off the bat of Reggie Abercrombie that was caught

Dołączył: 23 Paź 2019 Posty: 330

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- The World Cups second semifinal was supposed to put the silky skills of Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben in the spotlight. Instead, a goalkeeper and two rock-solid defences stole the show. Argentina goalie Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after tough defending and a lack of creative spark from either team consigned the match to a 0-0 stalemate. In a twist of fate, Romero credited Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal with helping launch his career when he arrived as an inexperienced youngster at AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch league. "I will be forever grateful to the coach for helping me out in a country that is so different from ours," Romero said. A day after Germany lit up the World Cup with its clinical 7-1 destruction of host Brazil, the Dutch and Argentines could not manage a goal between them in 120 minutes before the shootout. Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, will have to do play far better in Sundays final at Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium if he is to engineer a win over the powerful German team. The Barcelona star was muted throughout the match and extra time, rarely managing to shake off his markers. At the Itaquerao Stadium, he was overshadowed by his goalkeeper and the man he replaced as Argentina captain, Javier Mascherano, who bossed the midfield for his team the way surprise starter Nigel de Jong did for the Dutch. When Robben looked like deciding the match in stoppage time, Mascheranos perfectly timed sliding tackle blocked his shot at the near post. "I would say that he is an outstanding player," Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said. "He is an emblem within our national squad, on the field as well as off it." Romero -- thought to be a weak link for Argentina and not even a starter for his Monaco club most of last season -- had almost nothing to do during the match, but blocked penalties by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder in the shootout. For Argentina, Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Aguero and Maxi Rodriguez all converted their spot kicks. "Its luck, thats the truth. You can dive (the right way) and not make it, like happened to their goalkeeper," Romero said. "I had confidence, thank God things turned out well." A Germany-Argentina final means an extra bitter end to the tournament for Brazilians, who will have to watch their fiercest rivals play for the world title in their most hallowed stadium against a team that humiliated their nation in the semifinals. "We have a final to play, but with one day less rest and against Germany," Sabella said. "Well do everything possible to make it all the way to the top." It was the second straight penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw for the Dutch. Against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, Van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in the last seconds of extra time to replace Jasper Cillessen and Krul saved two spot kicks. This time, Van Gaal had used up all three substitutions by the end of extra time and Cillessen had to face the shootout. The young Ajax goalkeeper collapsed onto his knees and sank onto his back when Rodriguezs powerful strike ended the shootout. Krul walked across the pitch to console him. Van Gaal also said he had a hand in Romeros heroics from their time together at AZ Alkmaar. "Penalties are always a matter of luck," he said. "And I taught Romero how to stop penalties so that hurts." Many of Argentinas players stripped off their shirts in the rain at the Itaquerao Stadium and danced in front of their fans. Argentina reached its fifth final, and its first in 24 years. It won the title in 1978 -- beating the Dutch -- and in 1986. It lost the championship matches in 1930 and 1990. It played West Germany in both the 86 and 90 finals. The Netherlands, which has never won the World Cup, was seeking to reach its fourth final. After scoring 10 goals in three group matches, the Dutch scoring dried up in the knockout rounds. The team managed two late strikes against Mexico but failed to find the net before eliminating Costa Rica in the quarterfinal shootout. "The issue in a championship like this one is that you score one more goal than your opponent, which we didnt do," Van Gaal said, "We didnt create very much." ------ Lineups: Netherlands: Jasper Cillessen; Dirk Kuyt, Ron Vlaar, Stefan de Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi (Daryl Janmaat, 46), Daley Blind; Nigel de Jong (Jordy Clasie, 62), Georginio Wijnaldum, Wesley Sneijder; Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie (Klaas Jan Huntelaar). Argentina: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Perez (Rodrigo Palacio, 81); Ezequiel Lavezzi (Maxi Rodriguez, 101), Gonzalo Higuain (Sergio Aguero, 82), Lionel Messi. Michael Jordan Jersey Washington Wizards . LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams. College Michael Jordan Jersey . "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/tom-brady-jersey/ . Everton Preview West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has been around the game long enough to not get too high when things are going well and not get too low when they arent. Youth Tom Brady Jersey . Joakim Nordstrom and Garret Ross also scored for Chicago and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Tomas Tatar scored twice for Red Wings (2-3-0), Jonathan Ericsson added a goal and Gustav Nyquist had three assists. Tom Brady Jersey Throwback . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line.Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney believes Wichita Wingnuts outfielder Brent Clevlen is this years American Association MVP and teammate Jake Kahaulelio is a close second. Saturday night in front of 5,839 partisan Goldeyes supporters at Shaw Park, Clevlen homered and doubled and Kahaulelio drove in the winning run, as the Nuts edged the Goldeyes 4-3 to win their seventh straight game and lock up another series on the road. "I really believe Clevlen and Kahaulelio are two of the Top 4 or 5 hitters in the league," Forney said, after his team lost its third straight game on Saturday night. "I think Clevlen is the MVP of our league, but were going to have to find a way to get him out. Right now, our pitchers are having a tough time getting either one of them out. "And yet, for the second straight night, we lost a one-run game to them. Theyre just doing a little bit more than we are." With the loss, the Goldeyes fell to 47-32 on the season, still first in the American Associations North Division. With the win, Wichita improved to 55-23, the best record in the league. The Goldeyes opened the scoring for the second straight game. In the bottom of the fourth, Donnie Webb led off with a single went to third on a single by Tyler Kuhn and scored on a ground out by Casey Haerther. Wichita tied it in the top of the fifth, as former Detroit Tigers outfielder Brent CClevlen hit a long solo homer into the trees in left-centre field.dddddddddddd The Wingnuts made it 2-1 in the sixth on a solo homer by Ryan Khoury and then Winnipegs Jake Blackwood tied the game at 2-2 with a solo homer leading off the seventh. Wichita put it away in the eighth as Jake Kahaulelio hit a two-run double off Goldeyes starter Ethan Hollingsworth. That ended Hollingsworths night and gave the Nuts a 4-2 lead. The Fish added a run in the bottom of the eighth, as Kuhn singled, went to second on a walk to Haerther and made it to third on a shot to the wall in left field off the bat of Reggie Abercrombie that was caught right against the fence by Wichitas Jake Luce. The next hitter, Josh Mazzola, drove one to the warning track for a sacrifice fly that scored Kuhn. But thats as close as the Fish would get. Wichita reliever Mike Zouzalik (2-0, 3.27 ERA) got credit for the victory, while Hollingsworth (6-1, 3.94 ERA), who pitched a solid 7 2/3 innings and allowed just four runs on seven hits, suffered the hard-luck loss. Fireballing Matt Nevarez, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get his league leading 22nd save. The Goldeyes and Wingnuts will meet in the final game of this four-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at Shaw Park. Tim Brown (3-3, 4.04) will get the start for the Wingnuts, while Chris Salamida (5-3, 3.41 ERA) will take to the bump for the Goldeyes. ' ' '

Dołączył: 28 Sty 2021 Posty: 16926

Zobacz też :