US opens 2025 with win over Venezuela in friendly

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) during a game on Jan. 12, in Phoenix. ROSS D. FRANKLIN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Venezuela goalkeeper Wuilker Fariñez can’t stop a shot by United States midfielder Jack McGlynn, not shown, during the first half of Saturday’s international friendly in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. MICHAEL LAUGHLIN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) forces a fumble by Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the first half of Saturday’s divisional playoff game. SETH WENIG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. >> Patrick Agyemang and Matko Miljevic scored in their international debuts, Jack McGlynn got his first national team goal and the United States beat Venezuela 3-1 on Saturday in a friendly between teams missing their regular starters.

McGlynn and Agyemang scored about two minutes apart late in the first half and Miljevic, whose third-minute penalty kick was saved, struck in the 64th minute.

McGlynn connected on a left-footed strike from about 30 yards in the 37th minute, Agyemang deflected a shot off goalkeeper Wuilker Faríñez not long afterward and the Americans were off and running. Milijevic scored on a counter, joining Agyemang to raise the total to 61 players who scored in their U.S. debuts.

Jorge Yriarte scored in the 68th minute for Venezuela, winless in eight games since it beat Jamaica in the group stage of the Copa America last June.

The U.S. won for the fourth time in five matches since Mauricio Pochettino took over as head coach last year, including 3-0 at home.

The match was not on a FIFA international date, and defenders Miles Robinson and Shaq Moore were the only U.S. starters who entered with more than two international appearances.

Naeher wins 2024 US female player of the Year >> Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who retired from the U.S. national team late last year after winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, was named the 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.

Known for her unflappable demeanor, the 36-year-old Naeher is just the second goalkeeper to win the annual award after Hope Solo in 2009.

Naeher was previously honored as the FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

Aston Villa draw even with Arsenal late >> Arsenal slipped up in the Premier League title race, squandering a two-goal lead to draw with Aston Villa after Liverpool beat Brentford thanks to a stoppage-time double from Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool’s 2-0 win could hardly have been clinched any later, with Nunez — the oft-derided Uruguay striker — scoring in the first and third minutes of added-on time to ensure the leaders avoided a third straight draw.

Playing a couple of hours later and looking to restore the four-point gap, second-placed Arsenal took a 2-0 lead through goals by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz but ended up drawing 2-2. Ollie Watkins grabbed the equalizer for Villa to hurt the title chances of the team he grew up supporting.

Pro basketball

Hornets guard Miller out indefinitely >> Charlotte Hornets guard Brandon Miller, the team’s second-leading scorer, will be sidelined indefinitely because of a torn ligament in his right wrist.

Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, was held out of Charlotte’s 125-123 victory over Chicago on Friday night with what the team initially called a “wrist sprain.” The Hornets announced after the game that Miller, who’s averaging 21 points, has a torn wrist ligament.

The 22-year-old Miller, who played one season at Alabama before turning pro, is averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 34.2 minutes in 27 games this season.

Golf

Els wins Mitsubishi >> Ernie Els won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship for his seventh PGA Tour Champions victory, closing with a 6-under 66 to beat Bernard Langer, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alex Cejka by two strokes.

The 67-year-old Langer missed a chance to win for the 19th straight season on the 50-and-over tour. The German star won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship last year for his record-extending 47th senior title.

Els finished at 18-under 198 at Hualalai Golf Course.

Straka surges to 4-shot lead in American Express >> Sepp Straka shot an 8-under 64 while his top competitors failed to match his sizzling pace, staking the Austrian to a four-shot lead over Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Lower after three rounds at The American Express.

Straka made six birdies on his front nine at La Quinta Country Club, perhaps the easiest of the three circuits on which this venerable Coachella Valley tournament is held. He completed his third straight bogey-free round with two more birdies down the stretch, putting him at 23-under 193 and staking him to a significant lead heading into Sunday in search of his third PGA Tour victory.

College basketball

No. 1 Auburn sneaks past No. 23 Georgia >> Tahaad Pettiford hit 5 of 7 shots from 3-point range, scoring 24 off the bench to help No. 1 Auburn escape No. 23 Georgia with a 70-68 win.

Auburn (17-1, 5-0 SEC) has won 10 in a row and a second straight game without star Johni Broome, who injured his ankle in a Jan. 11 win over South Carolina.

Georgia (14-4, 2-3) struggled with free throws, making 9 of 20 from the line.

No. 10 Houston gets last second win past UCF >> J’Wan Roberts made a go-ahead layup with 1.1 seconds left to lift No. 10 Houston to a 69-68 win over UCF.

Roberts powered his way to the basket off an inbounds pass, beating UCF’s shot blockers to the rim. The Knights were unable to get off a final shot attempt.

Roberts scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half. He went 10 for 17 from the field for the game, and also grabbed nine rebounds.