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Spain edge Switzerland in shootout to reach Euro 2020 semi-finals

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By Gistflash News

July 3, 2021

Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two penalty kicks as Spain beat Switzerland 3-1 in a shootout on Friday to secure a place in the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

Spain prevailed in the shootout as Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner after Simon had saved from Fabian Schaer and Manuel Akanji.

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Ruben Vargas had fired high for the Swiss in the quarter-final game played in St Petersburg.

Spain’s Sergio Busquets and Rodri also failed to score in the shootout but Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo and Gerard Moreno beat Yann Sommer.

The score was locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes of play.

The 2008 and 2012 champions Spain took an early lead in the eighth minute, thanks to an own goal by Denias Zakaria who deflected a half-volley from Jordi Alba.

The Spanish side failed to convert the few chances they created and saw Switzerland equalise in the 68th minute.

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Stand-in captain Xherdan Shaqiri swept his effort into the net after a mix-up at the Spanish defence.

Shortly after the goal, Switzerland were however reduced to 10 men as Remo Freuler saw a red card for a foul on Moreno.

The game went into extra-time and Spain were naturally the most attacking team, but were stopped by Sommer who had a brilliant performance.

Spain move into a Tuesday semi-final at Wembley against Italy who beat Belgium 2-1 later on Friday.

Switzerland on the other hand have bowed out after a second shootout, having beaten world champions France from the penalty kicks spot in the last 16.

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“Football has been fair, and we are deservedly winners. You have to quickly erase the errors but also forget this triumph because we face a tough rival in the next match,” said Simon.

He had made a massive blunder in the last 16 win over Croatia when he failed to control a backpass from pedri which went in.

Oyarzabal, speaking on his kick in the shootout, said: “You couldn’t miss it, and luckily it went in. On the way there, a lot of things go through your head and on top of that the ball was far away. But I had it clear to me.”

The Spaniards had broken the deadlock in the match with the 10th own goal at the Euro 2020.

Koke found Jordi Alba through the crowded penalty area and he sent a half-volley towards the goal.

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Zakaria stuck out his leg to prevent the ball from falling into the net, but only diverted it past Sommer.

Koke himself had a powerful free-kick that could have extended the Spanish lead, but his effort went just over the bar.

Spain then had a lot of possession but since the goal not a lot of threat.

After the break, a mix-up between Laporte and Pau Torres left the ball to Freuler, and he fed it to Shaqiri to send a right-footed kick into the far corner.

Celebrations, however, didn’t last long as Freuler got his marching orders.

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But Sommer kept them in the game against a pressing Spain side in extra time.

The goalkeeper was superb to deny Moreno from close range with a left foot effort in what was the best chance of extra time.

“I’m so proud of the team, what we’ve achieved here with the whole country behind us,” Sommer said.

Busquets opened the shootout hitting the post and Mario Gavranovic put Switzerland ahead, but Spain overcame the bad start thanks to the saves by Simon and moved to the semi-finals.

Shaqiri, who was substituted before extra time, said: “We just lacked a bit of luck today.”

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But he was also “really proud” of the team.

dpa/NAN

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“No Way Back For You In Man United Squad, Spoilt Brat” – Darren Bent Slams Ronaldo

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Darren Bent, a former Charlton, Tottenham and Sunderland striker, has suggested that the end of Cristiano Ronaldo has come at Manchester United.
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Darren Bent, a former Charlton, Tottenham and Sunderland striker, has suggested that the end of Cristiano Ronaldo has come at Manchester United.

The former England man said he sees no way the former Real Madrid star can come back from this.

Ronaldo has been widely criticised for disrespecting his manager, Erik ten Hag, teammates and fans by leaving early and also refusing to go on.

Erik ten Hag’s team defeated Tottenham 2-0 on Wednesday, and their success was somewhat overshadowed by Cristiano’s early departure from the stadium.

The Portuguese have since been punished. He won’t be taking any part in the game against Chelsea on Saturday and has been banned from training with the first team.

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Bent told talkSPORT Drive: “What he did… I thought was really disrespectful to his teammates.” I thought he let himself down.

“The club is trying to go in the right direction and I think Erik ten Hag is doing a good job.”

“It was their performance of the season and it has been overshadowed by Ronaldo’s being upset because he didn’t come on.”

“It was like a spoiled brat.” There’s no way back for him.

“We know how good he’s been. He’s one of the best to ever do it, but we are talking about the here and now.”

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EPL: No Way Back For You In Man United Squad, Spoilt Brat – Darren Bent Slams Ronaldo
Darren Bent

“He’s been petulant and disrespected his teammates who have worked hard.” They’ve put in the performance of the season and he’s just left”

Cristiano Ronaldo sought to leave Old Trafford last summer but was said to have been prevented by the Dutch manager.

Ten Hag had, on more than one occasion, said that Ronaldo was in his plans for the club for the season and was going nowhere. And at the beginning of the season, he used fitness as an excuse for not starting him, saying the Portugal captain had not taken part in the club preseason tour of Asia and Australia.

Ronaldo, who scored 24 goals in all competitions last season, has netted just two this term, majorly due to a lack of game time.

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D’Tigress beat Mali to retain African title for third straight triumph

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By Gistflash News

Sept 26, 2021

Nigeria’s senior national women basketball team, D’Tigress, on Sunday emerged champions of the 2021 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship by defeating Mali 70-59 in Yaounde.

D’Tigress’s victory in the Cameroonian capital city makes it the third consecutive one for them, having won the championship the 2017 and 2019 editions.

The team, who are now unbeaten in three championships, led from the beginning of the game and but for a few moments never looked back in dominating game proceedings.

They won the first quarter 22-11, but lost the second one 9-13, even though they still led the game with seven points into the long break.

D’Tigress returned from the break to win the third quarter 28-14 to extend their lead to 21 points.

It meant they could afford to remove their foot from the throttle in the fourth quarter, which they lost 11-21, and still maintain an 11-point lead to win the game.

Victoria Macaulay was their top performer with 15 points, three rebounds, one assist and three blocks, while Ify Ibekwe recorded 10 rebounds and Ezinne Kalu four assists.

Earlier in the day, hosts Cameroon had won the third-place match by beating Senegal 53-49.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the title win has earned D’Tigress qualification for the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

NAN

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Fernandes misses late penalty kick as Aston Villa stun Manchester United

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By Gistflash News

Sept 25, 2021

Bruno Fernandes blazed a stoppage-time penalty kick over the crossbar as Aston Villa earned a shock 1-0 victory at a below-par Manchester United in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Kortney Hause’s 88th-minute header had put Aston Villa on course for their first league win over Manchester United since 2009.

But the defender’s handball gifted United an opportunity to steal a point, only for Fernandes to miss the target.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo re-signed for Manchester United, there has been much debate over who will take penalty kicks and free-kicks this season —- Fernandes or his fellow Portuguese.

It was Fernandes who took the first direct free-kick on Saturday, firing into the wall, with Ronaldo getting the next one.

Fernandes, following Hause’s handball, never looked back as he placed the ball on the penalty kick spot in the 92nd minute.

But last season’s top goalscorer missed only his second penalty kick for the club to the dismay of an expectant crowd.

“First of all, the way they (Aston Villa players) get round the penalty kick spot, get round Bruno and that, that’s not to my liking,” Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.

“Bruno is usually very good in those positions and unfortunately he missed this one.”

In truth, Manchester United got what they deserved.

Aston Villa had two great opportunities to break the deadlock in the first half with full-back Matt Targett blazing over from two metres out.

That was before Ollie Watkins was denied by a fine save from Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

The home side, encouraged by a frustrated Old Trafford crowd, stepped it up late in the match.

But Hause climbed highest to stun the hosts before Fernandes’ miss and Manchester United tasted league defeat for the first time this season.

That second successive home loss in all competitions means Manchester United dropped to fourth in the standings on goal difference, with the top four sides all on 13 points.

Aston Villa climbed to seventh.

Solskjaer called for a fast start from his side in his programme notes, having seen his team often struggle to get going.

And that is exactly what he got as Fernandes wasted a great chance inside two minutes.

However, the hosts tailed off and really should have gone behind at half-time as Targett and Watkins missed great opportunities.

The home fans were getting restless as the Premier League’s top goalscorers struggled to create clear-cut chances.

It was just two headers as close as Manchester United came to breaking the deadlock before the break.

The game opened up as the second half wore on with Mason Greenwood going close, before De Gea denied Watkins with another fine save.

But the Spanish goalkeeper could do nothing as Hause powered his header home, sparking wild scenes of celebration in the away end.

The headlines, however, went to Fernandes, as his miss gave Aston Villa a famous and thoroughly deserved success.

“It (an Aston Villa win at Old Trafford) has been a long time coming,” Aston Villa coach Dean Smith said. “Our performance levels have been good the last couple of times we’ve been here.

“What that does is it gives an awful lot of belief to the players now.”

Reuters/NAN

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