MAIDAN HEAVYWEIGHTS MEET TODAY
Nothing lasts forever at the highest levels for professionals. Two years ago almost to the day Gonzalo Higuain was the toast of Naples , after his latest goals had taken Napoli to the top of Serie A for the first time since the golden days of Diego Maradona in 1990.
In 2017, however, the Argentine is a hate figure amongst the San Paolo faithful, who never missed a chance to make their feelings felt during a typically combative clash between the southern Italians and Juventus on Friday. Unfortunately for the home fans, Higuain proved once again that he took his innate scoring ability with him when he walked out on the club for Turin.
Indeed, most talk prior to kick-off around this six-pointed was focused on whether the centre-forward would even be fit to feature. Higuain sat out Juventus’ 3-0 win over Benevento last weekend as an unused substitute, although the cause of the omission at that point had still not been revealed.
Juve subsequently confirmed that their sharp-shooter had broken a metacarpal bone in his left hand , and just three days before stepping out again at San Paolo he underwent surgery on the fracture.
“The hand is definitely painful but he could be available. We’ll see. Let’s say I’m confident,” coach Massimiliano Allegri had warned in the week.
His confidence was well placed. In a game where physical clashes were frequent and fluid passages of play few and far between, Higuain’s predatory instincts made the difference. He lurked patiently on the shoulder of his marker as Douglas Costa opened up the field on the counter, waiting for the moment to break ranks with the game still deadlocked at 0-0.
His burst was timed to perfection. The Argentine slipped through the Napoli offside trap like a cat burglar inching through a half-opened window, just in time to meet Paulo Dybala’s pinpointt pass and bear down on Jose Reina in the Napoli net. The home defence quickly snapped out of their trance and threw everything at the intruder, but it was too late: Higuain managed to stroke the ball past Reina at the goalkeeper’s near post moments before being bundled over in an undignified and, given the events of the past few days, undoubtedly painful heap.
Napoli must rue the day they were forced to surrender their star forward into the hands of their detested northern neighbours. Higuain has now scored five times in his last five appearances against his former club, and seems to lap up the vitriol he receives from the stands. This latest effort might just be the most important of all, as Juve’s win brings them within just a point of the current leaders of the Scudetto race. KOLKATA: Maidan heavyweights Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will look to prove a point when they resume their traditional rivalry in the I-league, albeit, at an ‘unusual time’, on Sunday.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has emphasised that the I-league remains the top-tier competition but it’s no secret that they are a poor cousin to the lucrative Indian Super League (ISL) which has not only got the better share of players but a superior broadcast quality.
To add to their misery is the 2pm kickoff for the marquee match, which is a first for the Kolkata derby at the iconic Saltlake Stadium since 1984.
Since the ISL mathes are being played at 5:30pm and 8:00 pm the I League matches have been scheduled early in the day. The revamped Saltlake Stadium will host the first derby of the season after a gap of 680 days since the 1-1 draw on January 23 last year.
“For a high-intensity match, it’s an unusual time. We have asked the players to get ready for the warm-up session at the ground at 1.10 pm. It means that they will have early lunch too, may be by 10 am. It could be an influencing factor,” said Mohun Bagan assistant coach Shankarlal Chakraborty.
Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have roped in a few players from reigning champions Aizawl FC who played home matches at 2 pm.
Mohun Bagan’s Nigerian defender Eze Kingsley, who was with the I-league-winning team last season, also echoed the sentiment but added they have “to follow” the fixture drawn by the AIFF.
The I-league is struggling for the better share of players who were lured away by the lucrative ISL as Mohun Bagan would be without any India team regular.
At East Bengal, 12 of their players have switched allegiance to the ISL and only three players -- Nikhil Poojary, Mohammed Rafique (who could not join ISL because of long term contracts) and Salam Ranjan Singh -- have been called up for India duty recently. For a long time, the derby has seen some usual faces like Mehtab Hossain, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Debjit Majumder who will be missed by the fans this time. In such an unusual time, the derby will also see the Mohun Bagan’s I-league winning playmaker Katsumi Yusa in red- and-gold jersey.
An integral part of the Mohun Bagan attack for four seasons, the Japanese had helped Sanjoy Sen-coached side win the I-league in 20142015 and the Federation Cup the following season.
“I have played so many derbies. Every derby is a different match, but I’ll have a special feeling this time. I am so happy and excited to face Mohun Bagan. I respect them, but I’m focusing on this match as an East Bengal player,” he said.
Katsumi had scored on his East Bengal debut to give them a 2-0 lead but their defence went into a sleep mode to let Aizawl bounce back in a 2-2 draw in their I-league opener.
East Bengal defence will be under huge pressure after their blip in the last 15 minutes.
“I do not think the defence will be under pressure. They played well the other day. But we were punished for making silly mistakes. I am confident that was the last time we made those mistakes,” Katsumi said.
Mohun Bagan defender Eze would be up against his former Aizawl FC teammate Mahmoud Al Amna, who holds the key for East Bengal.
“Every derby is 50-50, but East Bengal have more mature and experienced players,” Kingsley said.
“We know what Al Amna is capable of doing. But we will be taking it as a match against East Bengal, not against any individual,” the Mohun Bagan defender added. LAUSANNE: The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Saturday upheld a two-year doping ban on former Olympic 100 metres finalist Ryan Bailey who was in the USA bobsleigh squad for the 2018 Winter Games.
Bailey, who is 28, was fifth in the 100m at London in 2012 and ran the anchor leg for the 4x100 relay team, which finished second but was stripped of its medals after Tyson Gay failed a drugs test.
Bailey switched to bobsleigh in 2016 with an eye on the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in January and February.
In January 2017, he raced in the two and four-man bob in the North American Cup in Park City, Utah. He was tested after winning the two-man race and the sample showed traces of dimethylbutylamine, a banned stimulant.
His case was heard in August by the American Arbitration Association which accepted Bailey’s explanation that he had taken a “high-risk dietary supplement,” and gave him a six- month ban.
The United States Antidoping Agency appealed for a heavier punishment. CAS heard the case in Los Angeles on November 29 and on Friday announced a ban starting on November 30. CAS made clear that the time Bailey has already served would be deducted from the ban, but the ruling still means he cannot compete in the Olympics.