BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois — The United States is on its way to the Women’s World Cup after beating Italy 1-0 on Saturday on a first-half goal by Amy Rodriguez.
The Americans won the playoff series 2-0 on aggregate to earn the last spot in the 16-nation World Cup, which will be played June 26 to July 17 in Germany. The draw is Monday in Frankfurt.
The top-ranked Americans were in danger of missing the tournament they’ve won twice after a stunning upset loss to Mexico in the semifinals of regional qualifying.
Walchhofer wins Cup downhill
LAKE LOUISE, Alberta — Michael Walchhofer won the first men’s downhill of the World Cup season, leading a strong Austrian showing on a day when American Bode Miller finished eighth.
Mario Scheiber of Austria and Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway tied for second.
• Olympic champion Steven Holcomb steered USA-1 to victory in the World Cup four-man bobsled season-opener in Whistler, British Columbia.
• Olympic and overall World Cup champion Tatjana Huefner led Natalie Geisenberger in a German 1-2 finish at the season-opening women’s World Cup luge race in Igls, Austria.
• Felix Gottwald of Austria won the second nordic combined event of the World Cup season in Kuusamo, Finland.
Bills put Merriman on IR
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Shawne Merriman‘s first season with the Buffalo Bills ended before it even began after he was placed on injured reserve because of a nagging Achilles tendon injury.
• New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith was arrested in Lafayette, La., after he was accused of grabbing his wife’s hair and pulling her down the street after leaving a nightclub.
• Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel won’t play against the Chicago Bears today because of a knee injury.
Poulter leads Dubai by two shots
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Ian Poulter broke free from a crowded leaderboard to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Dubai World Championship.
The Englishman was at 12-under after a third-round 69, two shots ahead of Ross Fisher of England, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Francesco Molinari of Italy.
Nadal, Federer to meet in final
LONDON — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal overcame a mid-match slump to defeat Andy Murray 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (6) and reach his first final at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Nadal will face Roger Federer, who defeated Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-4 in the other semifinal.
Footnotes.
The Montreal Alouettes are favored to beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders in today’s Grey Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, and repeat as Canadian Football League champions.
• Carl Froch of Britain unanimously outpointed Arthur Abraham of Germany in 12 rounds in Helsinki to take the vacant WBC super middleweight title.
