Page 21 - atoday
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SPORTS A21
Thursday 14 January 2016
Liverpool scores Spanish Roundup:
late for 3-3 draw
vs Arsenal in EPL Barcelona beats Espanyol 2-0 to reach Copa quarter
JOSEPH WILSON “Today we saw a much FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, left, duels for the ball against Es-
STEVE DOUGLAS Associated Press calmer match, perhaps panyol’s Joan Jordan during a Copa del Rey soccer match at
AP Sports Writer BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — in part because the result RCDE stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) Munir El Haddadi scored was difficult to overcome,
— Joe Allen capped a both goals as Barcelo- but this has been talked (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
chaotic game with a 90th- na beat Espanyol 2-0 on about too much,” Luis En-
minute equalizer for Liver- Wednesday to ease into rique said. and Gerard Pique on the Messi’s pass, dribbled past
pool to salvage a 3-3 draw the Copa del Rey’s quar- While the defending cham- bench. Pique had taunted him and chipped the ball
against Arsenal, whose terfinals with a 6-1 victory pions moved on, so did last Espanyol’s fans after the home.
Premier League lead was on aggregate. year’s finalist, Athletic Bil- first leg. Neymar, mean- Tempers briefly flared when
wiped out on Wednesday. Lionel Messi, two days after bao. while, was rested hours af- Felipe Caicedo stepped
After four goals in 15 min- collecting his record fifth Bilbao got a first-half goal ter a judge summoned him on the foot of Barcelona
utes in an error-strewn but Ballon d’Or award, played from Inaki Williams to win for questioning in an inves- goalie Marc-Andre ter Ste-
thrilling first half, it looked El Haddadi through with a 1-0 at Villarreal and ad- tigation into the Brazil strik- gen, but calm was restored
like Olivier Giroud’s excel- long pass to score Barce- vance 4-2 on aggregate. er’s transfer from Santos to shortly before Ter Stegen
lent solo goal in the 55th lona’s opener in the 32nd Celta Vigo finished off third- Barcelona in 2013. saved Caicedo’s shot in
minute would preserve Ar- minute. tier Cadiz 2-0 to advance Messi had the game’s first a one-on-one opportunity
senal’s two-point advan- The 20-year-old El Haddadi with a 5-0 victory over two two shots on goal, both before halftime.
tage at the top. netted his second with two legs, while Las Palmas beat turned back by Francesco El Haddadi capped a life-
But two substitutes com- minutes left. Eibar 3-2, matching the Bardi. less second half when he
bined for Liverpool’s equal- “This is good for Munir, the score from its first-leg vic- But the Italian goalkeeper steered in Aleix Vidal’s
izer as snow fell at Anfield, fact that he participated in tory. could do nothing to stop El cross after Ardau Turan had
with Christian Benteke many facets today,” coach In Barcelona, almost all the Haddadi after he received played the winger wide.q
heading a long ball back Luis Enrique said about the players who participated in
across the penalty area for little-used forward. “He has the most heated exchang-
Allen to meet with a first- a knack for scoring.” es from the first leg — which
time shot into the bottom After two ill-tempered Espanyol ended with nine
corner. derbies in the past two men and was followed with
It provoked a wild celebra- weeks— a 0-0 draw in the a verbal confrontation in
tion from Liverpool man- Spanish league before the Camp Nou tunnel —
ager Juergen Klopp on the Barcelona’a 4-1 first-leg didn’t start on Wednesday.
touchline. win that featured 20 yel- Barcelona was already
Brazil forward Roberto Fir- low cards and two reds— without Luis Suarez, sus-
mino twice gave Liverpool the return match at RCDE pended for two matches
the lead with his first goals Stadium was a tame af- for his insults directed at
at home for the club, only fair, only brought to life by Espanyol’s players, and
for Aaron Ramsey and Gi- Messi. Luis Enrique left Neymar
roud to bring Arsenal level
as both defenses were Chelsea concedes late to draw 2-2 with West Brom in EPL
found wanting.
At one point around the LONDON (AP) — Chelsea Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates scoring a goal during er’s cross.
half-hour mark, the rival remained unbeaten under the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea Azpilicueta is less than pro-
managers — Klopp and new coach Guus Hiddink and West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge stadium in Lon- lific, but likes scoring against
Arsene Wenger — came after conceding a late don, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. West Brom.
together in the techni- equalizer to draw 2-2 at There were holes aplenty
cal area and engaged in home to West Bromwich Al- (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) in the visiting defence, but
deep conversation, seem- bion in the Premier League Chelsea’s rearguard was
ingly venting their frustra- on Wednesday. equalizer in the 86th minute in front of owner Roman porous too.
tion at the state of their Unmissable with a protec- to end the Blues’ hopes of Abramovich and ahead of West Brom exposed those
teams’ defending. tive black mask, Cesar a third consecutive victory Saturday’s clash with Ever- frailties when Pedro gave
It was chaotic at times, es- Azpilicueta put Chelsea in all competitions. ton. Chelsea began well. the ball away to Fletcher,
pecially Liverpool’s axis of ahead after 20 minutes, Chelsea is unbeaten in six Diego Costa glided by who was influential for the
goalkeeper Simon Migno- turning in a low cross from games since the depar- Jonny Evans but shot wide visitors. Fletcher prodded
let, and central defenders Branislav Ivanovic. ture of former coach Jose and Willian fired off target it to Gardner, who did the
Kolo Toure and Mamadou West Brom hit back and Mourinho. But Hiddink’s either side of a chance for rest, shooting into the bot-
Sakho that was all over the was rewarded with an chances of securing a top- McClean, who headed off- tom corner from distance.
place. equalizer when Chelsea four finish receded further target from Darren Fletch- Costa ballooned an effort
Mignolet might have been gave the ball away and over and Salomon Rondon
at fault for both of Arse- Craig Gardner fired home shot just wide as both sides
nal’s first-half goals, and from 25 yards (meters) in had chances to take an in-
the Belgian received ironic the 33rd minute. terval lead.
cheers at one stage in the Chelsea’s pressure paid off Pedro made his debut at
first half when he collected in the 73rd minute when The Hawthorns and inspired
the weakest of shots. West Brom’s Gareth McAu- Chelsea to a first win of
Liverpool started at a furi- ley turned the ball into his the season, but his star has
ous pace and took a 10th- own net as he tried to inter- faded since. The subdued
minute lead when Arsenal cept a low cross by Willian. Spain winger was with-
goalkeeper Petr Cech But victory slipped through drawn for Kenedy at half-
parried Emre Can’s fierce, Chelsea’s grasp at the end, time and the Brazilian gave
angled shot straight to Fir- when James McClean Chelsea much-needed
mino. q pounced to score an pace and penetration.q
