A controversial late goal from Jan Rosenthal gave SC Freiburg a 1-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday for a third straight win and the club’s best start to the Bundesliga.
Rosenthal struck after a counterattack in the 89th minute to give Freiburg nine out of a possible 12 points from four rounds and their first victory in Frankfurt since March 1996.
However, TV replays suggested that the goal should have been ruled out for an offside earlier in the move.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Freiburg made a good start to an entertaining half with a powerful shot from Papiss Cisse being turned away by goalkeeper Oka Nikolov after six minutes, while Frankfurt’s Theo Gekas headed just over the crossbar following a free-kick in the 18th minute.
Frankfurt went close again on the half-hour mark, but Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann made a superb reaction save to keep out Benjamin Koehler’s header.
Further chances fell to Freiburg’s Heiko Butscher in the 35th minute and Frankfurt’s Patrick Ochs in the 40th minute.
There were fewer chances after the break, although Baumann only just managed to palm away a ball deflected by Freiburg defender Cedrick Makiadi after the hour mark.
Nikolov was then back in action at the other end with a fine save to stop Anton Putsila’s shot in the 69th minute.
Freiburg finally made the breakthrough with a late counterattack.
Cisse headed a long ball into the path of Maximilian Nicu, who ran through, before passing for Rosenthal to convert a simple chance for the winner, but replays indicated that Nicu was offside when he collected Cisse’s pass.
Freiburg coach Robin Dutt said: “We were very calm on the ball in the first half and really played a good away match. In the second half, things got a bit more wild, but at the end we kept our heads and grabbed our goal.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely