Spurs keep pace, rally past Southampton
SOUTHAMPTON, England — Tottenham recovered from conceding a goal after 69 seconds to beat 10-man Southampton 4-1 in the English Premier League on Wednesday, keeping the team in touch with its rivals for Champions League qualification.
Dele Alli began Spurs’ fightback with the equalizer at St. Mary’s stadium and completed it with their fourth goal in the 87th minute, with the visitors threatening to score each time they attacked. Tottenham’s other goals in its third straight win were scored by Harry Kane, who also missed a penalty, and substitute Son Heung-min.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side stayed in fifth place, but moved back to within a point of the top four and 10 points back of Chelsea. It completed a perfect set of results for the league’s title chasers this round, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United also winning across Monday and Tuesday. The top six teams are seven points clear of the rest, setting up a fierce fight for the four Champions League qualification spots.
Orlando City signs Johnson
ORLANDO, Fla. — Canadian Will Johnson signed a two-year contract with Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC on Wednesday.
Johnson had two goals and five assists in 29 matches, including 20 starts, last season with Toronto FC. He helped Toronto reach the MLS final before it lost 5-4 to Seattle in a shootout.
TENNIS Ex-No. 1 Ivanovic retires
LONDON — Ana Ivanovic retired from tennis at age 29 Wednesday, ending a career in which she was ranked No. 1 in 2008 but can no longer play at the highest level because of injuries.
The Serb won 15 tour titles, including the 2008 French Open, and retires ranked No. 63.
CYCLING 8-time medallist retires
Bradley Wiggins announced his retirement from cycling on Wednesday, ending an illustrious career in which he won a British-record eight Olympic medals and became his country’s first winner of the Tour de France.
Wiggins is Britain’s most decorated Olympian with five golds in a haul of eight medals across five games, capped this year when he led the British to victory at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
BOXING WBC champ sets fight
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is scheduled to return to the ring against Polish challenger Andrzej Wawrzyk.
The matchup, announced on Wednesday, is set for Feb. 25 at Legacy Arena. Wilder hasn’t fought since sustaining a broken right hand and torn bicep in a win over Chris Arreola in July.