Two goals in three minutes from SSC Napoli’s Goran Pandev were not enough to secure victory as his side threw away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to Udinese in a Serie A thriller on Saturday.
In the day’s other game, a stunning late free-kick by Mario Balotelli, his second goal of the match, helped AC Milan snatch a 2-2 draw at AS Livorno.
Rafael Benitez’s Napoli stay third with 32 points from 15 games, two points behind AS Roma and eight adrift of leaders Juventus, who beat Bologna 2-0 on Friday and look an even stronger bet for their third consecutive league title.
“We have to improve,” Benitez said.
Pandev tapped in the opening goal in the 38th minute after showing delicate control.
He quickly made it 2-0 when Gonzalo Higuain charged to the byline and pulled the ball back for the Macedonian forward, who spun well before guiding in his sixth league goal of the season.
Napoli defender Federico Fernandez let Udinese back into the game with an own-goal seconds before halftime when he clipped in a tame Thomas Heurtaux header.
Bruno Fernandes then deservedly drew Udinese level with a dipping shot that confused Napoli ’keeper Rafael with 21 minutes left.
Napoli went back in front seconds later when Blerim Dzemaili tapped in the rebound after a curling effort from Higuain, but Udinese refused to give up and equalized with 10 minutes to go when Dusan Basta scored after a goalmouth scramble.
The visitors then almost snatched victory when Brazilian Maicosuel burst through on goal, only for Christian Maggio to thwart him with a superb sliding tackle.
The challenge enraged Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin, who was sent off for protesting.
Eighth-placed AC Milan were rescued at AS Livorno by Balotelli, who thumped a spectacular shot past goalkeeper Francesco Bardi from 30m with six minutes left.
His leveler came after two sucker punches from Luca Siligardi and Paulinho had turned the game in the home team’s favor following Balotelli’s seventh-minute opener.
The striker almost clinched a barely deserved win for Milan when he hit the bar with a looping effort two minutes from the end.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two