SOCCER

United States keeps World Cup hopes going with 1-0 qualifying win over Jamaica

Herculez Gomez curled a free kick in the 55th minute for the lone goal as the United States beat Jamaica 1-0 in World Cup qualifying Tuesday night at Columbus, Ohio.

The United States, which made five changes to its starting lineup from Friday’s 2-1 loss to Jamaica in Kingston, is level with Guatemala on seven points atop Group A of CONCACAF qualifying semifinals.

Jamaica also has seven points but trails on goal difference.

• Franck Ribery scored one goal and helped create the other two as France beat Belarus 3-1 in a qualifier at Saint-Denis, France.

Midfielder Etienne Capoue and right back Christophe Jallet earned their first international goals as France followed up Friday’s 1-0 win in Finland with an encouraging performance ahead of next month’s crucial match away to European and World Cup champion Spain.

• Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani scored in the 67th minute to salvage a 1-1 qualifying draw against Ecuador in Montevideo, Uruguay. Both teams are near the top of the South American standings. Ecuador improved to 13 points and defending South American champion Uruguay has 12.

• In third place is Venezuela, with 11 points, which beat Paraguay 2-0 in another qualifying game at Asuncion, Paraguay.

TENNIS

DAVIS CUP: Switzerland’s tennis federation said Roger Federer will play in the Davis Cup playoff against the Netherlands in one of the opening singles matches Friday.

TASHKENT OPEN: Top-seeded Monica Niculescu of Romania was knocked out in the first round at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, falling 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to 135th-ranked Karin Knapp of Italy.

U.S. Open: Andy Murray’s five-set victory against Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final Monday was watched by more than 16 million on TV, an increase from last year’s 11.8 million and the highest total since 2007.

CBS Sports also said that Serena Williams’ three-set win against Victoria Azarenka had 17.7 million viewers, the highest total for the women’s final since 20.1 million for Serena’s victory against her sister, Venus, in 2002.

WRESTLING

WWE: Professional wrestler and commentator Jerry “The King” Lawler, 62, is stable in the cardiac care unit of a Montreal hospital after collapsing during a World Wrestling Entertainment event Monday night.

CYCLING

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Spain selected two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador to lead its team at the road world championships that begin Sept. 15 in Limburg, Netherlands.