Speed king
KITZBUEHEL, Austria - Norwegian speed king Aksel Lund Svindal claimed victory in the men's World Cup super-G on Friday, his maiden win on the notoriously tough Hahnenkamm mountain. Svindal, reigning Olympic champion in the discipline, timed 1min 14.48sec to finish 0.13sec ahead of Austrian Matthias Mayer, with Italian Christof Innerhof completing the podium at 0.40sec. It was the 30-year-old Norwegian's third super-G victory of the season after wins in Lake Louise and Val Gardena, and the 20th of his career. Svindal has been in the top six in each of the last three super-G races.
Ethiopians rule
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The Ethiopians maintained their dominance of the Dubai Marathon as Lelisa Desisa overtook countryman Berhanu Shiferaw in the final kilometre to win in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 45 seconds on Friday. For the first time ever, five runners had sub-2:05 times, beating the record set last year in Dubai when four runners managed it. Ethiopians claimed the top four men's places, and Tirfi Tsegaye won the women's race, headed by six Ethiopians. The 23-year-old Desisa, making his marathon debut, was 22 seconds off last year's record time on the relatively flat course in cool and foggy conditions. Ethiopian men have won the $1 million race in five of the past six years.
Saha for United
LONDON - Manchester United have struck a deal with Crystal Palace for the London club's highly-rated winger Wilfried Zaha to join them in July. A statement on United's official website said that the 20-year-old, who won his first England cap in November, will stay at Palace till the end of the season and then make the move to Old Trafford. "The player is having a medical in Manchester today (Friday, January 25). There will be no further comment by any party until Wilfried joins United in July 2013."
Palace confirmed that Zaha had agreed personal terms and that he had been loaned back to them for the remainder of the current campaign.
More misery
LONDON - Millwall piled on the misery for beleaguered Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert, as a late John Marquis goal gave the Championship club a 2-1 win in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday. Lambert has endured a torrid time since leaving Norwich to take charge at Villa Park in the off-season, but this week has been a new low for the Scot, whose English Premier League team were knocked out of the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday by fourth tier minnows Bradford. Villa desperately needed a victory at the Den and looked on course when Darren Bent opened the scoring midway through the first half. But Nigerian defender Danny Shittu headed Millwall level soon after and young striker Marquis punished Villa's defensive frailties with the last-minute winner.
Coloccini stays
LONDON - Premier League strugglers Newcastle United have announced that Argentine defender and captain Fabricio Coloccini will remain with the club until at least the end of this season. The 31-year-old had requested to return to his homeland citing personal problems, but after several days of negotiations he has now agreed to stay at St James' Park for the time being.