Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com ‘Rampant’ US back on track

Hernandez equals record Zaina crowned U-18 champ of HH Amir Cup

SAN JOSE, California, March 25, (Agencies): Just before they walked onto the field for a critical World Cup qualifier, American players received a message from Bruce Arena.

Their response was emphatic, elders and youth alike.

Clint Dempsey came back from an irregular heartbeat at age 34 to score his second international hat trick, 18-year-old phenom Christian Pulisic had one goal and set up three others, and the US routed Honduras 6-0 Friday night to get back in contention for an eighth straight World Cup berth.

Surprise starter Sebastian Lletget got his first international goal in the fifth minute after Pulisic’s shot deflected off the goalkeeper, Michael Bradley doubled the lead in the 27th and Dempsey scored off Pulisic’s perfectly weighted chip in the 32nd.

Finding room to maneuver in a central midfield role, Pulisic made it 4-0 just 12 seconds into the second half with his fourth international goal. Dempsey rounded the keeper to score following a feed from Pulisic in the 49th, and Dempsey got another on a 23-yard free kick in the 54th. With 55 international goals, Dempsey moved within two of Landon Donovan’s American record.

In its first competitive match since Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann, the US moved from last to fourth in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, tied at three points with Honduras and with Trinidad and Tobago but ahead on goal difference, Mexico leads with seven points, followed by Costa Rica with six and Panama with four.

The top three nations qualify for next year’s tournament in Russia, and the fourthplace nation advances to a playoff. With a victory at Panama on Tuesday, the Americans could move into the top three.

The US had never before won a hexagonal game by more than three goals.

The American Outlaws and the rest of the lively crowd of 17,729 loved every second of this long-awaited showing.

Hernandez

Gloom had descended upon the Americans in November when they opened the hexagonal with a 2-1 home loss to Mexico and a 4-0 wipeout at Costa Rica. The defeats caused the US Soccer Federation to fire Klinsmann, who had coached the Americans since 2011, and bring back Arena, who led the team from 1998-2006.

Dempsey was sidelined from August until this month by an irregular heartbeat and started only because of injuries to Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris.

Tim Howard, the Americans’ 38-year-old goalkeeper, got his 38th shutout. He returned only two weeks ago from a leg injury sustained in the November loss to Mexico. Geoff Cameron, back from a knee strain that had sidelined him for fourth months, was shifted to right back from central defense because of injuries to others, and Jorge Villafana was inserted on the left.

But there were yet more injuries. Lletget hurt his left ankle on Ever Alvarado’s tackle, was replaced in the 18th minute and left the stadium on crutches. Defender John Brooks was stretchered off the field, hand over his face, in the 69th due to dehydration.

Arena admitted he decided weeks ago to play Pulisic in central midfield. With Fabian Johnson hurt, Arena started wide midfielders largely overlooked by Klinsmann: Lletget and Darlington Nagbe.

Wearing red from head to toe, the US went ahead when Jozy Altidore poked the ball ahead to Pulisic. His left-footed shot that went off goalkeeper Donis Escobar, and Lletget tapped in the ball with his right foot from 2 yards.

Bradley, given his debut by Arena in 2006, doubled the lead when he took a pass from Bedoya, cut to his left, took four touches and cut the ball back to beat Escobar with one-hopper from about 25 yards.

Showing poise beyond his years, Pulisic created the third goal when he lofted a pass to Dempsey, who allowed the ball of bounce off his right shoulder. Dempsey held off Henry Figueroa and, while falling, scored with his right foot from 8 yards.

Striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored a record-equalling 46th international goal to send Mexico on their way to a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier.

United States’ Michael Bradley (right), is defended by Honduras’ Jorge Claros during the first half of a World Cup qualifying soccer match on March 24, in San Jose,

California. (AP) Horse rider Zaina Al-Ali was crowned the Under-18 champion of His Highness the Amir Cup for Show Jumping Competition, which is part of the tournament being held at the Hunting and Equestrian Club. Bader Al-Haifi took second place and Al-Kadi Al-Marshoud took third place.

In the Under-14 competition,

Winners display their trophies on the podium. the promising horse rider Abdulrahman Al-Awadh took first place, followed by Suhaib Al-Mutawa in second place, and Zaina Al-Mutawa in third.

Meanwhile, Noura Al-Qoud took first place after jumping 135 cm in the main setting of the day, which is part of the grand prize of the tournament. Second place was taken by Bavel Kronko from Belarus, and third place by Ayesha Al-Qoud.

In the intermediate horse jumping setting, Ali Al-Kharafi took first place after jumping 125 cm, followed by Rakan Al-Hassawi in second place, and Abdullah Al-Roudhan in third place.

In the short distance horse jumping setting, Yousef Al-Noemi came first after jumping 105 cm, followed by Abdulrahman Al-Fazai in second place, and Moniek Harts from Netherlands in third place.

The entertainment section of the championship was cancelled due to the rain.