29 Oct 2020

Today's sports news: What you need to know

11:26 am on 29 October 2020

Latest - Substitute Marcus Rashford scored a quickfire hat-trick for Manchester United as they overwhelmed Germany's RB Leipzig 5-0 at Old Trafford in their Champions League group match.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford celebrates a goal.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

United, who started with Paul Pogba in the side and Rashford and Bruno Fernandes on the bench, took the lead in the 21st minute through Mason Greenwood, who delivered a clinical finish after being slipped through by Pogba.

Rashford came on for Greenwood in the 63rd minute and soon set about deciding the match, after the Germans had looked capable of causing United problems.

United have the maximum six points from their opening two games in the group.

After a first up draw Chelsea kick started their campaign with a 4-0 win at Russian side Krasnodar to go top of their group.

Barcelona beat Juventus 2-0 to make it two from two.

-Reuters

Venus misses chance to secure place in ATP finals

The race to qualify for the season ending ATP Finals in London will go to the final regular season tournament for New Zealander Michael Venus and his Australian partner John Peers.

They have been beaten in the first round of the ATP500 tournament in Vienna by French Open champions Andreas Mies and Kevin Krawietz from Germany.

Venus and Peers remain 6th in the race to qualify in the lucrative elite eight team field for London.

Next week's results at the Paris Masters will determine whether Venus competes for the fourth straight year at the O2 Arena.

Phoenix sign local midfielder

The Wellington Phoenix have signed midfielder Sam Sutton on for another three years, ensuring he remains with the A-League side until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Sam Sutton of the Phoenix.

Sam Sutton Photo: PHOTOSPORT

18-year-old Sutton played in four matches for the Phoenix in the 2019/20 season, making his club debut on 21 December 2019 as a substitute during the Nix's 2-2 draw with Sydney FC.

He made his first club start against Adelaide United on 25 July 2020.

Prior to joining the club's first team last season, Sutton spent three seasons in the Phoenix Academy programme, making 40 appearances for the Phoenix Reserves in the New Zealand Premiership, scoring two goals and impressing with his ability.

In the last couple of days the Phoenix have also signed up defender James McGarry, midfielder Clayton Lewis and forward David Ball.

The Phoenix will head to Australia next week to prepare for the start of the A-League season just after Christmas.

Roglic eats into Vuelta lead

The Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic pulled off a brilliant late attack to win stage eight at the Vuelta a Espana and eat into the overall lead of front-runner Richard Carapaz.

Primoz Roglic on Tour de France.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Reigning Vuelta champion Roglic staged a fascinating duel with Carapaz inside the final kilometre of the 164km mountain stage from Logrono to Alto de Moncalvillo and came out on top, crossing the line 13 seconds ahead of the Ecuadorian.

Roglic also earned 10 bonus seconds for the stage win to help his pursuit of Carapaz, who picked up six bonus seconds.

Carapaz retains the red jersey but saw his lead stripped to 13 seconds as Roglic climbed from fourth overall into second, knocking Hugh Carthy back to fourth, with Daniel Martin moving into third overall after also coming third in the stage.

Roglic's Jumbo-Visma team-mate, the New Zealander George Bennett, finished 13th on the stage and is now 12th overall.

-Reuters

Dodgers delay celebrations

The Los Angeles Dodgers are delaying a public celebration of their long-awaited World Series championship because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"This season was everything we believed it could be. It was just missing one thing: The best fans in baseball," the team said in a statement. "While the wait for a World Championship is finally over, a celebration worthy of our great fans and the City of Los Angeles will unfortunately have to wait until it is safe to do so. We can't wait to celebrate together!"

The Los Angeles Lakers, who won their first NBA title since 2010 earlier this month, also are waiting for their celebration. And star LeBron James tweeted shortly after the final out of the World Series - a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 - that he's ready for a party.

"Man can we PLEASE have a parade!!! I know I know we can't but DAMN I wanna celebrate with our @Lakers & @Dodgers fans!!! LA is the city of CHAMPIONS," he wrote.

Mayor Eric Garcetti told the Los Angeles Times that will happen when the time is right.

-Reuters

F1 Grand Prix won't have fans

This weekend's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at Imola will be held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Michael Scumacher wins the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix 2006.

Michael Schumacher Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Promoters had previously been given permission for more than 13,000 spectators a day but issued a statement on the circuit website.

"The government has banned our fans and we are very disappointed for that," motorsport.com quoted Imola boss Uberto Selvatico Estense as saying.

Italy announced new measures on Sunday to try to halt a rapid resurgence in the coronavirus.

The race weekend, without Friday practice and condensed into two days from the usual three, will be the third race in Italy this season and 13th round of the championship.

Imola last hosted a Formula One race in 2006, when it was designated the San Marino Grand Prix.

-Reuters

South Africa investigates rugby player death

South African Rugby have launched an investigation into the death of a player at a tournament that went ahead in the Eastern Cape at the weekend despite the amateur game still being suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander described the death of Vizicelo Zondani as a tragedy and said the competition, which took place near King William's Town, 60km north of East London in the Border region on Saturday, should not have been held.

Domestic professional rugby got back underway earlier this month after a seven-month hiatus due to Covid-19.

World champions South Africa pulled out of the Rugby Championship that starts this weekend, citing player welfare concerns due to a lack of game-time.

-Reuters