Soccer

Timbers grab series lead — Ryan Johnson flicked in a header early in the first half, and Darlington Nagbe scored midway through the second half on Saturday night as the Portland Timbers beat the host Seattle Sounders 2-1 in the first leg of their Western Conference semifinals series. The third-year Timbers, playing in their first MLS postseason contest, need just a draw in Wednesday’s second leg at Portland to advance to the conference finals. Osvaldo Alonso scored in the 90th minute for the Sounders, who need to win the second leg by at least two goals to win the aggregate total and advance. If the Sounders outscore the Timbers by one goal in the second match to even the aggregate total, there would be overtime to decide the series.

Basketball

Oregon wins final exhibition — Oregon’s men’s basketball defeated Point Loma 68-52 on Saturday in Eugene after trailing their final exhibition game of the preseason at halftime. Facing a 37-35 deficit to the Sea Lions at halftime, the Ducks held Point Loma to 17.2 percent shooting in the second half. Joseph Young led Oregon with 21 points, while Waverly Austin scored 16. The Ducks play Georgetown on Friday to open the regular season.

Hall of Fame center Bellamy dies— Walt Bellamy, the Hall of Fame center who averaged 20.1 points and 13.7 rebounds in 14 seasons in the NBA, died Saturday. He was 74. The Atlanta Hawks confirmed the death, but didn’t provide details. The Hawks said Bellamy attended the team’s home opener Friday night. Bellamy was the rookie of the year with the Chicago Packers in 1961, averaging 31.6 points and 19.0 rebounds, and also played for the Baltimore Bullets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta and New Orleans Jazz. He played in four All-Star games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Football

Broncos coach Fox taken to hospital — Denver coach John Fox was kept overnight for observation at a Charlotte, N.C., hospital after feeling light-headed playing golf during the Broncos’ bye week Saturday. Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said the 58-year-old Fox “is in good spirits and he told me he did not suffer a heart attack.” However, ESPN.com reported that Fox would have heart surgery and could miss the next two months.

Pro Bowler signs with Bears — The Chicago Bears agreed to a one-year contract with former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, hoping he can boost their struggling line once he’s ready to play. A four-time Pro Bowl pick, Ratliff is joining a struggling defensive line. He also is getting a fresh start after being released by Dallas in mid-October. The Cowboys said at the time that he failed a physical after spending the first six weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list. Ratliff missed the last six games of 2012 with a groin injury that required surgery and never practiced for Dallas this season.

Tennis

Ferrer stuns Nadal — David Ferrer stunned top-seeded Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5, and Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer from a set and break down in the Paris Masters semifinals on Saturday. Djokovic prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 for his 16th straight match win. Ferrer had lost nine straight times to Nadal, including in this year’s French Open final, and hadn’t beaten his fellow Spaniard in almost three years. But the defending champion hit 29 winners to 19 for Nadal and won 14 of 18 net points. “I played maybe my best match this season,” Ferrer said, “very aggressive with my forehand and with my shots.”

Italy leads Fed Cup final — Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani prevailed in the opening singles for a 2-0 lead Saturday against an understrength Russia and put host Italy on the brink of a fourth Fed Cup title. Vinci, the winner of nine WTA singles titles, overcame a challenge from Alexandra Panova, who has reached only one WTA final. Vinci rallied from 5-2 down in the second set and saved four match points to win 5-7, 7-5, 8-6 in 3 hours, 13 minutes. Errani, playing in her second Fed Cup final, overcame Irina Khromacheva 6-1, 6-4.

Motor sports

Keselowski wins — Brad Keselowski led 106 of 200 laps at Texas to win for the sixth time in his last eight Nationwide Series starts, while Austin Dillon and Sam Hornish Jr. got closer Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas, in the battle for the season title. With the win in the No. 22 Ford, Keselowski put Roger Penske back in the lead for owner points. Keselowski finished nearly a second ahead of Denny Hamilin. Hornish recovered from being a lap down early in the race to finish third. That was two spots ahead of Dillon, whose points lead was cut from eight to six with two races to go.

Webber takes pole — Mark Webber managed to outshine his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel, beating the four-time world champion’s time right at the end of qualifying to take pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday in United Arab Emirates. The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettel’s run of six straight race wins today. Webber clocked 1 minute, 39.957 seconds. Vettel was second in 1:40.075.