ANFA-Mayos football:

LALITPUR: Kathmandu entered the semi-finals of the ANFA-Mayos Inter-school football tournament beating Nawalparasi 9-8 in sudden death here at ANFA Complex today. The match went to tie-breaker after both the teams were deadlocked at 3-3 in normal and added time. In other quarters, Dhankuta defeated Siraha 3-1; Sunsari outplayed Saptari 2-0; and Jhapa edged out Chitwan 2-0. In Thursday’s semi-finals, Sunsari will take on Jhapa, and Kathmandu will play against Dhankuta at the same venue. — HNS

Brueckner plans to quit:

PRAGUE: Czech Republic coach Karel Brueckner plans to step down after next year’s World Cup finals in Germany. “If we qualify for the World Cup that will be my peak,” the 65-year-old said. “There are limits you cannot cross.” Bruckner took over in 2001 after the Czechs failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and guided them to the semi-finals of Euro 2004. However the Czechs have failed to make a good start to qualifying for 2006 and are currently fourth in their European group behind Holland, Romania and Finland. — AFP

NZ announce schedule:

WELLINGTON: A Test series against Sri Lanka postponed after the Indian Ocean tsunami has been rescheduled for April. NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said Sri Lanka would play the Black Caps in two Tests beginning in Napier on April 4 and Wellington on April 11. The Sri Lankans were set to commence a full schedule of Test and one-day internationals against New Zealand when the tsunami hit their homeland on December 26 last year. Following the disaster, the side returned home at the request of Sri Lanka Cricket. — AFP

Boonen maintains lead:

DOHA: Quick Step rider Tom Boonen from Belgium won his second successive stage on day two of the Tour of Qatar and extended his overall lead to 60 points. Boonen, who also won the first stage, timed 3 hours, 59 minutes, 52 seconds in the 167-km stage, beating second-placed Fabrizio Guidi and third-placed Robbie McEwen, who all shared the same time. With three stages left in the five-day race, Boonen put 14 seconds and 10 points between himself and nearest rival Robert Hunter of South Africa. — AP

Wellington selected:

WELLINGTON: Wellington’s Basin Reserve will host the fourth of five limited-overs cricket internationals between Australia and New Zealand on March 2. The match was transferred from Hamilton’s Westpac Park because of concern about pitch conditions. The Basin Reserve, which has a capacity of 9,500, was replaced as a one-day venue in Wellington six years ago by the larger WestpacTrust Stadium. The stadium is scheduled to host one match in the series. — AP

America beat Mineros:

PUERTO ORDAZ: America of Colombia beat Venezuela’s Mineros 2-0 to keep alive its chances of advancing to the second round of the Copa Libertadores soccer tournament. David Ferreira scored on a penalty kick in the 15th minute and Edison Chara netted a goal in the 21st minute. The win gave America an edge in Group 1, which also includes Atletico Paranaense of Brazil, Colombia’s Independiente de Medellin and Libertad of Paraguay. — AFP