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Colombia seal World Cup berth with fightback

October 12, 2013

Colombia_World_CupMontevideo, Oct 12: Colombia pulled off an amazing fightback to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998 on Friday, rallying from 3-0 down to snatch a 3-3 draw against 10-man Chile in a six-goal thriller.

Monaco striker Radamel Falcao was the hero for the home side, keeping his cool to convert two late penalties as Colombia grabbed the point they needed to be certain of qualifying for next year's finals in Brazil.

Brazil qualify automatically for the tournament as hosts, while Argentina had already confirmed their qualification last month.

Falcao's 84th-minute leveller capped an extraordinary turnaround for Jose Pekerman's Colombia, who had looked dead and buried inside the opening half hour after Chile raced to a 3-0 lead.

However the sending off of Chile's Carlos Carmona for two bookable offences midway through the second half was to be the catalyst for a remarkable comeback.

Teofilo Gutierrez pulled a goal back on 69 minutes to make it 3-1 before Falcao's late show gave Colombia a share of the points.

Chile had earlier looked certain to be heading for a win which would have seen them guarantee their ninth World Cup finals appearance after a flying start at a ground where Colombia had won their five previous matches.

Juventus star Arturo Vidal fired Chile into the lead on 19 minutes, sending Colombia keeper David Ospina the wrong way with a perfectly placed spot-kick to silence the home crowd.

Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez then doubled the Chileans' lead three minutes later before adding a close-range second to make it 3-0 on 29 minutes.

Despite the disappointment of failing to wrap up qualification, Chile remain firmly on course for Brazil after results elsewhere worked in their favour.

Ecuador's 1-0 win over Uruguay in Quito means that Chile need only a point from their final game, against Ecuador in Santiago next Tuesday, to qualify.

Ecuador, too, will guarantee their place with a draw against the Chileans, making it highly likely that Uruguay will now have to settle for fifth and a play-off against Asian minnows Jordan to reach the World Cup.

Ecuador stayed on course for their first appearance at the World Cup since the 2006 finals in Germany with a hard-fought win over the Uruguayans.

The game's decisive goal came in the 30th minute, when Jefferson Montero tapped in from close-range after a surging run and low cross from the right flank by Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia.

Ecuador's margin of victory should have been more comfortable but for a dreadful refereeing decision which denied them a clear a second goal through substitute Joao Rojas on 74 minutes.

Rojas rounded Fernando Muslera and tucked away a cool finish after following up a long-range effort only to be ruled offside. Replays subsequently showed two Uruguayan defenders were playing Rojas onside however by several yards.

Uruguay's defeat means that the 2010 World Cup semi-finalists must beat already qualified Argentina in Montevideo to have any chance of pipping Ecuador or Chile for an automatic qualifying place.

But even a win against Argentina will be academic if Chile and Ecuador combine for a mutually beneficial draw which will guarantee their qualification.

Argentina meanwhile warmed up for their showdown with rivals Uruguay with another comfortable victory.

Despite the absence through injury of captain Lionel Messi, Argentina notched a 3-1 win over Peru in Buenos Aires.

Peru took the lead through Claudio Pizarro but Argentina hit back with a brace from Ezequiel Lavezzi and a Rodrigo Palacio effort.

In the other South American qualifying game on Friday, Venezuela wrapped up their campaign with a 1-1 draw against eliminated Paraguay. Luis Seijas equalized for Venezuela after Edgar Benitez had given Paraguay a first-half lead.

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Northamptonshire, Jul 31: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez has tested positive for coronavirus, and as a result, he will miss the British Grand Prix.

The Racing Point driver was absent from the circuit on Thursday after self-isolating following what his team called an "inconclusive" test. Perez then re-tested later in the day and it returned positive.

Formula 1 is following a strict testing regime as part of the safety protocols put in place when racing resumed earlier this month, and this is the first time a driver has tested positive.

"Perez has entered self-quarantine in accordance with the instructions of the relevant public health authorities, and will continue to follow the procedure mandated by those authorities," Formula 1 and the FIA said in a statement.

"With the assistance of the local organiser of the British Grand Prix, local health authorities and the FIA COVID-19 delegate, a full track and trace initiative has been undertaken and all close contacts have been quarantined," the statement added.

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News Network
June 23,2020

Karachi, Jun 23: Pakistan cricketers Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and rookie Haider Ali on Monday tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed three players - Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan - have tested positive for Covid-19," said the PCB in a statement.

"The players had shown no symptoms until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday ahead of the Pakistan men's national cricket team's tour to England."

The infected players will go into self-isolation.

"The PCB medical panel is in contact with the three who have been advised to immediately go into self-isolation," the statement said.

Earlier this month, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was tested positive for the deadly virus.

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News Network
February 13,2020

Feb 13: Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried in a private funeral service in Southern California last week, multiple outlets reported late Tuesday.

Citing Kobe Bryant's death certificate, Los Angeles Fox affiliate KTTV reported the remains of the former Lakers star and his daughter were transferred to Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona del Mar. Kobe and Brianna were laid to rest in a private ceremony there last Friday.

According to KTTV, the death certificate cited Kobe's cause of death as "blunt trauma" sustained in a "commercial helicopter crash." It also said his death was "rapid."

Corona del Mar is a community within Newport Beach, where the Bryant family lives.

Kobe, 41, and Gianna, 13, were among nine people killed when the helicopter they were in crashed on a hillside in Calabasas, Calif., northwest of Los Angeles, on Jan. 26. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; his wife, Keri; and their daughter Alyssa, 14 -- who played on the same club basketball team as Gianna Bryant -- also were killed. Christina Mauser, a 38-year-old who was the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls basketball team, was also killed in the accident, as were Sarah Chester, 45; her daughter Payton Chester, 13; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.

A public memorial service for the Bryants will be held Feb. 24 at Staples Center, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.

While the date -- 2/24 -- conveniently falls between two Lakers' home games, it still could have been chosen symbolically. Gianna -- one Kobe and Vanessa' four daughters -- wore No. 2 on her basketball jersey while Kobe was No. 24 for part of his 20-year-tenure with the Lakers, and his retired jerseys -- he also wore No. 8 -- hang at Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Times reported that "entry is expected to be severely restricted" at the venue despite Staples Center's capacity of about 20,000.

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