New-look Quakes lose heartbreaker to Atlanta United
New coach, same heartbreaking results. Playing for the first time since Mikael Stahre was fired, the San Jose Earthquakes blew a two-goal second-half lead and lost 4-3 to Atlanta United on Wednesday night at Avaya Stadium.
Josef Martinez, who converted a penalty kick earlier, scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time, increasing his MLS single-season record to 30 goals.
In a matchup of the best and worst teams in MLS, the Quakes (4-17-8) put up a strong effort under interim coach Steve Ralston but were undone by the usual defensive breakdowns. Nick Lima, Danny Hoesen and Vako Qazaishvili scored to put the Quakes up 3-1. An apparent goal by Chris Wondolowski in the 67th minute was reversed by video replay, and Atlanta (18-5-6) then scored twice in the next six minutes to tie the game at 3-3.
— Harold Gutmann
RONALDO SENT OFF BUT JUVENTUS GOES ON TO WIN >> Cristiano Ronaldo was supposed to be the missing piece in Juventus’ bid to win the Champions League. But his first match in the competition for his new club lasted less than half an hour as he was sent off after appearing to pull at an opponent’s hair.
Juventus still went on to win 2-0 at Valencia (Spain), thanks to two penalties. It was Ronaldo’s first red card in 154 Champions League games, and the decision means he could miss a return to Old Trafford when Juventus plays Manchester United next month if gets at least a two-match ban.
BAY AREA PLAYERS MAKE USWNT ROSTER >> The U.S. women’s national team has named a 20-player roster for next month’s CONCACAF championship, which serves as qualifying for next year’s World Cup in France. Players with Bay Area ties to make the team are: Kelley O’Hara (defender, Stanford); Julie Ertz (midfielder, Santa Clara); Alex Morgan (forward, Cal); Christen Press (forward, Stanford).
NBA
CUBAN TO DONATE $10 MILLION AFTER WORKPLACE MISCONDUCT >> Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has agreed to contribute
$10 million to help further the cause of women in sports and raise awareness about domestic violence after an investigation released substantiated numerous incidents of sexual harassment and improper workplace conduct within the franchise going back more than 20 years.
Investigators hired by the outspoken billionaire said there was no evidence to show Cuban knew of the most explosive allegations involving former team president Terdema Ussery. But the report faulted Cuban for not firing two employees when there were clear signs he should have.
The report was made public some seven months after Sports Illustrated detailed years of examples of a hostile workplace for women on the business side of the team.
Tennis
OSAKA A HIT IN RETURN HOME >> Naomi Osaka’s homecoming couldn’t have gone much better. Playing in her first tournament since winning the U.S. Open, third-seeded Osaka impressed her Japanese fans with a powerful 6-2, 6-1 win over Dominika Cibulkova to reach the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Osaka was in control of the second-round match from the outset, breaking Cibulkova’s serve in the first game at a sold-out Tachikawa Arena.
“My first match (since the U.S. Open) in Tokyo felt really special,” Osaka said. “I didn’t really feel pressure, I felt more excitement because I knew that a lot of people were watching this match. I felt really grateful.
“I’m just grateful I could play in front of you guys and want to thank everyone for their support.”
NADAL TO SKIP TOURNAMENTS IN ASIA >> Rafael Nadal says he will not play in upcoming tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai because of an injured right knee. The top-ranked Spaniard retired in the semifinals of the U.S. Open this month because of the knee problem.
Women’s basketball
STANFORD, CAL ALUMS ON WORLD CUP TEAM >> Ex-Stanford star Nneka Ogwumike and Cal product Layshia Clarendon were among the players selected to the USA Basketball women’s World Cup team. Also on the team are Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and A’ja Wilson. The U.S. is seeking a record third-straight FIBA World Cup gold. The tournament opens this weekend in Spain.
Wrestling
JUDGE THROWS OUT LAWSUIT BY EX-WRESTLERS OVER CONCUSSIONS >> A federal judge in Connecticut has dismissed a lawsuit by 60 former professional wrestlers, many of them stars in the 1980s and 1990s, who claimed World Wrestling Entertainment failed to protect them from repeated head trauma including concussions that led to long-term brain damage. U.S. District Judge Vanessa Bryant in Hartford threw out the lawsuit, saying many of the claims were frivolous or filed after the statute of limitations expired.
MMA
UFC’S JONES CAN RETURN IN FALL >> Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones should be eligible to fight by late October after completing a 15-month suspension for a doping violation. It was his second violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy. The decision means Jones could even fight at UFC 230, if the UFC decides to book his comeback bout on that card.