The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Italian World Cup ref in penalty confusion Posted: 30 Mar 2014 09:11 AM PDT Italian World Cup referee Nicola Rizzoli was involved in an extraordinary incident when he awarded a penalty and then changed his mind after five minutes of angry protests during second-placed AS Roma's 2-0 win at Sassuolo on Sunday. Rizzoli asked Sassuolo forward Nicola Sansone, the player who suffered the alleged foul, what had happened before making his final decision, according to AS Roma players. Rizzoli initially awarded Sassuolo a penalty when Sansone went down under a seemingly innocuous challenge by Roma defender Mehdi Benatia in the 36th minute of the Serie A match. Both teams protested the decision, with Roma angry over the penalty and Sassuolo claiming that Benatia should have been sent off. Sassuolo had put the ball on the spot and were preparing to take the kick when Rizzoli, after consulting his assistants, changed his mind and awarded a drop ball. There were more protests at halftime as Sassuolo players surrounded Rizzoli to protest the decision. Serie A uses the additional assistant referees system preferred by UEFA with extra match officials on each goal line. "The referee didn't want to give the penalty, but the goal-line official told him it was a penalty," Benatia told Sky Sport Italia. "He asked Sansone to tell him the truth, assuring that he would not get a yellow card (for diving). That made us angry, because you can't ask that sort of thing to a player whose team are battling relegation. "Sansone said that he slipped, but that I had pulled his shirt and the referee decided not to give the penalty." AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia praised the referee's handling of the incident. "The referee did well as he was the one who had to make the final decision," the Frenchman told reporters. "I think the goal line official told him it was a penalty, while Rizzoli asked the player to be honest. Honesty always pays off and I compliment the Sassuolo player." Roma had taken the lead in the 16th minute with Mattia Destro's 10th goal of the season. Sassuolo's Simone Missiroli was caught in possession by Radja Nainggolan and he then slipped the ball through for Destro to lift the ball over Gianluca Pegolo with a neat finish. Roma's second came at the end of a leisurely second half when Sassuolo again lost possession in their own half and Brazilian Michel Bastos was sent clear to place his ball wide of Pergolo. Roma's fourth successive win left then 11 points behind runaway leaders Juventus who were away to third-placed Napoli on Sunday evening. Lazio, again playing in a half-empty Stadio Olimpico as fans continued to boycott the team in protest at president Claudio Lotito, beat Parma 3-2 with a stoppage time winner from Antonio Candreva after the visitors had twice come from behind. Fourth placed Fiorentia drew 0-0 at Sampdoria, while, in two midtable battles, Luca Toni scored twice to help Verona thump Genoa 3-0, and Torino beat Cagliari 2-1. – Reuters, March 30, 2014. |
| Everton keep pressure on top four with victory at Fulham Posted: 30 Mar 2014 08:29 AM PDT Victory put them four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal and four clear of Tottenham Hotspur, who faced a tough task away to Liverpool in the day's late game in the Premier League. It took an unlucky own goal early in the second half to put Everton ahead before Iranian international Ashkan Dejagah equalised with a spectacular effort. Two substitutes then combined for the second goal, Aiden McGeady sending Belgian international Kevin Mirallas through to score with 11 minutes left. Steven Naismith completed the scoring to leave Fulham and their German manager Felix Magath deflated after his team had had the better of the first half's play. Even a draw would have taken the London side off the bottom of the table, but their chances of avoiding relegation are looking thinner by the week. It was a doubly disappointing afternoon too for England manager Roy Hodgson, formerly of Fulham and keen to see more of Everton's Ross Barkley. The young midfielder, who has played three times for the national team, did not appear for the second half because of injury. His replacement, Scottish international Naismith, made the opening goal after 51 minutes with a shot that was being deflected wide until it struck goalkeeper David Stockdale and trickled over the line. Although play flowed from end to end, Fulham made the better chances in an open first half. German international Lewis Holtby missed one early on and Kieran Richardson was then thwarted by Everton's goalkeeper Tim Howard, who saved with his feet. Howard had to turn a header from Holtby over the bar and in the final minute of the half he held a headed attempt by Moussa Dembele, the 17 year-old forward signed from Paris Saint-Germain, who had a promising full debut. Fulham might have been awarded a penalty for a handling offence by Sylvain Distin, not spotted by the officials. Everton's best effort before the interval came from 20-year-old Gerard Deulofeu, who is on a season-long loan from Barcelona. Stockdale in Fulham's goal saved the shot with his feet. The visitors improved in the second half and went ahead when Fulham failed to clear a corner. Naismith shot and a series of deflections, including a crucial one from goalkeeper Stockdale, resulted in the ball ending up in the net. Fulham continued to press and scored a deserved equaliser in the 71st minute. Dejagah, who had come on for Richardson, cut inside from the left and hit a scorching shot from the edge of the penalty area. Howard had to make two more fine saves to keep out former Everton defender John Heitinga and then Pajtim Kasami, but soon after Roberto Martinez sent on McGeady and the Irishman's fine pass put Mirallas through to restore the lead. Stockdale made a good save from Naismith, but could not prevent him having the final word with Everton's third in the 87th minute, from a pass by Leighton Baines. – Reuters, March 30, 2014. |
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