Daily News Channel
Champions Manchester United returned to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday after previous leaders Chelsea crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa. United held off a late onslaught from Bolton to secure a 2-1 home victory to move a point above Chelsea, who suffered only their second reverse this season — both coming away from home.
Portugal booked themselves a place in the European playoffs for next year’s World Cup finals after a comfortable 4-0 Group One victory over Malta.
The captain of the Italian national football team, Fabio Cannavaro, has hit out at his treatment at the hands of the world’s media after being cleared of doping by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). The Juventus defender, who led his country to World Cup victory in 2006, failed a drugs test two days after treating a wasp sting with a cream containing cortisone on 28 August
Australian Open organizers have granted a wildcard to former world number one Justine Henin to play in the opening grand slam of 2010. The 27-year-old Henin announced last month that she was returning to competitive tennis, shortly after fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters capped her own comeback by triumphing in the U.S
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of Portugal’s crucial final World Cup qualifier against Malta on Wednesday with an ankle injury. Ronaldo played with the injury in Portugal’s 3-0 home victory over Hungary on Saturday but lasted just 27 minutes before limping off
Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has failed a doping test for cortisone, Italian media have reported. Juventus defender Cannavaro, 36, reportedly tested positive after using a cream containing the banned substance to treat an allergic reaction to a bee sting.
Saudi Arabian businessman Ali Al Faraj has sealed his takeover of English Premier League side Portsmouth, becoming the second new owner of the side in six weeks. Sulaiman Al Fahim, who bought the football club just six weeks ago, has sold 90 percent of his stake to Ali Al Faraj’s holding company Falcondrone Limited according to the club’s Web site
Defense Secretary Robert Gates declared Monday that the United States will remain in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, no matter what President Obama decides on immediate troop levels. “We’re not leaving Afghanistan,” Gates said in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that also included Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Manchester United’s eight-game winning run came to an abrupt end as they salvaged a fortunate 2-2 home draw against Sunderland in the English Premier League on Saturday. Sunderland took the lead in the early first half through Darren Bent before Dimitar Berbatov equalized with a stunning volley just after the break.
Supporters of Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics were shocked Friday by news that the city was the first of four finalists to be eliminated from consideration. The news from the International Olympic Committee came mere hours after President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama delivered personal appeals to the selection committee, praising the virtues of their hometown