14 Jun 2019

Today's sports news: What you need to know

2:12 pm on 14 June 2019

Latest - Australia have got their Fifa women's World Cup campaign back on track coming back from two goals down to beat Brazil 3-2 in Montpellier.

Australian footballer Chloe Logarzo.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Brazilian superstar Marta became the first player to score at five different World Cups as she put Brazil ahead from the penalty spot with a record-extending 16th World Cup goal before Cristiane doubled the lead.

Caitlin Foord reduced the arrears on the stroke of halftime before Chloe Logarzo equalised and Monica beat her own keeper with an own goal to hand Australia all three points.

It was Brazil's first group-stage defeat in 24 years.

Brazil and Australia both have three points in Group C as do Italy, who take on Jamaica tomorrow after beating the Matildas in their opening match.

It is only the second time a team have come from 2-0 down to win at the Women's World Cup,

-Reuters

First up win for Black Sox

The Black Sox have beaten Czech Republic 9-0 in the opening game at the Men's Softball World Cup in Prague.

Black Sox batter Ben Enoka.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The world number one Black Sox jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second inning. Thomas Enoka hit a triple, which was followed by Reilly Makea being hit by pitch. Zane Van Lieshout stepped up to hit the second triple of the inning to give the 7-time world champions a two-run lead.

The Black Sox tagged on another run in the 4th through steady pressure and a Czech error.

The Kiwis put the game out of reach in the 6th with a 3-run shot over the outfield fence by Ben Enoka to give them a 6-0 lead.

The pressure proved too much for the Czech's who gave up three further runs in the 7th inning due to a combination of walks and errors.

Van Lieshout lead the way with the bat with two hits and three RBI's.

It was an ideal start to the tournament for the Black Sox with 10 hits and a solid performance by pitcher Nik Hayes who gave up just three hits.

The Black Sox will take on Cuba in their next game early Sunday morning NZ time.

Chieka wants Ponga to change codes

Rugby league superstar Kayln Ponga has reportedly been approached by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika about making a dramatic code switch.

Newcastle Knights Kayln Ponga on report.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Newcastle Knights and Queensland Maroons fullback was said to have been phoned personally by Cheika to ask if he could be persuaded to move back to the 15-man game, which he played as a schoolboy in New Zealand, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Cheika reportedly confirmed to the newspaper that he did call Ponga to discuss a potential move to union late last year.

But with the 21-year-old's future currently unclear after putting contract talks with Newcastle on hold until 2021, the Australia national team boss would not reveal the outcome of the conversation as the player is focused on playing for the Knights and Queensland.

If he did revert back to union, Ponga would be eligible for the All Blacks, having grown up in Palmerston North between the ages of eight and 13.

But the Telegraph also quoted an unnamed source close to Rugby Australia who said: "There would be no embarrassment in trying to get Kalyn Ponga to rugby union. That would be smart."

-AAP

Chelsea boss heading back to Italy

The English premier league football club Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle for their manager Maurizio Sarri to join Italian Serie A champions Juventus.

Maurizio Sarri is on the move from Chelsea to Juventus.

Maurizio Sarri is on the move from Chelsea to Juventus. Photo: Photosport

It is understood a compensation fee in excess of £5m has been agreed.

Sarri arrived from Napoli in July 2018 and led the Blues to third place in the Premier League and won the Europa League in his one season in charge.

Despite signing a three-year deal last July, he will become the ninth full-time manager to leave the club under Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Throughout the 60-year-old Italian's time at Stamford Bridge there was repeated speculation about his position, with Chelsea fans expressing their discontent at tactics and team selections.

-BBC

Waratahs not blaming Folau for their disappointing season

The New South Wales Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson is refusing to blame fallout from the Israel Folau calamity for a Super Rugby campaign which is set to wind up this weekend, barring a miracle.

Gibson's side must beat the Highlanders tonight, secure a bonus point in the process and hope other results go their way if they're to secure a finals berth.

Making their task even more treacherous is heavy rain forecast for Invercargill and Gibson's decision to abide by the Rugby Australia player welfare requirements.

It means 12th-placed NSW will be without Wallabies Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Rob Simmons and Sekope Kepu, who are serving their second mandatory rest week.

Halfback Nick Phipps is promoted to captain in what is likely his final Super Rugby game before leaving for English club London Irish.

Phipps caused a stir on Sunday when opining that teammates had been left disappointed and distracted by the controversy surrounding Folau's homophobic social media post and the player's subsequent war with Rugby Australia over his contract termination.

However, Gibson was having none of it.

Gibson says while Folau's on-field absence was obvious, the players were professional enough to put any off-field drama to one side.

-AAP

Froome has 6 hours of surgery

The British cyclist Chris Froome underwent surgery for six hours on broken bones and will remain in intensive care in France for the next few days following a crash at the Criterium du Dauphine that ruled him out of the Tour de France.

Cyclist Chris Froome

Cyclist Chris Froome Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The four-times Tour champion sustained multiple fractures including broken femur, elbow and rib bones when he crashed at high speed while checking the course ahead of the individual time trial yesterday.

In Froome's absence, defending champion Geraint Thomas and Colombian Egan Bernal will lead Team Ineos on the Tour, which starts in Brussels on July 6, although the team tactics have yet to be decided on.

The British outfit have won six of the last seven Tours as Team Sky before being re-launched as Team Ineos earlier this year.

-Reuters

Raiders pip Sharks

The Canberra Raiders have beat Cronulla 22-20 in their NRL game in Canberra.

Raiders star Nick Cotric could be in doubt for State of Origin II after injuring his left foot in the win.

The NSW winger is hoping to retain his spot for game two in Perth next week, with teams named this Sunday.

His injury put a dampener on a gritty win at GIO Stadium, where they held off a fierce comeback from the Sharks to extend their winning streak to three.

Kiwi Shaun Johnson returned for the Sharks after injury.

Canberra are third on the table and Cronulla sixth.

-AAP

City to play Hammers in season opener

Champions Manchester City will kick off their 2019-20 Premier League season with an away trip to West Ham United while Liverpool get the ball rolling with a Friday evening home clash against promoted Norwich City.

Manchester City celebrate winning the 2011-12 EPL title.

Manchester City celebrate winning the 2011-12 EPL title. Photo: Offside Sports Photography/Photosport

The fixtures, released today, also included a meaty first-weekend clash with Manchester United hosting Chelsea, who finished third last season.

Tottenham Hotspur, who completed the top-four last season, are at home to Aston Villa, who returned to the top flight via the playoffs after a three-season absence.

Arsenal travel to Newcastle United while Sheffield United, the other promoted club, start at Bournemouth.

Leicester City host Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley face Southampton, Crystal Palace host Everton and FA Cup runners-up Watford are at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The season starts on Friday, Aug 9.

The upcoming top flight season will be the first to include a brief mid-season break. A set of fixtures will be spread over a two-week period in February, meaning all clubs get a week off.

It will also feature the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system for the first time.

-Reuters

McLaughlin chasing more records

Supercars supremo Scott McLaughlin admits he keeps an eye on the record books and there's two landmarks he's aiming for in Darwin this weekend.

Championship leader Scott McLaughlin.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The New Zealander is looking to become the first racer to claim the elusive Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway, and also overtake legend Peter Brock into second all-time for pole positions.

No driver has managed to win the Northern Territory round's two races and the top-10 shootout since its inception in 2006, while McLaughlin sits just one pole behind Brock's 57.

McLaughin has been in sizzling touch this season, guiding DJR Team Penske's Ford Mustang to 10 wins and nine poles from 14 races to put the New Zealander on track for back-to-back championships.

McLaughin only turned 26 on Monday but he is already considered one of the best qualifying racers Supercars' history.

-AAP

Jones to see out his contract

England coach Eddie Jones will see out the remaining two years of his contract while defence coach John Mitchell has extended his deal until after this year's World Cup.

Jones' contract runs until 2021 with the original plan that he would mentor his successor for two years but British media reported the Australian could leave if England do not reach the latter stages of the World Cup in Japan.

However the RFU says Jones has reconfirmed his commitment to stay through to 2021.

The RFU said it had extended Mitchell's contract so that it goes through to June 2021.

New Zealander Mitchell, an England assistant coach between 1997 and 2000 under Clive Woodward for 33 Tests, was named defence coach in September last year.

-Reuters

Ferrari won't appeal Canada result

Ferrari will not formally appeal the penalty that cost Sebastian Vettel victory in the Canadian Grand Prix, but could still seek a review of the decision by presenting fresh evidence.

The deadline for the Formula One team to lodge a formal protest is today 96 hours after the end of the race in Montreal.

The Daily Mail newspaper earlier reported that Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto had written to the FIA to say the team would not protest the five-second penalty applied to Vettel's time after the race.

The team had given notice of their intention to appeal on Monday, with Vettel leading from start to finish but losing out to Mercedes' championship leader Lewis Hamilton after the chequered flag.

-Reuters