World Cup berths are won by Spain, Serbia and Croatia
Spain, Serbia and Croatia are heading to next year’s World Cup. Sweden, Portugal and Russia aren’t — not yet.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s 90thminute header left Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal stunned in a 2-1 win for Serbia in Lisbon, which gave Serbia a qualifying spot at the World Cup in Qatar. Portugal now must navigate the playoffs in March.
Spain needed a draw in its last game against Sweden to qualify, but Alvaro Morata made sure in the 86th minute with the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Croatia laid siege to Russia’s goal on a swampy field and was rewarded when a Russian defender scored an 81st-minute own goal, enough for a 1-0 win.
Russia, too, heads to the 12-team playoffs, which start March 24 and will send three teams to the World Cup. The draw is Nov. 26 in Zurich.
⏩ Ashley Sanchez broke a tie in the 68th minute and the Washington Spirit advanced to the National Women’s Soccer League championship game with a 2-1 victory over OL Reign. The title match Saturday in Louisville, Ky., will pit the Spirit, unbeaten in their past eight matches, against the Chicago Red Stars, who defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0.
⏩ Steve Simon, the CEO of the WTA Tour, called for Chinese authorities to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by Chinese women’s tennis player Peng Shuai against Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier of China. Simon also urged China to end censorship on the topic.
Simon’s comments could endanger the tour’s relationship with China, where the WTA has 11 tournaments.
NHL: Dan Vladar made 27 saves for his first career shutout as the Calgary Flames snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over the host Ottawa Senators.
⏩ Garnet Hathaway scored his third goal in two games, Alex Ovechkin added two assists and the Washington Capitals spoiled Sidney Crosby’s return from the COVID list, routing the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 6-1. The Capitals also re-signed forward Nic Dowd to a three-year contract extension.
⏩ Charlie Coyle had an attempted clearing pass carom into the net off his head for his first of two goals, Charlie McAvoy also scored twice, and the Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in Boston.
⏩ Kailer Yamamoto scored in the final minute as the visiting Edmonton Oilers beat the St. Louis Blues 5-4.
⏩ Chris Kreider scored the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout and the host New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3. Kaapo Kaako had a goal and an assist, and Adam Fox and Alexis Lafreniere also scored in the Rangers’ third straight win.
⏩ Trevor Zegras’ second powerplay goal of the game broke a 1-1 tie and the host Anaheim Ducks added two goals in 22 seconds in the game’s final minute in a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
Obituary: Bob Bondurant, a former champion race-car driver who opened a high-performance driving school in 1968 and taught numerous A-list actors for their movie roles, died Friday in Paradise Valley, Ariz. He was 88.