Sports

Conference League: Barak at last gasp, Fiorentina beats Maccabi Haifa in comeback

Published

9 months ago

March 8, 2024

Melissa

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Conference League, first round of 16: Maccabi Haifa-Fiorentina 3-4

A Fiorentina team that was as effective in attack as it was inaccurate in defense emerged with a precious 4-3 victory, with a decisive goal by Barak in 95′, from the Conference League round of 16 played againstMaccabi Haifa on the neutral at the Bozsik Stadion in Budapest. In the return match, in Florence next Thursday, there will be two results for the Viola to advance to the quarters, a win and a draw.

First half: good start, then Maccabi emerges

The start looks decidedly promising for Vincenzo Italiano’s men: after 2′ in fact, the goal of the lead arrives and to score it è the revived M’Bala Nzola, who scores a header for a goal that, on a personal level, had been missing since last January 14 (Fiorentina-Udinese 2-2 league).

The rest of the first half è forò nightmarish for the Viola, this evening on the field in a white jersey: in fact, at 12′ came the 1-1 scored by Seck, good at beating Terracciano from close range, while at minute 29 there’è the 2-1 for the Israelis, scored by Kinda who took advantage of an uncertainty in marking by Kayode to diagonally beat the lily-white goalkeeper.

The resumption: everything happens in Budapest

In the resumption, Italiano trusted the same eleven sent on the field from 1′ and the players on the field responded positively: at 59′, in fact, Beltran signed the 2-2, making the most of Nzola’s assist and the lack of pressure from the players of the formally “host” team. Maccabi’s counter-response is worth forò the 3-2, at 67′: great play byKhalaili on the right, the young Israeli (class of 2004) unloads an impenetrable diagonal for Terracciano.

Fiorentina, however, did not give up and in minute 73 scored the equalizing goal: Biraghi’s low cross reached Mandragora, who right-footed guessed the right angle and beat the opponent’s goalkeeper. Only after this goal come the first moves of Italiano, who chooses Bonaventura and Belotti taking over Duncan and Nzola at 75′.

In the final, the match gets nervous: Show, Maccabi’s Angolan midfielder already cautioned on 3-2, intervenes late on Bonaventura and gets himself sent off at 81′ for double yellow, on the other side Kayode gets himself cautioned for a hold against Pierrot. A minute later Barak enters for Mandragora, and è the decisive change: at minute 95, when everything seems to suggest that the match will end in parity, the Czech unloads a left-footed shot from the limit that does not find Kaiuf ready and it goes into the box. The triple whistle came shortly afterwards: the Viola won 4-3 and could breathe a big sigh of relief given how the match seemed to have turned out before the final 20 minutes.

Conference League, the results of the other round of 16

These are the results of the other Conference League matches, all played on Thursday: Ajax-Aston Villa 0-0; Molde-Club Brugge 2-1 (Stenevik, Gulbrandsen; penalty. De Cuyper); Olympiacos-Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-4 (El Kaabi; Zahavi 2, Shahar, Peretz); Sturm Graz-Lille 0-3 (David 2, Zhegrova); Dinamo Zagreb-PAOK 2-0 (Petkovic 2); Royale Union Saint Gilloise-Fenerbahce 0-3 (Batshuayi, Oosterwolde, rig. Tadic); Servette-Viktoria Plzen 0-0.

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Melissa

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Sports

Davis Cup, not just Jannik Sinner: Lorenzo Musetti is ready

Published

17 hours ago

November 21, 2024

James Crowley

The bronze medal at the Olympics and the semifinals at Wimbledon have charged her up

This is it. Italy è is ready to start on the road to another possible dream, which is to win the Davis Cup again. The first obstacle è represented by the hostile Argentina (absolutely not to be underestimated). The Azzurri are betting, of course, on world No. 1 Sinner but there’è great confidence also in Musetti who arrived in Malaga in great form.

The blue number 2 è has been the protagonist of a heavenly season. The bronze at the Olympics and the semifinals at Wimbledon have charged him up. Now he è ready to be an absolute protagonist in the Davis Cup: “I arrive with a different maturity at all levels”, his clear words to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m ready to take more responsibility and have a more central, more important part than 12 months ago. There will be a lot of excitement, a lot of adrenaline, and I have a lot of desire to experience the competition”, the commentary of Musetti himself, who arrived in Malaga in excellent physical condition, having had some time to rest after Paris-Bercy.

Clearly, with such a motivated Musetti, è much can be expected from Italy. Sinner è an absolute guarantee but, to make it all the way, the help of all the members of the blue team led by captain Volandri is needed. There’s a strong desire to accomplish another feat and return to celebrate, all together.

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James Crowley

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Sports

NBA, Milwaukee snaps up Giannis Antetokounmpo

Published

17 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Jessica Acosta

Well Golden State, black crisis for Philadelphia

So many contests in the NBA night. With its back against the wall, Milwaukee finds the strength to fight back and take home a crucial victory in the match with Chicago (122-106 the final). Race dominated by Antetokounmpo who finished with an impressive 41 points on the scoreboard, including 25 in a surreal third period, with also eight assists and nine rebounds.

Thanks to this success, the Bucks record rises to six wins and nine losses. After losing the unbeaten streak to Boston, Cleveland returned to success: 128-100 over New Orleans. Excellent performance by Jerome (29 points). The record of the Cavs è the best in the NBA with 16 wins and only one loss (suffered, precisely, against the Celtics).

Most delicate moment for Philadelphia, which continues to sink. The 76ers also surrendered in Memphis (117-111 the final), collecting their 12th defeat of the season (only two wins). A strong showing by Embiid (35 points and 11 rebounds) wasn’t enough to bring a smile back to the interior of a team in total crisis.

As for the other games, OKC folds Portland (109-99) while Houston gets rid of Indiana (130-113) rather easily. New York wins the challenge with Phoenix (138-122) while Golden State prevails against Atlanta: 120-97 the final for the Warriors with 23 points by Curry. Nice success, finally, of the LA Clippers against Orlando (104-93).

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Jessica Acosta

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Sports

GP Las Vegas, Carlos Sainz has hope for constructors’ title

Published

17 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Audrey Rock

Ferrari è currently second at -36 from McLaren

The Las Vegas GP takes the stage. A new opportunity, for Ferrari, to try to get even closer to McLaren, currently leader in the constructors’ standings with 593 points, 36 more than the Cavallino. The circuit would seem to favor the Rossa, although Sainz points out an important detail.

“Ferrari competitive? Looking at the track I would say sì, Ferrari should be competitive or at least should be able to fight but when we see that tire temperatures rise, then I would say no”, the clear words of Sainz reported by Marca.

The Cavallino driver knows that in order to take home the Constructors’ World Championship title, he needs “help” from McLaren: “I think we are close. But at the same time, we also need McLaren to make some mistakes, becauseé, if they don’t make any mistakes from here to the end, in case we have to win all the time and we and they come second in every race, I think McLaren will probably still be able to keep the title”.

Sainz, in addition to trying to win another GP before ending his adventure with the Cavallino, wants to try to help the team win the constructors world championship: “I would like to win the championship for Ferrari this year. And sì, I think it would be a great way to end the season”.