EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Juan Agudelo scored a 59th-minute goal to give the United States a surprising 1-1 draw against Argentina and Lionel Messi in a high-profile exhibition game Saturday night.
Esteban Cambiasso put fourth-ranked Argentina ahead in the 42nd minute after a thrilling run to the goal line by Messi, who passed through the legs of U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra. Angel Di Maria‘s initial shot was stopped by goalkeeper Tim Howard, and Cambiasso scored on the rebound.
After the U.S. switched to a more attacking approach, energizing the crowd of 78,936 at the New Meadowlands Stadium, the 18-year-old Agudelo scored his second goal in three international appearances. It followed Landon Donovan‘s corner kick and an initial header by Bocanegra that was saved by goalkeeper Mariano Andujar.
Victoire Pisa wins Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Japan’s Victoire Pisa won the $10 million World Cup by a half-length, capturing the world’s richest horse race in a lift to the disaster-ravaged country.
Three Japanese horses were entered, and the March 11 earthquake and tsunami clearly were on the minds of the owners and trainers. Many wore polo shirts with the word “Hope” on the sleeve and the date of the double disaster on the back.
The Dubai World Cup was the highlight of the eight-race card that featured 110 horses racing for $26.25 million.
The Japanese came into the World Cup with some of the stronger horses, but the catastrophe seemed to inspire many of the owners. Several of the Japanese teams said their operations were damaged by the quake and tsunami that have left more than 10,000 dead and more than 17,000 missing.
• Pants On Fire came from just off the pace to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.
Mucho Macho Man, the 3-2 favorite, finished third.
Pants On Fire returned $14.60, $7.80, and $4.80. Nehro brought $31.60 and $11.40 to place. Mucho Macho Man brought $2.80 to show.
Love upgraded
MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves all-star Kevin Love has been upgraded to questionable for Minnesota’s game against Boston after improvement in his strained left groin.
Love participated in a light practice Saturday after missing Minnesota’s last two games. The Timberwolves host the Celtics today, and Love said if he wakes up feeling good, he’ll “probably try to give it a go.”
He said most of the pain is gone, but the muscle is still tight.
• Heat center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has recovered from his infected foot and is expected to be in uniform today when Miami hosts the Houston Rockets.
Footnotes.
Yuriorkis Gamboa (20-0, 16 KOs) stopped Jorge Solis (40-3-1) in the fourth round in Atlantic City to defend his WBA and IBF featherweight titles.
• California held off defending champion Texas to win its first men’s NCAA swimming championship in 31 years.
