Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk equalized late in the second half for a 1-1 draw against SSC Napoli in the opening leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday.
Napoli midfielder David Lopez headed in a corner from Lorenzo Insigne in the 50th minute at the Stadio San Paolo and it was all Napoli until substitute forward Yevhen Seleznyov redirected in a cross at the far post nine minutes from time.
Insigne also had a shot that hit the post early in the first half.
Photo: EPA
“We controlled the match, but it was difficult to play against them. They’re a squad that defends well,” Lopez said. “Now we need to react and see about winning the next match.”
“We had several chances and I think in the end the result wasn’t fair,” he said. “They produced only one shot on goal.”
Napoli are aiming for their first European title since Diego Maradona led the southern club to the 1989 UEFA Cup, the predecessor to the Europa League. Dnipro are seeking their first continental trophy.
The return leg is scheduled for next week. The final is to be played on May 27 in Warsaw.
Dnipro coach Myron Markevych gave his squad only a 40 percent chance of reaching the final, but he might need to revise the percentage.
In the previous three rounds, Dnipro eliminated Greek side Olympiakos, Ajax Amsterdam and Club Brugge KV of Belgium.
Napoli’s advancement could also be key toward convincing coach Rafa Benitez to stay.
Napoli sit fourth in Serie A, one spot out of the Champions League places, and need to win the Europa League to be sure of qualifying for the competition next season.
Napoli controlled much of the match, but had trouble creating chances against a solid Dnipro defense.
Insigne found the outside of the post with a long, looping shot 10 minutes in then was set up by Gonzalo Higuain in the 22nd, but could not find the target.
After Insigne’s goal, Higuain nearly doubled their lead, but his angled shot was deflected wide with a quick reflex save from goalkeeper Denys Boyko.
Higuain had two more chances saved by Boyko in the 73rd and 78th, and then Seleznyov equalized a minute after coming on.
Artem Fedetskiy sent a low cross in from the left and Roman Bezus missed it, but fellow substitute Seleznyov was on hand to tap it in.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just