LONDON — Newcastle says two fans flying to watch the team’s football tour of New Zealand were among the 298 people killed on the Malaysia Airlines jet shot down over eastern Ukraine.
The English Premier League club’s website named the supporters on Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur as John Alder and Liam Sweeney. Ages were not given.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says “myself and all the players are deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible news.”
The club says Alder was a “familiar sight in the stands for almost half a century, having barely missed a single game in that time.” Sweeney had volunteered as a steward on supporters’ buses.
They were going to watch Newcastle’s preseason tour matches in Dunedin and Wellington, where Pardew and his players will now wear black armbands.
Germany captain Lahm retires from internationals
BERLIN — World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm has retired from playing for Germany.
The 30-year-old Lahm said on the federation’s website he decided this past season to retire after the World Cup. He informed coach Joachim Loew on Monday.
Lahm played 113 games for Germany since his debut in 2004. He recently extended his contract with Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich to 2018.
Federation President Wolfgang Niersbach learned of Lahm’s decision by phone Friday. He said it was “futile” to try to get him to change his mind. He described Lahm as an “outstanding player” and “absolute role model.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel lauded the player who took over as captain for the 2010 World Cup when Michael Ballack was injured. She says she wanted to “express my great respect for what he has done.”
Timbers top Rapids 2-1
PORTLAND, Ore. — Maximiliano Urruti and Diego Valeri each scored in the second half to give Portland a 2-1 win over visiting Colorado on Friday night.
Portland moves up to seventh place in the Western Conference, while Colorado remains tied for third.
The Rapids opened the scoring in the 16th minute, when Drew Moor headed a corner kick that was saved by Donovan Ricketts. The rebound fell to Deshorn Brown, who had his first attempt also saved by Ricketts, but was able to muscle a second shot towards goal that managed to cross the line before Valeri could clear the ball. It was Brown’s seventh goal of the season.
For much of the game, it looked like Colorado would make the lead hold up, but the Timbers finally managed to tie things up in the 72nd minute.
Manchester United sets roster for US tour
CARSON, Calif. — Manchester United has set its 25-man roster for the team’s U.S. tour that opens next week.
Joining Wayne Rooney, David De Gea, Shinji Kagawa and Juan Mata are Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Wilfried Zaha, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Nani.
Man U will play the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Chevrolet Cup on July 23 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
United will play AS Roma in Denver on July 26, Inter Milan in Washington, D.C., on July 29 and Real Madrid in Michigan on Aug. 2. If the team makes the final, it will play the title game in Miami on Aug. 4.
The rest of United’s roster: Anders Lindegaard, Ben Amos, Sam Johnstone, Rafael, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Tyler Blackett, Michael Keane, Matty James, Ander Herrera, Darren Fletcher, Jesse Lingard and William Keane.
By wire sources