Czech striker Libor Kozak came off the bench and scored his first goal in the Premier League to give Aston Villa a 1-0 win at Norwich City yesterday.
A £7 million (US$11.2 million) signing from Lazio, Kozak settled the game with a 30th-minute tap-in at Carrow Road only two minutes after coming on for Christian Benteke.
Villa manager Paul Lambert, returning to his former club, was also indebted to goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who saved an early Robert Snodgrass penalty and produced a stunning late stop to deny Norwich debutant Gary Hooper.
Victory ended a run of three straight defeats for Villa, while Norwich have won just once in five games.
Ciaran Clark replaced the injured Jores Okore at centerback for Villa in one of three changes made by Lambert, while Russell Martin and Jonny Howson were brought into the Norwich line-up by manager Chris Hughton.
The game exploded into life with Villa forward Andreas Weimann going close twice in the first three minutes.
He forced John Ruddy to save after a matter of seconds with an effort from outside the box and then curled a shot against the post.
Norwich should have taken the lead in the sixth minute, however, but after Clark was penalized for handball, Guzan plunged to his left to parry Snodgrass’ spot-kick.
Record Norwich signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel then chested a cross over the bar from point-blank range before Benteke and Ron Vlaar each went close within the space of a minute at the other end.
It was to be Benteke’s last contribution as he was forced off by an apparent groin injury, but not before Van Wolfswinkel had clipped a half-volley inches wide from Martin’s cross.
Kozak came on for Benteke and made an immediate impact, guiding home a cutback from Gabriel Agbonlahor to put Villa ahead.
The hosts came close to an equalizer in the 59th minute when Guzan had to react sharply to prevent Leandro Bacuna scoring an own-goal.
Hughton introduced Hooper for his first appearance since a £5 million move from Celtic, but the hosts could not find a way through.
Tainan TSG Hawks slugger Steven Moya, who is leading the CPBL in home runs, has withdrawn from this weekend’s All-Star Game after the unexpected death of his wife. Moya’s wife began feeling severely unwell aboard a plane that landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday evening. She was rushed to a hospital, but passed away, the Hawks said in a statement yesterday. The franchise is assisting Moya with funeral arrangements and hopes fans who were looking forward to seeing him at the All-Star Game can understand his decision to withdraw. According to Landseed Medical Clinic, whose staff attempted to save Moya’s wife,
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt yesterday backed Nick Champion de Crespigny to be the team’s “roving scavenger” after handing him a shock debut in the opening Test against the British and Irish Lions Test in Brisbane. Hard man Champion de Crespigny, who spent three seasons at French side Castres before moving to the Western Force this year, is to get his chance tomorrow with first-choice blindside flanker Rob Valetini not fully fit. His elevation is an eye-opener, preferred to Tom Hooper, but Schmidt said he had no doubt about his abilities. “I keep an eye on the Top 14 having coached there many years
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