SOCCER: Dempsey scores twice in USA win
Clint Dempsey scored twice as the U.S. rallied to beat Guatemala 3-1 in Kansas City to reach the last round of continental World Cup qualifying. The Americans needed only a draw to advance to the six-team finals in North and Central America and the Caribbean qualifier. Guatemala was eliminated from qualifying after Jamaica’s 4-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda.
Spain’s run of 24 consecutive World Cup qualifying wins was halted in a 1-1 draw with France. … Germany spectacularly collapsed to let Sweden fight back from four goals down to draw 4-4. … Portugal settled for a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland as Cristiano Ronaldo made his 100th Portugal appearance. … Italy beat Denmark 3-1 despite playing most of the second half with 10 men, while the Netherlands maintained its perfect qualifying start with a 4-1 victory over Romania.
England’s match at Poland was postponed until today because of a wet field. … Lionel Messi as Argentina beat Chile 2-1 to remain atop the South American standings.
FOOTBALL: NCAA backs final call at ND win
Rogers Redding, the national coordinator of NCAA football officials said the decision to uphold the ruling on the field for the last play of Saturday’s Stanford-Notre Dame game was correct. Field officials ruled Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor’s progress had been stopped before he reached the ball across the goal line for what would have been a potential tying touchdown on fourth-and-goal in overtime. Replay officials reviewed the play and the call was confirmed, giving Notre Dame a 20-13 win.
Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu might have violated NCAA rules by promoting a night club in March while he was still a member of the team, According to Sports Illustrated. Mathieu appeared in a video made by a group of his friends that goes by the name Era Nation in which he promotes a party at a Baton Rouge club called The Palace. Any NCAA issues could affect his ability to return to football with LSU or another school next season.
Antoinne Jimmerson caught two touchdown passes, including a tiebreaking 78-yarder in the fourth quarter, to lead North Texas (3-4, 2-1 Sun Belt) to a 30-23 win over Louisiana Lafayette (4-2, 2-1) in Denton, Texas.
COLLEGE: Penn State won’t renew AD’s pact
Penn State will not renew the contract of athletic director Tim Curley, who has been on leave since being charged last year with perjury and failing to report a child-sex abuse allegation against Jerry Sandusky. Curley and retired VP Gary Schultz are scheduled to stand trial in January on the perjury and failure to report charges. Both men have denied the allegations against them.
ETC.: Ohio radio host suspended for tweet
Scott Torgerson, a Columbus (Ohio) sports talk-show host who tweeted he wished ESPN’s Desmond Howard would get fired or die, was suspended indefinitely by his station. Torgerson, who works at WBNS 97.1 The Fan, tweeted last weekend he wished the former Heisman Trophy winner from Michigan, would get fired or die so Torgerson could again watch ESPN’s “College GameDay.’’
Mavericks guard Delonte West was reinstated after a brief suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
Game 2 of the WNBA Finals is slated for tonight in Minneapolis, where the Indiana Fever hold a 1-0 over the Minnesota Lynx in the best-of-five series after Sunday’s 76-70 win.
Angels outfielder Mike Trout is the first rookie to win Baseball America’s player of the year award. He also won rookie of the year. Last season, he was Baseball America’s minor league player of the year.