EAGLES CLINCH SECOND 7’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE CROWN
SUPER Eagles outgunned archrival Ghana FC in a penalty shootout (1-0) on Monday night at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City.
The Nigerian champions erased a one- goal deficit in the dying moments resulting in a prolonged shootout.
Sam Adams broke the scoreless deadlock with a 33rd minute strike and Ghana, leading until the last minute, was all set to shoot down the Super Eagles.
Fidelis Nbauife, however, notched the equalizer in the 49th minute to force the penalties.
Super Eagles goalkeeper Abou Ibrahim came through with a superb save on Emmanuel Donkor’s shot, setting the stage for Lawrence Ikegoruka’s winning shot.
Ikeroguka, displaying nerves of steel, sent his penalty to the top right corner of the net.
Earlier, in the All-Star Game curtain raiser, the Azkals Legends also prevailed in a penalty shootout
PARIS: Barcelona overcame the absence of an injured Lionel Messi to defeat Inter Milan 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), while Borussia Dortmund signaled their intent with a 4-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid.
Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool strolled past Red Star Belgrade, but Paris Saint- Germain needed a superb stoppage- time equalizer from Angel Di Maria to rescue a point at home to Napoli. Barca collected a third win from three Group B outings as Rafinha, filling in for Messi after the Argentine star fractured his arm at the weekend, volleyed in the opener on 32 minutes at Camp Nou. Philippe Coutinho rattled the crossbar in the second half before Jordi Alba sealed the points seven minutes from time to leave Barca on the brink of a spot in the last 16.
“We needed to step up given the absence of Leo,” Ernesto Valverde said. “It was in the head of us all.” “We have a certain style, then Messi gives us a touch of brilliance that is extraordinary. When he is not there we have to supply it in some other way,” he added. Bundesliga leader Dortmund, which missed the (3-1) against 7’s Football League All-Stars.
The Azkals Legends overcame Daniel Matsunaga’s brace before winning the shootout.
Matsunaga buried the opening goal in the eighth minute then handed the All-Stars a twogoal cushion with a 40th minute strike.
But a 30-second barrage powered by Kevin Ingreso and Mark Hartmann put the Legends level in the 46th minute.
Anton Del Rosario netted the first shot for the Legends then Aly Borromeo, who took over Jeff Blake’s goalkeeping duty late in the game, forced Hamed Hajimehdi to miss his penalty.
Stephan Shrock made it a two-penalty lead but Matsunaga pulled one back to keep the All- Stars in contention.
Hartmann though hit the dagger in the third round of the shootout to seal the comeback victory for the Legends. services of in- form striker Paco Alcacer, delivered the performance of the evening as they handed last season’s Europa League winners Atletico their heaviest defeat under Diego Simeone.
Axel Witsel fired Dortmund ahead shortly before half- time at Signal Iduna Park, with substitute Raphael Guerreiro netting twice in the final quarter- hour either side of a goal by teenage England international Jadon Sancho.
Dortmund top Group A with a maximum nine points, although Atletico still remain favorites to progress alongside them after Thierry Henry’s Monaco and Club Brugge drew 1-1 in the other game.
Moussa Sylla raised hopes of Monaco ending an 11- match winless streak by opening the scoring just after the halfhour mark in Belgium, but Wesley struck for Brugge to secure a point.
“We are a little less negative than at Strasbourg,” said Henry, after a defeat by Strasbourg in his coaching bow on Saturday. “But a draw is a draw, it’s not a victory.”
At Anfield, Liverpool’s front three of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were all on target as Jurgen Klopp’s team swept Serbian champions Red Star aside 4-0.
Firmino broke the deadlock on 20 minutes and Salah struck right before the interval.
The Egyptian then converted a penalty just after the break to become the fastest Liverpool player to 50 goals, achieving the feat in just 65 games.
He missed out on the chance for a hat trick as he was substituted before Mane missed a second spot-kick, although the Senegalese forward redeemed himself when he stabbed home a Daniel Sturridge cross.
Liverpool top Group C by two points from Napoli, who looked on course for an impressive win in France before Di Maria’s late heroics in a 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes.
Carlo Ancelotti’s visitors twice led through efforts from Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens, but having leveled once through an own goal by Mario Rui, PSG salvaged a point with Di Maria’s marvelous curling 20-yard strike.