US men’s soccer stays alive with win over New Zealand

OLYMPIC ROUNDUP

The United States’ Walker Zimmerman, center, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during a men’s Group A match against New Zealand in Marseille, France. DANIEL COLE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Victor Wembanyama, of France, shoots over Gui Santos, of Brazil, in a men’s basketball game on Saturday. MARK J. TERRILL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Djordje Mihailovic converted a penalty as the United States pounced early in a 4-1 victory over New Zealand on Saturday to stave off possible elimination at the Olympics.

A loss in Marseille could have ended the Americans’ chance to advance to the knockout round. The U.S. had lost to France in its Group A opener.

Mihailovic calmly hit the penalty in the eighth minute after Nathan Harriel was brought down in the box by Matthew Garbett.

Four minutes later, senior player Walker Zimmerman, a defender, made it 2-0 when he poked in a goal in a scramble in front of the net following a free kick.

Gianluca Busio scored on a rebound at the half-hour mark and celebrated by dancing with teammate Kevin Paredes. Paxton Aaronson added a fourth goal for the United States in the 58th and New Zealand avoided the shutout with Jesse Randall’s late goal.

Women’s soccer

FIFA strips Canada of 6 points, bans coaches 1 year >> FIFA docked six points from Canada in the women’s soccer tournament and banned three coaches for one year each in a drone-spying scandal.

The stunning swath of punishments include a 200,000 Swiss francs ($226,000) fine for the Canadian soccer federation in a case that has spiraled at the Summer Games. Two assistant coaches were caught using drones to spy on opponent New Zealand’s practices before their opening game last Wednesday.

Canada Soccer and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced late Saturday that they were looking into an appeal, specifically of the deducted points.

Men’s basketball

Wembanyama puts on show as France staves off Brazil >> San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama had 19 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three blocks to help France overcome an early deficit and hold off Brazil 78-66 to open the group stage at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille.

Nicolas Batum added 19 points for France, which was showered with chants of “Le Bleus!”

Tennis

Swiatek, Alcaraz and Djokovic start with wins >> Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz got the tennis competition started with first-round victories under closed roofs at Roland Garros, the site of their French Open titles less than two months ago.

Novak Djokovic also won in straight sets as he, like Swiatek and Alcaraz, opened a bid for a first Olympic gold medal. Djokovic’s second-round opponent could be longtime rival Rafael Nadal, who was scheduled to play his opening singles match Sunday — but said he isn’t sure whether he will remain in that event.

The No. 1-ranked Swiatek claimed four of her five career major championships in Paris and grabbed the last four games to beat Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2, 7-5, while reigning French Open and Wimbledon champ Alcaraz defeated Lebanon’s Hady Habib 6-3, 6-1.

Serbia’s Djokovic, who is seeded No. 1 in the men’s field after Jannik Sinner pulled out with tonsillitis, needed less than an hour for a 6-0, 6-1 win against Australia’s Matthew Ebden

Osaka loses to Kerber in first round >> Angelique Kerber eliminated Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 in the first round — a matchup between two former No. 1-ranked players who own multiple Grand Slam titles.

Kerber, a silver medalist in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro, has said she will retire after competing for Germany at these Summer Games.