However, that doesn’t mean Mexico doesn’t want to crush Honduras’ hopes of making the World Cup with a big win Tuesday. After all, it’s not just the possibility of extending the frustration Honduras felt after Costa Rica’s last-minute equalizer sent the Ticos into the World Cup and Honduras on the verge of missing for the first time in three cycles. Mexico has something to play for as well. It can become just the second-ever undefeated Hex team, and in doing so set the record for best-ever Hex finish with 24 points, one better than Costa Rica’s 1998 qualification mark....

Looking for its third Gold Cup title in the past four tournaments, Mexico took the lead in the 31st minute when a free kick was directed out to the right flank to Paul Aguilar, who picked out an unmarked Guardado for an impressive side-foot volley inside the back post. MORE: Craziest international soccer rivalries | Dinamo Zagreb striker scores on insane bicycle kick Corona doubled Mexico’s lead in the 47th minute, stealing possession from Michael Hector before driving the ball beyond Ryan Thompson from the edge of the area, while Peralta put the result beyond doubt just after the hour mark, following another error from the Jamaican center-back....

Salcedo moved to Europe in 2016, joining Fiorentina before moving to the Bundesliga side this summer. The former Real Salt Lake center back hopes to remain in Europe, but he indicated he wouldn’t be totally against a return to the Guadalajara side with which he started his youth career and where he returned to play three tournaments with the senior side. “We’ve talked. We haven’t reached an agreement but I’ve never ruled out nor will I rule out [a Chivas return],” Salcedo told MarcaClaro....

“Mexico did not fall into the propaganda game against Sputnik V,” Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said during a visit to Russia. “The evidence that we have from what the Health Department told me before this trip is that the million doses administered in Mexico have very good results.” Ebrard said state-owned company Birmex will work with the Russian Direct Investment Fund to prepare the bottling operations in Mexico....

It’s not Mexico’s style to play for a draw. It’s not Juan Carlos Osorio’s style. And it’s playing with fire. Take a 0-0 into the 89th minute and concede a goal, and you could have a painful memory that sticks in the mind. Find an early goal, and you’re in good shape. This isn’t the situation El Tri wanted to be in, but they couldn’t do too much to avoid it....

The most headline-grabbing statement from Herrera concerned Rafa Marquez, who is inked in to play at his fourth World Cup. “For me, the only player that has a certain place at the moment is Rafa Marquez … because he is going to be captain,” said Herrera on Monday in Mexico City. Herrera’s words mark a remarkable upturn in fortune for the Leon captain over the last couple of years. After suffering injuries and poor form at New York Red Bulls, Marquez lost his place in the national team and didn’t feature at all between May 2012 and October 2013, when Victor Manuel Vucetich called on his experience with El Tri’s World Cup fate hanging by a thread....

State police in Queretaro launched a search for 26 individuals — authorities have arrested 10 so far — identified in a brawl that erupted among supporters in the stands during a Liga MX match between Queretaro and Atlas. Those fights spilled onto the field and caused the suspension of the match as well as other matches that same weekend from Mexico’s top division. Liga MX play will resume on March 11....

Best answer: Yes, but no. Mike Weber (Cass Tech, Detroit, Mich.) stuck with his commitment to Ohio State instead of flipping to Michigan on Signing Day. When it comes to Ohio State vs. Michigan, everyone keeps score about everything. So yes, technically it’s Urban Meyer 1, Jim Harbaugh 0. But no, it’s not like Weber is going to walk in and take over as a starter for Ezekiel Elliott, who as you might remember closed the season with 696 rushing yards and eight TDs in Ohio State’s last three games....

Miami Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez is due to sign an emergency order on Saturday closing all beaches in Miami-Dade County from July 3 to 7, spanning Independence Day weekend. The measure could be extended “if conditions do not improve” and if people don’t follow rules to wear masks in commercial settings and outdoors when staying 6ft apart is not possible, he said in a statement. The decision came as Florida was among states to see a recent rise in COVID-19 cases....

Lingard, the No. 2 running back and No. 15 overall player according to 247Sports Composite rankings, picked the Hurricanes over the likes of Alabama, Ohio State and, more importantly, in-state schools Florida and Florida State. MORE: Top 20 signing classes since 2000 Lingard, in an interview with InsideTheU, said Hurricanes coach Mark Richt and running back coach Thomas Brown were the biggest reasons he chose Miami. “Coach Brown is a great dude,” Lingard said....

If the NBA partnered with Dos Equis (not that it would) and gave out a “Most Interesting Man” award, the new Knicks forward might’ve sewn it up before the season even begins after his most recent interview with SportsNet New York reporter Taylor Rooks. MORE: With Melo gone, Knicks finally free Kristaps Porzingis In 38 minutes, Beasley covered his history of marijuana use, why he’s comfortable wearing a dress, the N-word and how much of their brains humans actually use....

Bennett, who said he was inspired by Chance the Rapper’s donation of $1 million to help kids in Chicago school systems, outlined his plan in a Thursday statement. MORE: Athletes’ social issues demonstrations “I have decided to donate all of my endorsement money in 2017 to help rebuild minority communities through s.t.e.a.m programs, as well as initiatives that directly affect women of color in hopes that we can create more opportunities for our youth and build a brighter future,” Bennett said in the statement (via Bleacher Report)....

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of an additional 70, including Steve Bannon and rapper Kodak Black. But his list did not include preemptive pardons for himself, his family or Giuliani. Cohen told MSNBC host Alex Witt that he started to ponder why the former president didn’t issue pardons for himself, his children or Giuliani after “knowing Donald Trump for well over a decade....

That would be winning a Super Bowl ring with one of the longest names in Super Bowl history. MORE: Just call Slater Mr. Special Teams | From valet to Super Bowl in a month “There’s got to be one with 13 or 14 letters, right? I’m at 12,” the Patriots ace blocking tight end told Sporting News. “Houshmandzadeh was going to be my first guess.” Unfortunately, former Bengals and Seahawks wide receiver T....

Now that he is leaving the Heat and the No. 6 behind, James has returned to No. 23, the number he previously wore as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Of course, this action caused some to look at James as a hypocrite. MORE: James to wear No. 23 | How has LeBron’s game changed since Cleveland? | Decade of LeBron ESPN spoke with Jordan about the act of players wearing the No....

Olunga who scored a hat-trick against La Palmas on January 13, came as a second-half substitute in Malaga match, but could not rescue his side from dropping two points. The former Gor Mahia man wrote his name in the history books when he came off the bench in place for the injured Stuani, and bagged a fantastic hat-trick in Girona’s 6-0 bashing of La Palmas a fortnight ago. The Kenyan international moved to Girona on loan from Chinese Super League outfit Ghuizhou Zhicheng, becoming only the second Kenyan to play in the Spanish top flight after McDonald Mariga....

Best known for becoming the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team, Sam signed a two-year contract with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes. He abruptly left the team without any explanation three weeks later and rejoined the team after two weeks. He played sparingly in just one game before quitting the team again for mental health reasons. MORE: Top Senior Bowl draft prospects by position | Don’t buy all the Carson Wentz hype Sam, 26, earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013 at Missouri and was selected by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft....

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas underwent ankle surgery in June, putting his availability for the start of the 2021 NFL season in doubt, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport: MORE: Bucs’ Super Bowl rings are comically large The star wideout only played in seven games during the 2020 season, catching 40 passes for 438 yards before landing on injured reserve. He returned in the postseason. Here’s the latest on Thomas’ injury and when you can expect him to back on the field....

But don’t think the driver, television analyst and all around showman isn’t taking this competition seriously. The producers of the ABC reality show have booked ballrooms in North Carolina, New York, Virginia and Illinois in the last couple of weeks for him and partner Emma Slater to practice for the opening night of the season Monday. MORE: Big Chase questions | Chase picks | What makes Earnhardt nervous | Kevin Ward car returns...