Soccer

Dortmund downs Werder Bremen

Defending champion Borussia Dortmund moved provisionally up to second place in the Bundesliga after recording a rousing 2-0 win at Werder Bremen on Friday despite playing almost half the game with only 10 men.

Werder had the chance to go level on points with Bayern Munich at the top in the event of a victory and it dominated the first-half at the Weserstadion, only to fall behind three minutes before halftime to Ivan Perisic's stunning strike.

The Croatian had already showcased his rifle-like left foot in last month's Champions League draw with Arsenal, and another vicious hit on Friday handed the host's stand-in 'keeper, Sebastian Mielitz, no chance.

Beckham's PSG move edges closer

David Beckham's vaunted move to big-spending Paris Saint-Germain is nearing completion, media reports claimed on Friday.

Beckham, 36, will be free to leave his current side, Los Angeles Galaxy, at the end of the season - the MLS final takes place on Nov 20 - and has been strongly linked with a move to the French capital.

"Almost everything is now tied up: the contract, the salary," said Le Parisien.

"The negotiations are almost complete. The only thing missing is the player's signature."

PSG has spent more than 85 million euros ($118 million) on transfers since being bought out by Qatar Sports Investments in the summer and sits at the top of France's Ligue 1 after nine games.

Beckham is also familiar with PSG sporting director Leonardo, having played under the Brazilian during a loan spell with AC Milan last year.

Basketball

Fisher denies player dissension

The head of the NBA players union denied on Friday there was any dissension in the ranks over the lockout, after one said some were frustrated with a lack of progress in the labor talks.

"The person that spent the least amount of time in the room has no ability to make that statement," Los Angeles Lakers star and union president Derek Fisher said.

Fisher was reacting to comments by Washington Wizards JaVale McGee, who said earlier on Friday a few of the NBA stars were "ready to fold" after being locked out by the owners and seeing 100 regular season games cancelled by the league.

"There's definitely some guys in there saying that they're ready to fold, but ... the majority of guys are willing to stand strong," McGee said after leaving a union meeting at the luxury Beverly Hills Hilton hotel.

Rugby

France scrapes past Wales to reach final

France advanced to its third World Cup final after a tense 9-8 semifinal win over Wales at Eden Park on Saturday.

Fly half Morgan Parra kicked three penalties to cancel out Mike Phillips's second-half try and James Hook's first-half penalty goal.

The match wasn't without controversy, with Wales captain Sam Warburton given a red card for a dangerous tackle early in the first half.

Morgan Parra kicked three penalties to give France a 9-3 lead heading into the final quarter.

But a brilliant try by Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, the only one of the match, cut the French advantage to just a point, with Stephen Jones's conversion attempt hitting the post.

And with five minutes left, Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny saw a penalty attempt from just under half-way dip narrowly below the crossbar.

Two-time losing finalists France, yet to win the World Cup, will face the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in the October 23 final at the Auckland ground.

Racing

Jockeys plan to go on strike

British jockeys are planning to go on strike next week in protest at new regulations regarding the whipping of horses which have thrown racing into uproar, it was reported on Friday.

The BBC reported a number of jockeys had contacted trainers to signal their intention to make themselves unavailable for racing on Monday despite the British Horseracing Authority's (BHA's) vow to review the rules.

Courses due to stage race meetings next Monday - Windsor, Pontefract and Plumpton - said they had not been notified of any possible strike action.

On Thursday, top Irish jockey Richard Hughes pledged to quit the sport in protest after incurring his second suspension this week for breaching the regulations introduced on Monday.

The regulations prevent flat riders from striking a horse more than seven times, with five of those permitted strikes only allowed in the final furlong.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 10/16/2011 page7)