World Sports at 0000 GMT
TOP STORIES
SOC--COPA LIBERTADORES-PASSIONATE FANS
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Gonzalo Raffo is a die-hard Boca Juniors fan. His wife, Delfina Foramitti, passionately roots for River Plate. They watch every soccer game together wearing their team colors. But the stakes are different. It's the first time that Argentina's two biggest teams will meet in the final of the Copa Libertadores, South America's equivalent of the Champions League. By Luis Andres Henao. SENT: 800 words, photos.
SOC--MAN CITY-FINANCES
LONDON — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has raised the prospect of soccer authorities punishing the Premier League champions over attempts to circumvent financial fair play rules. By Rob Harris. SENT: 560 words, photos.
SOC--ITALY SPOTLIGHT-JUVENTUS
MILAN — Cristiano Ronaldo put a positive spin on his team's first loss of the season. The Juventus forward, who has been playing and scoring regularly despite facing a rape allegation in the United States, gave his team the lead but they still lost to Manchester United 2-1 in the Champions League. By Daniella Matar. SENT: 400 words, photos.
OTHER STORIES
CAR--BRAZILIAN GP
SAO PAULO — Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton set the pace in practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday, keeping Mercedes with the edge in the fight for the Formula One constructors' championship. By Mauricio Savarese. SENT: 470 words, photos.
— With CAR--F1-HAAS-FITTIPALDI
SOC--FIFA INVESTIGATION-PROSECUTOR
GENEVA — Switzerland's chief economic crimes prosecutor was suspended last week while leading an investigation into corruption linked to FIFA. It was unclear how Olivier Thormann's suspension will affect the integrity of ongoing criminal proceedings. By Graham Dunbar. SENT: 400 words.
SOC--FRENCH ROUNDUP
LILLE, France — Lille moved to second place in the French league despite being held to a 0-0 draw at home against Strasbourg. SENT: 150 words.
SOC--ITALIAN ROUNDUP
FROSINONE, Italy — Frosinone appears to be getting the hang of life in Serie A and a late goal saw it snatch a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina. SENT: 170 words.
SOC--SPANISH ROUNDUP
MADRID — With three goals 10 minutes apart late in the second half, Real Sociedad defeated Levante 3-1 in the Spanish league to end a four-match winless streak. SENT: 130 words.
SOC--GERMAN ROUNDUP
HANNOVER, Germany — Ihlas Bebou set up one goal and scored another to give struggling Hannover a 2-1 home win in the derby against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. SENT: 170 words.
SOC--GERMANY SQUAD
BERLIN— Germany coach Joachim Loew has left Jerome Boateng out of the squad for upcoming games against Russia and the Netherlands. By Ciaran Fahey. SENT: 425 words, photo.
SOC--ITALY SQUAD
ROME — Mario Balotelli has again been left out of the Italy squad, this time for matches against Portugal and the United States. SENT: 250 words.
SOC--NETHERLANDS SQUAD
THE HAGUE, Netherlands— Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman selected winger Javairo Dilrosun for the first time for upcoming matches against France and Germany. SENT: 220 words.
SOC--PSG-DISCRIMINATION
PARIS — The French league of human rights filed a discrimination lawsuit against Paris Saint-Germain and the French Football Federation ethical council will look into the club's recruiting policy after scouts illegally profiled the ethnic origins of potential young recruits. By Samuel Petrequin. SENT: 400 words.
SOC--UEFA-ESPORTS
NYON, Switzerland — European soccer is starting an esports version of the Champions League with a $280,000 prize fund. SENT: 170 words.
TEN--FED CUP FINAL
PRAGUE — America's chances of retaining the Fed Cup this weekend improved on Friday when two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was ruled out of the opening singles for the Czech Republic due to illness. By Karel Janicek. SENT: 480 words, photos.
TEN--SAUDI EXHIBITION
MADRID — Novak Djokovic says an exhibition match against Rafael Nadal in Saudi Arabia has been called off because the Spaniard underwent ankle surgery. SENT: 190 words, photos.
TEN--HALEP COACH
SYDNEY — Darren Cahill says he is ending his four-year coaching partnership with No. 1-ranked Simona Halep to take a 12-month break and spend more time at home with his family. SENT: 170 words.
GLF--SUN CITY
SUN CITY, South Africa — Sergio Garcia holds onto his lead through the second round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Garcia's 1-under 71 moved him to 9 under 135 overall, but his four-shot advantage from the first day disappeared as Louis Oosthuizen (67) made an eagle and five birdies at Gary Player Country Club. SENT: 520 words.
BBO--MLB ALL-STARS-JAPAN
TOKYO — Yuki Yanagita hit a game-ending, two-run home run off Kirby Yates in the ninth inning, and Japan beat the MLB All-Stars 7-6 Friday in the opener of a six-game exhibition series. By Jim Armstrong. SENT: 270 words, photos.
FIG--NHK TROPHY
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Russian figure skater Elizaveta Tuktamysheva has led after the women's short program at the NHK Trophy. SENT: 220 words, photos.
CRI--PAKISTAN-NEW ZEALAND
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Fakhar Zaman smashed run-a-ball 88 and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (4-38) grabbed his second successive four-wicket haul in Pakistan's six-wicket victory against New Zealand in the second one-day international on Friday. SENT: 570 words.
RGU--ENGLAND-NEW ZEALAND
LONDON — After a show of extreme resilience resulted in a scarcely deserved victory over South Africa, England will need a broad increase in quality to stand any chance in a long-awaited meeting with New Zealand. By Sam Johnston. SENT: 780 words, photos.
RGU-- NEW ZEALAND-HANSEN
LONDON — All Blacks coach Steve Hansen fears playing regular test matches against England would diminish the spectacle and have a negative impact on players. SENT: 240 words, photo.
RGU--WALES-AUSTRALIA
CARDIFF, Wales — Australia has beaten Wales 13 straight times. But the Wallabies are more concerned with Wales' streak. Six straight wins against allcomers. SENT: 400 words, photos.
RGU--IRELAND-SCHMIDT
DUBLIN — Joe Schmidt promises to give a decision on his future as Ireland coach by the end of the month. Schmidt is contracted to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, and has been offered a second extension to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Captain Rory Best hopes he recommits to the Irish. SENT: 380 words.
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