HOCKEY

U.S. women fall to Canada in exhibition in Michigan

The Canadian women’s hockey team scored three goals in the third period – two by Rebecca Johnston – to rally to a 5-3 victory over the United States on Saturday at Plymouth, Michigan, as part of the Team USA Winter Champions Series.

Brianna Decker scored twice for Team USA, which had taken a 3-1 lead in the second period.

SKIING

WORLD CUP: Max Franz stunned the field to win a men’s downhill in Italy, ending Austria’s 13-race drought in skiing’s signature event with his first career victory.

Starting with the No. 26 bib after all of the favorites had already come down the Saslong course, Franz finished a slim 0.04 seconds ahead of Norwegian standout Aksel Lund Svindal and 0.41 in front of Val Gardena specialist Steven Nyman of the United States.

The previous Austrian man to win a downhill was Hannes Reichelt in Kvitfjell, Norway, in March last year.

• Ilka Stuhec continued her outstanding form by winning a women’s downhill race in France for her fourth victory so far in a remarkable season.

The 26-year-old Slovenian finished .28 seconds ahead of Austrian Cornelia Huetter and .32 clear of Italian Soffia Goggia – who is also enjoying a breakthrough season.

Stuhec had never finished higher than fourth in a race prior to this year.

SOCCER

PREMIER LEAGUE: Zlatan Ibrahimovic provided both goals as Manchester United rolled over West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in the fog at London for a third straight league victory.

• Also in London, Chelsea clocked an 11th consecutive Premier League win for the first time as Costa scored his 15th goal of the season in a 1-0 victory over host Crystal Palace.

• In other matches, Leicester tied Stoke 2-2, Middlesbrough topped Swansea 3-0, West Ham beat Hull 1-0, and Sunderland defeated Watford 1-0.

FIFA: President Gianni Infantino defended the use of video replays despite a shaky debut for the new system at the Club World Cup.

The replay system’s introduction has had a mixed reaction from players and coaches at the tournament, including Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

“The results are extremely positive,” Infantino said. “Of course there are learnings, of course there are a few topics that we have to look into and discuss in more detail, but the result is extremely positive”

HIGH SCHOOLS

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Libby LaPoint scored eight of her team-high 12 points in the third quarter as host Fort Kent (2-1) pulled away from Hodgdon (0-3) in a 56-47 win.

Jordan O’Leary added eight points for Fort Kent. Janelle Goff scored 15 for Hodgdon.

AUTO RACING

FORMULA ONE: The condition of Michael Schumacher’s health will remain closely guarded among family and close associates, the former F1 champion’s manager said Saturday.

Schumacher sustained severe head injuries in a skiing accident in France on Dec. 29, 2013 and has been cared for at his home in Switzerland since September 2014.

BOXING

DOPING: World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman says Alexander Povetkin failed a doping test and sanctioning for the Russian heavyweight’s title bout against Bermane Stiverne has been withdrawn.

– Staff and news service report