The Korea Herald

Madrid seeks its 10th Champions League title

MADRID (AP) ― In four days, Real Madrid has the chance to satisfy an obsession that has eluded it for 12 years.Madrid plays city rival Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday, when a victory in Lisbon would provide the Spanish giant with its record 10th European Cup ― or “La Decima” as it is known in Spanish.It’s been a long wait since Zinedine Zidane scored one of football’s iconic goals to lead Madrid to its ninth title, such that even Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti noted upon

SoccerMay 21, 2014

Tiger: Return hard to determine

BETHESDA, Maryland (AP) ― Tiger Woods still doesn’t know when he’ll return. For a while, he didn’t know whether he would return at all.Woods said Monday his back injury became so debilitating this year it caused him to doubt his ability to play golf again.“Forget about playing golf at the highest level. I couldn’t get out of bed,” Woods said. “I was certainly doubtful at that point. What’s it going to feel like? Am I going to be pain free? Am I going to be able to actually do this again, where I

GolfMay 20, 2014

United hires van Gaal as manager

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal was hired as Manchester United’s manager on Monday, tasked with repairing the damage from David Moyes’ disappointing 10 months in charge and reviving the fortunes of one of the world’s biggest clubs.The 62-year-old Dutchman has signed a three-year contract and will take over at Old Trafford after the World Cup in Brazil, becoming the first United manager from outside Britain and Ireland. United great Ryan Giggs will be his assistant.“To

SoccerMay 20, 2014

Former Korea coaches offer words of encouragement

Former head coaches of the South Korean national team on Tuesday offered words of encouragement to this year’s World Cup squad, saying they should take on the upcoming challenge with confidence.Six of the past bench bosses joined the current head coach, Hong Myung-bo, for a luncheon at the National Football Center, the team’s practice ground in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.At a press conference ahead of their meeting, the former coaches said the 23 players on this year’s World Cup team have a wealth

SoccerMay 20, 2014

Former Korea coaches offer words of encouragement

Salas bags first LPGA victory

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (AP) ― Lizette Salas won the Kingsmill Championship on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, finishing with even-par 71 for a four-stroke victory.The 24-year-old former Southern California player was never really challenged in the final round on the River Course. She started the day with a three-shot lead and doubled it with birdies on the par-5 third and par-3 fifth. A bogey on the par-4 eighth was her only hiccup ― and only her third bogey in four rounds ― until she thre

GolfMay 19, 2014

Rangers clip Blue Jays 6-2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― Mitch Moreland will be the guy at first base for Texas if Prince Fielder’s neck problem keeps him out for any length of time.His bat was a big boost a few hours after a players-only meeting for a slumping team trying to halt a slide down the AL West standings.Moreland hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning, Alex Rios had a two-run triple and the Rangers avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-2 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.“I’d like to see him do tha

BaseballMay 19, 2014

Midfielder Kim Bo-kyung to wear former captain’s number in Brazil

Cardiff City midfielder Kim Bo-kyung will don former national team captain Park Ji-sung’s number at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, officials said on Monday.The Korea Football Association revealed the numbers for South Korea’s 23 players at the summer’s big tournament. It said Kim will wear No. 7 in Brazil.Park had No. 7 on his shirt at the 2006 and the 2010 World Cups. He was the South Korean captain in 2010, as the country reached the round of 16 for the first time at an away World Cup.A

SoccerMay 19, 2014

Oh reaches double figures in saves

Armed with his signature heavy fastball, South Korean closer Oh Seung-hwan has reached double figures in saves in his first Japanese season, after overcoming a slow start.Oh picked up his 10th save of the season in his 18th appearance for the Hanshin Tigers on Sunday in Nippon Professional Baseball. The Tigers defeated Yokohama DeNA Baystars 4-1 at home, with Oh throwing a scoreless ninth.Oh left the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization last December to join the Tigers as a free agen

BaseballMay 19, 2014

Kim wins SK Telecom Open for first pro title

INCHEON (AP) -- Kim Seung-hyuk sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the last hole to win the SK Telecom Open by one shot ahead of countrymen Lee Tae-hee and Kim Kyung-tae on Sunday.The 28-year-old Seung-hyuk shot a two-under-par 70 in the final round, finishing on an 11-under total of 277 for the OneAsia Tour tournament."It was a fantastic feeling when it went in,'' Seung-hyuk said after winning his maiden title since turning professional in 2005."Now I know I can win a golf tournament, so I can set

GolfMay 18, 2014

Salas leads Kingsmill Championship

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia (AP) ― Lizette Salas moved into position for her first LPGA Tour victory, playing 25 holes Saturday in 6-under par to take a three-stroke lead in the Kingsmill Championship.The 24-year-old former Southern California player shot a 3-under 68 in the completion of the rain-delayed second round and birdied three of the last five holes in the afternoon for a season-best 65.“I took a different approach this week,” Salas said. “I only played the pro-am. I’ve seen the course sever

GolfMay 18, 2014

Arsenal ends 9-year title drought

Arsenal players celebrate after winning the English FA Cup in London on Saturday. ( AFP-Yonhap)LONDON (AP) ― Doused in champagne by Arsenal’s victorious players, Arsene Wenger was a success again.The nine-year wait for a trophy was over, and the manager, who had felt the pressure of the drought, could finally celebrate on the Wembley Stadium field. For the fifth time in Wenger’s 14 years, the Gunners are FA Cup winners.Aaron Ramsey scored in extra time to clinch a 3-2 victory over Hull on Saturd

SoccerMay 18, 2014

D-backs chase Kershaw early in 18-7 drubbing

PHOENIX (AP) ― Paul Goldschmidt homered twice, had a career-high six RBIs and set a team record with five runs scored, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks bash the Los Angeles Dodgers 18-7 on Saturday night.The Diamondbacks hired Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa as chief baseball officer before the game and beat up on Clayton Kershaw (2-1) once it started, scoring seven runs in the second inning off the two-time Cy Young Award winner.The Dodgers came storming back with a five-run sixth to pull wi

BaseballMay 18, 2014

Hanson takes lead at Byron Nelson

IRVING, Texas (AP) ― Peter Hanson made his only back-nine birdie with a 6-foot putt at the 18th hole Thursday, closing out a 5-under 65 for a one-stroke lead over David Duval and two others after the first round of the Byron Nelson Championship.Duval, ranked 890th in the world 15 years after being No. 1, birdied his last three holes ― Nos. 7-9 ― after pitching in from 57 feet for another birdie at the fifth hole.Marc Leishman and Tim Wilkinson matched Duval at 66.The 42-year-old Duval almost wit

GolfMay 16, 2014

Nadal pushed to 3 sets again at Italian Open

ROME (AP) ― Rafael Nadal was pushed to three sets for the second consecutive match before ultimately prevailing Thursday to set up an Italian Open quarterfinal against Andy Murray.The top-ranked Nadal dropped behind a set and a break against Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, then won 11 of the final 12 games to win 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1 on another windy day at the Foro Italico.“Get used to (it),” Nadal said of his recent struggles. “With the years that’s the normal thing. Everybody suffers. That’s part of

More SportsMay 16, 2014

Injured players of World Cup squad recover

PAJU, Gyeonggi Province (Yonhap) ― All three injured members of the South Korean World Cup squad have recovered from their ailments and are ready to engage in full practices, the national team physician said Friday.Forwards Park Chu-young and Koo Ja-cheol, and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng are all healthy now, physician Song Jun-sub said, as the rest of the 23-man squad are prepping for the summer’s big tournament in Brazil at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.Park came down wit

SoccerMay 16, 2014

Carles Puyol says goodbye to Barca after 15 seasons

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) ― Carles Puyol reluctantly quit football on Thursday, his knees no longer able to endure the demands of the Barcelona defense after 15 years, the most successful period in the club’s history.At an organized send-off at the Camp Nou, Puyol said his goodbyes having won 21 trophies since his debut during the 1998-99 season, with nagging knee injuries having forced him out.“I gave everything. (But) we couldn’t find a solution (to the injury) though we never stopped trying,” sai

SoccerMay 16, 2014

Dominguez lifts Astros over Rangers

Texas Rangers left fielder Choo Shin-soo argues a called strike on Wednesday. The Korean went 0 for 5. ( AP-Yonhap)HOUSTON (AP) ― Matt Dominguez hit an RBI single off the right-field wall in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 Wednesday night to win a series against their in-state rivals for the first time since 2008.The Astros took two of three after losing 15 straight series to the Rangers. Houston overcame a four-run deficit to win.Dexter Fowler singled with one

BaseballMay 15, 2014

Yun’s absence concerns Hong

With an English club refusing to release a South Korean defender for his pre-World Cup camp, national team head coach Hong Myung-bo on Thursday expressed concern that the situation might have further negative impact on other overseas-based players.Yun Suk-young of Queens Park Rangers had been scheduled to report to South Korea’s camp at the National Football Center here in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. The second-division English club, however, has yet to send him over, with a promotion pl

SoccerMay 15, 2014

Nexen Heroes sign ex-Kia pitcher Sosa

The Nexen Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization said Thursday they have signed right-hander Henry Sosa for his second tour of duty in the top domestic league.The Heroes signed Sosa to a contract worth $150,000, along with a $50,000 signing bonus plus options. The transaction comes a day after the Heroes, currently in second place in the nine-team league at 21-13, put struggling right-hander Brandon Knight on waivers.Sosa pitched for another KBO club, the Kia Tigers, in 2012 and 2013. He join

BaseballMay 15, 2014

Sevilla beats Benfica in Europa League final

Penalty specialists Sevilla beat Benfica 4-2 in a shootout to win the Europa League after a 0-0 draw on Wednesday, claiming another international title for Spanish soccer.Beto saved two spot kicks from Benfica forwards Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo, whose stutter-step approaches to the ball didn’t fool the goalkeeper.Substitute Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score the decisive kick at the end of the stadium where Sevilla fans stood and cheered. They have seen this story before. Sevilla players celebrat

SoccerMay 15, 2014

Sevilla beats Benfica in Europa League final