The Weekend in Review
(FIFA.com)
© Getty Images
Want to find out more from the globe’s top divisions? Check out our new Live Scores section for results, scorers and tables from right across the planet following its makeover.
The Big Matches
Wydad Casablanca 2-0 TP Mazembe
Abdelatif Noussir (44), Reda El Hajaoui (66 pen)
John Toshack’s Moroccan league leaders hosted the continental champions as the second round of the CAF Champions League got under way, with both separated from the group stages by no more than two hours of football. Regulars were rested as Wydad saw their lead slashed to just three points domestically – with fresh legs expected to face the side from Congo DR, while Mazembe arrived having won two from two in the fledgling Super Ligue back home. The Moroccans, who have not appeared in the tournament since reaching the final in 2011, performed well and defeated TP Mazembe 2-0.
Schalke 2-2 Borussia Dortmund
Leroy Sane (51), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (66); Shinji Kagawa (49), Matthias Ginter (56)
While the opening period was a nervy one during the Rivierderby – with only Sane's effort against the post getting pulses racing – after the break it was all go. It took no time at all for Kagawa to open the scoring in the most picturesque fashion, elegantly chipping Ralf Fahrmann from the edge of the box, but Sane rifled home an equaliser within two minutes after Roman Burki's parry. Dortmund were back in front thanks to Ginter's free header inside the area, but Sokritis Papastathopoulos hauled down Huntelaar, with the Dutchman levelling from the penalty spot. Fahrmann had to be at his best to keep the scores level, while Max Meyer spurned a glorious chance for the hosts at the death, with a draw harming either sides' European and title aspirations alike.
The talking points
The 16-day long OFC Champions League saw its first round of games get going, with Tahiti’s Tefana earning a convincing 6-1 win over Nadi, despite Mickael Roche’s bizarre own goal, while Magenta sit just behind in Group C after a 2-0 win over Kiwi. On Sunday, a Joao Moreira hat-trick helped Auckland City open their campaign with a thumping win, as the reigning champions defeated Solomon Warriors 4-0.
In the race for the Premier Plate in Australia's A-League, Adelaide United claimed the regular season title, beating Melbourne City 2-0 as Brisbane Roar slipped to a goalless draw at Melbourne Victory. In Turkey, third-place Konyaspor defeated second-place Fenerbahce 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Ali Camdali. Besiktas maintain their narrow three-point lead in the league.
Leicester City left Sunderland with the first of four wins they need to clinch the English Premier League title - and a guaranteed UEFA Champions League spot, as Jamie Vardy's second-half brace put them three points closer to glory. Tottenham Hotspur kept pace as they saw off Manchester United 3-0, all coming in six second-half minutes, denting Louis van Gaal's side's European aspirations. Neither Arsenal or West Ham United could put pressure on the sides above them as they played out a pulsating 3-3 draw in the final London derby at the Boleyn Ground. Manchester City edged West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Samir Nasri scored the winner.
In what has been a mixed week for Real Madrid, they responded to their 2-0 loss at Wolfsburg in the Champions League midweek by sweeping aside Eibar 4-0. Los Blancos’ Clasico win gave Atletico Madrid a glimmer of hope in the title race, and those dreams were boosted even more when they travelled to Barcelona and defeated Espanyol 3-1 to move second. The landscape for La Liga's title race changed dramatically by the end of the day as leaders Barcelona lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad, meaning Barça's lead at the top has been trimmed down to three points.
AC Milan and Juventus clashed as the hosts looked to salvage something from their season against the leaders. However, Juve were too strong for Sinisa Mihajlovic's men in the end, despite Alex giving Milan the lead early on. Goals from Mario Mandzukic and Paul Pogba gave the holders all three points at the San Siro, while second-placed Napoli kept the gap at six points, brushing off the loss of banned top-scorer Gonzalo Higuain to beat ten-man Verona 3-0.
In Russia, when Rostov visited Anzhi it was top against bottom, however, there was nothing to separate the sides as the match ended goalless and CSKA took advantage to go top on Saturday with a thumping 7-1 win against Mordovia Saransk.
Lyon sit second in France, level with Monaco on 55 points, following a 2-0 win at Montpellier thanks to a first-half brace from youngster Maxwell Cornet. The principality side missed the chance to move clear as Leonardo Jardim’s side slipped to a 4-1 defeat at Lille, with Nice's 3-0 win over Rennes moving them to within two points of third.
The race for European places in Germany continues to produce twists and turns as four points separates five sides vying for third. Hertha Berlin missed the chance to steal an early march when they drew at home to bottom side Hannover, but neither Borussia Monchengladbach or Mainz could make them pay the following day, with a defeat and point against Ingolstdt and Wolfsburg respectively. That left Bayer Leverkusen the chance to move to within a point of the Champions League spot with a win over Cologne - duly doing so with a 2-0 triumph, and Schalke ruing their dropped points in the Ruhr derby.
In Scotland, Aberdeen missed their chance to cut Celtic's lead to two points after they fell 2-1 at third-place Hearts. Juanma scored a goal in each half to give the hosts all three points. The Bhoys took full advantage with a 2-1 against Motherwell, which stretched their lead at the summit of Scotland's top flight to eight points. There was late drama in Belgium where Club Brugge defeated Gent 2-0.
Al Ahly managed a strong start in Tanzania against Young Africans in their CAF Champions League second qualifying round first leg clash with a 1-1 draw, as they look to reach the group stages for the first time since lifting the title in 2013. As the big weekend in Africa continued, 2014 champions ES Setif travelled to last year’s semi-finalists Al Merreikh and crucial away goals in a 2-2 draw.
Real Salt Lake edged Colorado Rapids 1-0 in the Rocky Mountain derby with Joao Plata producing the only goal of the game. In Qatar, champions Al Rayyan saw the 'Qatari Clasico' snatched from their grasp as Al Sadd struck twice in the closing minutes to secure a 2-2 draw, while the Bucharest derby in Romania helped neither Steaua or Dinamo's title aspirations after a 1-1 draw.
Ecuador's top two teams met on Sunday as Barcelona edged Independiente in a five-goal thriller. Andi Cicero's own goal had Barcelona up 3-1 with five minutes to play, but Independiente made for an exciting finish after Jonny Uchuari's 87th-minute strike made it 3-2. The hosts managed to hold on to retain their top spot in the Primera A, while Independiente dropped to fourth after Emelec and El Nacional both recorded wins to go second and third in the table respectively.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário