LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Thousands of Kings fans turned out in downtown Los Angeles on Monday to celebrate the team’s Stanley Cup triumph, the Kings’ second NHL title in three years.The Kings wrapped up the title on their home ice on Friday with a double-overtime victory over the New York Rangers that gave them a four-games-to-one win in the best-of-seven championship series.On Monday, players and their families along with coaches and staff celebrated aboard double-decker buses and flat-bed trucks in

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Dee Gordon had four hits, including a triple that was misplayed into four bases by left fielder Charlie Blackmon, and Ryu Hyun-jin pitched six strong innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Colorado 6-1 on Monday night and snap the Rockies’ season-best five-game winning streak.Ryu (8-3) allowed a run and three hits in six innings and struck out six in his 13th start. In his first 13 starts last season ― his first in the major leagues ― the left-hander was 8-5 with a 2.85

Pepe’s rash red card for headbutting dooms Portugal

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) ― The Maracana is not filled with many fond memories for Spain, whose World Cup title is on the line at the iconic football stadium.Spain returns to the Maracana for Wednesday’s must-win match against Chile nearly one year after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final.Spain’s 5-1 loss to the Netherlands to open Group B was its heaviest competitive defeat since a 6-1 defeat to Brazil at the famed stadium in Rio de Janeiro at the 1950 World Cup.Spain isn’t lett

Japan talisman Keisuke Honda said Monday the side must try to dominate possession if it is to keep its World Cup hopes alive after a defeat in their Group C opener.Honda gave the Asian champion the lead against Ivory Coast on Saturday but, inspired by Didier Drogba, the Africans hit back with two goals to leave the Blue Samurai’s tournament hopes in the balance.Alberto Zaccheroni’s side cannot afford to slip up in Natal on Thursday when it meets Greece, who lost their first match, 3-0 to Colombi

Despite its failure to join the 2014 World Cup, North Korea broadcast the taped version of the match between England and Italy on Monday, pointing to the reclusive country’s World Cup fever. Italy's Mario Balotelli, left, challenges for the ball with England's Gary Cahill during the group D World Cup soccer match between England and Italy at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Yonhap-AP)The England-Italy match was broadcast by the country’s official Korean Central

Hong: Focus critical to avoid defeat

South Korean head coach Hong Myung-bo on Monday hinted at a conservative approach against Russia in the upcoming World Cup showdown, saying his team should "play not to lose." (Yonhap)The Group H kickoff between the 57th-ranked South Korea and the 19th-ranked Russia will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, in the central-west region of the host Brazil. At a pre-match press conference held at the stadium, Hong said it was as important to avoid a loss as it is to try to win the opene

 CUIABA, Brazil -- Russia’s new captain Vasily Berezutskiy said Monday he was 100 percent prepared for Russia and South Korea’s World Cup opener in Brazil.Anticipation is high for Russia’s Tuesday opener with Korea, which ends its 12-year World Cup drought four years before it hosts the World Cup.Vasily Berezutski (Right) of Russia fights for the ball with Maris Smirnovs (Left) of Latvia during their friendly soccer match in Moscow, 16 August 2006. (Yonhap)“I am 100 percent prepared (for Tuesday

After 90 brutal minutes of end-to-end action, the Americans emerged with a thrilling 2-1 win over Ghana.``It was a grind, but it was a wonderful win at the end of the day,'' coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.U.S. fans were screaming for revenge Monday after the Black Stars eliminated the Americans from the last two Cups. They got it. At a price.(AP-Yonhap)Clint Dempsey scored a shocking goal a half-minute in, but the U.S. couldn't make it stand up. Andre Ayew tied the score in the 82nd minute after a

Nigeria and Iran delivered the first draw of the World Cup on Monday as they ground out a scrappy 0-0 stalemate in their opening match in Group F. The draw at the Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba followed 12 mostly high scoring and attacking games. After a first half in which Nigeria failed to capitalize on its dominance, chances were few and far between in the second. (Xinhua-Yonhap)In the early passages of play, Nigeria had shown menace, with much of its attacking th

On the eve of his World Cup showdown against South Korea, Russia head coach Fabio Capello said Monday he has "great expectations" for his side."We've done everything in our power to come to this beginning in top form," Capello said through an interpreter at the pre-match press conference held at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, the site of the Group H match between South Korea and Russia at 6 p.m. on Tuesday."All of our players are in excellent physical condition,"Capello added. "I am confident in the

Thomas Mueller picked up where he left off at the World Cup, scoring a hat trick in Germany's 4-0 victory over 10-man Portugal in the Group G opener on Monday. Mueller scored five goals at the 2010 World Cup, along with three other players, but he also had three assists and that gave the Bayern Munich forward the honor of top scorer in South Africa.``To score three goals in the World Cup opener against such an opponent is great,'' Mueller said of his performance against Portugal, which was outcl