Digest

SOCCER

Liverpool facing up to season without Van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool's Premier League title defense was rocked on Sunday when the club confirmed key defender Virgil van Dijk has suffered knee ligament damage amid reports he could miss the remainder of the season.

Van Dijk hobbled off after a shocking challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in a 2-2 Merseyside derby draw on Saturday.

"The centerback damaged knee ligaments following an incident involving Blues goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after six minutes at Goodison Park," Liverpool said in a statement.

"Van Dijk was required to be substituted and further assessment on the injury has revealed an operation will be needed. No specific timescale is being placed upon his return to action at this stage."

SIPG rues profligacy as derby ends all square

Sunday's Shanghai derby between Shenhua and SIPG ended goalless in Suzhou as the team's played out a tense first leg of their Chinese Super League quarterfinal.

SIPG lost goalkeeper Yan Junling to a first-half injury after the 29-year-old took an accidental arm to the face from Shenhua forward Bi Jinhao.

After the interval, Austrian attacker Marko Arnautovic fired over SIPG's best opportunity in the tightly contested affair.

"We played with a lot of energy and carried out the tactics of the head coach (Vitor Pereira), but we did not seize a few good opportunities. I think the next game is more important," said SIPG midfielder Murahmetjan Muzepper.

More than 2,000 fans were allowed into Suzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium to watch the game, after the CSL reported zero COVID-19 infections in the first phase of the season, which was played behind closed doors in Suzhou and Dalian from July 22 to Sept 28. The second leg will be played at the same venue on Friday night.

BASKETBALL

Sensational Sun helps Lions devour Sharks

Sun Minghui

Zhejiang Lions guard Sun Minghui scored a game-high 41 points to help his team smash the Shanghai Sharks 122-94 in the first round of the 2020-21 CBA league in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, on Sunday.

Sun also recorded seven assists and seven steals, while Hu Jinqiu had a double-double with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Luo Hanchen made a team-high 20 points for Shanghai, with Jimmer Fredette contributing 14 points. Marcus Denmon could only manage a single point and had five turnovers in a disappointing performance for the American.

Hu made all six of his first field-goal attempts to help the Lions to a 28-18 opening-quarter lead.

"We saw a big difference between their team game and ours. Our starters played together for the first time tonight, but we have no excuses. We've got to work hard," said Shanghai's new Croatian head coach, Neven Spahija, after the final buzzer.

BASEBALL

Bellinger's blast sends Dodgers to World Series

Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger hit a tie-breaking solo homer in the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the World Series for the third time in four years by topping the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday night.

Bellinger connected an inning after Kike Hernandez became the first pinch hitter with a game-tying or go-ahead homer in a winner-take-all-game. His homer tied it at 3 and, like Bellinger's, came on the eighth pitch of the at-bat.

The Dodgers, who matched a league-championship-series record with 16 homers, overcame a 3-1 deficit by winning three consecutive games when facing elimination for only the second time in their storied history.

After winning both their NL Division Series and the NLCS in the new $1.2 billion Globe Life Field, the Dodgers get to stay in place for the World Series. Game 1 against the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays is Tuesday night.

The Dodgers again will try to win their first World Series title since 1998.They lost Game 7 at home three years ago to the Houston Astros, and then lost in five games to the Boston Red Sox in 2018 when Mookie Betts was the AL MVP and playing against Los Angeles.

SKIING

Norwegian Braathen upsets favs in opener

Lucas Braathen

Sitting in the leader box, Lucas Braathen buried his head in his hands as he watched each racer after him crossing the finish line at the season-opening men's World Cup giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, on Sunday.

But the Norwegian's time held up, even after first-run leader Gino Caviezel completed his second.

Braathen, who had never finished in a World Cup podium position, improved from fifth place after the opening leg to upset the pre-race favorites and clinch his first career win.

"It's a pretty good day," the 20-year-old told Austrian TV with a bright smile.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Brady bests Rodgers in superstar matchup

Tom Brady won the battle of the Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks on Sunday, outduelling Aaron Rodgers as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers routed the previously unbeaten Green Bay Packers 38-10.

Brady completed 17 of 27 passes for 166 yards and two scores, and Ronald Jones rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns as the Buccaneers handed the Packers their first loss of the season.

Brady's sidekick Rob Gronkowski also got into the act as the dynamic duo connected for their 91st career touchdown pass and the Bucs improved to 4-2 for the season.

"He played great today. We got to try and keep getting him and the tight ends the ball," said Brady of Gronkowski.

Rodgers finished 16 of 35 for 160 yards with two interceptions. "I think we needed kind of a kick in the ass," said Rodgers.

Xinhua - Agencies