No goals were scored in the Bundesliga on Sunday when SC Freiburg drew 0-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt and the derby between Hamburg SV and St Pauli was called off.
Freiburg’s Papiss Demba Cisse and Frankfurt’s Fanis Gekas, the league’s second and third-highest goalscorers respectively, both missed chances to add to their goal tallies this season.
Freiburg remain unbeaten in seven games and are sixth in the standings, 17 points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund. Frankfurt are 10th.
Photo: EPA
Patrick Ochs had the game’s first chance in the 22nd minute when the Frankfurt captain’s volley was deflected for a corner by Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
“Maybe we could have won, but at least we created chances,” Ochs said. “We played with aggression and passion.”
Gekas was set free by a hopeful ball forward in the 39th minute when he could have shot on goal. Instead he passed to Caio, who failed to control the ball and the chance was lost.
Ochs should have scored before the interval when he had plenty of time and space, but he clipped Sebastian Jung’s perfect cross over the crossbar from 10m.
Freiburg improved after the break, with Cedric Makiadi finally sparking the home fans into life when his long-range effort went narrowly over in the 57th minute.
Gekas was unable to direct his header under the bar after a wonderful long cross from Georgios Tzavellas in the 64th minute.
Cisse missed at the other end minutes later, when his header from Felix Bastians’ free-kick was narrowly wide of the right post.
Baumann’s fingertips deflected a looping Maik Franz effort onto the crossbar and out for a corner. Franz tried to rouse his teammates for the last 10 minutes, but neither side could find a winner.
“It’s OK, but I’d rather have the win,” Franz said.
“We can live with a point. When you look at the 90 minutes, it was a fair draw,” Makiadi said.
The Hamburg derby was called off on Saturday because of a waterlogged pitch.
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