GOYANG, South Korea - They call her Queen Yu-na in South Korea and, returning home for her first international competition in her native country, the two-time Grand Prix Finals figure skating champion did not disappoint. Dolphins Davone Bess Jersey . Kim Yu-na edged chief rival Mao Asada of Japan for the top score in the short program Friday, putting the 18-year-old on course to make it a three-peat. She can match Russias Irina Slutskayas record of three straight Grand Prix finals titles if she wins Saturdays free skate. Among the men, Japans Takahiko Kozuka swept to the top of the scoreboard with a stylish program set to jazz music that earned 83.90 points - a seasons best for the teen. It was a tough start for Patrick Chan of Toronto and Joannie Rochette of Ile-Dupas, Que., who both placed sixth in their short programs. The 17-year-old Chan was the No. 1 seed for the final after victories at Skate Canada in Ottawa and the Eric Bompard Trophy in Paris. He skated with style and grace Friday but fell on his opening triple Axel and on the triple lutz. The 22-year-old Rochette, who also won in Ottawa and Paris, came into the event ranked No. 2 in womens singles behind Kim. "I just didnt have it today," said Rochette. "I opened up a couple of my jumps which is something I never do. But tomorrow is a new day and I want to come back with a strong long program. The ultimate goal for me this season are the world championships and Im keeping focused towards that." Beloved at home, Kim carried the weight of a nations pride on her slim shoulders. The tension was palpable inside the Goyang Ice Arena, which was packed to the rafters. Fans waved yellow banners declaring Kim "YUNA QUEEN" and the South Korean flag, screaming out their support as the teen took the ice. She nailed her opening triple flip-triple toe loop combination and the double Axel, but popped a triple axel. Fast and elegant, she skated with grace and confidence, showing inventiveness with the required elements in the short program and ending with her trademark spin. She scored 65.94 points. But Kim later admitted to nerves while warming up. "There was such a big cheer from the audience during the warmup that it made me nervous," she said. She arrived at a post-competition news conference wiping away tears. "Because I really wanted to do well in South Korea and because it was my first international competition in Korea, I think I was really nervous... I suppose I was really relieved when it all ended," said Kim, who was forced out of the Four Continents championship here last year because of a hip injury. Kim faces stiff competition Saturday from Asada, the reigning world champion, who skated a flawless short program with authority and confidence and is only a half-point behind. "I landed all my jumps, so Im very satisfied," said Asada, who scored 65.38 points. "Id like to skate well again tomorrow." Trailing Kim and Asada are Yukari Nakano of Japan, Carolina Kostner of Italy, Japans Miki Ando and Rochette. Kozuka said he was just glad to be in Goyang. "My goal was to be among the final six. Im just happy to make it to the finals," he said. Jeremy Abbott of the U.S. skated with ease and fluidity to nab second place going into the free skate. But the rest of the men struggled with consistency: Crowd pleaser Brian Joubert of France, the 2007 world champion, skated with flair but fell on the triple lutz. American Johnny Weir launched his program with a clean opening jump combination, but fell on another jump. Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic finished fifth after slipping on his opening combination jump. Explosive and inventive, world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany scored a seasons best 70.14 to easily take the lead in the pairs field. Chasing them are two Chinese pairs, Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, and Pang Qing and Tong Jian. Ice dance world champions Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France lead after a sassy 40s-era routine that immediately had the crowd clapping. Defending Grand Prix champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia were right behind them, wowing the crowd with a waltz. Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali of Italy were third, followed by Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto - last years silver medallists - with a jazzy, lively tap dance. Compatriots Meryl Davis and Charlie White made their Grand Prix finals debut with an animated routine recalling the flappers of the 1920s. Russian Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski withdrew from the competition because of illness. Competitors make it to the finals based on their point totals from six Grand Prix events: Skate America, Skate Canada, Trophee Bompard, Cup of China, the NHK Trophy and the Cup of Russia. Associated Press writer ShinWoo Kang contributed to this report. Ron Jaworski Jersey . -- David Desharnais scored a hat trick as the Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-3 in American Hockey League play Friday. Indianapolis Colts Freeney Jersey . Potulny recorded one assist in seven games with San Antonio this season. The 28-year-old split last season between the Hershey Bears and the Springfield Falcons, totaling 28 goals and 18 assists in 75 games. Dick Butkus Jersey . With most New York sports fans focused on a pair of NFL games involving local teams and the Yankees World Series run, the Rangers returned home from a disappointing road trip in which they went 0-2 without Gaborik and beat the stingy Bruins. Boston continued its season-long trend of alternating wins and losses, absorbing a tough-luck defeat one day after backup goalie Tuukka Rask shut out Edmonton at home. Detroit Lions Johnson Jersey . In a conference with Vice Premier Li Keqiang and National Development and Reform Commission officials about the Western Development drive in 2010, he said education should be the priority of social development in west China. Ben Roethlisberger Jersey . is scheduled to appear Wednesday before a Las Vegas judge on a misdemeanour battery charge accusing him of poking a security guard in the face during an argument outside Mayweathers home. New England Patriots Welker Jersey . Thats when Mona Lisa was painted. Yes, the voice, say Japanese experts, is what Mona Lisa would sound like. Replica Donald Driver Jersey . Pio Tikoduadua, permanent secretary to Fijian Prime Ministers office, told local press that with the assistance from China, Fiji is carrying out infrastructure development works across the country, which include the construction of new roads and the pipeline. Lou Brock Jersey . (AP) -The Boston Bruins are among three surprising teams in the Eastern Conference semifinals.Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Mike Fontenot had a pinch-hit RBI single in the 10th inning to put the Cubs in front, and Chicago took a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers in the continuation of this weekends interleague series. Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer, and Starlin Castro added a solo shot for the Cubs, who snapped a two-game slide. After Chicago scored twice in the 10th to take a 5-3 lead, Carlos Marmol gave up an RBI single to Ian Kinsler in the bottom half but held on to secure the victory and get his eighth save. That made a winner of Sean Marshall (4-1), who recorded the final two outs of the ninth inning in relief of Randy Wells. The Cubs starter gave up three runs in 8 1/3 innings. "Any time you win a game, its good," Wells said. "Guys get excited, guys start talking. You never want to lose, but weve been in some games. We lost, 2-1, last night, and its nice to finally pull one out." Nelson Cruz and Vladimir Guerrero each had two hits, including a homer, for the Rangers, who had won five in a row. Darren ODay (1-2) got the loss. "Its happened to me before, itll happen to me again. Hopefully, it wont happen many times again," ODay said. "Youre not always perfect, you dont have a 0.00 ERA...Ill just go out there the next day and be my same old self." ODay started the top of the 10th for the Rangers, and Tyler Colvin led off with a double. He moved to third on a single by pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome, then scored on Fontenots single to right. Dustin Nippert then came in to pitch and got Ryan Theriot to ground out, leavving runners on second and third. Authentic Houston Texans Jersey. . After an intentional walk to Castro, Derrek Lee plated Fukudome with a groundout at second base. Marlon Byrd walked to again fill the bases, but Nippert struck out Aramis Ramirez to end the inning. The extra Cubs run was essential, as Marmol got into trouble in the bottom half. Elvis Andrus reached base by grounding into a fielders choice, and after Michael Young struck out, Andrus took second on defensive indifference. Kinsler then singled to right to bring him in. However, Guerrero grounded into a force out at second to end the game. The Cubs took the lead in the second inning, which Byrd began by reaching on an error by first baseman Justin Smoak. Two batters later, Soriano hit a changeup that Rangers starter Derek Holland left up in the zone for a home run to left. In the bottom half, consecutive singles by Guerrero, Josh Hamilton and Cruz got Texas within 2-1. The Cubs got that run back in the third, when Castro hit a first-pitch fastball to right for his second career homer. However, the Rangers evened the game in the fourth on home runs by Guerrero and Cruz. Holland gave up three runs -- two earned -- on four hits in six innings, and struck out five. Chris Ray, Darren Oliver and Frank Francisco each threw a scoreless inning in keeping the score 3-3. Game Notes The Cubs got their first win over the Rangers since 2007, the last time before this season that the teams met. Texas won two of three that year..Sorianos homer was the 298th of his career...Guerrero, Hamilton and Cruz each finished with two hits.   ' ' '