River win Copa Libertadores
Madrid: River Plate won the Copa Libertadores by beating their fiercest rivals Boca Juniors 3-1 after extra time on Sunday, bringing an end to a final tainted by violence and moved more than six thousand miles away from Argentina. Boca took the lead through Dario Benedetto but Lucas Pratto equalised before Juan Quintero and Gonzalo Martinez scored in extra time, aided by Wilmar Barrios being sent off, to win a fittingly dramatic contest for River. It means River prevailed 5-3 on aggregate after the first leg finished 2-2 and reclaim the trophy they had last won in 2015, lifting it for the fourth time in their history. "We have shown we are superior," River's Leonardo Ponzio said. "After trying to stay quiet about everything that happened, we showed on the pitch we were better." "The only thing I feel is sadness for not winning the cup and giving it to the people of Boca," Boca coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto said.
akiila suspended for illegal action
Dubai: Sri Lanka off-spinner Akila Dananjaya has been suspended from bowling in international cricket over an illegal action, the International Cricket Council announced on Monday. Dananjaya was reported over a suspect bowling action during last month's first Test of the England series in Sri Lanka, which the tourists won by 211 runs on their way to a 3-0 whitewash. He underwent an independent assessment of his bowling action on November 23 in Brisbane which revealed his deliveries exceeded the 15-degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations. Dananjaya's suspension will be also enforced by all national cricket federations for domestic matches, though he may be able to play domestically in Sri Lanka with the permission of Sri Lanka Cricket. The 25-year-old must now modify his action before applying for further testing and possible reinstatement.
AC Milan let Inter off the hook
Milan: AC Milan missed a chance to pile pressure on local rivals and fellow Champions League chasers Inter Milan in Serie A after being held to a goalless draw by Torino at the San Siro on Sunday. Gennaro Gattuso's fourth-placed Milan are three points behind Inter, who lost to leaders Juventus on Friday, after wasting opportunities to win the match, with forward Patrick Cutrone missing a golden chance with four minutes left and Gonzalo Higuain, returning from a two-match ban, also denied late. Milan's wastefulness wasn't punished by Torino, four points behind Milan in sixth and still unbeaten away from home, thanks to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma denying Iago Falque and Andrea Belotti. "I don't consider it a missed opportunity, as we knew very well that Torino are a difficult team," said Gattuso.
Hardik named in Baroda squad
Vadodara: All-rounder Hardik Pandya, out of cricket since September due to back injury, has been named in the Baroda squad for their Group A Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai commencing in Mumbai on December14. Snehal Parikh, secretary in-charge of the Baroda Cricket Association, confirmed Pandya's inclusion in the Baroda squad on Monday. Hardik has replaced Babashafi Pathan, also an all-rounder, in the Baroda Ranji squad to take on hosts Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium. While, Shreyas Iyer has been roped into Mumbai’s squad in place of Suryakumar Yadav. Agencies