World Sports News in Brief

Yarmolenko earns West Ham vital win over Chelsea

Substitute Andriy Yarmolenko marked a rare West Ham United appearance with a dramatic late goal to earn his side a priceless 3-2 Premier League win over Chelsea on Wednesday.

Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Chelsea - London Stadium, London, UK - July 1, 2020 West Ham United's Andriy Yarmolenko scores their third goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. (Photo: Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Chelsea - London Stadium, London, UK - July 1, 2020 West Ham United's Andriy Yarmolenko scores their third goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. (Photo: Reuters)

* Third-placed Leicester City's winless run since the restart of the Premier League season continued with a 2-1 defeat by Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

* Bournemouth's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League suffered another blow after their poor form continued with a crushing 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday.

* Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reached 50 Premier League goals faster than any player in Arsenal history as the Gabon forward's brace inspired a 4-0 demolition of Norwich on Wednesday (Jul 1).

* Alexis Sanchez scored a penalty and set up two goals as Inter Milan thrashed relegation candidates Brescia 6-0 in Serie A on Wednesday (Jul 1), while city rivals AC Milan snatched a last-gasp draw away to lowly SPAL.

* Gerard Moreno took his season's La Liga goal tally to 15 with a double strike as Villarreal stayed on course for the Champions League with a 2-0 win at Real Betis on Wednesday (Jul 1).

* Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic, who last week tested positive for coronavirus, donated more than EUR40,000 (US$45,000) to Novi Pazar, a Serbian town badly affected by the pandemic, to help it fight a growing outbreak of the disease, local media reported on Wednesday (Jul 1).

* Highly-rated young attacking midfielder Angel Gomes has left Manchester United after rejecting a new contract offer, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

* Spain's World Cup-winning captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has called time on his five-year spell with Porto after his contract with the Portuguese club expired on Wednesday. Casillas, 39, suffered a heart attack during a training session last year and has not played any competitive football since April, 2019.

* Kazakhstan's league resumed on Wednesday after a three and a half month break due to the coronavirus pandemic and despite a recent surge in infections which forced some coaches to field weakened teams.

* Real Madrid have taken the final step towards officially launching their women's team after the Spanish soccer federation approved a deal to merge with CD Tacon, the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

* Paris Saint-Germain announced on Wednesday they will play a friendly against second-tier Le Havre in front of up to 5,000 fans to prepare for the Champions League last eight tournament and two domestic cup finals.

* Arsenal tied down Bukayo Saka to a long-term contract on Wednesday (Jul 1), ending speculation over the highly-rated teenager's future. Saka, 18, has made a major impact in 33 appearances in a variety of positions this season and has been a regular since Mikel Arteta became Arsenal coach in December.

* Manchester City winger Leroy Sane has decided to move on from the club and is likely to begin his next chapter with German champions Bayern Munich, manager Pep Guardiola said on Wednesday (Jul 1).

* Arsenal will not extend William Saliba's loan deal at St Etienne after the two clubs failed to agree training and financial terms for the French defender, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

* French defender Tanguy Kouassy has joined Bayern Munich on a four-year contract from Paris St Germain, the German champions said on Wednesday. It is the 18-year-old Kouassi's first professional contract after three seasons at PSG's youth academy, although he has featured in the first team, making his debut in December 2019.

* The Chinese Super League season will begin on July 25 after the coronavirus pandemic delayed it by five months, the country's football association said on Wednesday (Jul 1).

Reuters, CNA