Spirit wins NWSL crown in extra time over Red Stars
LOUISVILLE, KY. >> Kelley O’Hara scored in the 97th minute and the Washington Spirit won the National Women’s Soccer League championship with a 2-1 extra time victory over the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday.
The championship game closes a tumultuous ninth season for the league. The Spirit had to forfeit a pair of games this season because of coronavirus issues. The team played under interim coach Kris Ward after Richie Burke was fired in September for violating the league’s anti-harassment policy.
It was the first league championship for the Spirit, who advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 victory over second-seeded OL Reign.
SOLSKJAER’S UNITED LOSES AGAIN >> The wheel seems to be coming off for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United. The pressure on the Norwegian manager reached new levels after the team’s latest Premier League setback, a dispiriting 4-1 loss to struggling Watford.
The result was bad enough but the performance was so lackluster — even before two late goals padded the scoreline for Watford — that it left Solskjaer’s future in serious doubt, with United dropping to seventh place in the standings.
Unlike United, Chelsea showed again that it’s a genuine title contender this season by consolidating its lead atop the standings with a 3-0 win at Leciester.
Liverpool handed Arsenal a harsh reality check by tearing through the Gunners in the second half for a 4-0 win.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard started his reign as Aston Villa manager with a 2-0 win over Brighton, while his predecessor Dean Smith saw his new team Norwich climb out of last place with a 2-1 home win against Southampton.
Golf
KORDA, KO PART OF 4-WAY TIE AT LPGA >> Nelly Korda and Jin Young Ko are part of a four-way tie for the lead going into the final round of the season, with nothing less than $1.5 million and LPGA player of the year on the line.
Ko started pouring in putts from everywhere and ran off seven straight birdies that helped her make up a six-shot deficit and carried her to a 6-under 66. Korda followed by overpowering the par 5s on the back nine at Tiburon for a 67 to get back in the game.
They were tied at the CME Group Tour Championship with Celine Boutier of France, who started with a four-shot lead and wasn’t hurt by her 72, and Nasa Hataoka of Japan who had the low round of a windblown Saturday at 64.
They were at 14-under 202, setting up a final day bursting with possibilities. GOOCH TAKES 3-SHOT LEAD AT SEA ISLAND >> Talor Gooch is one round away from his first PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic.
Gooch hit only six fairways at Sea Island and still managed a 3-under 67, stretching his lead to three shots going into the final round.
He was at 16-under 196, three shots clear of Seamus Power of Ireland (67) and Sebastian Munoz of Colombia (69).
Tennis
ZVEREV DENIES DJOKOVIC >> For the second time this year, Alexander Zverev has denied Novak Djokovic the chance to play for a big trophy.
Following up his win over the top-ranked player in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics, Zverev beat Djokovic 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3 at the same stage of the ATP Finals.
The result means Djokovic can’t match Roger Federer’s record of six titles at the season-ending event for the top eight players. At least not this year.
Instead, Zverev will play second-ranked Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final.
Medvedev, the U.S. Open champion, beat first-time qualifier Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2 earlier as he seeks to defend his title.
Skiing
VLHOVA BEATS SHIFFRIN IN 1ST SLALOM >> Practice made perfect for Petra Vlhova, beating Mikaela Shiffrin in the first World Cup slalom of the season.
The Slovakian overall champion posted the fastest time in both runs. She initially lost a few hundredths from her slim lead of .11 over Shiffrin but accelerated near the end of her final run to win by .31 as the pair continued their dominance in the annual event in Finnish Lapland.