In-form Tsitsipas beats Anderson in Estoril

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 Stefanos Tsitsipas / AFP
Stefanos Tsitsipas / AFP

In-form Tsitsipas beats Anderson in Estoril

sports May 04, 2018 08:38

By AFP

Greek rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas continued his excellent form on clay by beating Estoril Open top seed Kevin Anderson 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals.

The 19-year-old held the big-hitting South African to just four aces in a second-round match which lasted for more than two hours in windy conditions.

World number 44 Tsitsipas beat three top-20 players, including Dominic Thiem, en route to the Barcelona Open final last week, where he lost to Rafael Nadal.

Anderson, ranked eighth, sealed his fate as his first double-fault of the contest brought up two match points, with Tsitsipas quickly wrapping up victory at the first attempt.

“It was really tough, with tricky conditions,” world number eight Anderson said. “I’ve not played a match in a while.

“It’s a little disappointing, I would have preferred better conditions for my first match back, a more comfortable environment.

“But he was just too good today.”

Tsitsipas, the first Greek man to break into the world’s top 50, improved to 13-10 for the season.

He will face a last-eight match against Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, who knocked out British number three Cameron Norrie 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1).

The 103rd-ranked Norrie went down in three hours, eight minutes to his Spanish opponent who won his first ATP title this season in Quito.

Norrie let a 5-2 lead in the final set slip away and wasted three match points while serving for victory leading 5-3, missing out on the first ATP quarter-final of his career.

The doubles run of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt and teenager Alex de Minaur came to an end as the Australian pair lost 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to Norrie and Kyle Edmund.

“We we hung in there well, it was hard to play clean tennis out there,” Hewitt said. “You just have to try and make as many shots as possible in the wind.

“We fought hard and got back into both sets. If we’d been able to sneak one, the match would have gone to a super-tiebreaker.

“It was disappointing to end up losing.”

The last two quarter-final spots were filled as defending champion and second seed Pablo Carreno Busta beat Argentine Nicolas Kicker 6-1, 7-5, while Nicolas Jarry defeated qualifier Ricardo Ojeda Lara 6-3, 7-6 (8/6).

Costa ends Europa League dream for Wenger and Arsenal

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Atletico Madrid's Spanish forward Diego Costa protests during the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal FC. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS
Atletico Madrid’s Spanish forward Diego Costa protests during the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal FC. / AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS

Costa ends Europa League dream for Wenger and Arsenal

sports May 04, 2018 08:35

By AFP

Diego Costa killed Arsene Wenger’s last hope of a glorious Arsenal farewell as his goal sent Atletico Madrid through to the Europa League final on Thursday.

Wenger’s 250th European fixture with Arsenal also to proved to be his last, decided by a typically ruthless finish from Costa, who delivered the sort of barnstorming display defenders must have nightmares about.

Arsenal’s defence, fragile and nervous throughout, were particularly susceptible and this 1-0 defeat, 2-1 on aggregate, means Wenger’s final season in charge will end with his team missing out on Champions League qualification for a second year in a row.

For all his domestic achievements, Wenger will also depart without a European trophy to his name and it remains to be seen how sitting outside the continent’s premier tournament will affect Arsenal’s pursuit of a new coach, and players, this summer.

“I’m very sad tonight,” Wenger said. “Unfortunately you have to go through that – the game can be very cruel, sometimes very nice, but the suffering is very strong tonight.”

More immediately, there was the concerning sight of Laurent Koscielny being carried off on a stretcher in the 12th minute after the defender went down, with nobody near him, clutching his left Achilles.

“It doesn’t look very good, it’s his Achilles,” Wenger said. “You can always hope for a miracle in the scan but if he has a ruptured Achilles, his chances for the World Cup are non-existent.”

Koscielny’s exit made a tough task all the more difficult for Arsenal, who were always going to be up against it at the Wanda Metropolitano, where Atletico have not lost in the league all season and not conceded a goal since January.

It was perhaps also telling that Costa’s physicality and Atletico’s defensive rigour ultimately proved decisive, two qualities Wenger’s Arsenal in recent years have so lacked.

“Costa came back here for nights like this,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “To be important, to lead from the front. This side needs an aggressive striker and that’s exactly what he is.”

Costa was hunting Arsenal’s back four from the outset as he wrestled past Koscielny, knocked over Nacho Monreal before firing wide with only David Ospina to beat.

Koscielny was substituted soon after, replaced by Calum Chambers, but Arsenal enjoyed one of their best spells midway through the half, dominating possession and reducing Atletico to a series of rushed clearances.

 

– Clinical Costa –

 

At the back, however, they were shaky, as Ospina had balls booted out of his grasp by his teammates on more than one occasion while their passing out of the back was too often careless.

By the end of the half, Atletico had regained the ascendancy and in injury-time, they struck. Granit Xhaka’s weak header put Arsenal on the back foot and Antoine Griezmann threaded through to Costa.

He held off Hector Bellerin with ease before coolly finishing past Ospina.

Arsenal came again after the interval. Aaron Ramsey bundled his way through but the ball would not fall for him six yards out while Mesut Ozil flashed too sumptuous deliveries across the face of goal.

Griezmann could have put the tie to bed after Costa had turned Shkodran Mustafi inside out but the defender recovered just in time to block.

A vintage Costa performance would not be complete without a scuffle and he provided it when Mustafi tried too enthusiastically to grab the ball off him for a free-kick.

Both players were booked and when Costa was substituted soon after, the striker was given a standing ovation.

Arsenal piled forward late on in search of an equaliser but in truth, their night ended without them really creating a clear-cut chance.

When the final whistle blew, Wenger marched straight down the tunnel as around him, Atletico’s celebrations began.

Boxing still at risk of Tokyo 2020 exclusion – IOC

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Boxing still at risk of Tokyo 2020 exclusion – IOC

sports May 04, 2018 08:27

By AFP

Lausanne – The International Olympic Committee on Thursday refused to rule out the possibility of excluding boxing from the 2020 Tokyo Games amid ongoing concerns over the sport’s governing body.

In February, the IOC opened an investigation into the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and said concerns remained over possible match-fixing at Rio 2016.

Amateur boxing’s under-fire rulers handed over a crucial report on internal reforms to the IOC last month.

“This report shows some progress and a good will but still lacks execution and substance in some areas,” IOC president Thomas Bach said.

“Our concerns on governance, financial and sporting integrity are continuing and we think that we now need to see actions,” he added after a meeting of the IOC’s executive committee in Lausanne.

“Therefore we retain our right to exclude boxing from Tokyo 2020.”

Boxing had also faced being axed from next October’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, but Bach said the sport would remain part of the programme “under one condition”.

“We want to see the refereeing system and the appointment of judges. We want to see this approved by international and independent expertise,” Bach explained.

The IOC gave AIBA an extension until July 11 to take further action and present additional information ahead of the next executive board meeting, scheduled for July 17-18.

Bach also said in February the IOC was “extremely worried about the governance of AIBA”, which has as its interim president Gafur Rakhimov, a controversial Uzbekistan businessman.

But he said Thursday: “This is not a personal matter, as I explained there are serious factual issues which have to be addressed and that AIBA has to take into account. This can not be reduced to a personal matter.”

Weary Liverpool face Champions League chase from Chelsea

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Weary Liverpool face Champions League chase from Chelsea

sports May 04, 2018 08:21

By AFP

London – Fresh from reaching a first Champions League final for 11 years, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described Sunday’s visit to Chelsea as “another Champions League semi-final” with their participation in next season’s competition still not certain.

Victory in any of Liverpool’s three remaining games of the season at Stamford Bridge, home to Brighton on the final day of the Premier League season or against the might of Real Madrid in the Champions League final will secure qualification.

But for Klopp’s peace of mind and to rest a tiring squad with a growing injury list, getting the job done by securing at least a point this weekend is the ideal scenario.

“Do we have the widest squad in world football in the moment? No, we don’t have it,” said Klopp.

“That this group go to the final is exceptional. We get all the knocks over the season, all the injuries in the wrong moments and we still have to carry on.”

Liverpool’s European exploits have undoubtedly hampered what seemed a comfortable path to a top-four finish just a few weeks ago.

Three draws in their past four league outings with Everton, West Brom and Stoke as Klopp prioritised Champions League progress have allowed fifth-placed Chelsea to close to within six points of the Anfield club.

The Londoners also have three games remaining to Liverpool’s two, meaning if Antonio Conte’s deposed champions win their remaining fixtures they will, at worst, finish level on points with the Champions League finalists.

However, Liverpool’s far superior goal difference means just a point on Sunday or victory against Brighton should suffice.

“It’s not like we can say now we are qualified for the Champions League. Chelsea at the weekend is an unbelievably important game for us,” added Klopp.

“We recover tomorrow and then we go to Chelsea and they have again the knife between the teeth and will fight for everything.”

 

– Kane chasing Salah –

 

As Liverpool have stumbled, a late-season renaissance has kept Chelsea’s challenge alive with four straight wins also taking them to the FA Cup final, where they will face Manchester United.

Tottenham split Liverpool and Chelsea in the table but have an easier run-in against West Brom, Newcastle and Leicester to try and secure Champions League football for a third consecutive season.

Harry Kane was on target in Monday’s 2-0 win over Watford to take his tally for the season to 38 and the Spurs striker still harbours hopes of chasing down the four goals he trails Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah by to win a third straight Premier League golden boot.

“Every striker in every country wants to win the golden boot. I want to win at everything, whether it’s the golden boot or every game,” said Kane.

Victory for Spurs at The Hawthorns would send West Brom down to the Championship despite a brave battle to avoid the drop in recent weeks.

Despite taking eight points from their past four games, The Baggies remain five points adrift of safety and even victory might not be enough to prevent them being relegated this weekend if other results go against them.

Second-bottom Stoke have to end a 12-game winless run at home to Crystal Palace to retain any hope of survival.

Southampton are the third side currently in the relegation zone and face a huge trip to 17th-placed Swansea, one place and one point above them in the table, on Tuesday.

However, both sides could pull a host of other clubs into the relegation dogfight should Saints win at Everton and Swansea at Bournemouth.

Huddersfield are precariously placed just three points above the drop zone and begin a devilishly difficult run-in by trying to stop champions Manchester City’s quest for points, goals and wins records on the day they will get their hands on the Premier League trophy.

Elsewhere, Burnley can guarantee qualification for next season’s Europa League if they take a point at Arsenal or if Everton fail to beat Southampton.

 

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Brighton v Manchester United (1900)

Saturday

Stoke v Crystal Palace (1130), Watford v Newcastle United, West Brom v Tottenham, Leicester v West Ham, Bournemouth v Swansea (all 1400), Everton v Southampton (1630)

Sunday

Manchester City v Huddersfield (1230), Chelsea v Liverpool, Arsenal v Burnley (1530)

‘Sad’ Wenger defends Ozil after Atletico defeat

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Arsenal's French coach Arsene Wenger crouches on the sideline during the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal FC. / AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
Arsenal’s French coach Arsene Wenger crouches on the sideline during the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal FC. / AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

‘Sad’ Wenger defends Ozil after Atletico defeat

sports May 04, 2018 08:17

By AFP

Arsene Wenger was left devastated by Arsenal’s Europa League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Thursday but made a staunch defence of midfielder Mesut Ozil.

 

Ozil’s performance was heavily criticised by former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who said the German had cried “crocodile tears” after the game, and was “not fit to wear the shirt”.

Diego Costa’s strike proved decisive at the Wanda Metropolitano where a 1-0 victory secured Atletico a 2-1 win on aggregate and a place in the final against Marseille.

Defeat ends Wenger’s hopes of leaving Arsenal on a high as his team missed out on a shot at a major trophy and squandered their last chance to qualify for the Champions League.

“I’m very sad tonight,” Wenger said. “Unfortunately you have to go through that — the game can be very cruel, sometimes very nice, but the suffering is very strong tonight.

“Looking at the chances over the two games the least we could say is we are very frustrated. The tie should have been over in the first game.”

It remains to be seen how another season outside Europe’s premier tournament will affect Arsenal’s search both for a new coach, and new signings, this summer.

“The club now has to think about what to do for next season,” Wenger said. “I think there are some good ingredients in our team and they will bounce back. With the right additions in the summer I think they can compete next year.”

 

– ‘We expect better’ –

 

Keown, however, was less optimistic and reserved a particularly harsh assessment for Ozil.

“He wasn’t fit to wear the shirt tonight,” Keown told BT Sport. “I’ve seen this a lot this season and it needs to be said. He needs to be dug out. We expect better from him.

“These are crocodile tears I’m seeing from the player. He’s not conning me.”

Keown added: “I bet he doesn’t play again this season. He’ll have some emotional breakdown and won’t play this weekend.”

When Keown’s comments were put to Wenger, he said: “I don’t agree with that. You will see that he gave a lot. It was a difficult team, physically very intense.

“I’m convinced that Ozil should not be criticised by anyone just because he did not score. We had plenty of opportunities and we lose as a team.”

Wenger also delivered an update on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny, who had to be carried off on a stretcher in the 12th minute after the defender went down, with nobody near him, clutching his left Achilles.

Arsenal and France now face an anxious wait.

“It doesn’t look very good, it’s his Achilles,” Wenger said. “You can always hope for a miracle in the scan but if he has a ruptured Achilles, his chances for the World Cup are non-existent.”

Costa was the star of the show, providing the tenacity and killer instinct Arsenal so desperately lacked.

“Costa came back here for nights like this,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “To be important, to lead from the front. This side needs an aggressive striker and that’s exactly what he is.”

‘Piano’ hits high note with birthday victory

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‘Piano’ hits high note with birthday victory

sports May 04, 2018 01:00

By LERPONG AMSA-NGIAM

THE NATION

BIRTHDAY girl Apichaya Yubol fired a flawless final round of 66 to beat Chakansim Khamborn by eight strokes for her maiden title in the Bt1-million Singha-SAT Thailand LPGA Championship leg 4 at the par-72, 6,411 yard Royal Golf Club course in Hua Hin yesterday.

The Saraburi-based player celebrated her 16th birthday with three birdies on both the front and back nines to win her first crown after two years on the pro circuit. Her three-day total of eight-under-par-208 made it impossible for other competitors to catch her, with runner-up Chakansim Khamborn coming in second after a final 70 for even-par 216.

“Winning your first title on your birthday is so special. I’m extremely happy,” said the Saraburi Wittayakom School student whose eight-stroke victory is the biggest winning margin on the Thai LPGA Tour by far this season.

“I was playing well the whole day as I had no pressure at all. Too bad my mother couldn’t be here to celebrate with me, so this win is for her” back at home in Saraburi.

Apichaya, or “Piano” as she’s known to friends and family, may have earned Bt142,500 in prize money but she has no plans to spend it herself. She will donate Bt20,000 for a scholarship to her school while the rest will be given to her 14-year-old brother Chaiyawattana, who was carrying the bag for her this week. “I promised I would give him all the money if I won. I have to keep my word,” she said.

The Singha-SAT Thai LPGA Tour will next stop at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club between June 2 and 8.

Wenger wants happy ending with Arsenal’s future at stake against Atletico

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Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger arrives to hold a press conference at the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid on May 2, 2018 on the eve of the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. / AFP
Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger arrives to hold a press conference at the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid on May 2, 2018 on the eve of the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. / AFP

Wenger wants happy ending with Arsenal’s future at stake against Atletico

sports May 03, 2018 12:00

By AFP

Arsene Wenger wants a happy ending to his Arsenal love story and admits their Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Thursday will affect the future of the club.

 

Arsenal, adrift of the Premier League’s top four, will have to win the tournament to qualify for the Champions League while defeat would mean Wenger’s 22-year tenure ending on a dull note.

Atletico are favourites, having secured a 1-1 draw and a precious away goal from the first leg in London last week. Diego Simeone’s side have also not lost a La Liga game at home this season.

“I would like to finish my job well,” Wenger said on Wednesday. “I believe a man has to give his best as long as he is somewhere.

“With all my commitment and energy, I would like to walk out of Arsenal one day knowing that until the last day I focused only on Arsenal.

“When my job at Arsenal is finished I will see where I go from there but I want to finish this love story well.”

Despite his domestic achievements, Wenger has never won a European trophy with Arsenal but perhaps just as important will be the legacy he leaves his successor.

“The next game is always the most important and this one because it influences the future of my club,” Wenger said.

“It is a very, very big game for us because the future of Arsenal football club is not exactly the same if we qualify for the Champions League or not.”

Simeone, however, said there would be no room for sentiment when his players take to the field.

“We are not thinking about Wenger’s last season at Arsenal, only about what we need,” Simeone said.

“We need to see a full stadium, the excitement of our players, the energy in the team, that’s what matters to us.”

Atletico avoided defeat at the Emirates Stadium despite having Sime Vrsaljko sent off early on while Diego Costa will also return from injury for the second leg.

“In history Costa has shown he can make the difference,” Wenger said. “He played in England and was very successful. It is our job to keep him quiet.”

Simeone will not be on the touchline at the Wanda Metropolitano after he was sent to the stands last week.

“I’ll take it badly,” Simeone said. “I’m sad about this situation and I’ll have to improve. I better shut up.”

Wenger confirmed David Ospina will continue in goal for Arsenal while Henrikh Mkhitaryan is hoping to overcome a knee problem.

For Atletico, Filipe Luis could feature after recovering remarkably quickly from a broken leg.

“Filipe has been out for two months, he’s not playing 90 minutes, but if I call on him, he will respond,” Simeone said. “Many games are played with the heart as well as the legs.”

Malaysian badminton pair banned 20, 15 years for match-fixing

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Zulfadli Zulkiffli
Zulfadli Zulkiffli

Malaysian badminton pair banned 20, 15 years for match-fixing

sports May 03, 2018 07:08

By AFP

Two Malaysian badminton players have been hit with career-ending bans of 20 and 15 years respectively after being found guilty of corruption and match-fixing, the sport’s governing body said Wednesday.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) said former world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli, 25, was banned for 20 years and fined $25,000, while Tan Chun Seang, 31, was barred for 15 years and fined $15,000.

The were found guilty of breaching the BWF code of conduct in relation to “betting, wagering and irregular match results”, said a statement from the body.

A BWF ethics panel, which held hearings in February in Singapore into the case, found both players “engaged in corruption offences over a significant period and a significant number of tournaments” dating back to 2013.

Zulfadli committed more violations over a longer period and it was proven he had manipulated the results of four matches, the BWF said.

Norza Zakaria, president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), said it was a “sad and shocking day for Malaysian badminton, to know a sport so close to our hearts has been tainted by match-fixing”.

“BAM has a zero tolerance policy towards match-fixing,” he said, adding programmes would be organised for those involved in the sport to counter such activities.

He said the punishment handed down to the pair, who played independently and were not affiliated with BAM, was “reasonable and appropriate considering the offence”.

Tan Chun Seang

BAM will now present a report on the incident to Malaysian anti-corruption authorities, who will consider whether to take action.

Their suspension began from January 12, the date on which both players were provisionally suspended by the BWF.

Tan was in Malaysia’s squad for the prestigious Thomas Cup in 2010.

He was banned by the BAM from competing in Asian tournaments for two years after quitting the national team in 2011.

In 2011 Zulfadli beat current world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark to clinch the World Junior Championships.

Badminton has been hit by cheating scandals before.

At the 2012 Olympics, eight women’s doubles players were disqualified for trying to lose group games to gain an easier quarter-final draw.

And in 2014 the BWF asked police to investigate claims by two Danish players, Hans-Kristian Vittinghus and Kim Astrup, that they were approached by a Malaysian man to throw matches.

Malaysian badminton was previously hit by controversy in 2015, when former world number one Lee Chong Wei received an eight-month ban for doping. The panel which imposed the punishment said he had not intended to cheat.

Liverpool reach Champions League final after nervy night in Rome

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Liverpool fans celebrate following the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between AS Roma and Liverpool at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on May 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS
Liverpool fans celebrate following the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between AS Roma and Liverpool at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on May 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS

Liverpool reach Champions League final after nervy night in Rome

sports May 03, 2018 06:47

By AFP

Liverpool held off a spirited Roma fightback to reach the Champions League final 7-6 on aggregate despite losing a hectic semi-final second leg in Rome on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will play defending champions Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26 after  qualifying for their eighth European Cup final and first since 2007. The 4-2 defeat on the night in the Italian capital tested Liverpool’s nerves but they rarely looked in danger of losing the tie.

First-half goals from Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum put Liverpool in control as Roma conceded their first goals in the Stadio Olimpico during this European campaign.

Despite Radja Nainggolan bagging two goals for Roma in the final eight minutes — the second from the penalty spot — there was to be no second miracle comeback for the Italians after last month’s 3-0 win over Barcelona in Rome.

It was another bitter defeat for Roma who lost the 1984 European Cup final to Liverpool on penalties in the same stadium.

“It’s the first time we weren’t realy as good as we can be. We needed luck and that is what we got,” said Klopp.

“7-6 on aggregate sounds crazy because it is crazy. We came in as qualifiers and now we’re in the final and will go to Kiev.

“Roma are strong, we had them where we wanted, as they were wild, ran the risks and we went 2-1 up. All good.

“But then we didn’t do enough on the counter, we didn’t use the space that they gave us and we lost the game after going 1-0 up already.”

Klopp said he was confident Liverpool could threaten 12-time winners Madrid in the final.

“We have to play much better than tonight, the good news is we can play much better than tonight,” he said.

Roma threatened early with Alessandro Florenzi sending the ball wide in the opening minutes but the hosts paid for woeful defending, giving Klopp’s side space to gain an early advantage.

Senegalese forward Mane got Liverpool off to a dream start after just nine minutes to the horror of the home fans.

A Nainggolan howler in midfield gave Roberto Firmino the opportunity to barge through, delivering the ball to an unmarked Mane who left Roma ‘keeper Alisson with no chance.

But six minutes later Roma got the equaliser when Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren’s attempt to clear a Stephan El Shaarawy header towards Dzeko across goal bounced off James Milner’s head, flying past Loris Karius and into the Liverpool goal.

 

– Breathless finale –

 

Liverpool’s ticket to the final in Kiev looked well and truly booked after 25 minutes when Wijnaldum nodded in.

Alisson denied Mane but from the resulting corner Dzeko’s attempt to clear fell to the waiting Dutchman and he made no mistake.

Stephan El Shaarawy rattled the post on 35 minutes with Florenzi also firing wide, and Pellegrini showed how not to take a free-kick which was way off the mark.

Dzeko broke through seven minutes into the second half with the equaliser after Karius cleared the ball straight into the path of the Bosnian who fired in his eighth goal in 12 European matches.

And in a desperate scramble by the Italians in front of goal four minutes from time Nainggolan made up for his earlier blunders when he drilled a low shot into the bottom-right corner from a distance for his first ever Champions League goal.

The Belgian midfielder added a second three minutes into injury time from a penalty awarded for a bitterly contested handball by substitute Ragnar Klavan, firing into the roof of the net.

It was a dramatic finale for Eusebio di Francesco’s side but it was too little too late as they failed to reach their first final since 1984 but earned a standing ovation from the 62,000 crowd.

“We have grown through this experience, but I have regrets because this team should have believed more in its chances, as I did and we could have had more goals and pushed Liverpool even more,” said Di Francesco.

Liverpool will again leave Rome victorious after winning the European title twice, in 1977 as well as 1984, at the Stadio Olimpico.

The match had been overshadowed by off-pitch tensions after Liverpool supporter Sean Cox was left in a coma after being attacked before last week’s first leg in Anfield.

“It’s 100 percent a final for Sean Cox,” Klopp said.

“We said before the game we thought about it, now we’re here, all our prayers and wishes are with him.”

FINALISTS THAILAND AND INDONESIA DRAWN TOGETHER IN THE GROUP STAGES OF THE AFF SUZUKI CUP 2018

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FINALISTS THAILAND AND INDONESIA DRAWN TOGETHER IN THE GROUP STAGES OF THE AFF SUZUKI CUP 2018

sports May 03, 2018 06:42

By Agencies

 Defending champions Thailand have been drawn in Group B in this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup against Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore at the event’s Official Draw today in Jakarta.

They will be joined by the winner of the qualification match between Timor-Leste and Brunei.

In Group A, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos will battle it out in what will be the 12th staging of the AFF Suzuki Cup.

The AFF Suzuki Cup kicks off this year with the first Group stage matches to be played on November 8 while the final will be held on December 15.

Cambodia will play Malaysia and Laos will play Vietnam in the opening games on November 8.

An exciting new format is being used for the first time this year that will see each team play two games at home and two games away in the Group stages.

The aim of this is to provide more exposure for players in their home country and provide fans with more opportunities to back their national team on home soil.

The top-two teams progress from each Group into the semi-finals played over two legs home and away. The final is also a two-legged affair.

A progressive new look for the tournament was also unveiled at the draw with a new logo and colours to be used moving forward that reflect the event’s core values and attributes of loyalty, pride and passion.

All eyes were on who would play Thailand – who have claimed the trophy a record five times in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014 and 2016.

In a rematch of the final two years ago Thailand will host Indonesia on November 17. The Thais triumphed 3-2 on aggregate having lost the opening leg 2-1 in Bogor, Indonesia.

It was the fifth time the Indonesians had finished runner-up in the tournament.

And with Singapore also in Group B old rivalries will be revived as the Singaporeans beat Thailand in the final in 2007 and 2012.

A big roar went up at the draw when Malaysia were paired in Group A avoiding a clash with their old enemy Singapore.

On November 25, the final day of the Group matches, Thailand will play Singapore and Indonesia will compete against the Philippines.

In September Timor-Leste and Brunei will go head to head with the winner progressing to Group B. Timor-Leste host Brunei on September 3 while the return game is on September 8.