Sports
Liverpool On Brink Of Europa League Exit After Atalanta Thrashing
Atalanta stunned Anfield as Gianluca Scamacca scored twice in a 3-0 win on Thursday to leave Liverpool with a mountain to climb to reach the Europa League semi-finals.
Mario Pasalic added a third seven minutes from time to condemn Liverpool to a first home defeat in all competitions for 14 months.
The Reds had been favourites to end the Jurgen Klopp era by completing the German’s set of trophies won as Liverpool boss in his last game in charge in the Dublin final.
With Liverpool locked in a tight three-way battle for the Premier League title alongside Arsenal and Manchester City, Klopp showed that remains his priority as he made six changes to the side that were held 2-2 by Manchester United on Sunday.
Mohamed Salah was one of those left on the bench but he was unable to inspire a response despite being thrust into action right at the start of the second half after a lacklustre first 45 minutes from the home side.
Atalanta had won just two of their previous nine games in all competitions.
But the side sitting sixth in Serie A were a threat from the first whistle.
Pasalic missed a glorious chance to open the scoring after just three minutes when he fired into Caoimhin Kelleher’s face as the Irish international spread himself.
Harvey Elliott hit the crossbar and Darwin Nunez sliced wide when clean through on goal but those promising Liverpool attacks were few and far between.
Scamacca failed to shine during his one season in the Premier League with West Ham, but he has now scored three times in England for club and country this season.
Atalanta made the breakthrough on 38 minutes when the Italian international fired low through Kelleher’s grasp from Davide Zappacosta’s cross.
Teun Koopmeiners should have made it 2-0 before the break when he failed to beat Kelleher one-on-one.
Klopp reacted at half-time as Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson were sent on in a rescue mission.
However, even the changes failed to muster a response from a jaded looking side in their 50th game of the season.
Scamacca was offered an acre of space to slot home Charles De Ketelaere’s cross on the hour mark.
Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota were then introduced by Klopp but Liverpool continued to create little despite their abundance of attacking talent on the field and left themselves open to the counter-attack.
Atalanta took full advantage to close to within the brink of just their second ever European final.
Scamacca turned provider for the third after Szoboszlai gifted possession away inside his own half.
Ederson’s first effort was saved by Kelleher, but Pasalic thumped home the rebound to the delight of the travelling fans.
Liverpool have a history of thrilling comebacks in the European competition, most notably from 3-0 down at half-time in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan.
But they will need a fightback of that magnitude to keep alive the dream of sending Klopp out with a European trophy.
AFP
Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, have secured a place in the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations U-20 tournament and qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Senegal.
The tightly contested knockout stage encounter ended goalless after regular and extra time, with both teams unable to find the back of the net.
Ultimately, it was Nigeria who triumphed 3–1 in the penalty shootout.
The match, held in the knockout stage of the continental youth championship, saw the two sides locked in a stalemate throughout regulation and extra time.
Despite numerous attempts from both sides, neither team could break the deadlock, leading to a penalty decider.
Nigeria converted three of their spot-kicks, while Senegal managed only one, allowing the Flying Eagles to clinch the win and progress to the last four of the competition.
The result not only sends Nigeria into the semifinals of the U-20 AFCON but also confirms their place in the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Veteran Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Brazil’s national football team, according to reports by sports journalist David Ornstein. The 65-year-old will take over the role on May 26, immediately after overseeing his final match with Real Madrid against Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Ancelotti’s appointment marks a historic moment as he becomes the first foreigner to manage Brazil’s senior men’s team. Ornstein confirmed that all agreements have been finalized and contracts signed, with the transition negotiated amicably between Ancelotti, Real Madrid, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The deal was led by Diego Fernandes on behalf of the CBF.
One of the most decorated coaches in football history, Ancelotti will be tasked with leading Brazil through their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, aiming for a record-extending sixth World Cup title when the tournament kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Athletic previously reported that Ancelotti had agreed to take charge through the 2026 World Cup. He will succeed Dorival Júnior, who was dismissed in March after 14 months at the helm.
Ancelotti’s debut on the Brazil touchline is expected on June 6, in a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador.
Since returning to Real Madrid in 2021, Ancelotti has added two La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy to his illustrious resume, which includes eight major European finals. However, recent performances by Madrid have been underwhelming, including a Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal, a Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona, and trailing Hansi Flick’s side by seven points in La Liga with three games to go.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was named the Ligue 1 player of the year on Sunday, after leading the club to a 13th French title and the Champions League final.
Dembele is the top scorer in Ligue 1 this season with 21 goals and has struck 33 times in 46 matches across all competitions, including eight goals in Europe.
He succeeds Kylian Mbappe who won the prize five times in a row before departing for Real Madrid at the end of last season.
Luis Enrique earned coach of the year honours at the UNFP (French players’ union) Trophies gala, while Desire Doue took home the prize for the best young player in Ligue 1.
Lille’s Lucas Chevalier denied PSG a clean sweep of the accolades as he beat Gianluigi Donnarumma to the best goalkeeper award.
PSG are on course for a treble after easing to an 11th Ligue 1 title in 13 years. They will play Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31, a week after facing Reims in the French Cup showpiece.
AFP
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