SPAIN
Getafe rally to claim win
A late goal by Pablo Sarabia gave Getafe a 2-1 comeback win against RC Celta de Vigo in La Liga on Monday. Charles had given the visitors the lead when he latched on to a long throw-in and beat Getafe goalkeeper Jordi Codina in the 15th minute. Alvaro Vazquez leveled with his third goal of the season by running up the right flank after collecting Sarabia’s pass and shooting past goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez in the 19th. Diego Castro missed a penalty for Getafe in the 78th minute, but Sarabia beat Alvarez in the 86th for the winner after being set up by a back-heel from Croatian midfielder Jorge Sammir. Getafe climbed to 14th place on 20 points, while Elche are 17th on 17.
ENGLAND
Magpies stick with Carver
Newcastle United have put caretaker manager John Carver in charge for the rest of the season, the club said on Monday. The 50-year-old has been at the helm for four matches since Alan Pardew left to join Premier League rivals Crystal Palace. Newcastle, who are 11th in the table, extended Carver’s deal, despite the fact he has yet to win a game. “At the beginning of this process it was my desire and intention to appoint an individual to the position of head coach, who would be available to start immediately,” managing director Lee Charnley told the club’s Web site. “Having now explored at some length the options available to us at this time, the decision has been taken to defer the appointment of a permanent head coach until the end of the season. The head coach will be a long-term appointment that will play a major role in shaping the future on-field progression of Newcastle United and it is vitally important that we get the right individual.” Newcastle travel to Hull City on Saturday.
ITALY
Parma end Cassano contract
Antonio Cassano is on the look out for yet another club as Serie A’s bottom side Parma ripped up his contract on Monday after the striker asked for unpaid wages. A club statement said the agreement had been mutual. The former AS Roma, Real Madrid, UC Sampdoria, AC Milan and Inter player has been the one shining light for Parma this season, with the northern Italian club on only nine points from 20 games and 10 points from safety. Cassano, 32, has scored five league goals, but his request for unpaid wages did not go down well with the club, who underwent a takeover last month. He went to talk to fans after Sunday’s home defeat by AC Cesena, but was threatened by one supporter. The colorful former Italy international has had run-ins with many clubs down the years, but Italian media have sympathized with him this time and hometown club Bari 1908 in Serie B are favorites to sign him.
ITALY
El Shaarawy out injured
Versatile forward Stephan El Shaarawy’s bid for a move away from AC Milan has been scuppered after he was sidelined for at least six weeks on Monday with a fractured foot. El Shaarawy has been tipped for a move to England, possibly Everton, in a bid to relaunch his career as the fallen Serie A giants continue to struggle in Italy’s top flight. El Shaarawy, who only returned to the Milan fray earlier this season following a lengthy injury layoff, suffered the injury late in Milan’s 3-1 defeat to SS Lazio on Saturday. He underwent medical tests in Amsterdam, which revealed he had “fractured the base of his fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot,” Milan said. El Shaarawy will have to undergo “conservative treatment... for about six weeks,” the statement said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping