By VERA FILIPELLI, Times wires
Published December 22, 2003
LONDON - Tim Howard and Kasey Keller, two of America's most heralded goalkeepers, faced each other Sunday.
Keller of Tottenham was beaten by John O'Shea and Ruud van Nistelrooy in Manchester United's 2-1 victory. Howard allowed a goal to Gustavo Poyet.
Howard is a former MLS star who played in the 2000 Olympics. Keller played in the 1998 World Cup and the 2002 Gold Cup. It was the first time in English soccer the two met.
The American showdown was only one of the story lines to the match. Rio Ferdinand, the world's most expensive defender, played two days after drawing an eight-month ban for failing to appear for a random drug test Sept. 23. The ban doesn't start until Jan. 12 and United plans to appeal.
Ferdinand, jeered throughout, blew kisses to the crowd.
"I think it was probably the best thing to play him," United manager Alex Ferguson said.
United, with 40 points, is on top of the Premier League.
GREYHOUNDS: Cayman Went streaking
Cayman Went, winner of the Tampa Derby on Dec. 6 and the Derby Lane Inaugural Dec. 13, went box to wire Friday night at Derby Lane for his seventh consecutive victory, by 31/2 lengths and in a five-sixteenths-mile season-best 30.50. Kennelmate Thundering Home ran 30.62 the night before. ... WW Apple Jax of West Virginia debuted at the St. Petersburg track Saturday night, was blocked several times and finished third. USS Almighty, son of Dominator, the only greyhound in America to win every national award in one year (2000), won by 4 lengths. ... Wednesday's schedule is matinee only. The track is closed on Christmas. Racing resumes Friday, with gates open at 11:30 a.m. for poker and simulcast and live racing at 7 p.m.
GOLF: Lonard holds on for win
Peter Lonard won the Australian Open, holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory at Rye's Moonah Links. He closed with 3-under 69 for a 9-under 279 total. Stephen Leaney (71) and Chris Downes (72) tied for second. American Ricky Barnes (73) tied for ninth. Lonard, an Australian native and a regular on the PGA Tour, overcame a long battle with Ross River Fever - a dangerous, mosquito-borne viral infection - in the early 1990s. "If you'd told me back in the dark days that I'd be winning any of these, I'd have said you were crazy," he said. He earned $200,000.
HORSE RACING: Taking it to the street
Laffit Pincay Jr. has part of a street near Hollywood Park all to himself. Racing's winningest jockey was honored by the city of Inglewood, Calif., with a portion of 90th Street renamed Pincay Drive. He unveiled the street sign in a ceremony Saturday. The road will intersect with Kareem Court, named for Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Pincay retired April 29.
NASCAR: Penske mum on future
Details of Roger Penske's plan to add a third Nextel Cup team seem to be all over the Internet, but the team owner is in no hurry to make an announcement. And driver Brendan Gaughan, rumored to be heading to Penske's new team, is not responding. Wally McCarty, marketing director for Penske Racing, said plans would be announced "by the end of the year."
SPEED SKATING: Gold medalist near title
Casey FitzRandolph, a 2002 gold medalist, won a 500-meter race to edge closer to a sprint title in the U.S. Long Track Championships. FitzRandolph won in 35.83. She competes in the 1,000-meter event today in West Allis, Wis.
