, a friendly, even a pickup game at a local playground – and it’s going to be intense.
Think Red Sox-Yankees, Packers-Bears or Michigan-Ohio State. Regional bragging rights are at stake, and they mean just as much to the players as they do to those loud and proud folks in the stands.
“We don’t like them, and they don’t like us,” American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley said. “It’s not a game when we play Mexico. It’s more.”
The Americans play Mexico again today, this time in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in Chicago. In addition to the title in this region’s biggest tournament – which Mexico has won four times, the United States three – the teams are playing for a spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.
“Freddy Adu scored once, set up the winner, and nearly added a spectacular third goal as the U.S. Under-20 men beat Chile 2-1 in East Rutherford, N.J.
In their final game before heading to Canada for the U-20 World Cup, the Americans survived a rough match filled with fouls. But amid the ruggedness, Adu displayed moments of brilliance – something expected of the 18-year-old prodigy for years but rarely delivered in Major League Soccer.
“America’s stars were too much for Brazil’s women – right from the opening minute.
Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach scored in the first 17 minutes, with Lilly putting home a brilliant free kick at 58 seconds, in a 2-0 victory in East Rutherford, N.J.
Tennis
Henin triumphant in tuneup
Defending champion Justine Henin defeated second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2) in the final of the Eastbourne International in Eastbourne, England, the last grass-court tuneup before Wimbledon begins Monday.
“Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia won the Ordina Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands for his first grass-court championship. Anna Chakvetadze of Russia captured the women’s final of this Wimbledon warmup.
The second-seeded Ljubicic beat unseeded Peter Wessels of the Netherlands 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), and the third-seeded Chakvetadze defeated top-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3.
“Ivo Karlovic hit 21 aces, including one at 153 mph, to earn his first Nottingham Open title in Nottingham, England, with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Arnaud Clement.
Football
Hamburg holds on in World Bowl
In Frankfurt, Germany, Casey Bramlet threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns leading the Hamburg Sea Devils past the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28 in the highest-scoring World Bowl.
Bramlet, allocated by the Washington Redskins, was honored as the MVP in sending Hamburg to its first NFL Europa championship.
J.T. O’Sullivan of the Chicago Bears threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns for the Galaxy before a crowd of 48,125 at Commerzbank Arena.
Former Washington State punter Kyle Basler had one punt for 51 yards for the Galaxy.
Miscellany
Sonics finish moves
The Seattle SuperSonics completed a series of front office moves, including the hiring of Scott Perry as an assistant general manager.
Seattle also announced that Rich Cho would remain with the organization as an assistant general manager in charge of contracts and the collective bargaining agreement. Cho is the only holdover from Seattle’s previous management.
“Rigoberto Uran of Colombia attacked on the final stretch to win the eighth stage of the Tour de Suisse in Schwarzsee, Switzerland, and Russia’s Vladimir Efimkin kept the overall lead.
The 20-year-old Unibet rider made his move about 550 yards from the finish to complete the rolling 95-mile course from Innertkirchen to Schwarzsee in 3 hours, 28 minutes and 51 seconds. The peloton was two seconds behind.
The race concludes today with a 21-mile time trial in Bern.
“Paul Durham, 93, one of the founders of the modern Linfield College athletic program, died at his home in Honolulu Friday night.
Durham was Linfield’s head football coach for 20 seasons, compiling a record of 122-51-10. His 1956 team started a string of 51 consecutive winning seasons that continues to this day and is the national record at all levels of college football.
From wire and news services