Bernard seals Everton win in nine-goal Cup classic against Spurs

LIVERPOOL, England, (Reuters) - Everton substitute Bernard’s extra-time strike sealed a 5-4 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in an absorbing FA Cup fifth-round thriller at Goodison Park yesterday.

The 28-year-old Brazilian has been on the fringes of the Everton squad this season, but settled a see-saw tie with a powerful left-footed strike in the 97th minute.

It meant Tottenham’s wait for a first FA Cup triumph since 1991 goes on, but kept alive Everton’s hopes of winning the trophy for the first time since 1995.

Tottenham, who battled back from 3-1 and 4-3 down having taken the lead in the third minute, have now lost four of their last five games and while they played some admirable attacking football, they were undone by defensive frailties.

“I enjoyed it, and I didn’t enjoy it!” Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, who was up against respected rival Carlo Ancelotti, said of a breathless tie.

“We scored goals, created more chances, great character to fight against incredible mistakes. But attacking football only wins matches when you don’t make more defensive mistakes than what you create. We scored four goals, but was not enough.”

Everton were not at the races in the opening minutes and they fell behind in the third minute when Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez headed past Robin Olsen.

Tottenham could have been further ahead but their night fell apart in seven first-half minutes.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) - Venus Williams refused to give up after suffering an injury against Italian Sara Errani and fought through pain before bowing out of the Australian Open second round with a 6-1 6-0 defeat yesterday.

The 40-year-old American, a seven-times Grand Slam winner and twice finalist at Melbourne Park, started the match with a taped left knee and twisted her right ankle trying to approach the net while trailing 1-5 in the opening set.

Williams shrieked in pain before hobbling to her chair to receive medical attention and a retirement looked imminent by the American.

But after receiving heavy strapping on her ankle and extra taping on the knee she returned to court amid wide applause from those present at the John Cain Arena.

Williams did not win another game with her movement severely hampered during the rest of the match as she hobbled between points with pain reflecting prominently on her face.

Williams brushed off a question about her age after defeating Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in her opening round and yesterday put up an emotional post on Instagram after exiting her 21st Australian Open.

“You can’t always prepare for the triumph or the disaster in sports or in life. You can’t control it all. What you can control is how you handle the ups and the downs,” she wrote.

“No matter the outcome I always hold my head high and I leave everything I have on the court. I never look back in regret because no matter the odds I give it all.

“You don’t have to look back when you leave it all out there. Always look forward, the deepest dream you have could be...”

Williams left the court to another round of applause as qualifier Errani set up a third round clash against Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Su-wei, who defeated 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu 6-3 6-2 earlier.

“I’m not happy to win like that,” the 134th-ranked Errani said. “I’m so sad for her. It isn’t easy playing someone injured.

“I was a bit shocked when she was like that. I didn’t understand what she had, so we stopped. I was scared.”