Ukraine victorious in return to soccer field

Ukraine is back on the soccer field.

The Ukrainian men’s national team returned to action Wednesday for the first time since the invasion by Russia, beating German club Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 in a charity fundraiser.

The friendly was a chance for the Ukrainians to get back into form ahead of a World Cup qualifying playoff game against Scotland next month, but also just to show their team is still going, despite everything.

“We thank you all for your great help,” former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is mayor of Kyiv, said in a video message to the German club and fans. It felt as if “both (teams) are playing for us,” he added.

The squad for the unusual club-versus-country friendly was assembled from Ukrainian clubs whose league seasons were frozen Feb. 24 on the morning Russian troops invaded.

Ukraine has banned men of fighting age from leaving the country during the war, so the players needed special permission to travel. Some have been touring Europe for weeks, first with the Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk clubs playing fundraising games, then at a nationalteam training camp in Slovenia.

Coach Oleksandr Petrakov said when the Ukrainian anthem was sung before the game, “I had tears in my eyes.”

The crowd of 20,000 at the game contained many Ukrainians — they were given free tickets — who roared their appreciation when winger Mykhailo Mudryk rounded the goalkeeper and scored in the ninth minute to give Ukraine the lead.

Gladbach responded five minutes later with a powerful shot from Ireland youth international Conor Noss to level the score.

Substitute Oleksandr Pikhalonok gave Ukraine the win in the 82nd with a low shot from just outside the box.

If Ukraine beats Scotland in the playoff in Glasgow on June 1, it will face Wales four days later in Cardiff for a place at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Ukraine’s highest-profile players, including Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, West Ham forward Andriy Yarmolenko and Benfica striker Roman Yaremchuk, are expected to join up with the squad in time for the World Cup qualifying playoffs once their club seasons finish.

Before that, the national team will play friendlies against Italian club Empoli and Croatian club Rijeka next week.

• Celtic reclaimed the Scottish league title from fierce rival Rangers after drawing 1-1 against Dundee United.

It is a 10th Scottish Premiership title in 11 years — and 52nd in total — for Celtic, its only blot in more than a decade of dominance coming last year when Rangers won the league under then-coach Steven Gerrard.

Celtic only needed a point at Tannadice to take an unassailable lead over second-place Rangers. Celtic is four points ahead of Rangers.

TENNIS Nadal gets back on track on clay surface

Once is enough when it comes to beating Rafael Nadal on a clay court.

Throughout his career, Nadal has never lost consecutive matches on his favorite surface and the Spaniard extended that perfect record by beating John Isner 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round of the Italian Open.

Nadal was coming off a loss to 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid Open quarterfinals last week. After a first-round bye, he improved to 44-0 in matches on clay following a loss on the surface.

Perhaps more importantly, Nadal regained some confidence as he works his way back from a rib stress fracture that kept him out for six weeks before the tournament in Madrid.

While he would clearly love to add to his record total of 10 Italian Open titles, Nadal’s bigger objective is regaining his top form in time for the French Open, which starts in less than two weeks. Nadal has won 13 of his 21 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros.

When the match finished, Nadal headed straight to the practice court to hit more balls. He explained that he’s a “bit in a rush” to find his best form “as soon as possible.”

“I need to work as much as I can,” Nadal said. “The match today was not that demanding physically.”

Up next, Nadal meets Denis Shapovalov, the Canadian he beat at the same stage last year in a grueling three-set comeback victory in which the Spaniard saved two match points.

“Super lucky,” Nadal said, reflecting back to playing Shapovalov last year. “I know how dangerous he is. I need to play better than today.”

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, playing only his second tournament after more than a year out following two surgeries on his left foot, edged Laslo Djere 7-6 (8), 3-6, 6-4 to set up a meeting with top-ranked Novak Djokovic.

“It’s going to be really difficult for me, because I’m not ready to compete — I think — at that level,” Wawrinka said of facing Djokovic. “But it’s what I need. I need those challenges. I need to push myself as much as I can to keep improving.”

Second-seeded Alexander Zverev, who was routed by Alcaraz in the Madrid final on Sunday, beat Sebastian Baez 7-6 (6), 6-3 to end the Argentine qualifier’s eight-match winning streak.

Also, Stefanos Tsitsipas saved two match points before getting past Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (4); and Marcos Giron, an American qualifier, picked up his fourth win and five days by beating 2020 finalist Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Wearing a ribbon with the colors of Ukraine’s flag pinned to her hat, defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 24 matches with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Romanian qualifier Elenagabriela Ruse.

The top-ranked player from Poland will next face former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who beat Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4.

Also advancing were Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.

HORSE RACING Derby-winning jockey suspended four days

The jockey of Kentucky Derby upset winner Rich Strike is serving a four-day suspension handed down by Ohio racing stewards that his agent said won’t prevent him from riding the horse in next week’s Preakness.

Stewards suspended Sonny Leon last week for careless riding during the third race on April 27 at Thistledown Racecourse, east of Cleveland, during which they determined he “deliberately and aggressively” steered One Glamorous Gal toward the rail to block other horses in the stretch. Leon interfered with jockey Alexander Chavez aboard Ultra Rays, the ruling stated, and One Glamorous Gal was disqualified from third place and finished in sixth.

It is Leon’s fifth suspension since last fall and includes a 15-day penalty in West Virginia for providing a false and altered document. The Ohio suspension applies to all states, but agent Jeff Perrin said that it will not prevent the Venezuelan jockey from riding designated races. Perrin added that Leon is scheduled to return Friday with six mounts at Belterra Park in Cincinnati and additional weekend rides at Churchill Downs in Louisville among many requests following his stunning victory.

Leon’s future includes another ride aboard Rich Strike in the Preakness on May 21 in Baltimore if the horse is entered, Perrin added.

CYCLING Demare wins fifth stage at Giro d’italia

French cyclist Arnaud Démare won a bunch sprint at the end of the fifth stage of the Giro d’italia, and Juan Pedro López kept hold of the leader’s pink jersey.

Démare, who rides for Groupama–fdj, edged Fernando Gaviria at the end of the 108-mile route from Catania to Messina after sprint favorites Mark Cavendish and Caleb Ewan dropped earlier in the day. Giacomo Nizzolo was third.

Démare also struggled on the climb but his team managed to eventually get him back to the peloton.

It was a sixth stage win in the Giro for the 30-yearold Démare but his first win of the year after a difficult start to 2022.

Most of the overall contenders crossed the line together. López maintained his 39-second advantage over Lennard Kämna after moving into the overall lead Tuesday. Rein Taaramäe was third, 58 seconds behind López.

GOLF Koepka withdraws from Byron Nelson

Former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka withdrew from the AT&T Byron Nelson for undisclosed reasons.

Satoshi Kodaira replaced him in the field for the tournament, which is the final tune-up before next week’s PGA Championship.

Koepka, 32, has faced wrist, knee and hip injuries over the past three years and has struggled in 2022. He missed the cut at both the Masters and The Players.

He hasn’t played in a tournament since the Masters in early April and has fallen to No. 16.

It wasn’t clear Wednesday whether Koepka would play the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.