The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Napoli into Cup final after crushing Roma Posted: 12 Feb 2014 03:14 PM PST Goals by Jose Callejon, Gonzalo Higuain and Jorginho set up a date for Rafael Benitez's side with Fiorentina – who like Napoli overturned a first leg deficit to knock out Udinese on Tuesday – in the final in Rome on May 3. It was only Roma's second defeat this season under Frenchman Rudi Garcia – they also lost 3-0 to champions Juventus early in January – but the coach will have been alarmed to see how the meanest defence in Serie A was picked apart by Napoli. Their frustrations boiled to the surface in the 80th minute as impressive Dutchman Kevin Strootman was sent off after he sarcastically applauded the referee for booking him. Napoli, who were watched by their legendary Argentinian former player Diego Maradona, were rarely troubled – only Mattia Destro and Gervinho troubling the keeper – and well deserved the chance to make it two Cup wins in the last three editions. Callejon opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a bullet header after stealing unnoticed between the two central defenders in a move started by Slovakian playmaker Marek Hamsik. Higuain, an inspired signing from Spanish giants Real Madrid last summer, doubled their advantage three minutes into the second-half with a diving header while Jorginho, newly arrived during the transfer window last month from Verona, put them two goals to the good overall and 3-0 up on the night in the 51st minute after being set up with a brilliant ball by Belgian international Dries Mertens. In desperation Garcia turned to 37-year-old veteran Francesco Totti, sending him on but he was unable to change the course of the match, although Destro could have done better with two chances, directing a header wide on the hour mark and then striking a shot over the bar with 15 minutes remaining. On Tuesday Fiorentina moved to within one win of their first trophy since 2001 as they beat Udinese 2-0, to win 3-2 on aggregate. Goals by captain Manuel Pasqual and Colombian star Juan Cuadrado confirmed their place in the final completing a remarkable revival. Just 11 years ago their fall from grace looked complete as they languished in the fourth tier as a result of serious financial difficulties before being rescued by brothers Andrea and Diego Della Valle. – AFP, February 13, 2014. |
| Flores rescues Swansea in Stoke stalemate Posted: 12 Feb 2014 02:56 PM PST Monk's team were trailing to Peter Crouch's first half goal at a windswept Britannia Stadium, where the game only went ahead after two pre-match safety inspections due to the storm-force winds prior to kick off. But Flores netted in the second half as the Spanish defender finally hit the headlines for the right reasons. It has been a difficult few weeks for the 26-year-old, who was accused of diving to make the most of a challenge from Andy Carroll that led to the West Ham's striker's dismissal and subsequent three-match ban. A few days later Flores was apparently involved in a training ground bust-up with Monk, who later insisted the incident had been blown out of proportion. Flores then played his part in Saturday's 3-0 south Wales derby win over Cardiff as Monk began his managerial career with a bang after taking up the reins from the sacked Michael Laudrup. And he was in the right place at the right time to net the equaliser against Mark Hughes's team and keep Swansea in 10th place. Around 90 minutes before kick-off it appeared highly likely the game would be called off given the battering the stadium received from the gales. But, unlike yesterday's fixtures at Manchester City and Everton, the match was allowed to proceed and it proved the right decision as the winds started to drop by kick-off. Crouch bagged his eighth goal of the season in the 17th minute, tapping home from close-range after Peter Odemwingie's effort rebounded back off a post. It could have been 2-0 in the 20th minute but for Michel Vorm tipping over the crossbar a dipping 20-yard effort from Marko Arnautovic. Swansea were better in the second half, with Wilfried Bony firing just over the angle of bar from the edge of the area 90 seconds in. Flores then popped up with the equaliser, deftly flicking home a Pablo Hernandez cross beyond the despairing reach of Asmir Begovic in the 52nd minute. Twelve minutes from time, Swansea thought they had the winner when a Bony shot was nudged goalwards by Begovic, only for captain Ryan Shawcross to hook off the line. Then in the 86th minute Begovic pulled off a stunning save to deny substitute Jonathan de Guzman from long-range. – AFP, February 13, 2014. |
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