SOCCER

OWEN HAT TRICK LEADS ENGLAND OVER COLOMBIA

Michael Owen scored three goals, including one off a cross from David Beckham from the far right flank, leading England over Colombia 3-2 yesterday at Giants Stadium in the finale of a two game exhibition tour.

Owen scored in the 36th, 44th, and 58th minutes, the second three-goal game of his international career. With 32 international goals, he moved into fourth place on England’s career list, trailing only Bobby Charlton (49), Gary Lineker (48),and Jimmy Greaves (44). Owen, 25, had his other three-goal game against Germany in a World Cup qualifier in September 2001. Colombia, preparing for a pair of upcoming World Cup qualifiers, got goals from Mario Yepes in the 45th minute and Aldo Ramirez in the 79th.

Later in the day, Amado Guevara curled a 20-yard shot into the upper-right corner of the net in second-half injury time, giving the MetroStars a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer. The MetroStars had been winless at home in five games this year (0-2-3) and eight games since September, including the playoffs. By the time the game ended, few were left from the crowd of 50,807 that attended England’s win in the doubleheader opener.

HORSE RACING

ZITO ELECTED TO RACING HALL OF FAME Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito was elected to racing’s Hall of Fame yesterday, along with three standouts of steeplechase racing. Zito won the Derby with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go for Gin in 1994, and also won the 1996 Preakness with Louis Quatorze and the 2004 Belmont Stakes with Birdstone.

Also elected were jockey Thomas Walsh, trainer Sidney Watters Jr. and five-time champion Lonesome Glory – the first steeplechase inductees since 1997.

Zito, 57, has saddled 1,410 winners in a career that began in 1972, including 83 in graded stakes races, and they have earned $69,333,163 in purse money.

– Associated Press