Mexico blanks Honduras, reaches Gold Cup semifinals
A goal by Rodolfo Pizarro just over three minutes into the game was all the offense Mexico could muster but it was enough for a 1- 0 victory over Honduras on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The victory in front of 37,404 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona advanced Mexico into a semifinal match against Jamaica in the Rose Bowl on Sunday. It’s a rematch of the championship game of the last Gold Cup, a 3-1 Mexico victory in 2015.
Jamaica got an early goal from Shaun Francis and led the rest of the way, holding off Canada 2-1 in the other quarterfinal in Glendale.
Romario Williams put Jamaica up 2- 0 five minutes into the second half.
Canada’s David Junior Hoilett scored in the 61st minute.
Motor sports
Hendrick Motorsports announced that 24-yearold Alex Bowman will replace one of the series’ biggest stars in the No. 88 car next season after Dale Earnhardt Jr. retires.
Bowman has big shoes to fill. Earnhardt was named NASCAR’s most popular driver each of the last 14 seasons and fans of his late father often tracked Junior’s results following Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash in the 2001 season opener at Daytona.
Bowman already has some experience in this job. When the 42-year-old Earnhardt missed 18 races because of a concussion last season, Bowman started 10 of them in the No. 88, winning the first Cup pole of his career.
Golf
THREE-WAY TIE AT TOP » Martin Flores, Cameron Tringale and Zac Blair shared the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship lead at 6-under 65 when firstround play was suspended because of darkness.
Flores and Tringale played in the morning at Grand National’s Lake Course in Opelika, Alabama, and Blair finished his afternoon round after a rain delay of nearly two hours.
Robert Allenby, Chad Campbell, Rory Sabbatini and Tag Ridings shot 66, and Richy Werenski also was 5 under with two holes left.
Jim Furyk opened with a 69. The 47-year- old U. S. Ryder Cup captain is playing the event after failing to qualify for the British Open. PILLER IN THE LEAD » Gerina Piller shot a first-round 8-under 63 in the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic to take a one-stroke lead over U.S. Women’s Open champion Sung Hyun Park and Peiyun Chien.
Piller had nine birdies and a bogey in the first round at Highland Meadows in Sylvania, Ohio. The American birdied four of the first five holes and four of the last eight.
Park, the South Korean player who won her first major title last week at Trump National in New Jersey, had seven birdies in a bogey-free round. Chien, an LPGA Tour rookie from Taiwan, had eight birdies and a bogey.
NFL
Michael Vick said he was only trying to help Colin Kaepernick. Vick also said his comments were taken out of context. But, most importantly, Vick said he is sorry for saying Kaepernick needed to cut his afro to help in his search for another job as an NFL quarterback.
“What I said, I never should have said,” Vick said on the “Dan Patrick Show.”
“I think it was taken out of context in regards to what I was trying to convey, but I only want to help Colin Kaepernick. I’m not a general manager, I’m not the guy who makes the decisions on getting him signed, and I’m truly sorry for what I said. I think I should have used a better choice of words. Obviously we all know his afro has nothing to do with him not being signed.” JOHNSON BACK WITH CARDINALS » The Arizona Cardinals re-signed nine-year NFL veteran Chris Johnson to a one-year contract.
The 31-year- old running back is expected to provide backup support for All-Pro David Johnson.
Chris Johnson, a threetime Pro Bowl selection, spent the last two seasons with Arizona.
NBA
CAVS, ROSE TALKING » Looking to close the gap on the champion Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in contract talks with free agent guard Derrick Rose, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Rose, whose career has been sidetracked by injuries, could sign a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum.
He made $21.3 million while playing in 64 games for the New York Knicks last season.
College football
OLE MISS COACH STEPS DOWN » Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze has resigned after five seasons, bringing a stunning end to a oncepromising tenure.
Assistant Matt Luke has been named interim coach.
The Rebels had a quick rise under Freeze, reaching an apex with a Sugar Bowl win over Oklahoma State following the 2015 season.
But an NCAA investigation into the program — alleging 21 charges of academic, booster, and recruiting misconduct — has overshadowed much of that success. The school has already self-imposed several penalties, including a oneyear postseason ban for the upcoming season.
Freeze had a 39-25 record over five seasons, including a 19-21 mark in the Southeastern Conference.
Mississippi plays at Cal on Sept. 16.