‘Preparations going smoothly’

CANBERRA (Yonhap) ― On the eve of his team’s first AFC Asian Cup match in Australia, South Korea men’s football head coach Uli Stielike said Friday preparations have gone well so far.South Korea is trying to win its first Asian Cup title since 1960, and the quest to end the drought will begin with Saturday’s Group A match against Oman here in Canberra. The kickoff is 4 p.m. here and 2 p.m. in Seoul.“We have on injuries to report, and the team morale is high,”Stielike said at the pre-match press

SoccerJan. 9, 2015

Golf begins new year with events to keep eagle eye on

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) ― Predictions are a dangerous business, especially in golf.How many could have guessed that Tiger Woods, No. 1 in the world and coming off a five-win season, would play in only nine tournaments, finish only four of them and plunge to No. 32 in the world because of injuries?Or that Bubba Watson, who had gone 38 events without winning, would finish 2014 as highest-ranked American?Instead, the start of a new year at Kapalua allows a look into the future ― not what will happen,

GolfJan. 8, 2015

Not to be taken lightly

CANBERRA (Yonhap) ― When South Korea opens its 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign Saturday against Oman, it will face a team that has the potential to surprise unsuspecting opponents.South Korea is currently the third-highest ranked country in the AFC at 69th, while Oman is sitting at 93rd. South Korea holds an edge in all-time meetings with three wins and a loss, but the last clash between the two came in 2004.And based on its recent performance, Oman may not be such an easy hurdle for South Korea in

SoccerJan. 8, 2015

Johnson, Martinez among 4 voted into Hall of Fame

NEW YORK (AP) ― Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz dominated in an era of offense, each in their own way.The 6-foot-10 Big Unit became the tallest of 215 players elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame and the 5-foot-11 Martinez the shortest pitcher picked for Cooperstown since Whitey Ford in 1974.Smoltz, who found unusual success both as a starting pitcher and a reliever, also was voted in Tuesday along with Craig Biggio, the first time since 1955 writers picked a quartet of players in on

BaseballJan. 7, 2015

Jang seeks ‘turning point’ on new team

Jang Won-jun takes part in a press conference on Wednesday. (Yonhap)Jang Won-jun, South Korea’s most expensive pitcher who signed a record-setting free-agent contract with the Doosan Bears, said Wednesday he wants to have a “turning point” in his Korea Baseball Organization career on a new club.The Bears formally introduced Jang at their home park, Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, on Wednesday, a little more than a month after inking him to a four-year, 8.4 billion won ($7.6 million) contract. It was th

BaseballJan. 7, 2015

Glory on the line

CANBERRA (Yonhap) ― The 2015 AFC Asian Cup will kick off Friday with the opening Group A showdown between the host Australia and Kuwait in Melbourne, as South Korea will try to end its 55-year title drought at the continent’s largest football tournament.The Asian Cup will feature 16 countries divided into four groups, with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle serving as host cities. The top two nations from each group will reach the knockout stage, and the championship final is sc

SoccerJan. 7, 2015

Japan arrives without defender

The Asian Cup will be part of a rapid getting-to-know-you phase for the bulk of teams and their coaches in Australia, adding an extra layer of difficulty ― and intrigue ― to the continental championship.There are plenty of new players for the quadrennial tournament starting Friday, and more new faces in the coaching ranks ― only six of the 16 teams had the same coach at the end of 2014 that they started the year with.Defending champion Japan arrived over the weekend missing one of its stars ― an

SoccerJan. 6, 2015

Korea prepares for first cup match

The Korean national soccer team trains in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday. (Yonhap)SYDNEY (Yonhap) ― The South Korean men’s national soccer team on Tuesday left Sydney for Canberra, the site of its first two matches of the upcoming AFC Asian Cup.Coached by Uli Stielike, the 23-man team will be trying to win South Korea’s first Asian Cup title since 1960.The country has been paired with Australia, Oman and Kuwait in Group A. The first match for South Korea will be against Oman at the 25,000-seat Can

SoccerJan. 6, 2015

Reigning MVP to start with clean slate

By all accounts, Nexen Heroes second baseman Seo Geon-chang had a season to remember in 2014, setting Korea Baseball Organization single-season records with 201 hits, 135 runs scored and 17 tripes, en route to winning his first MVP award. For his accomplishments ― which included his first batting title with a .370 average ― Seo also grabbed multiple trophies at several year-end baseball award ceremonies.Yet with the Heroes’ spring training set to open next week, Seo said Tuesday he will forget a

BaseballJan. 6, 2015

Real’s 22-match win streak snapped

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Valencia’s Nicolas Otamnedi vie for the ball on Sunday. (AFP-Yonhap)LONDON (AP) ― After a perfect end to 2014, Real Madrid opened the new year with its first loss since September.Madrid slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Valencia to end a 22-game winning streak in all competitions. However, Barcelona failed to take advantage as it also lost at Real Sociedad to remain behind leader Madrid in the Spanish league.In England, Manchester United and Manchester City w

More SportsJan. 5, 2015

Unfinished business

SYDNEY (Yonhap) ― The South Korean starting goalkeeper job for the AFC Asian Cup remained as murky as ever after the team blanked Saudi Arabia 2-0 in its tune-up match before the tournament with two custodians bailing out inconsistent defenders.Head coach Uli Stielike has named three goalkeepers to his 23-man squad for the continent’s largest football competition, which will kick off on Friday. South Korea’s first match will be on Saturday against Oman in Canberra.Against Saudi Arabia in Sydney,

SoccerJan. 5, 2015

Cards crumble in Carolina

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP) ― Cam Newton finally has his first playoff victory ― with a big assist from his defense.The fourth-year quarterback threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns, Carolina’s defense set an NFL record for fewest yards allowed in a postseason game, and the Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-16 on Saturday.It was Carolina’s first playoff win in nine years and Newton’s first playoff victory since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft.Jonathan

More SportsJan. 4, 2015

Pedro Martinez waits for call from Hall of Fame

BOSTON (AP) ― As a Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster, Nomar Garciaparra watched Clayton Kershaw become the dominant pitcher in the National League, winning three of the last four NL Cy Young Awards ― the last one unanimously.But when fans ask if he’s ever witnessed anyone as good as the L.A. left-hander, Garciaparra stops them cold.“Hang on,” he says, “I got to play with Pedro Martinez.”The former Red Sox shortstop was already in Boston when the reigning NL Cy Young winner arrived from the Montrea

BaseballJan. 4, 2015