Changes coming for young U.S. team after tough 2018
In his final match as U.S. soccer coach, Dave Sarachan gave 20-yearold star Christian Pulisic the captain’s arm band for the first time and sent out the youngest lineup since the American team started keeping records.
Matteo Politano scored his first international goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, and Italy beat the United States 1-0 in an exhibition at Genk, Belgium, as Pulisic became the youngest captain in the modern history of the American team.
As the U.S. Soccer Federation restructured under new president Carlos Cordeiro, Sarachan’s transition to a younger roster and guided the Americans to three wins, five losses and four ties in 12 exhibitions. Romain Gall, a 23-year-old midfielder, became the 23rd player to make his debut under Sarachan, replacing Pulisic in the 83rd minute.
“Well, it was my last game. I haven’t been told that, but it’s evident there’s going to be a change in the very near future,” Sarachan said. “To look back on the games that we played, the players that we’ve exposed to this level, that we brought forth, I’m certain it’s going to pay dividends down the line.”
New U.S. general manager Earnie Stewart has said a new coach will be hired later this year, and Columbus Crew coach Gregg Berhalter is the favorite.
USMNT COMING TO AVAYA STADIUM >> The U.S. men’s national team will play at Avaya Stadium in San Jose for the second time when it takes on Costa Rica on Saturday, Feb. 2. The game time will be announced later by the Earthquakes and U.S. Soccer, which are co-hosting the friendly. The game is part of USA’s exhibition schedule in advance of the 2019 Gold Cup, which kicks off the official competition for the 2022 World Cup cycle. Tickets for the game will go on sale to the general public on Nov. 30. Earthquakes season pass holders will have access to a presale on Thursday, Nov. 29.
CAHILL INTERNATIONAL CAREER ENDS WITH A WIN >> Tim Cahill’s farewell game for Australia ended in a 3-0 win over Lebanon in Sydney, leaving the Socceroos’ all-time leading scorer with 50 goals and 108 caps. Cahill,
who scored in three of the four World Cups he contested, went on with about 10 minutes remaining at Sydney’s Olympic stadium, and his every touch was greeted with raucous cheers from the 33,268-strong crowd. FRANCE FORWARD MBAPPE INJURED >> France striker Kylian Mbappe has been forced off the pitch with an apparent shoulder injury during the world champion’s friendly game against Uruguay. The PSG star had to be substituted after he fell awkwardly on his right shoulder near the half-hour mark at the Stade de France with the match scoreless.
Swimming
LEDECKY, MURPHY TAKE HOME TOP HONORS >> Former Stanford star Katie Ledecky was honored as the top female swimmer for the sixth straight year, while former Cal swimmer Ryan Murphy took home three prizes at USA Swimming’s Golden Goggles awards. Ledecky and Murphy were honored Monday night for their performances at 2018’s biggest meet, the Pan Pacific Championships.
The 21-year-old Ledecky won five medals at Pan Pacs. Also this year, Ledecky lowered her world record in the 1,500 free. Murphy was the big winner with three Golden Goggles award — male athlete of the year, male race of the year for his 100 backstroke victory at Pan Pacs and relay performance of the year for his part on the winning 4x100 medley relay team in Tokyo.
Baseball
PRICE, VENTERS EARN COMEBACK PLAYER AWARDS >> Boston pitcher David Price has won the AL Comeback Player of the Year award, and Atlanta reliever Jonny Venters has earned the NL honor. Price was 16-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 30 starts for the Red Sox. He was 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 starts and five relief appearances in 2017, when he was slowed by left elbow inflammation. The 33-year-old Venters was 5-2 with three saves and a 3.67 ERA for Tampa Bay and Atlanta, which reacquired him on July 26. He had not appeared in the major leagues since 2012, undergoing Tommy John surgery for the second and third times.
A’S ACQUIRE RHP ANDERSON FROM PIRATES >> The A’s traded for righthander Tanner Anderson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named or cash. The 25-year-old Anderson made his major league debut last season. He went 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA in six outings spanning 11 1/3 innings for the Pirates.
BELTRE RETIRES AFTER LONG CAREER >> Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers is retiring after 21 seasons and 3,166 hits. Beltre made his big league debut at 19 with the Dodgers in 1998. He played with Los Angeles until 2004, then was with the Seattle Mariners from 2005-09 and the Boston Red Sox in 2010. He joined the Rangers as a free agent in 2011 and appeared in his only World Series in his first season with Texas.
Winter sports
VONN HURTS KNEE IN TRAINING CRASH >> Lindsey Vonn says she injured her knee in a training crash and will miss the upcoming World Cup speed races in Lake Louise, Alberta. The three-time Olympic medalist didn’t specify which knee she hurt in a super-G wipeout on Monday, but she said on her social media accounts she won’t need surgery. The 34-year-old Vonn plans to retire after the season. She has 82 World Cup victories, leaving her five from breaking the record held by Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark.
Golf
PGA ANNOUNCES JAPAN EVENT >> The PGA Tour says it has signed a sixyear agreement to play a tournament in Japan. The Zozo Championship will start next October and is backed by the Japanese fashion website Zozotown and its founder Yusaku Maezawa. It will be the PGA Tour’s first official tournament in Japan.