Argentine midfielder Lionel Messi scored two late goals to lead FC Barcelona over Sevilla 2-1 in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Messi converted from the penalty spot in the 80th minute, seven minutes after controlling then side-volleying a hard pass from Thierry Henry past goalkeeper Andres Palop in the box.
Frederic Kanoute added a consolation goal for Sevilla two minutes into injury time.
Palop denied Messi a hat-trick in the 82nd as Barcelona moved into second place with eight points. League leaders Real Madrid have nine points, with yesterday's game against Valladolid in hand.
Sevilla have six points from three matches.
Ronaldinho
Messi immediately pointed up to the stands to dedicate his winner to teammate Ronaldinho, who was missing because of a muscle strain.
Ronaldinho will be examined by team physicians ahead of Wednesday's league game against Zaragoza.
The Brazil international's form has come under scrutiny after the playmaker was substituted for the third time this season against Lyon, with Spanish media reporting that the player broke curfew two weeks ago.
The match was played on the eve of the Nou Camp stadium's 50th anniversary, with architect Norman Foster presenting his plans for the remodeling of the 98,772-capacity building before kickoff.
Messi immediately picked up from an impressive performance in the midweek Champions League win over Lyon, the Argentina forward with two chances inside seven minutes.
In the 21st minute, Renato's powerful header hit the crossbar for Sevilla's best chance in a guarded first half.
Eric Abidal saw Palop push his powerful shot from outside the area out in the 31st before Deco also tried from long 12 minutes later, his right-footed swerve finishing just wide.
Henry needed 45 minutes for his next effort, missing a long ball from defender Rafael Marquez for a header. The Frenchman should have reached Deco's long free kick into the area in the 55th but missed again. Henry would also hit the post later.
Barcelona kept up the pressure, Marquez's header from a tight angle hitting the post two minutes later.
penalty
Messi scored his penalty after Christian Poulsen brought down Barcelona substitute Giovani Dos Santos.
Earlier on Saturday, Javi Guerrero scored twice as Recreativo Huelva rallied for a 2-1 win over Espanyol.
Guerrero gave Recreativo their first win of the season with his winner in the 60th minute, five minutes after the striker had equalized. Alberto Riera scored in the fifth minute for Espanyol.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just