VERSTAPPEN WINS SEASON-ENDING F1 RACE
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in dominant style on Sunday for his second victory of the season and 10th of his career.
He finished 16 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas and 18.4 clear of world champion Lewis Hamilton as Red Bull enjoyed a rare and significant success over both Mercedes cars.
“It was really enjoyable out there today. We did everything all right,” Verstappen said. “I saw they (Mercedes) were dropping off behind so I could take it a bit easier. It was a very strong race for the team. I will enjoy the podium and then will enjoy going home.”
He has earned plaudits during a season when he was the only driver to ever trouble Mercedes, even with a slower car .
“Absolutely clinical,” team principal Christian Horner told Verstappen on the team radio.
Hamilton praised Verstappen and expects him to challenge more strongly in 2021.
“We’ve obviously got a fight on our hands next year, no doubt,” said Hamilton, who was driving after recovering from the coronavirus. “It was a really hard race for me physically. All year physically I have been fine, but today I definitely wasn’t. I am just glad it is over.“
Soccer
Mohamed Salah converted a 79th-minute penalty to earn Liverpool a point from a sloppy display in a 1-1 draw at Fulham in the Premier League. The champions looked like they were heading for the second loss of their title defense when a free-kick attempt at goal by Georginio Wijnaldum struck the outstretched elbow of Aboubakar Kamara in the defensive wall. A spot kick was awarded and, although Salah struck his attempt close to Alphonse Areola down the middle, the Fulham goalkeeper was unable to keep the ball out. Earlier Sunday, Tottenham, the league leader, was held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace.
Neymar was taken off on a stretcher deep into stoppage time as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 at home to Lyon to drop to third place in the French league. Neymar incurred a left ankle injury in the seventh minute of injury time at Parc des Princes following a heavy tackle from Thiago Mendes, who was then red carded.
Theo Hernandez scored twice to help AC Milan recover from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Parma and preserve its unbeaten league record.
Borussia Dortmund fired coach Lucien Favre, a day after the team lost 5-1 to promoted Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. Dortmund dropped to fifth in the league after the heavy home loss and has won just one of its last five games.
Mixed martial arts
Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno fought to a thrilling majority draw at UFC 256 late Saturday night, with Figuereido setting a UFC record with two defenses of his f lyweight title in three weeks.
Lightweight contender Charles Oliveira also earned his eighth consecutive victory by unanimous decision after dominating former champion Tony Ferguson on the ground at the Apex gym on the UFC’s corporate campus in Las Vegas.
Just 21 days after Figueiredo (20-1-1) stopped Alex Perez for his first title defense at UFC 255, the Brazilian returned to the cage and survived a perilous stalemate with Moreno (18-5-2), who also fought at UFC 255.
With a stirring mid-fight rally after a low blow left him in pain on the canvas, Moreno came agonizingly close to becoming the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history.
Referee Jason Herzog took a point from Figueiredo in the third round for the low kick, and Figueiredo’s mistake proved crucial: One judge scored it 48-47 for Figueiredo, but the other two had it 47-47.
Local colleges
The USD women’s basketball team (2-2) shot 50 percent from deep, but fell to the Arizona State (5-2) on the road 6455. The Toreros were led by redshirt senior Jordyn Edwards, who scored a seasonhigh 16 points and tacked on four steals.
Death
Pierre Lacroix, the astute executive who was the architect of two Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup championship teams, died. He was 72. The Avalanche confirmed his death Sunday. No cause of death was given.
• Jimmy Collins, who coached Illinois-Chicago to the NCAA Tournament three times in 14 seasons, died Sunday morning, the school announced. He was 74.