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.
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
RSS