Penalized Italian giants AC Milan drew 0-0 away to Livorno on Saturday afternoon, ending a three-game winning streak through which they had overcome a point-penalty received for their role in a match-fixing scandal.
Ricardo Oliveira, the Rossoneri's new signing from Spanish Primera Liga side Real Betis, had the first real chance after nine minutes of what proved to be a dull first half, but had his shot saved by Livorno keeper Marco Amelia.
Kaka came close to scoring for Milan after 26 minutes but his shot was too high.
Livorno only managed to conjure up a solitary chance in the first half, through captain Cristiano Lucarelli, whose effort posed no threat for Dida in the Milan goal.
The Brazilian international goalkeeper seemed to be beaten on the hour but was saved by the bar when midfielder Stefano Morrone fired his shot against the woodwork.
last chance
Oliveira had a final chance with a few minutes left when an Andrea Pirlo long ball set him free only for Amelia to save well at the Brazilian's feet.
The draw pushed Livorno on to five points from four games, level with promoted Atalanta and minnows Empoli, who yesterday hosted nine-point leaders Palermo.
Milan have two points despite the previous wins due to an eight-point penalty.
Newcomers Catania and Messina, two sides from Sicily like Palermo, late on Saturday drew 2-2 in a high-tension local derby in which both sides finished with 10 men.
second yellow
Catania's Giuseppe Mascara was dismissed on 58 minutes after earning a second yellow card, received for taking off his jersey after canceling out Sergio Floccari's opener on 32 minutes.
Three minutes later a header from Jonatha Spinesi put Catania ahead once again but Messina managed to equalize through Chilean Nicolas Cordova on 64 minutes.
Five minutes later Messina defender Mark Iuliano was ejected after he received a second booking.
Messina now lies second on eight points, while Catania trails on five.
Transgender athletes are to have an ally in the White House next week, as they seek to participate as their identified gender in high school and college sports — although state legislatures, the US Congress and the courts are all expected to have their say this year, too. Attorneys on both sides say they expect US president-elect Joe Biden’s Department of Education to switch sides in two key legal battles — one in Connecticut, the other in Idaho — that could go a long way in determining whether transgender athletes are treated by the sex on their birth certificates or by
Fickle winds produced farcical scenes yesterday on day two of the America’s Cup challenger series in Auckland, as the so-called “flying” yachts spent almost as much time in the water as above it. “I’m not sure today is a really accurate read because it’s so puffy, it’s shifty,” British sailing legend Ben Ainslie said after his Ineos Team UK maintained their perfect start to the Prada Cup series with a third straight win. The series would determine which of the 23m yachts — which fly above the water balanced on hi-tech foil arms — would challenge defending champion Team New Zealand for
DOUBLE VISION: The men’s duo of Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin downed the South Korean pairing of Choi Sol-gyu and Seo Seung-jae to secure their place in the final Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying yesterday easily defeated Mia Blichfeldt in her women’s singles match to advance to the finals of the Yonex Thailand Open in Bangkok, while Chou Tien-chen crashed out of the tournament. Tai quickly ousted world No. 18 Blicheldt, of Denmark, in 34 minutes, winning 21-8, 23-21. The world No. 1 today must overcome Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Spain, who took down An Se-young of South Korea yesterday 21-18, 21-16. In men’s singles, Taiwan’s Chou fell to Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long after a tough 66 minutes of play. While Chou, the world No. 2, bested Ng in the first set,
World No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying yesterday eased past her Thai opponent to advance to the second round of the Toyota Thailand Open. The Taiwanese star toppled world No. 46 Supanida Katethong 21-16, 21-11 in 29 minutes at the Impact Arena in Bangkok. “I think I played OK today. I am feeling a little better than last week,” Tai said. Tomorrow, Tai faces Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. The two have faced each other six times, with Tai beating the world No. 21 in all six matches. Tai on Sunday reached the final of the Yonex Thailand Open before losing decisively against Carolina Marin of Spain.
RSS