RYBINSK, Russia - Switzerlands Dario Cologna and Norways Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen won mens and womens cross-country skiing World Cup races on Friday. .Cologna held off two Russians to win the mens 15-kilometre race. Evgeny Belov was second, 16.3 seconds down with compatriot Sergei Ustyugov third, 12.5 seconds further back.Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., was 10th in 38:09.1.My legs were a bit stiff in the first lap, but I ended the race strong to finish in the top-10, said Harvey. The skis were great.Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., returned to his native country to finish 22nd in 38:46.7. The 34-year-old skied with early leader, Maurice Manificat of France, for about four kilometres before getting dropped.I was able to stay with him on the flats and gradual stuff, but he was very strong and quick on the uphills, and I hop-skated all of it, said Babikov. Im satisfied that I scored some points (in top-30).Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., was 36th in 39:35.7 while Graeme Killick, of Fort McMurray, Alta., finished 43rd in 40:11.9.In the womens 10-kilometre event Jacobsen took advantage of the absence of many of her rivals on the Norwegian team to claim her first win of the season.American Elizabeth Stephen was second 14.4 seconds behind while German Stefanie Boehler was 22 seconds further back. . Spains victory rendered Frances 3-0 win against Finland meaningless as Spain needed just one point to secure passage to Brazil. Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema scored either side of Joona Toivios own-goal as France advanced to the playoff among the eight best second-place finishers. . Jovanovski, the 2012 champ seeded fifth, will meet surprise Japanese qualifier Misa Eguchi on Friday. Eguchi, ranked 183rd, qualified for her first WTA main draw this week, then beat No. . Certainly not Monday night. George Hill took care of the early work, scoring a season-high 26 points, and Paul George closed it out by scoring 11 of his 26 points during a decisive second-half stretch that finally allowed Indiana to pull away from Minnesota 98-84 for yet another win.PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- Karim Benzema scored twice and created a third that was confirmed by goal-line technology as France beat Honduras 3-0 Sunday in its first World Cup match. The dominant win was a relief for France, whose team of highly paid players failed to win in South Africa and was sent home in a disgrace after going on a training strike. "Winning 3-0 at a World Cup isnt easy," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "(The players should) savour the moment, theres nothing more wonderful." France dominated the match from the opening whistle, despite a series of scrappy tackles by the Honduran team seeking its first World Cup win. Benzemas first goal came from the penalty spot just before halftime after Wilson Palacios was sent off with his second yellow card for charging into the back of Paul Pogba. The Real Madrid striker calmly slotted the ball to the left of Noel Valladares to give Les Bleus a deserved lead going into the break. With Honduras down to 10 men, France continued to dominate and Benzema created the second goal in the 48th minute -- the first to be confirmed by goal-line technology at the World CCup. . Benzema latched onto a long ball by Yohan Cabaye and his shot hit the post and came back across goal before Valladares fumbled it over his own line. With the new technology system confirming the ball crossed the line, referee Sandro Ricci gave the own goal despite Honduran protests. Benzema scored his second in the 72nd, firing in powerfully from inside the area after a long range shot by right back Mathieu Debuchy was blocked. "Its my first World Cup and I think were all satisfied with the result," Benzema said. "It was important to win this match." French keeper Hugo Lloris didnt have to touch the ball until the 31 minute and didnt have to make a save all night. France looked dangerous from the start, with Blaise Matuidi and Antoine Griezmann both hitting the crossbar before the half-hour mark. The only downside for the French fans was that the teams national anthems werent played before the game because of an apparent malfunction -- meaning they didnt get a chance to sing "La Marseillaise." FIFA did not immediately give an explanation to why the anthems werent played. ' ' '
blueberryjerry » 12 дек 2016, 11:44 
