Neri Cardozo scored the only goal to lead South American champions Boca Juniors of Argentina to a 1-0 win over Tunisia's Etoile Sahel in their Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The goal came in the 37th minute when Rodrigo Palacio sent a cross from the left for Cardozo, who hit an angled shot from outside the area.
"I'm satisfied with the result. This is our first final in six months. I really want to take this chance," Boca coach Miguel Russo said. "I watched Etoile Sahel's game against Pachuca, so I wasn't surprised with their play today. We didn't win easily, as everyone had expected, because we couldn't break through and make spaces to attack."
PHOTO: AP
African champions Etoile Sahel suffered an early setback when they lost Muri Ola Ogunbiyi in the ninth minute as the midfielder received an eye injury in a tackle. He was replaced by Afouan Gharbi.
Boca camped in the Tunisians' half in the beginning, but their attacks only resulted in yellow cards for Fabian Vargas and Sebastian Battaglia.
Etoile Sahel -- who beat Central and North American champions Pachuca of Mexico in the quarter-final -- had a couple of chances in first half injury time, including a turned down penalty appeal after Amine Chermiti was brought down in the Boca penalty area.
At the beginning of the second half, Gabriel Paletta headed over from a corner, while Etoile Sahel's Saif Ghezal put a header over the Boca bar moments later.
The Argentines were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when Fabian Vargas was given a second yellow.
But it was Boca who still made the better chances, with Hugo Ibarra hitting wide and a sizzling Palacio shot being saved by Etoile Sahel goalkeeper Aymen Balbouli.
"We couldn't do well in the midfield. We tried to connect more passes, which was difficult since we were reduced [to 10 men]. But my players did what they had to do as usual," Russo said. "The next game is the final. Of course, AC Milan must beat [Urawa Reds]. We are going to adjust our play in midfield by exchanging more passes and playing with more rhythm."
Despite the defeat, Etoile Sahel's French coach Bertrand Marchand appeared satisfied with his team's performance.
"We fought against a big team. I'm sure Boca had difficulties against us. In the end, it was the difference between a big team and an inexperienced team," Marchand said.
Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday led the way into the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals, with Carlos Alcaraz hot on their heels after a straight-sets victory of his own. Sinner shrugged off a mid-match weather delay lasting nearly three hours as he advanced 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) over Adrian Mannarino. Alcaraz, the second seed who has reached the final in his past six tournaments, hammered Italian lucky loser Luca Nardi 6-1, 6-4. After sweeping the opening set in 28 minutes, Alcaraz hit a speed bump, dropping his serve to trail 2-4. He promptly regained the break, then fought through a marathon ninth game
Taiwan’s men’s basketball team on Monday clinched a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup quarter-finals with a 78-64 win over Jordan in Saudi Arabia, securing their best finish in the tournament since placing fourth in 2013. The win was sweet revenge for Taiwan, who were denied a quarter-final spot by Jordan at the same stage of the previous Asia Cup in 2022 after blowing a nine-point lead in the final minute and losing 97-96 on a half-court buzzer-beater. “History is part of the journey,” Taiwan head coach Gianluca Tucci said when asked about the 2022 collapse of the team, who he did
Taiwan’s national basketball team on Wednesday suffered a heartbreaking loss, ending their FIBA Asia Cup run after Iran staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 78-75 victory in the quarter-finals at King Abdullah Sports City in Saudi Arabia. Taiwan were in front for 38 minutes, 30 seconds of the 40-minute game. Iran only took the lead in the final minute, but it was enough to knock Taiwan out of the tournament. With the win, Iran advanced to tomorrow’s semi-finals, when they face Australia. The loss ended a promising campaign for Taiwan, who had been aiming for their first semi-final appearance since the 2013 FIBA
STUMBLE: World No. 2 Coco Gauff confidently won her first set against seventh-seed Italian Jasmine Paolini before being overcome in the second and third sets World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Coco Gauff were sent crashing out of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Friday, while Carlos Alcaraz fought off a fierce challenge from Andrey Rublev to reach the semi-finals. Top seed and defending champion Sabalenka had no answer for Elena Rybakina, falling to the 2022 Wimbledon champion 6-1, 6-4. Reigning French Open champion Gauff had 16 double faults in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 exit at the hands of seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini. Spain’s second-ranked Alcaraz had his difficulties, but he broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner
RSS