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Mexico’s goalkeeper Luis Malagon kicks the ball ahead of United States’ Sebastian Saucedo during a Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying championship soccer match in Guadalajara, Mexico, March 24. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com

Antuna scores Mexico edge US France draw, Dutch lose at ‘start’ in Oly qualifying GUADALAJARA, March 25, (AP): Sebastian Soto’s sloppy giveaway cost the United States in a 1-0 loss to Mexico. of World Cup qualifying in Europe Now comes the winner-take- all semifinal Sunday night against Honduras or Canada for a trip to the men’s Olympic soc- Belgium win cer tournament. “Ultimately difficult to lose the game on an individual PARIS, March 25, (AP): error,” U.S. coach Jason Kreis The road to Qatar for the said after Soto gifted Uriel Antuna a 45th-minute goal at 2022 World Cup began for Guadalajara on Wednesday European teams with a night. “The most important slip-up by France to open game is coming, so we need to move forward very quickly and its title defense, a big loss prepare ourselves for that.” for the Netherlands. Both the U.S. and Mexico The French were held 1-1 by were assured of advancing from Ukraine inside an empty Stade de Group A to semifinal berths. France outside Paris as an own- Mexico, the 2012 Olympic goal by defender Presnel champions, won their 14th Kimpembe canceled out Antoine straight Olympic qualifier dat- ing to 2008 and finished first in Griezmann’s 19th-minute opener Group A at 3-0. for the hosts. Semifinal winners from the A hat trick by 35-year-old striker North and Central American Burak Yilmaz earned Turkey a 4-2 and Caribbean region get the win over the Netherlands, whose final two places in the 16-nation qualifying record for major interna- field for the Olympics, to be tional tournaments has been sketchy played from July 21 to Aug. 7 in recent years. in Tokyo, Kashima, Miyagi, The Dutch failed to make it to Euro Saitama, Sapporo and 2016 or the 2018 World Cup in Yokohama. Russia, and haven’t shown great form under new coach Frank de Boer, who has just two wins in seven matches SOCCER since replacing Ronald Koeman. They are in a tricky Group G that also includes Norway, which beat “We wanted to win the game Gibraltar 3-0 There were wins for to be at the top of our group,” top-ranked Belgium, 3-1 over Wales, American defender Mauricio and reigning European champions Pineda said. “We came short of Portugal, 1-0 over Azerbaijan. that, but we’re still in the semi- Portugal are one of the teams playing final, and I think we’re going to their opening qualifiers in neutral ter- have to flip the page quick.” ritory - in their case, the Italian city of Antuna, a 23-year-old Chivas Turin - because of coronavirus travel Teun Koopmeiners of The Netherlands, (left), in action against George Ganea of Romania, during the European Under-21 Championship Romania – winger who spent 2019 on loan to restrictions. Netherlands soccer match in the Bozsik Stadium in Budapest, Hungary, March 24. (AP) the LA Galaxy from Manchester Griezmann moved level with David City, picked up a loose ball about Trezeguet in fourth place on France’s 35 yards from goal that Soto mis- scoring list, on 34 goals, after curling NBA Results/Standings Magic end Suns road winning streak hit a casual back-pass following a a left-footed shot into the far corner feed upfield from Henry Kessler. from the right edge of the penalty Antuna took several touches to area. keep space from Kessler and However, fellow forwards Olivier WASHINGTON, March 25, (AP): Pineda as he cut to the edge of the NBA results and standings on Giroud and Kylian Mbappe struggled Wednesday. Jazz rout short-handed Nets arc, then beat goalkeeper David Indiana 116 Detroit 111 to get into the game and Ukraine SALT LAKE CITY, March 25, (AP): Ochoa with a right-footed shot for fought back, even if there was an ele- Toronto 135 Denver 111 his second goal of the tournament. Milwaukee 121 Boston 119 Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points ment of fortune about the equalizer in Memphis 116 Oklahoma City 107 and the NBA-leading Utah Jazz routed “It’s a game of small details and the 57th. Cleveland 103 Chicago 94 getting all those right, and against Orlando 112 Phoenix 111 the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 118- the best teams you’re going to get Dallas 128 Minnesota 108 88 on Wednesday night. punished if you make even the Charlotte 122 Houston 97 Bojan Bogdanovic broke out of a SOCCER LA Clippers 134 San Antonio 101 smallest of mistakes,” Pineda said. Sacramento 110 Atlanta 108 3-for-25 3-point shooting slump to “So today we were punished for Utah 118 Brooklyn 88 made 4 of 6 and score 18 points for the that, and I think we have to start Eastern Conference Jazz. They have won four of five. Sergii Sydorchuk’s shot was head- Atlantic Division punishing teams on the other side W L Pct GB The matchup was a mismatch after of the field, as well.” ing off target before it clipped Philadelphia 31 13 .705 - the Nets scratched James Harden Kreis faulted Soto’s deci- Kimpembe as he went to close the Brooklyn 30 15 .667 1-1/2 because of a sore neck. He joined star midfielder down, and the ball wrong- New York 22 22 .500 9 teammates Kevin Durant (left ham- sion-making. Boston 21 23 .477 10 “Ultimately the goal came footed goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before Toronto 18 26 .409 13 string strain) and Kyrie Irving (per- rolling slowly over the line. from their press: a forward that Southeast Division sonal reasons) on the injured list. Also in Group D, Bosnia- Alize Johnson, who was signed to a dropped down and instead of W L Pct GB controlling the ball and taking Herzegovina scored in the 84th min- Charlotte 22 21 .512 - 10-day contract Monday, had a career- two touches,” the coach said. ute to secure a 2-2 draw away against Miami 22 22 .500 -1/2 high 23 points and 15 rebounds for “He had all kinds of time. He Finland, whose goals came from Atlanta 22 22 .500 -1/2 Brooklyn. Washington 15 27 .357 6-1/2 tried to play a first-time pass Teemu Pukki. Orlando 15 29 .341 7-1/2 Bucks 121, Celtics 119 and got intercepted.” A Netherlands defense missing Central Division The U.S. men failed to quali- their captain and mainstay, the injured In Milwaukee, Khris Middleton had Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Brooklyn Nets guard Tyler W L Pct GB 27 points and 13 rebounds and Johnson (10) reach for a rebound during the second half of an NBA bas- fy for the 2012 and 2016 Virgil van Dijk, couldn’t handle Milwaukee 29 14 .674 - Olympics, a trend that was fol- Yilmaz, who has been in good form Indiana 20 23 .465 9 Milwaukee held off Boston for its ketball game on March 24, in Salt Lake City. (AP) lowed by the failure of the for French title contenders Lille this Chicago 19 24 .442 10 eighth consecutive victory. senior national team to qualify season. Cleveland 17 27 .386 12-1/2 Milwaukee led by 25, but only touched the ball. coach Nate McMillan. Detroit 12 31 .279 17 secured the win when Boston’s Daniel for the 2018 World Cup. The striker struck twice before the Western Conference Marcus Morris added 20 points, Cavaliers 103, Bulls 94 Theis missed a wide-open corner Paul George had 17 points, and Lou Clubs do not have to release break and again late in the second half Southwest Division In Chicago, Darius Garland had 22 players for Olympic qualifying to secure the win in Group G just as 3-point attempt in the final seconds. Williams 16. DeMar DeRozan led San W L Pct GB The Bucks have won 13 of their last 14 Antonio with 19 points, and Patty points and nine assists, Jarrett Allen or the Olympics, denying most the Dutch were threatening a come- Dallas 23 19 .548 - added 19 points and nine rebounds, San Antonio 22 19 .537 -1/2 games – a stretch that started after a Mills added 16. of the best-known players from back after goals by substitutes Davy and Cleveland beat Chicago without tournament teams Memphis 21 20 .512 1-1/2 five-game skid. Raptors 135, Nuggets 111 Klaassen and Luuk de Jong. New Orleans 19 24 .442 4-1/2 After trailing 90-65 midway through scoring leader Collin Sexton. Because of the delay caused AC Milan midfielder Hakan Houston 12 31 .279 11-1/2 In Tampa, Fla, Pascal Siakam Sexton sat out after he experienced by the novel coronavirus pan- the third quarter, the Celtics cut the Calhanoglu netted the other goal at Northwest Division margin to two on Jaylen Brown’s scored 27 points and Toronto routed right hamstring soreness in the morn- demic, FIFA kept eligibility to Ataturk Olympic Stadium for Turkey, W L Pct GB ing shootaround. Coach J.B. players born Jan. 1, 2007, or 3-pointer with 1:32 left. Theis then Denver to end a nine-game losing which have not qualified for a World Utah 32 11 .744 - streak. Bickerstaff said the injury wasn’t seri- later. Each Olympic team can Denver 26 18 .591 6-1/2 drew an offensive foul on Giannis Cup since finishing third in 2002. Portland 25 18 .581 7 Antetokounmpo, and the Celtics had ous. use three wild-card players over Gibraltar managed to keep Zach LaVine led Chicago with 22 the age limit. Oklahoma City 19 25 .432 13-1/2 multiple opportunities to tie the game Norway’s Borussia Dortmund star, Minnesota 10 34 .227 22-1/2 or go in front the rest of the way. BASKETBALL points. Outside back Julian Araujo, Erling Haaland, quiet but still con- Pacific Division Pineda in central defense, and Antetokounmpo scored 13 points – Hornets 122, Rockets 97 ceded goals to Alexander Sorloth, W L Pct GB midfielders Andrés Perea, his second-lowest total of the season In Houston, Terry Rozier scored 25 Kristian Thorstvedt and Jonass Phoenix 29 14 .674 - – but also had eight rebounds and Toronto built a 24-point lead in the Johnny Cardoso and Sebastian Svensson. LA Clippers 29 16 .644 1 points, Devonte’ Graham added 21 Saucedo also started the 4-0 LA Lakers 28 16 .636 1-1/2 seven assists. Brown led Boston with first half and shot 50% (24 of 48) on and Charlotte beat Houston. victory over the Dominican Montenegro beat Latvia 2-1 in Golden State 22 22 .500 7-1/2 24 points. 3-pointers overall to win for the first The Rockets quickly returned to the Riga in the group’s other game. Sacramento 19 25 .432 10-1/2 Republic. Magic 112, Suns 111 time since Feb. 26. loss column after snapping a 20-game A long-range stunner by Kevin De Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray losing streak Monday night. It was the See Also Page 14 Bruyne and two defensive errors In Orlando, Fla, Evan Fournier scored 20 points apiece for Denver. The Portugal star remains stuck on scored the last of his 21 points on a NBA’s longest skid since allowed Belgium to end a four-match Pacers 116, Pistons 111 Philadelphia’s record-setting 28-game winless run against Wales stretching 102 goals, though - seven behind driving layup over Phoenix center record holder Ali Daei, the former Deandre Ayton with 6.4 seconds left In Indianapolis, Caris LeVert scored rut across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 back to 2013 and which included a seasons. quarterfinal loss at Euro 2016. Iran striker - after a fruitless evening and Orlando beat the Suns. 28 points and Indiana beat Detroit to against Azerbaijan where he only Suns star Devin Booker made two snap a six-game home losing streak. Charlotte won in Houston for the Wales took the lead through a well- first time since Dec. 22, 2004. worked team move that was finished came close off a couple of free kicks. free throws with 19.4 seconds left to LeVert surpassed 20 points in seven off by Harry Wilson but De Bruyne Portugal instead relied on an own- give Phoenix a one-point lead, but starts with the Pacers since being Grizzlies 116, Thunder 107 equalized by taking a touch before goal in the 36th minute, when missed a reverse layup attempt just acquired in a three-team trade. Edmond In Oklahoma City, Dillon Brooks smashing a swerving shot into the Azerbaijan goalkeeper Shahruddin before the horn. The loss ended Sumner added 18 points, and Malcolm matched a season high with 25 points corner from 25 meters. Mahammadaliyev tried to punch the Phoenix’s road winning streak at Brogden had 16. and Memphis beat Oklahoma City. Thorgan Hazard took advantage of a ball out of the area only for it to rico- seven, its longest since 2006-07. Jerami Grant led East-worst Detroit Grayson Allen scored 20 points, and slip by Wales defender Connor Roberts chet into the net off captain Maksim Nikola Vucevic had 27 points and with 29 points. Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points to head in Thomas Meunier’s cross for Medvedev. 14 rebounds for Orlando, and rookie Kings 110, Hawks 108 and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies. 2-1 before Romelu Lukaku converted In Group A’s other game, substi- Chuma Okeke made all six of his shots They have won four of five to move a en route to a career-best 17 points. In Sacramento, Calif, De’Aaron Fox from the penalty spot after Chris tute Aleksandar Mitrovic scored scored 37 points, Tyrese Haliburton game above .500. Mepham’s wild hack on Dries Mertens. twice as Serbia came from behind to Clippers 134, Spurs 101 made two free throws with 36.6 sec- Moses Brown had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder. A hat trick from free-scoring West beat Ireland 3-2 in Belgrade. In San Antonio: Former Spurs star onds remaining and Sacramento beat Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek The runners-up to France at the Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and Los Atlanta. Mavericks 128, Timberwolves 108 France’s Adrien Rabiot, (left), fights helped the Czech Republic thrash 2018 World Cup, Croatia lost its Angeles never trailed in beating San Haliburton had 17 points and seven for the ball with Ukraine’s Ilya Estonia 6-2. opening match of qualifying for the Antonio. assists, Buddy Hield scored 14 points, In Minneapolis, Kristaps Porzingis Zabarnyi during the World Cup The Belgians travel to the Czech 2022 tournament as Slovenia secured Spurs fans still have not forgiven and Richaun Holmes had 16 points had 29 points to help Dallas rout 2022 Group D qualifying soccer Republic on Saturday in Group E. a surprise 1-0 win in Ljubljana thanks Leonard for his trade demand and sub- and eight rebounds. Minnesota. match between France and Ukraine Cristiano Ronaldo could become to Sandi Lovric 15th-minute goal. sequent departure to Toronto follow- Clint Capella had 25 points and 17 Tim Hardaway Jr added 21 points. at the Start de de France Stadium, the all-time top scorer in men’s inter- Also in Group H, Russia won 3-1 at ing his injury-riddled 2018 season. He rebounds for the Hawks. They have and Luka Doncic finished with 15. in Saint Denis, north of Paris, national soccer by the end of qualify- Malta while Cyprus and Slovakia was booed during pregame introduc- have lost back-to-back games after Rookie guard Anthony Edwards led March 24. (AP) ing. drew 0-0. tions and subsequently each time he winning their first eight under interim Minnesota with 29 points.

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