27 Sep 2021

Today's sports news: What you need to know

6:39 am on 27 September 2021

Arsenal's resurgence continued with a 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur as the two north London clubs continued to move in opposite directions in the Premier League.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores a goal.

Photo: Photosport

Goals by Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka crowned a majestic first-half display by Arsenal who were sharper and hungrier than a listless Tottenham side.

Smith Rowe swept in Arsenal's opener in the 12th minute and then set up Aubameyang in the 27th minute and when Saka made it 3-0 in the 34th minute the hosts were running riot.

There was a little more fight about Tottenham after the break and Son Heung-min pulled a goal back with little over 10 minutes remaining, but it was too little too late for the visitors whose early-season optimism has evaporated.

After losing their opening three Premier League games without scoring a goal, Arsenal have now won three in a row and are above Tottenham who, after winning their opening three to top the table, have lost three London derbies in succession, conceding nine goals in the process.

Arsenal, who were bottom after three games, are now in 10th place with nine points, ahead of Tottenham on goals scored.

- Reuters

Usyk wants Joshua rematch in Ukraine

Usyk wants Joshua rematch in Ukraine, Alaphilippe goes back-to-back and more history for Hamilton.

New heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk said his stunning victory over Anthony Joshua in London gave him less satisfaction than winning Olympic gold in the same city in 2012.

Oleksandr Usyk.

Oleksandr Usyk. Photo: Photosport/Actionplus

Former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk gave a boxing masterclass in front of 67,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, earning a unanimous points decision.

"London is a really lucky city for me but not a single professional victory can be above an Olympic gold," the Ukrainian, who won heavyweight gold at the London Olympics, said after taking Joshua's WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts.

Usyk's next fight is likely to be a mandatory re-match against Joshua, and after his last 10 fights have been outside the Ukraine the so-called "road warrior" would love nothing more than to fight in front of home fans in Kiev.

"I would love to have the rematch at Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev," he said, although Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn appeared to pour cold water on that scenario, saying it would more likely be in London or international to "maximise income".

Usyk is now unbeaten in 19 fights and has followed in the footsteps of Ukrainian brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko who dominated the heavyweight division for a decade.

- Reuters

Alaphilippe goes back-to-back

France's Julian Alaphilippe retained his men's road race title at the cycling world championships in style after attacking relentlessly in the finale, capping a remarkable team performance.

Alaphilippe made the decisive move on the short climb up to the Sint Antoniusberg 17km from the line and never looked back, becoming only the seventh rider to win consecutive titles.

image:158719:half] Julian Alaphilippe.

Alaphilippe reaped the rewards of the team's tactics after the French shook up the race throughout to wear down their opponents, notably the Belgians, whose odds-on favourite Wout van Aert ended up finishing empty-handed.

It was also Alaphilippe's instinct that made the difference as he beat Dutchman Dylan van Baarle and Denmark's Michael Valgren, who came home second and third, respectively.

"In the finale the fans were asking me to slow down and they didn't have nice words... I want to thank them because it really motivated me," said the 29-year-old, who also won solo in Imola, Italy last year.

"I just wanted to shake it up, I did not think it would eventually stick."

The Frenchman found his second wind in the closing stages, riding away to become the first man to retain his title since Slovakian Peter Sagan won his third consecutive rainbow jersey in 2017.

- Reuters

More history for Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula One driver to win 100 grands prix with a dramatic rain-assisted victory in Russia that sent the Mercedes driver two points clear in the championship.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished an impressive second at Sochi's Olympic Park, after starting 20th and last due to engine penalties, thereby limiting the damage from his rival's fifth win of the season and first since July.

F1 driver Lewis Hamilton

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Spaniard Carlos Sainz was third for Ferrari on a day of hope and ultimate heartbreak for McLaren's Lando Norris as a late downpour dashed his hopes of a first win.

Hamilton had slipped to seventh at the end of lap one, losing out at the start after being fourth on the grid, but made up places as those ahead of him pitted early.

He was still 25 seconds behind Norris after his final stop but the team had read the weather right and the tyres easily allowed him to catch up and overtake his compatriot for a landmark win.

While Hamilton celebrated a personal century, his Mercedes team maintained their own 100 per cent record in Sochi. The champions have won every Russian grand prix since the first in 2014, Hamilton triumphant in five of them.

The next round is at Turkey's Istanbul Park on October 10.

Hamilton won his record-equalling seventh title there last November in a wet and slippery race but this year's championship chase looks like going the distance.

- Reuters

India end Australian streak

Australian women's world record 26-match winning streak in one-day internationals came to an end after India pulled off their highest-ever run chase to defeat Meg Lanning's team by two wickets in the third ODI on Sunday.

India held their nerve to win with three balls to spare after half-centuries from Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia helped them chase a target of 265 in Mackay.

Australian cricketer Meg Lanning

Australian cricketer Meg Lanning Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The 38-year-old Jhulan Goswami also starred for India, picking up three wickets before clinching the victory with a boundary in the final over.

Half-centuries from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney steered Australia to a formidable total but a number of missed catches and run-outs meant they failed to defend the target, limping to their first defeat since October 2017.

After winning the first two of the three ODIs, Australia lead 4-2 on points in the multi-format series.

The two teams will next play a day-night test in Gold Coast beginning on September 30 before ending the series with three Twenty20 internationals starting on October 7.

- Reuters

Wolves edge Southampton

Wolverhampton Wanderers beat winless Southampton 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday at St Mary's Stadium after Mexican striker Raul Jimenez scored his first goal in nearly a year.

5th November 2017, Stamford Bridge, London, England; EPL Premier League football, Chelsea versus Manchester United; David De Gea of Manchester Utd looks at the ball in the net as Alvaro Morata of Chelsea scores making it 1-0

Photo: Photosport

The solo effort in the second half was Jimenez's first league goal since October and his first since a head injury in November prematurely ended his season.

Bruno Lage dropped wingers Adama Traore and Francisco Trincao from the Wolves starting lineup for Daniel Podence and Hwang Hee-chan, but the changes did little to inspire the team in attack, with the visitors having only one shot on target in the first half.

Southampton's Nathan Redmond hit the back of the net in an otherwise dull opening period, but his strike was chalked off as the winger was offside when he received the ball.

Jimenez finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, shrugging off Jan Bednarek's challenge to latch on to a long ball before wrong-footing centre back Mohammed Salisu to fire home.

Wolves held on to their lead despite some sustained pressure from the home side and moved provisionally up to 13th with their second win of the season, while Ralph Hasenhuettl's Saints are 16th, one point above the relegation zone.

- Reuters