Sports Buzz

Tag: emotional scenes

  • $123m striker’s absurd miss as tortured star saves Reds amid kidnapping nightmare: PL Wrap

    $123m striker’s absurd miss as tortured star saves Reds amid kidnapping nightmare: PL Wrap

    Luis Diaz came off the bench to save Liverpool from a shock defeat at Luton in a 1-1 draw on Monday (AEDT) on his first appearance since his parents were kidnapped in his native Colombia.

    The winger was introduced moments after Tahith Chong had given Luton a stunning lead 10 minutes from time.

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    Diaz’s soaring leap and header five minutes into stoppage time denied the Hatters their first ever home win in the Premier League.

    His mother was rescued within hours of her capture on October 28, but the search goes on for his father Luis Manuel Diaz.

    The 26-year-old revealed a t-shirt saying “freedom for Dad” after scoring and again at full-time.

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said before the game that the pitch could serve as a “safe place” for Diaz to forget the stresses of the past week.

    But his remarkable show of strength glossed over a poor performance and result for the Reds.

    Liverpool spent more on each of their starting midfield trio this summer than Luton have in the transfer market since the advent of the Premier League in 1992.

    Yet, Rob Edwards’ men were seconds away from one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history.

    Darwin Nunez struck the crossbar early on for the visitors.

    But it was a spectacular miss with the score still level at 0-0 that will haunt the Uruguayan.

    Mohamed Salah should also have scored with a free header from close range 20 minutes from time.

    Klopp APOPLECTIC after horror miss | 00:40

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    But when the Egyptian’s effort fell to Nunez, he somehow blazed over with the goal gaping.

    Instead it was Chong who opened the scoring in controversial fashion. Liverpool were screaming for a penalty for handball against Ross Barkley at a corner as Luton broke upfield and Issa Kabore crossed for the former Manchester United winger to slot home.

    Diaz was then summoned from the bench and in a fairytale ending grabbed the equaliser when he met Harvey Elliott’s cross to the back post.

    There is hope that Diaz’s father will soon be released after the head of the ELN guerrilla group that seized the couple acknowledged the organisation had made a “mistake”.

    Liverpool missed the chance to go second in the table but edge up to third, above Arsenal on goal difference.

    A point takes Luton out of the relegation zone.

    Earlier, Nottingham Forest stunned Aston Villa with their first Premier League win in seven games as Ola Aina and Orel Mangala struck in a deserved 2-0 win.

    The sides came into the match in very different form as Villa’s six-game unbeaten league run had taken Unai Emery’s men to fifth in the table.

    However, Villa made a terrible start when Aina found the bottom corner from outside the box after five minutes and the visitors never recovered.

    Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was at fault for Nottingham Forest’s second goal. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez picked up the prize for the world’s best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or ceremony earlier this week for his heroics in helping Argentina to World Cup glory last year.

    But his error gifted Forest their second goal early in the second half. Martinez got a hand to Mangala’s strike from long range but did not do enough to divert the ball to safety as it looped back into his goal.

    A much-needed victory for Forest eases speculation that Steve Cooper was at risk of becoming the first Premier League manager of the season to be sacked.

    “It’s a really good win. We knew we were coming up against an in-form team with really good players,” said Cooper.

    “I’ve got a lot of gratitude for the players for sticking to the plan and committing to it” Forest climb to 12th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone.

    FULL PL RESULTS

    Nottingham Forest 2-0 Aston Villa

    Luton Town 1-1 Liverpool

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  • Kerr’s classy post-game act that shocked teammate caught on camera

    Kerr’s classy post-game act that shocked teammate caught on camera

    Overlooked in the emotional scenes following Australia’s momentous win over Denmark was a moment of sheer class between Sam Kerr and Steph Catley.

    Accor Stadium went berserk as Kerr was substituted into the game in the 80th minute, making her first appearance at the 2023 World Cup. Vice-captain Catley handed over the captaincy armband to the superstar striker as she walked onto the pitch.

    As Australia celebrated the 2-0 win on Monday night, coach Tony Gustavsson approached the pair as the team began to huddle for their customary post-match pep talk.

    Kerr followed the chat by pulling the armband out from her shorts and offering it to Catley, who had led the Aussie side for all three group games in Kerr’s absence.

    TV cameras showed Catley’s jaw dropped when Kerr shoved the accessory into her stomach, but was quick to knock it back as a classy symbol of respect to the Chelsea player.

    Sam Kerr receives the captain’s armband from Steph Catley as she is brought in during the clash against Denmark. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images

    Kerr had earlier been widely praised for continuing to have a positive impact on the team while being unable to play as a result of a mysterious calf injury and gave the half time talk during Australia’s tournament opener against Ireland.

    Her significance as a culture-driving personality was on display after the Denmark win as she spoke to the playing group with passion during the team huddle.

    While it was unclear what was said, her words left teammates pumped up heading into a blockbuster quarter-final against France in Brisbane on Saturday.

    Kerr and Catley both spoke about their special moment when speaking on the Matildas’ social media channels.

    Catley said she had to convince Kerr to put the armband on when she ran onto the field late in the game.

    “Well she was shaking her head and saying, ‘No, no, no, I don’t want it’. And I was like, ‘Please’. This is yours put it on,” Catley said.

    Kerr said she appreciated Catley’s gesture.

    Sam Kerr hands over the armband to Steph Catley. Photo: Twitter, @OptusSport.Source: Supplied
    Sam Kerr gave her teammates a rev up. Photo: Twitter, @OptusSport.Source: Twitter

    “Me and her share this role,” she said.

    “I know most of the time I wear this armband, but this tournament she’s just shown she’s a born leader and I didn’t think it really needed to come to me. But it was a nice gesture by her.”

    Gustavsson also spoke to the players during the huddle and Aussie football star Chloe Logarzo explained the scene to viewers on Optus Sport’s World Cup broadcast.

    “It’s normally led by Tony,” she said.

    “Some times other people say stuff, but it’s all about getting close. Talking about the success of the night. How well they did and how proud he is of the team. Knowing that this circle is what’s going to get us to the final.”

    It was far from the only classy gesture from Kerr after the full time whistle.

    She was seen shaking hands and taking photos with fans after the game and also shared a special moment with girlfriend Kristie Mewis.

    Kerr and Mewis, a US Women’s National Team midfielder, have been a public item since at least the Tokyo Olympics.

    Kerr’s return from injury gives Australia a small selection headache with some concern over how it could impact Australia’s other attacking weapons when they step onto the field against France.

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  • Emotional scenes as 76ers star in tears, mobbed by teammates after being named MVP

    Emotional scenes as 76ers star in tears, mobbed by teammates after being named MVP

    Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Tuesday, comfortably winning a ballot ahead of the Denver Nuggets’ two-time award winner Nikola Jokic.

    Embiid, who finished runner-up behind Jokic the past two seasons, earned the accolade after a dazzling regular season campaign that saw him average 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 66 games.

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    Embiid beat out fellow MVP finalists Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in a preferential ballot. Results revealed Tuesday showed Embiid garnered 73 first place votes, with Jokic 15 and Antetokounmpo 12.

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    Thursday May 4th

    “I don’t know really where to start, it’s been a long time coming,” a delighted Embiid told the TNT network on Tuesday after his award.

    “A lot of hard work, I’ve been through a lot. And I’m not just talking about basketball, I’m talking about life, my story, how I got here and what it took for me to be here.

    “It feels good. I don’t know what to say. Amazing.”

    The towering 29-year-old Cameroonian power forward helped the Sixers finish third in the Eastern Conference, but has sat out Philadelphia’s last two playoff games after suffering a knee injury in the game three first round defeat of Brooklyn last week.

    Joel Embiid was named the 2022/23 NBA MVP. (Photo by Mitchell Leff / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

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    Tuesday’s MVP honour cements Embiid’s status as one of the elite players in the NBA, the latest milestone on a journey that began when he was discovered at a basketball camp run by Cameroonian compatriot and former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute.

    After playing a single season of US college basketball, Embiid was chosen by Philadelphia with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

    A foot injury meant he missed the entirety of the 2014-2015 season, and further surgery in 2015 ruled him out of the 2015-2016 campaign.

    He finally made his regular season debut for the Sixers in October 2016, notching 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    While Embiid’s talent was apparent from the outset of his NBA career, it is under Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers, who took over the Sixers in 2020, that he has flourished.

    Embiid is currently sidelined with a knee injury. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Rivers has built his team and game plan around the 7ft (2.13), 280-pound (127-kilo) big man, and was also instrumental in Embiid’s improved fitness.

    Embiid hired a personal chef and works with a nutritionist after being urged to stay in peak physical condition by Rivers.

    “He told me that I needed to be a leader,” Embiid said of Rivers’ advice in a 2021 ESPN interview.

    “If I came back in shape, it also meant to my teammates, ‘It’s time to go. Joel is ready, he came back, he’s in great shape, that means you guys have no excuse to not be in shape.’ “So that’s what I did. I took it to heart.” Embiid has repaid Rivers’ faith this season with a series of superb performances during the Sixers journey to the playoffs.

    His average of 33.1 points helped him win the NBA’s scoring title for a second straight year, and his performances have included three 50-point games this season.

    Last month he became only the second player in NBA history after the legendary Wilt Chamberlain to record 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 80 per cent shooting in a game as he inspired Philadelphia to a 103-101 win over the Boston Celtics.

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  • ‘Really painful’: Star says sorry for ‘embarrassing’ loss as Spurs ship FIVE goals in 21 mins — Wrap

    ‘Really painful’: Star says sorry for ‘embarrassing’ loss as Spurs ship FIVE goals in 21 mins — Wrap

    Tottenham’s bid to qualify for the Champions League suffered a hammer blow as they conceded five times in the first 21 minutes of a humiliating 6-1 defeat at top-four rivals Newcastle on Sunday.

    Cristian Stellini’s side were buried by an avalanche of goals from Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak, who both netted twice, and strikes from Joelinton and Callum Wilson.

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    Harry Kane’s reply was no consolation for woeful Tottenham, who look certain to miss out on a place in the Premier League’s top four after a second successive loss.

    The north Londoners are six points behind third-placed Newcastle and fourth-placed Manchester United, having played two more games than United and one more than Newcastle.

    Fifth-placed Tottenham host United on Thursday and a defeat against Erik ten Hag’s team would surely end their faint hopes of salvaging their troubled campaign.

    “It was my responsibility to decide how we play. We decided to do it differently because of the injuries, but it was wrong,” interim boss Stellini said of switching to a back four.

    Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son were in disbelief. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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    “It’s very difficult to understand why the first 25 minutes were so bad. We were not prepared to play this type of tough game. To suffer, control the space and win duels.” There is a bleak future ahead for Tottenham, who have no permanent manager lined up for next season and no director of football after Fabio Paratici’s resignation on Friday.

    Paratici stepped down after failing in his appeal against a 30-month worldwide FIFA ban for his involvement in allegations of false accounting at his former club Juventus.

    Tottenham’s heaviest defeat of the season was a new low for a club already in turmoil after Antonio Conte’s departure by “mutual consent” in March after just 16 months in charge.

    Conte had exposed the rifts behind the scenes at Tottenham when he called the players “selfish” and criticised the club’s culture in an explosive rant after their draw at lowly Southampton.

    Tottenham haven’t won a major trophy since 2008 and their latest setback could increase the chances of England striker Harry Kane asking to leave in the close season.

    Fans are also unhappy with chairman Daniel Levy, who has gone through a host of unsuccessful managers since sacking the popular Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

    Cristian Stellini’s interim spell at Spurs is capitulating. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Tottenham captain Lloris apologised to supporters, admitting the performance was “embarrassing”, and accused his teammates of lacking “pride”.

    In contrast to Tottenham’s struggles, Newcastle are riding the crest of a wave that should carry them into the Champions League for the first time since 2003, when they were eliminated in the qualifying rounds.

    Revived by the financial muscle of their Saudi-backed ownership group and boss Eddie Howe’s astute leadership, Newcastle reached their first cup final since 1999 earlier this season when they lost to Manchester United in the League Cup showpiece.

    “You don’t expect that. The quality of our finishing was incredible,” Howe said. “Since I walked through the door here the players have responded so well. I can’t thank them enough.” Newcastle took just 61 seconds to put Tottenham to the sword as Murphy fired into the roof of the net from close range.

    They doubled their lead after six minutes when Joelinton rounded Lloris to slot into the empty net.

    Newcastle ran riot in the first half. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The rampant Magpies scored a stunning third goal in the ninth minute as Murphy unleashed a 25-yard drive that swerved past Lloris.

    Howe’s men were the first team to score three goals within the opening nine minutes of a Premier League match since Manchester City against Burnley in 2010.

    By the time Isak scored Newcastle’s fourth and fifth goals, Tottenham’s shell-shocked fans were already heading for the exits.

    It was the second fastest 5-0 lead in Premier League history after Manchester City, who took 18 minutes to do it against Watford in 2019.

    Kane reduced the deficit in the 49th minute before Wilson stabbed home in the 67th minute to complete Tottenham’s misery.

    In Sunday’s other game, West Ham boosted their bid to avoid relegation with a 4-0 victory at Bournemouth thanks to goals from Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta, Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals.

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