Action from the QVA Cup quarter-final between Al Arabi (in red) and Al Sadd at Al Arabi Indoor Hall yesterday.

Brazil and Uruguay scored easy victories to maintain their lead at the top of South America’s 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament on Thursday as Chile lost ground after crashing to defeat in Ecuador.

England will hope to erase the lingering stain of Sam Allardyce’s embarrassing exit when interim manager Gareth Southgate takes charge for the first time in today’s World Cup qualifier against Malta.

England’s Ross Fisher put himself in the frame to end a two-year winless drought with a round of 68 and ease a stroke clear on the second day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Tiger Woods confirmed yesterday that he will return to action in California next week after a 14-month absence as he attempts to resurrect his flagging career.

Rafael Nadal crashed out of the China Open quarter finals to 20th-ranked Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov yesterday as Andy Murray swept into his 11th semi of the season.

French second-seed Gael Monfils will face Australian Nick Kyrgios in the Japan Open semi-finals, after he beat Croatian seventh-seed Ivo Karlovic yesterday.

World championship leader Nico Rosberg ended the opening day of practice for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in a strong position after setting the pace in both sessions yesterday.

Mercedes offered a sharp riposte to Lewis Hamilton’s bizarre claims of a team conspiracy yesterday, insisting the notion would be rejected by “anyone with an ounce of intelligence”.

After an amazing performance in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Hungary’s star swimmer Katinka Hosszu did not stop to catch her breath – heading straight into the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup series – eager to keep her momentum from Rio.

Syria shock China, while late goal gives Japan 2-1 win over Iraq

Manchester United would be better off having midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in the side, Manchester City’s Ilkay Guendogan has said of his fellow German, who remains unlikely to figure in manager Jose Mourinho’s plans.