Football - Stekelenburg

diagnosed with head trauma

Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has been released from the hospital after getting kicked in the head during a match with Inter. Stekelenburg was diagnosed with head and neck trauma after the collision Saturday with Inter defender Lucio. The ANSA news agency reports that a timeframe for Stekelenburg’s return won’t be made until he meets with a specialist this week, although he will definitely miss Thursday’s match vs. Siena. Stekelenburg joined Roma in August in a €6.3-million transfer from Ajax. He is the starting goalkeeper for the Netherlands, having helped his national team to last year’s World Cup final.

Gilardino headed for tests

after knee buckles

Fiorentina forward Alberto Gilardino has been brought to a local hospital for tests after what appeared to be a serious knee injury during a 2-0 loss to Udinese. Gilardino’s left knee buckled during a collision with Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic in the 68th minute of the match at the Friuli stadium. Gilardino scored in Fiorentina’s 2-0 win over Bologna in the Tuscan club’s opener last weekend, but has mostly been relegated to a bench role with Italy’s national team lately.

Fiorentina declare contract rebel Montolivo no longer part of club

Riccardo Montolivo is no longer part of Fiorentina, insists management. The Italy midfielder has been embroiled in a contract row since January with the Viola. “Montolivo proved he is no longer a Fiorentina player,” declared President Mario Cognini in a video clip on the official club website. “He confirmed his desire to leave and now the matter is closed. He explicitly said he has ambitions for a more successful club than Fiorentina. He does not believe in our project. "We get the feeling the player heard calls from outside sources. By reacting like this, he proved he is no longer a Fiorentina player and does not belong here. “However, Montolivo is under contract and remains at the disposal of Sinisa Mihajlovic, so the Coach will decide whether to play him or not.”

Golf - Blake wins Songdo IBD Championship in playoff

Jay Don Blake beat fellow American John Cook on the fifth playoff hole at the Songdo IBD Championship yesterday for his first Champions Tour victory. The pair both shot a 68 in the final round to finish tied on 13-under 203 with Mark O’Meara and Australian Peter Senior at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. O’Meara and Senior were eliminated from the playoff after bogeys on the third. Senior shot a final-round 64 to reach the playoff, while O’Meara had a 67. Overnight leader Michael Allen shot a 75 and fell back to 7 under to finish in a tie for sixth.

Britain & Ireland beats

Continental Europe

Britain and Ireland held off a strong fightback from Continental Europe in yesterday's singles to retain the Vivendi Seve Trophy by a score of 15½ to 12½. The defending champions had a commanding five-point lead heading into the final day. But Continental Europe won yesterday's first five singles to level the contest at 11½-11½. It took narrow wins by Ian Poulter, Scott Jamieson and Mark Foster to clinch victory. Spanish golf great Seve Ballesteros created the event, a biennial competition, to help Europeans get more match-play experience outside the Ryder Cup. Continental Europe captured the inaugural event in 2000, but Britain and Ireland have since won the trophy six straight times.

Chan Yih-shin wins

Macau Open by three shots

Taiwan's Chan Yih-shin grabbed four birdies in five holes on the back nine to win the Macau Open by three strokes yesterday. Chan shot a final round 69 – with straight birdies on holes 12-14 and another on No. 16 – for an overall 14-under 270. It's Chan's first win on the Asian Tour in more than two years. Australian David Gleeson shot a 66 to finish in second place with an overall 11-under 273. Chan started the round badly after waiting in the clubhouse for close to two hours because of rain. When play got going, Chan opened with a double bogey on the first hole at the Macau Golf and Country Club after sending his tee shot into the woods. Chan lost the lead twice in the final round to South Korean Mo Joong-kyung (72), who had shot a 65 on Saturday. A delightful chip-in at the 12th for birdie resulted in a three-shot turnaround as Chan breezed to the front, capitalising on a double bogey from Mo on the same hole. Gleeson, who won in Macau three years ago, shot 66 to finish on 11-under. Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant carded 66 to finish in third on 10-under.

Basketball - Spain beat France to win European Championship

Spain defended its European basketball title yesterday, with Juan Carlos Navarro scoring 27 points in a 98-85 victory over France in the final Pau Gasol added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Spain, which became the first repeat champion since Yugoslavia in 1997. Serge Ibaka had five blocks in the second quarter as Spain built a 10-point lead to pull away. France came within six in the third but a 7-0 run keyed by a 3-pointer from Navarro restored Spain’s double-digit lead. Tony Parker led France with 26 points.

Boxing - Mayweather KOs Ortiz

for WBC welter belt

Floyd Mayweather Jr. reclaimed the WBC welterweight title and mained unbeaten Saturday by knocking out Victor Ortiz late in the fourth round. The punch came just after the two fighters had grappled in the middle of the ring after a head butt by Ortiz clearly irritated Mayweather. As they separated, Mayweather shot out a right hand that put Ortiz on the canvas, and he was counted out as he struggled to get up. It was a wild end to a fight that Mayweather was dominating until Ortiz seemed to intentionally head butt him. After referee Joe Cortez took away a point and separated them, Mayweather delivered the winning punch.