Page 15 - aruba-today-20230828

A15
sports Monday 28 august 2023

16-year-old Yamal helps Barcelona fight back for 4-3 win at Villarreal

"I am trying to make the ing in the 57th when he hit
most of the chances our the post.
coach gives me." After substitute Ferran Tor-
Yamal delivered a cross for res put in his own rebound
Gavi on Sunday to head to level the score, Yamal
home at the far post and dribbled past his marker
kick off the scoring fest in and unleashed a low shot
the 12th minute. Frenkie that goalkeeper Filip Jor-
de Jong then doubled the gensen did well to send
lead three minutes later. off his post. The rebound
Villarrreal roared back in fell right to Lewandowski
style. for him to push in for his first
Juan Foyth headed in a goal of the season.
corner kick by Álex Baena "It was a crazy game and
in the 26th. Alexander Sor- that was partly our fault,"
loth tapped in a squared Xavi said.
pass from Alfonso Pedraza "But once they went ahead
in the 40th, and Baena 3-2, we played our best
curled in a pass from Pe- and generated lots of scor-
draza in the 50th to put the ing chances. I think we
hosts in front 3-2. could have scored even
But Yamal helped Barce- more goals."
lona dig in and get the win Nacho Vidal's acrobatic
Barcelona's Gavi, centre rear celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening goal during that kept them two points goal in stoppage time
a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Villarreal and Barcelona at the Ceramica stadium in behind leader Real Madrid. gave Osasuna a 2-1 win at
Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) Yamal went close to scor- Valencia.q

By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) —
Teenager Lamine Yamal
helped Barcelona fight
back to win a 4-3 thriller
at Villarreal in the Spanish
league on Sunday.
The 16-year-old forward
set up Gavi Páez's open-
ing goal for Barcelona, hit
the woodwork twice and
played a key role in Rob-
ert Lewandowski's winning
goal as an entertaining
game finished in the visi-
tors' favor.
"Lamine had another
great game," coach
Xavi Hernández said. "He
helped us a lot, created
tons of chances, and pro-
vided two assists. I was
scared when (I started
playing) but we have com-
plete faith in our young
players and believe in our
La Masia (training acad-
emy)."
After he caught Xavi's eye
while playing for the club's
youth sides, Yamal be-
came the youngest player
to appear for Barcelona
in April when he was 15
years, 9 months, 16 days.
Last weekend he became
the youngest player to start
for Barcelona in its win over
Cadiz.
"Fortunately I don't get too
scared, I just go out there
and play soccer, which I
love to do," Yamal said af-
ter his performance at Vil-
larreal.