Lilly Scores for U.S. in 3-1 Win
Kristine Lilly scored the opening goal in her world-record 300th international game Wednesday, leading the United States past Norway, 3-1, at the Four Nations tournament at Guangzhou, China.
The 34-year-old American captain sent a free kick past Norwegian goalkeeper Bente Nordby in the 73rd minute to put the defending champions ahead.
Minutes later, her corner kick set up striker Shannon Boxx. Ronning Trine of Norway made a penalty kick to end a shutout streak for the U.S. at 1,009 minutes, dating to the last match of 2004. Abby Wambach added the third U.S. goal to close out the scoring.
“To win and play so well in my 300th game, makes me feel even better,” Lilly said.
Lilly leads all male and female soccer players worldwide in international appearances. She has played in every World Cup game for the United States and has 105 goals, fifth among women. She has appeared in 85% of the American women’s team’s 352 games in its 21-year history.
In the later game, France tied China, 1-1.
Giuseppe Rossi scored twice and Louis Saha, Kieran Richardson and Ryan Giggs had one goal each to lead Manchester United over semipro Burton Albion, 5-0, in their English FA Cup third-round replay at Manchester, England.
Defending Brazilian champion Corinthians signed a two-year contract with World Cup veteran Ricardinho, who helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup.
Houston Coach Dominic Kinnear signed a two-year contract extension with the Major League Soccer team. Kinnear, the MLS coach of the year, guided San Jose to an 18-4-10 record in 2005. The team moved to Houston last month.
FIGURE SKATING
Slutskaya Takes Lead After Short Program
Irina Slutskaya won the ladies’ short program, putting the Russian in position to win and overtake Katarina Witt and Sonia Henie with her seventh title at the European Championships at Lyon, France.
Slutskaya skated early, but her score of 66.04 points held up for nearly five hours. Russia’s Elena Sokolova was second at 60.88, followed by Switzerland’s Sarah Meier at 60.87.
The long program is today.
BASEBALL
Mets, Iriki Agree
to One-Year Deal
The New York Mets and Japanese right-hander Yusaku Iriki agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract.
The 33-year-old Iriki was 6-7 with a 3.35 earned-run average in 20 starts and eight relief appearances last season with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan’s Pacific League.
The New York Yankees and the Mets moved a step closer to breaking ground on new stadiums after the state’s economic development agency approved design and infrastructure plans for both ballparks.
Construction on the Yankees’ $800-million ballpark and the Mets’ $444-million home is scheduled to begin between March and June and be completed in 2009.
Fidel Castro suggested the U.S. doesn’t want to play Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. Cuba is awaiting word on whether the U.S. government will let the island’s players take part.
“We aren’t afraid of anything,” Castro said. “It’s very difficult to compete against us in any area ... not even in baseball do they want to compete with Cuba.”
MISCELLANY
Nardiello’s Arbitration Hearing Continues
Suspended coach Tim Nardiello and the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation were in an arbitration hearing for nine hours at New York with no resolution. It resumes today.
Neither Nardiello -- who is seeking reinstatement as the national skeleton team coach -- nor the federation made any public statement about the closed-door session, with both sides saying they will withhold comment until the arbitrator issues a ruling.
Nardiello was put on paid administrative leave by the USBSF on Dec. 31, after slider Felicia Canfield and the mother of slider Tristan Gale wrote the federation and accused the coach of sexual harassment.
Lindsay Davenport, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne and Maria Sharapova, a former Wimbledon champion, have all committed to the Pacific Life Open, to be held March 6-19, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The ATP board has asked Chairman Etienne de Villiers to expand his role with the ATP, assuming broader and full-time responsibilities with the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuit. De Villiers accepted the position of non-executive chairman in June.
Five-time and defending champion Mark Martin heads a 13-man field for the 2006 Crown Royal International Race of Champions Series.
Martin will be joined in the four-race series by reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart, former champion Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, who finished third last year in his first full Cup season.
Also named to the lineup from NASCAR were Martin Truex and Ted Musgrave.
Completing the field will be 20-time World of Outlaws sprint car champion Steve Kinser, seven-time ARCA stock car champion Frank Kimmel, Indy Racing League stars Sam Hornish Jr. and Scott Sharp and road racers Max Angelelli, Wayne Taylor and Max Papis.
Courtney Thompson of Washington has been voted the nation’s top college female volleyball player, based on the results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools.
