Soccer

VANCOUVER — Lionel Messi was the headliner but the Vancouver Whitecaps used grit and desire to steal the show.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — A cardiologist testified on Thursday that Diego Maradona was considered a “high-risk patient” and said that the authorities at the clinic where he underwent surgery days before his death recommended that the former nati

MADRID (AP) — Valladolid, the team owned by former Brazil striker Ronaldo, was relegated in the Spanish league after a 5-1 loss at Real Betis on Thursday.

LEEDS, England (AP) — A soccer player from a third-division English club was sentenced to 14 months in prison Thursday for causing the death of a cyclist three years ago, West Yorkshire police said.

BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Bologna advanced past Empoli to reach its first Italian Cup final in more than half a century on Thursday. Thijs Dallinga's 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and the team advanced 5-1 on aggregate.

NEW YORK (AP) — The players union for the USL Super League has partnered with women's soccer footwear company IDA Sports to provide its cleats to all of the league's athletes.

ROME (AP) — Relegation-threatened Lecce's Serie A match at Atalanta on Friday was postponed to Sunday following the death of the club’s physical therapist, the Italian league announced.

NBA great Jason Kidd has entered the soccer world by joining the ownership group of English Premier League club Everton.

Having played for clubs in the United States, Germany, Sweden and Iceland, veteran Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod has been around the soccer block.

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AP) — Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil will step down this summer, putting an end to a successful six-and-a-half-year stint, the Spanish club said on Thursday.