Sports
Chelsea defeat Pafos 1-0
Moises Caicedo’s late goal gave Chelsea a vital 1-0 win against Cypriot minnows Pafos on Wednesday as the Blues moved closer to automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16.
In Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League game as Chelsea boss, Caicedo netted in the closing stages at Stamford Bridge to end Pafos’ stubborn resistance.
Chelsea’s fourth victory from seven Champions League group stage matches lifted them into eighth place.
A win at Napoli in their final group game on January 28 would likely be enough to send Chelsea through to the last 16, depending on other results.
The Blues would face the unwanted stress of a play-off round if they finish outside the top eight.
Rosenior has won three times and lost once in his first four games since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca, who left Stamford Bridge after mounting tensions with the club’s hierarchy.
It was far from plain sailing for Rosenior as Chelsea struggled to find a way past inspired Pafos keeper Jay Gorter before Caicedo made the breakthrough.
Optimistic Chelsea fans have noted their two Champions League triumphs in 2012 and 2021 came after they changed manager in mid-season.
But there is a long way to go before Rosenior can hope to emulate those iconic victories masterminded by Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea have been steady rather than eye-catching so far under Rosenior, with far sterner tests lying in wait in the surprise choice to replace Maresca.
– Wake-up call –
Rosenior made six changes from the 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, with injured England forward Cole Palmer absent due to a slight strain.
Brazilian veteran David Luiz, a 2012 Champions League winner with Chelsea, was on the bench for Pafos, who were far from overawed in their first ever match against English opposition.
Chelsea laboured for long periods and even when Enzo Fernandez had the ball in the net in the 18th minute, the midfielder’s close-range header was disallowed for a push.
Chelsea nearly gifted Pafos a shock opener when a wayward back-pass to Filip Jorgensen was almost intercepted by Anderson Silva, but the Blues keeper chested the ball away from danger.
Rosenior’s men had lost their momentum and Pafos went close when Jaja’s shot from just inside the area took a wicked deflection off Reece James and hit the post with Jorgensen rooted to the spot.
That near-miss served as a wake-up call and Caicedo’s blast was pushed away by Gorter before Benoit Badiashile glanced a header narrowly wide moments later.
Caicedo’s long-range drive forced another good stop from Gorter, who also repelled Jorrel Hato’s fierce strike just before half-time.
Frustration was mounting among Chelsea supporters and Rosenior made a double change at the break, sending on Robert Sanchez for Jorgensen and Estevao Willian for James.
Estevao nearly made an instant impact with a stinging volley that Gorter saved at full stretch.
Gorter was enjoying the game of his life and he denied Pedro Neto and Caicedo with two more fine saves.
To Rosenior’s immense relief, Chelsea finally found a way past Gorter in the 78th minute.
Pafos couldn’t clear a corner and Caicedo arrived to flick his header into the far corner from close range
AFP
Former boxer Prichard Colón has died at age 33, 11 years after sustaining life-altering blows to the head during the only defeat of his professional career.
Colón’s father shared the news via Facebook on Thursday.
“I regret to inform you of the passing of my son Prichard from this earthly world,” Richard Colón wrote, adding: “Now he is in a better world.”
“Thank you for so many years of love and prayers. As much as you can, please keep us in your prayers,” he added.
Colón was born in Florida, but his family moved to Puerto Rico when he was a child.
He emerged as a promising young talent, smashing a run of national amateur championships to win five titles, and earning a Youth Pan American gold medal, all before turning 20.
His professional career, beginning in 2013, was similarly successful. The super welterweight competed in a total of 17 matches; he won 16 of those, and 13 were by knockout.
Notably, Colón was victorious when he fought former WBA champion Vivian Harris in September 2015, knocking him out in the fourth round.
But a month later, Colón competed against Terrel Williams at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, on a night that proved fateful to the rising star.
Colón, who was 23 at the time, sustained injuries including an illegal blow to the head during his 10-round fight with Williams, Reuters reported the fight’s promoter, Lou DiBella, as saying in a statement after the event.
The young fighter exhibited symptoms of head trauma in his dressing room following the bout and was rushed to hospital, where he underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, DiBella said.
Footage of the fight shared online showed Williams punching Colón in the back of the head in the seventh round, apparently stunning him. Colón was briefly examined in his corner, while Williams was penalized for the illegal punch.
Colón was then knocked down twice in the ninth round.
He was disqualified after the ninth round, when his corner mistakenly took off his gloves, thinking it was the final round and that the fight was complete, according to a Reuters report after the match.
While Colón survived, his injuries forced him to retire. In images shared by his father online since the fight, he was often pictured in a wheelchair.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) paid tribute to Colón, describing him as an “eternal champion” in a statement released on Thursday.
“With a heavy heart and immense sadness enveloping the entire international boxing community, the World Boxing Council and its President, Mauricio Sulaimán, mourn the passing of former boxer and icon of bravery, Prichard Colón Meléndez,” the organization said.
“Prichard didn’t just fight with skill; he fought with the elegance and pride of carrying Puerto Rico’s flag to the greatest heights,” it added.
The WBC previously named Colón an “Honorary World Champion,” and presented him with the iconic Green and Gold belt that it said he “always deserved.”
The organization also said Colón’s tragedy inspired it to “categorically reinforce safety regulations, driving zero tolerance for blows to the back of the head (rabbit punches),” and to implement stricter medical protocols.
“Rest in peace, dear Prichard. Your legacy and your smile will live forever in our hearts,” the WBC said.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria were up against South Africa in the 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off and needed a victory to move to the next stage – the intercontinental play-offs.
Two tickets were up for grabs, with four losing quarter-finalists at the 2027 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) battling for them.
Already, Ghana has defeated Côte d’Ivoire to pick one of the tickets. Thank you for following the live updates of the South Africa vs Nigeria 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off game.
98′ – It is full-time, and Nigeria have lost 2-1 against South Africa. It is the end of the road for the Super Falcons, who won’t be at the World Cup for the first time since the tournament’s inception.
93′ – Ucheibe scores for Nigeria.
92′ – Nigeria gets a penalty, and it is also a red card for South Africa after their player blocked the ball with her hand.
91′ – Justine Madugu gets a yellow card.
77′ – South Africa scores the second goal. It is 2-0 against Nigeria.
75′ – Uchenna Kanu’s header is parried away for a corner kick.
60′ – Chiamaka Nnadozie saves Nigeria, preventing South Africa from scoring again.
56′ – South Africa takes the lead! It is 1-0 to the Banyana Banyana!
54′ – Justine Madugu throws Joy Omewa into the fray. She replaces Asisat Oshoala.
48′ – Oshoala shoots into the goalkeeper.
46′ – The second half is underway!
HT: It is half-time in an evenly balanced game in the 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off between South Africa and Nigeria.
45′ – One more minute added. It is still no goal yet.
40′ – Michelle Alozie’s shot goes narrowly wide for a goal-kick to South Africa.
35′ – No goals in Casablanca in a game of few chances.
28′ – Rasheedat Ajibade’s free kick straight to the South African goalkeeper.
23′ – A South African ball over the top fails to find any Banyana Banyana.
20′ – Twenty minutes in and nothing has separated the teams. No clear-cut chances so far from either country at the Moulay Rachid Stadium.
10′ – Nigeria are pressing for an early goal, but it is still goalless.
1′ – The World Cup play-off between South Africa and Nigeria has kicked off!
Barcelona have reached a final agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Ferran Torres in a deal which will see the Spain star head to Parc des Princes on a transfer worth €50 million.
The two clubs have been in talks for a while and the deal is now done, according to Fabrizio Romano. Torres has been absent from Barcelona training for the last two days and is now heading to Paris to complete his move.
Torres will sign a five-year contract with PSG and link up with Luis Enrique’s side after scoring the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final.
The 26-year-old was into the final year of his contract at Barcelona but will now seek a new challenge in Ligue 1 with the French giants.
Barcelona had reportedly been reluctant to extend Torres’s contract, as they would have had to pay an extra €8 million to Manchester City, while there’s been speculation the Spain star was happy to move on after feeling undervalued by Barca.
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