Digest

SOCCER

Dortmund hero Haaland wary of PSG fightback

Teenage record-breaker Erling Braut Haaland warned Borussia Dortmund still has it all to do to reach the Champions League quarterfinals even after his two goals sank Neymar's Paris Saint-Germain.

Haaland netted either side of a Neymar equalizer on Tuesday as the Brazilian superstar scored on his return from injury and the French champion lost 2-1 at Dortmund in the last-16, first-leg tie.

"We want to go through, it's going to be a hard game, but we are a good team," Haaland said of the return leg in Paris on March 11.

"The result is quite a dangerous one, as Paris has a very strong team and can still go through in the return leg."

Haaland's teammate Emre Can, who alongside Axel Witsel worked tirelessly in Dortmund's midfield to contain Neymar and France striker Kylian Mbappe, said the home side's defense had been key.

"It was a big statement from the team how we defended today. We know it's not over－it's just halftime," said Can, whose permanent transfer from Juventus was confirmed on Tuesday.

Spurs left hanging by Son injury: Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has compared Tottenham's hopes of a top-four finish to hanging from the balcony of a building after losing Son Heungmin to injury.

Already without Harry Kane for much of the remainder of the campaign, Mourinho said he does not expect Son to feature again this season after the South Korean fractured his right arm in Sunday's 3-2 win at Aston Villa.

Spurs will this weekend travel to Chelsea in a match that could prove pivotal in the battle to finish in the Premier League's top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.

When Mourinho arrived at Tottenham in November, Spurs were 12 points adrift of Chelsea in 14th, but they can move above the Blues into fourth with victory on Saturday.

"When we arrived we were in minus-12 floor, we got on the stairs and we started climbing. But immediately the stairs broke," said Mourinho. "We were trying to find a way. Lots of effort but we were going and going.

"When we arrived on the fourth floor, where we wanted to arrive, someone took the stairs away so we are now in trouble. We are holding by our arms on the balcony."

BASKETBALL

Cleveland parting ways with head coach Beilein

John Beilein is out as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers after little more than half a season in the position, ESPN reported Tuesday night.

The two sides reportedly had been discussing plans to mutually part ways this week, with The Athletic claiming that Beilein met with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on Monday to discuss possible resolutions. ESPN and the Cleveland Plain Dealer added that the sides were working out a financial settlement.

According to ESPN, Beilein is expected to say goodbye to Cavaliers players and staff Wednesday morning, as everyone returns from the All-Star break. Associate head coach JB Bickerstaff will be promoted to full-time head coach and will run his first practice Wednesday evening, per ESPN.

Cleveland's first game after the break is Friday at Washington.

Nets lose Irving again to shoulder problem

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is out indefinitely as he once again experiences trouble with his right shoulder.

Irving missed 26 games with an injury to the same shoulder earlier this season. Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said on Tuesday that Irving is slated to see a shoulder specialist later this week.

Atkinson said it will be a different specialist than the one Irving saw in December. Atkinson expects to have a clearer timetable per Irving's situation after the appointment.

Earlier this season, Irving expressed that he wanted to avoid shoulder surgery and rehab the injury. He received a cortisone shot nearly two months ago and returned to action on Jan 12.

But the six-time All-Star has played in just 20 games this season, also missing some time with knee and hamstring injuries.

There is some concern that the shoulder setback could be season-ending, but Atkinson said he did "not want to go there".

Atkinson said there wasn't a specific incident that led to the latest setback. "The shoulder is a tough thing," Atkinson said.

MOTOR SPORTS

Newman recovering from horror crash

Veteran US stock-car driver Ryan Newman was awake and speaking with doctors and family members on Tuesday, a day after a horrifying crash at the Daytona 500.

Roush Fenway Racing updated the condition of the 42-year-old American, whose Ford Mustang had been leading on the final lap but spun out of control, struck the wall and went flying into the air before flipping onto its roof and bursting into flames.

Several ambulances raced to the scene of the wreck by the 2008 Daytona 500 winner, who was extracted from the car and taken to a nearby hospital in a serious condition with injuries that Roush Racing officials said were not life-threatening.

"Ryan Newman remains under the care of doctors at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is awake and speaking with family and doctors," Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement.

"Ryan and his family have expressed their appreciation for the concern and heartfelt messages from across the country. They are grateful for the unwavering support of the NASCAR community and beyond."

TENNIS

Aussie champ Kenin crashes to Dubai defeat

Sofia Kenin lost her first WTA match since winning the Australian Open earlier this month as she went down 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-3 to Elena Rybakina on Tuesday at the Dubai Championships.

World No 7 Kenin's loss completed a hat-trick of seeded upsets on the fourth day of action in the United Arab Emirates.

Title-holder Belinda Bencic was overhauled 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova while third seed and two-time tournament winner Elina Svitolina was hammered 6-2,6-1 by qualifier Jennifer Brady.

American Kenin played a pair of Fed Cup matches immediately after her Melbourne win over Garbine Muguruza, who cut short Kim Clijsters' comeback on Monday.

The 21-year-old Kenin went down in just over two hours to 19th-ranked Rybakina, who stood 192nd in the world a year ago.

Xinhua - Agencies