Giacomo Bonaventura hit a first-half leveler as AC Milan boosted their hopes of European soccer next season in a 1-1 draw that dented SSC Napoli’s title hopes on Monday.
Napoli welcomed Milan to the Stadio San Paolo knowing victory would have put them back on top.
However, despite seeing Lorenzo Insigne provide a 39th-minute lead with a deflected shot that just crept past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Bonaventura pulled Milan level five minutes later.
Photo: Reuters
Napoli had the lion’s share of the best chances in the second half, but Donnarumma was decisive in the dying minutes.
However, Maurizio Sarri’s title challengers were forced to settle for a sixth draw of the season that left them in second, one point behind Juventus.
Milan remain sixth, eight points behind third-placed ACF Fiorentina in the last possible UEFA Champions League qualifying place.
Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly made two timely interceptions on Carlos Bacca and M’Baye Niang before Bonaventura saw a deflected effort fly past Pepe Reina’s near post.
At the other end, Jorginho and Insigne both curled shots over, while Gonzalo Higuain saw two chances thwarted by Cristian Zapata, the Colombian’s acrobatic overhead-kick stopping him from going clear and a deflection sending Higuain’s angled shot wide. Brazilian defender Alex then blocked a Higuain shot on the turn and Jose Callejon should have done better when he fired wide from close range.
Milan were under the cosh, but it took a deflection from a jumping Ignazio Abate for Insigne’s angled shot from just outside the box to bobble past a scrambling Donnarumma and into the net.
To their credit, Milan restored parity almost immediately. Callejon had failed to track back to pick up Bonaventura and when Koulibaly inadvertently nodded Keisuke Honda’s cross toward the back post, Bonaventura sent a volley past Reina.
In a balanced second half, Donnarumma was the busier of the goalkeepers.
Donnarumma, who is to celebrate his 17th birthday tomorrow, did well to intercept Faouzi Ghoulam’s cross for Higuain as the Argentina striker ran in for goal.
Callejon was replaced by Dries Mertens 15 minutes into the second half and shortly after his arrival, the latter spurned a great chance when he struck Elseid Hysaj’s cross off the far post. Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic replaced a tiring Bacca with French forward Jeremy Menez.
Minutes later, Higuain beat Zapata to a cross from the left to fire his deflected shot just wide of the upright. When defender Luca Antonelli blocked Mertens’ cross for Higuain, Milan launched a counterattack that saw Menez set up Niang, but the Frenchman’s angled strike curled wide of the far post.
Mihajlovic replaced Niang with on-loan Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli for the final five minutes, but it was Honda who tested Reina with a curling shot that forced the Spanish goalkeeper to save low at his near post.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and