Juventus maintained their charge to a third successive Serie A title as they won 1-0 at 10-man Catania in a fiery match in Serie A on Sunday.
Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the game to take him level with Torino striker Ciro Immobile at the top of the scoring charts.
Catania were forced to play with 10 men for much of the second half after Gonzalo Bergessio was dismissed following a second booking. Both coaches were also sent to the stands for protests during the first half.
Photo: EPA
Juventus restored their 14-point lead over AS Roma, who have a game in hand.
“I think the referee wanted to give a warning to the players, by sending off the managers and calming things down a bit,” Conte said. “The match was very heated and we were good to keep a cool head. I am very proud of the lads. We are playing at extraordinary levels, but we have to give credit to Roma, who are doing something incredible. So we have to stay awake because nothing is over and decided yet.”
Earlier, ACF Fiorentina snatched a late 1-0 win at 10-man SSC Napoli to boost their chances of sneaking into the UEFA Champions League. Inter are four points further back after a last-minute goal consigned them to a 2-1 loss at home to Atalanta BC, while Parma are level, but with a game in hand, after they drew 1-1 with Genoa in the lunchtime kickoff.
Photo: AFP
“It was the perfect day, seeing as we opened up a gap on those behind us and got closer to third spot,” Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella said. “It will be difficult to reach because Napoli are strong and have a big advantage, but we’ll try right until the end.”
SS Lazio are five points off a European spot after being held to a 1-1 draw by AC Milan, while Hellas Verona’s European bid was dented again as they lost 5-0 at UC Sampdoria.
Elsewhere, Udinese beat US Sassuolo 1-0 and Bologna won a relegation fight against Cagliari by the same score.
It was top against bottom in Serie A and 55 points separated Juventus and Catania going into the match.
Tension was high from the start as the Juventus team coach was pelted with objects on its way to the stadium.
Juventus struggled, but broke the deadlock shortly before the hour mark. Pablo Osvaldo nodded back a long ball from Andrea Pirlo for Tevez to race forward and fire home an angled drive for his 16th goal of the season.
Both Napoli and Fiorentina were in need of a confidence boost after crashing out of the Europa League last week.
Faouzi Ghoulam was controversially dismissed in the 37th minute after bringing down Marko Bakic on the edge of the penalty area and Joaquin headed home the winner two minutes from time.
Fiorentina moved seven points behind third-placed Napoli.
There was also a late goal in Milan, where Giacomo Bonaventura scored his second of the game 10 seconds from time when he was left completely unmarked at the far post to head a free-kick between Samir Handanovic’s legs.
Mauro Icardi had canceled out Bonaventura’s opener within 60 seconds in the first half. To celebrate he held up a T-shirt dedicated to his girlfriend Wanda Nera, the former wife of former Sampdoria teammate Maxi Lopez.
Inter should have sealed the match in the second half, but Fredy Guarin smashed a shot off the crossbar and Rodrigo Palacio sent a glancing header onto the left upright.
Both sides could have snatched the win. Inter’s Jonathan cleared off the line three minutes from time, before chipping the ball off the underside of the crossbar at the other end.
Atalanta also hit the woodwork in the first half, when German Denis headed Bonaventura’s cross off the crossbar.
Parma maintained their charge toward a European spot as they extended a club record unbeaten run to 17 matches.
Milan coach Clarence Seedorf was under pressure with seven defeats in his 12 matches in charge. His side took the lead two minutes from halftime when Abdoulay Konko deflected Kaka’s shot into his own net. However, Alvaro Gonzalez headed in the equalizer on the hour.
Substitute Mario Balotelli was unlucky as his effort hit the right post eight minutes from time.
In Udine, captain Antonio di Natale scored his 10th goal of the season to ensure he reached double figures in goals for the eighth consecutive season. It was a good way to mark his 324th league appearance for Udinese — a new club record.
Di Natale could have had a second, but kicked up a chunk of turf as he ballooned a penalty over the bar. Sassuolo also missed a penalty.
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