U.S. will face Mexico in Mexico City Sept. 9

The United States will play Mexico for the third time this year and second in a friendly, a Sept. 9 match at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

The U.S. has lost 22 of 23 matches against El Tri in Mexico and drew the other, but is 9-1-2 against El Tri overall since 2000, including 8-1-0 on U.S. soil.

The Americans beat Mexico, 2-0, in an exhibition in Phoenix on Feb. 7, then rallied for a 2-1 victory in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Chicago on June 24.

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Some Brazilian players returned to the hotel drunk after being given time off between matches during the 2006 World Cup, according to the president of the Brazil’s soccer confederation.

A year after Brazil’s quarterfinal elimination in Germany, Ricardo Teixeira said a group of players lacked discipline during the World Cup, but did not mention anyone specifically, the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported.

HOCKEY

Deadline on Penner is today

The Ducks will announce today if they intend to match the five-year, $21.25-million offer sheet tendered to left wing Dustin Penner last week by the Edmonton Oilers.

It is not known if they have already made a decision internally, but the Ducks are using their allotted seven days, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Penner signed the offer sheet July 26.

If they do not match it, the Ducks will receive draft picks in each of the first three rounds from the Oilers as compensation.

Edmonton will get the 24-year-old Penner, whose 29 goals in his first full season ranked second behind Teemu Selanne’s team-best 48.

Penner is guaranteed to make $4.25 million next season after making $475,000 as a rookie.

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Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold announced he has signed a letter of intent to sell his team to a local group that has no plans to relocate the team. The eight partners put down $10 million as a deposit toward the purchase price of $193 million.

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Forward Sean Avery re-signed with the New York Rangers after he was awarded a $1.9-million salary for next season after a lengthy arbitration hearing.

Avery, who was traded to the Rangers last season by the Kings, earned an $800,000 raise. He was seeking $2.6 million in arbitration while New York countered with a proposal of $1.3 million. The arbitrator essentially split the difference.

TENNIS

Fish eliminated at Washington

Mardy Fish was knocked out in the second round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at Washington by Michael Berrer, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson also reached the third round by beating defending champion Arnaud Clement, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

American John Isner pulled another upset by beating No. 8 Benjamin Becker, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6).

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Seventh-seeded Florian Mayer routed Olivier Patience, 6-1, 6-1, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Prokom Open at Sopot, Poland.

In another second-round match at the clay-court event, Jose Acasuso beat Sergio Roitman, 6-4, 6-4.

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Second-seeded teenager Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Marta Domachowska, 6-0, 6-3, to advance to the Nordic Light Open quarterfinals at Stockholm.

Third-seeded Emilie Loit rallied to defeat Virginia Ruano Pascual, 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6). Loit will play Julia Goerges, who defeated Klara Zakopalova, 0-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4).

JURISPRUDENCE

Punter testifies in stabbing trial

Rafael Mendoza, a starting punter for Northern Colorado who was attacked by a knife-wielding man, broke down in sobs on the stand after re-enacting the assault and saying he had feared for his life and career.

Mendoza was left with a three- to five-inch gash in his kicking leg in the Sept. 11 attack but later returned to the team.

The backup punter at the time, Mitch Cozad, is on trial on charges of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault.

MISCELLANY

NASCAR fines Biffle $5,000

Greg Biffle was fined $5,000 and put on probation until Dec. 31 for skipping a press-box interview after his second-place finish in the Kroger 200 Busch Series race last week.

Biffle said that he talked to reporters on pit road after the race Saturday night but avoided the press box because of the huge crowd.

NASCAR requires the top three finishers and the highest-finishing rookie-of-the-year candidate to attend post-race interviews.

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Juan Pablo Montoya will race in his final Busch Series event next week at Watkins Glen, then the team will stop competing.

Chip Ganassi Racing officials said the No. 42 Busch program was formed only to help Montoya adjust to NASCAR after six seasons in Formula One. He drove the car to a win in March on the road course in Mexico City.

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Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. will defend his title against Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.

The site of the fight has not been determined, Golden Boy Promotions said. It’s a matchup of two undefeated fighters, who are a combined 81-0.

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San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker sprained his left ankle during practice with the French national team this week and is returning to the U.S. to be examined. The Spurs said Parker will begin rehabilitation after an exam Friday and will rejoin the French national team when he gets medical clearance.