5 Jul 2020

Today's sports news: What you need to know

3:08 pm on 5 July 2020

Latest - Manchester United's hopes of playing Champions League football next year have been given a boost following a big win over Bournemouth.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial. Photo: Photosport

United's three-pronged attack combined to devastating effect as they crushed their rivals 5-2 in the Premier League to move into the top four and stretch their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.

Mason Greenwood shone with two superb goals while Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and playmaker Bruno Fernandes added one each for United, who climbed into fourth place on 55 points from 33 games.

They are one point ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea who were hosting Watford later on Sunday morning (NZ time).

Bournemouth, who have now lost 17 of their last 22 league games, stayed 19th on 27 points and face a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation from the top flight.

- Reuters

Arsenal halt Wolves charge with 2-0 victory

Arsenal dented Wolverhampton Wanderers' hopes of a top-four finish as Bukayo Saka's first Premier League goal helped them to an impressive 2-0 away victory.

The 18-year-old Saka's controlled finish on the turn just before the end of a low-key first half put Arsenal ahead.

Adama Traore fired over as in-form Wolves struggled to find their usual attacking potency. Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench late on to secure the points for Mikel Arteta's side with a clinical angled finish.

Arsenal's third successive league win moved them to within three points of sixth-placed Wolves whose eight-match unbeaten league run came to an end in disappointing fashion.

Wolves are three points behind Manchester United in fourth spot and two behind Chelsea who play later.

- Reuters

Podium for New Zealander in F2 debut

Young New Zealand driver Marcus Armstrong has stood on the podium after his first Formula 2 start.

The 19-year-old has finished second in the season-opening Formula 2 feature race in Austria, after qualifying 13th.

"It was a good feeling to finally cross the finish line," Armstrong said.

"It's a good way to start because obviously we had very limited testing time this year in Bahrain, so every single lap that we do, the rookies, we're going to improve. It's a good way to start the season for sure."

There's a sprint race tonight (Sunday) before the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Bottas pips Hamilton to start F1 season on pole in Austria

Finland's Valtteri Bottas will start the Formula One season on pole position after denying Mercedes team mate and six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton the top slot in Austria.

The Austrian Grand Prix starts the Covid disrupted season tomorrow morning (NZ time).

The front-row lockout by Mercedes equalled Ferrari's record of 65, and the "Black Arrows" -- their new livery a statement against racism - were in a private duel at the scenic Red Bull Ring.

Hamilton had started as favourite after dominating all three practice sessions but Bottas shifted up a gear just when it mattered.

Hamilton was a mere 0.012 slower than the Finn's time of one minute 02.939 seconds, set on his first run, after lapping fastest on Friday and Saturday's final practice at the scenic Red Bull Ring.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, winner of the past two races at his team's home circuit, qualified third -- half a second slower than Hamilton -- but as the sole driver in the top 10 on the medium tyres.

McLaren's Lando Norris, at 20 the youngest man in the race, will line up an impressive fourth.

- Reuters

NBL wins for Otago and Franklin

The Franklin Bulls made it four wins on the bounce with an 83-72 win against the Manawatu Jets on Saturday evening at The Trusts Arena.

It was a balanced performance from the Bulls with five players in double figures. Sam Timmins posted 17 points and eight rebounds, Dom Kelman-Poto corralled seven rebounds to go with 15 points and veteran Everard Bartlett scored 13.

For the Jets, Jayden Bezzant led all scorers with 20 points (7/13FG), Taane Samuels had 17 points and Ashton McQueen 13. Tom Vodanovich pulled down 12 rebounds but registered only eight points.

Meanwhile the Battle of the South went to the most southern team in the 2020 NBL Showdown, with Otago downing the Canterbury Rams 87-77 to end a two-game losing streak and confine the Rams to back to back losses.