PSG and Liverpool in key Champions League clash
SOUTH AFRICA treated Namibia as cannon fodder in their opening Diamond Challenge match as they romped to a 78-28 victory in Seshego, Limpopo yesterday.
The runaway victory was the perfect gift for centurion Maryka Holtzhausen,
and Lenize Potgieter, who played in her 50th Test for the Proteas.
The signs were ominous for Namibia in the opening quarter in one-sided affair as the home team raced to a 17-6 lead.
The Proteas more than doubled their score in the second period, while limiting the Namibians to three goals with South Africa going into the halftime break with a dominant 38-9 lead.
South African coach Norma Plummer made wholesale changes for the second half with Sigi Burger, Renske Stoltz, Khanyisa Chawane and Zanele Vimbela getting a run.
The Proteas’ dominance continued unabated in the second half as they scored an impressive 23 goals in the third quarter with Namibia adding five.
The Proteas could not have asked for a better way to bounce back from their winless run in the Quad Series which involved Australia, New Zealand and England.
They suffered two heavy defeats against Australia and New Zealand before bouncing back with a strong showing against England in their final match of the series.
They lost by 17 points to the Australian Diamonds before suffering a 24-goal defeat to New Zealand.
The Proteas will next face Botswana, who lost to Zimbabwe 43-30, tonight. The tournament also features Zambia and a South African President’s team. |
de Villiers Ockert
A LOSS against Liverpool tonight in Paris, coupled with a home win by Napoli over Red Star Belgrade, would end Paris Saint-Germain’s hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League. And that would be a significant setback for the big-spending French team desperately trying to assert itself as a world-class club.
It would be the first time PSG failed to reach the tournament’s knockout round since 2011-12, after Qatar Sports Investments took over the club with the goal of turning it into a top contender. PSG were eliminated in the round of 16 last season, after reaching the quarter-finals four years in a row before that.
Failure this time would hurt PSG in its second season since signing Brazil star Neymar for ¤222million from Barcelona in an attempt to increase its chances of succeeding in Europe.
PSG enter the crucial match at the Parc des Princes with five points in Group C, one behind leaders Liverpool and Napoli. A victory would put the French club back in a position to advance to the last 16.
“It’s a decisive match in a very, very complicated group,” PSG coach Thomas Tuchel told French broadcaster TF1.
The good news for Tuchel is that Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, who had been sidelined because of injuries, are expected to be available for the home match against Liverpool.
A look at the three other Champions League groups in action tonight:
GROUP A
Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund lead the group and have a chance to secure places in the knockout rounds with one game to play.
Dortmund need a draw at Club Brugge, while Atletico needs a home win against Monaco.
Atletico can also advance if Club Brugge drop points against Dortmund, who are coming off a blistering start to the season under new coach Lucien Favre.
GROUP B
Harry Kane kept Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League hopes alive with a late double to sink PSV Eindhoven in their last match.
Now the striker has some back-up as his team tries to complete an unlikely recovery to qualify from Group B.
Tottenham has struggled for attacking fluency this season, mainly because attacking midfielders Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli have been missing at times because of injury.
Spurs need to beat Inter Milan at Wembley tonight to keep alive ambitions of qualifying for the knockout rounds.
That would leave the teams tied on seven points. Tottenham would still likely require a win at already-qualified Barcelona to advance, given that Inter entertain bottom-side PSV at home in their final group game.
Barcelona, without Rafinha, Luis Suarez and Arthur because of injuries, have a three-point advantage at the top and will clinch first place in the group with a win over PSV, or a draw if Inter do not beat Tottenham.
GROUP D
Group leaders Porto hosts second-place Schalke in a match in which a draw could be enough for both clubs to advance.
They’ll clinch a spot in the knockout stage with a draw if Galatasaray fail to win their match at already eliminated Lokomotiv Moscow.
A victory would secure first place for Porto, who have won eight straight games entering the match at their home ground Estadio do Dragao.
Porto are trying to make it to the round of 16 for the third straight season. Schalke haven’t made it to the knockout stage since 2014-15. |
AP