River Plate lift title, Copa finally decided
MADRID:RIVER Plate won the Copa Libertadores by beating their fiercest rivals Boca Juniors 3-1 after extra-time on Sunday, bringing an end to a final tainted by violence and moved more than six thousand miles away from Argentina.
Boca took the lead through Dario Benedetto but Lucas Pratto equalised before Juan Quintero and Gonzalo Martinez scored in extra time, aided by Wilmar Barrios being sent off, to win a fittingly dramatic contest for River.it means River prevailed 5-3 on aggregate after the first leg finished 2-2 and reclaim the trophy they had last won in 2015, lifting it for the fourth time in their history. “We have shown we are superior,” River’s Leonardo Ponzio said. “After trying to stay quiet about everything that happened, we showed on the pitch we were better.”
FOOTBALLER’S DEATH: PROBE ORDERED
MILAN: Two doctors who issued medical certificates declaring former Italy international footballer Davide Astori fit to play despite evidence he suffered from a heart condition prior to his death are under investigation for negligent homicide.
Fiorentina captain Astori was found dead in his hotel room in the northeastern city of Udine on March 4 this year ahead of a Serie A match against Udinese.
An initial post mortem sug- gested the 31-year-old died from bradyarrhythmia — when the heart slows so much it stops — but the causes are unclear.
The doctors, who gave Astori the all-clear to play, work for public bodies in Florence and Cagliari, where the defender played for eight years.
LUKAKU CONFIDENT
LONDON:ROMELU Lukaku believes he has finally emerged from his post-world Cup slump, with the Manchester United striker revealing he had to shed muscle to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
Lukaku ended his 12-match goalless streak for United at Southampton last weekend and netted at Old Trafford for the first time since March in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Fulham.
“I know from my side I have to do better and I just keep looking forward and improving, trying to add into my game and help the team to win,” he said.
FIFA TASK FORCE
PARIS:A task force set up to examine FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plans for a new Club World Cup and a Global Nations League held its first meeting on Sunday to look at possible formats, dates and slot allocations.
Infantino has proposed a revamped Club World Cup, which would be played every four years with up to 24 teams, while his Nations League would take the form of a mini World Cup with an eight-team final tournament every two years.