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SPORTS Friday 20 September 2019

Atlanta United goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton is scored on by At-
lanta United forward Josef Martinez in the second half of an MLS
soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Cincinnati.
Associated Press United States' coach Gregg Popovich, left talks to United States' Donovan Mitchell, center and
United States' Kemba Walker at right for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Dongguan in southern
Duncan, Royer China's Guangdong province on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. Associated Press

lead Red Bulls U.S. keeps top spot in FIBA men's

past Timbers 2-0 world rankings; Spain No. 2

By TIM REYNOLDS
Tokyo Olympics. Several Japan
AP Basketball Writer ranking going into the 2020 playoffs. is automatically
By The Associated Press picked up a crucial point in USA Basketball has kept its top NBA players, including qualified for the 12-team
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — the standings. No. 1 spot in the FIBA world Stephen Curry, Draymond Olympic tournament as
Kyle Duncan scored his first The Sounders (14-9-8) men's rankings, even after Green and Damian Lillard the host country. The U.S.,
MLS goal in the opening reached 50 points and re- a disappointing seventh- have said in recent days Argentina, Nigeria, Spain,
minutes and Daniel Royer tained their tenuous hold place showing in the World that they intend to play for France, Iran and Australia
added a penalty kick in on second place in the MLS Cup that ended earlier this the U.S. in Tokyo, where the clinched Olympic spots at
stoppage time to give the Western Conference. Dal- week. Americans will try to win a the World Cup by finishing
New York Red Bulls a 2-0 las (12-11-8) has 44 points, It's now nine-years-and- fourth consecutive gold as the best teams in their
victory over the Portland and combined with Port- counting in the top spot for medal. respective FIBA regions —
Timbers on Wednesday land's 2-0 home loss to the the U.S., which has held the Most top U.S. players de- the Americas, Africa, Eu-
night. New York Red Bulls, jumped No. 1 ranking since winning clined to be part of the rope, Asia and Oceania.
The Red Bulls (13-13-5), ahead of the Timbers in the the 2010 world champion- World Cup team. That leaves four unclaimed
jockeying for home-field West. The last shutout for ship. World Cup champion "I'm expecting them to be Olympic berths, and 24
advantage in the playoffs Frei and the Sounders was Spain stayed No. 2, Aus- so strong next year," Spain teams to compete for them
with three games remain- 1-0 at Houston on July 27. In tralia leaped eight spots coach Sergio Scariolo said. in playoffs next year. There
ing, snapped a three- the eight games since, and to No. 3, World Cup final- OLYMPIC UPDATE will be four six-team tourna-
game losing streak. before Wednesday night's ist Argentina rose one spot The new rankings con- ments held from June 23-
It was the second straight game, Seattle had allowed to No. 4 and World Cup firmed that European 28, 2020 — winner-take-all,
loss for the Timbers (13-13-4) 19 goals in going 3-3-2. bronze-medalist France fell champion Slovenia, which all in this case meaning an
and fifth at home this sea- It was Frei's eighth shutout two slots to No. 5. didn't earn a spot in the Olympic berth. Bidding for
son, matching the team's of the season. FIBA's rankings take re- World Cup field after many sites is expected to begin
mark for most home losses Jesse Gonzalez earned his sults from the most recent of its top players couldn't shortly, FIBA said.
set in 2011, their first season seventh shutout for Dallas. eight years into account — take part in qualifying since The other 16 playoff spots
in Major League Soccer. He made three saves. which means the U.S. is still those games conflicted were awarded based on
Portland has gone 2-4 in its ATLANTA UNITED 2, FC CIN- reaping point benefits from with the NBA and Euro- World Cup placing. They
last six games as it tries to CINNATI 0 the 2012 and 2016 Olympic league schedules, will still went to Serbia, Lithuania,
secure a spot in the post- CINCINNATI (AP) — Josef gold medals and the 2014 have a chance to com- Greece, Russia, Brazil, Ita-
season with four games Martinez scored two goals World Cup title. pete in the Olympics — as ly, Puerto Rico, Turkey, the
left. Last year, the Timbers six-minutes apart in the sec- "In this day and age, bas- will seven other teams that Dominican Republic, Ven-
advanced to the MLS Cup ond half to lead Atlanta. ketball in other countries is found out they're headed ezuela, Germany, Cana-
final. Martinez gave Atlanta (16- not a secret," U.S. coach to playoffs next year. da, the Czech Republic,
Portland's top scorer, Brian 11-3) the lead in the 59th Gregg Popovich said after Angola, Senegal, Mexico, Poland, New Zealand and
Fernandez, was back in minute on a shot 12 yards the Americans completed Uruguay, China, Korea Tunisia.
the starting lineup against out from the center of the their run in the World Cup. and Croatia also still have MOVING UP
the Red Bulls after missing box, assisted by Gonzalo "So it's not like there's an Olympic hopes. Those last Belize was the top mover
the previous game with a Pity Martinez. Martinez epiphany or a revelation to eight playoff spots award- in the new rankings, climb-
stomach illness. sealed it in the 65th on a be made. There are won- ed Thursday went to the ing 50 spots to No. 118.
SOUNDERS 0, FC DALLAS 0 shot 11 yards out from the derful teams and wonderful top two teams from Afri- Kosovo rose 21 spots to No.
SEATTLE (AP) — Stefan Frei center of the box, assisted coaches all over the world. ca, Europe, Asia-Oceania 69, Togo went up 21 spots
made three saves for his by Julian Gressel.Atlanta You go compete and the and the Americas regions to No. 136, Tunisia climbed
first shutout since July as Se- outshot Cincinnati (6-22-3) best teams win." who hadn't either already 18 spots to No. 33 and Ivory
attle and FC Dallas played 15 to 12, with seven shots It's now expected that the clinched Olympic berths Coast went up 16 spots to
to a scoreless draw and on goal.q U.S. will retain the No. 1 or spots in the last-chance No. 48.q