DT
28
Sport
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017
Callejon strikes as Napoli set up Juve or Milan Cup semi n AFP, Milan
Forentina’s Cristoforo, center, is challenged by Napoli’s Amadou Diawara during an Italian Cup, Round of 8 soccer match between Napoli and Fiorentina, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 AP
A fine second-half header from Jose Callejon fired Napoli into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup and a last four date with either Juventus or AC Milan after a bad-tempered 1-0 win over Fiorentina on Tuesday. Both sides finished with 10 men at the Artemio Franchi stadium after a fiery finale that saw Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj then Fiorentina's Maximiliano Olivera sent off within minutes of each other. But Napoli were fully deserving of the win in a season which has seen Maurizio Sarri's men keep Juventus on their toes as they bid for a record sixth consecutive Serie A title. Stand-in striker Dries Mertens started on the bench as Sarri gave Leonardo Pavoletti his first start in a Napoli shirt, and the absent Belgian's clinical finishing was perhaps missed in a wasteful first half for the hosts. Pavoletti blazed over the Fiorentina bar and Ciprian Tararusanu was even more alert to the danger when he tipped Lorenzi Insigne's
free kick at the near post on to the crossbar. Insigne, then Callejon spurned further chances before the end of a first half which, after battling to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their last league outing, surprisingly finished scoreless. Fiorentina's sole chances came on the counter, but the threat was real, Pepe Reina palming Federico Chiesa's shot over from a tight angle before producing a fine one-handed save to parry a Davide Astori header. Fiorentina resumed in determined fashion, Chiesa dribbling his way into the area only to be stopped in his tracks by an onrushing Reina. At the other end, Insigne's angled drive on the left flank that was blocked yards from goal. But Napoli regained command, Pavoletti beating a flailing Tatarusanu but seeing his free kick from outside the area hit post and crossbar, prompting Sarri to immediately replace the big front man with the more diminutive, but more successful Mertens. l
Doubts grow over Luis Aussie bowler suffers 'brain Enrique's Barca future bleed' after hit n AFP, Barcelona
n AFP, Sydney
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique again avoided questions over his future yesterday as speculation grows that he could walk away from the Spanish champions at the end of the season. Enrique has won eight trophies in two and a half years in charge but is out of contract at the end of the season and is in no rush to renew, with the club's focus on securing new deals for Lionel Messi and captain Andres Iniesta. Barcelona daily Sport reported yesterday that Enrique's assistant Juan Carlos Unzue is his preferred choice to take over should he leave, whilst Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli has also been heavily linked with a move to the Camp Nou given his fine first season in Spanish football. "I don't have anything to say," Enrique replied when pressed on his future and whether Unzue, who has barely any senior managerial experience, could handle the role. However, Enrique insisted his relationship with the squad is as good as ever in his third season in charge. "This is my third year here and I see the same desire, same eagerness and will to want to keep
Australian paceman Joe Mennie suffered a "minor brain bleed" and fractured skull after a ball hit his head during training, Cricket Australia (CA) said yesterday. Mennie was bowling at a nets session with his Twenty20 Big Bash League team the Sydney Sixers in Brisbane on Monday when a ball struck the side of his head. CA chief medical officer John Orchard said Mennie was initially discharged from hospital that night Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli making history and winning titles. "I see the same hunger and I would even say it is greater with every passing season." Barca remain well-placed to land more trophies under Enrique's watch as they welcome Real Sociedad to the Camp Nou today for the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final holding a 1-0 first-leg lead. The Spanish champions are also only two points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, although Madrid also have a game in hand, and face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League. l
but follow-up scans the next day revealed his injures were worse than first thought. "Joe was reviewed by a Cricket Australia doctor on Tuesday and had some scans performed that revealed a small fracture and associated minor brain bleed," Orchard said in a statement. The medic described the injury as serious but said Mennie was "feeling well". "We believe that this is a stable injury and will not require surgery," he added. "As a precautionary measure,
Joe has been admitted to hospital for observation and will continue to be assessed by a neurosurgeon to determine best course of action." Mennie was released from hospital later yesterday and was cleared to fly out from Brisbane with his team today, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The Sixers were due to take on the Brisbane Heat in the BBL semi-final yesterday night. The newspaper said he would not play in the semis and would be monitored over the next few days. l
Galatasaray boss wants 5-goal Podolski to stay n AFP, Istanbul Galatasaray manager Jan Olde Riekerink yesterday said he hoped German striker Lukas Podolski would stay at the club despite persistent talk of a move to the Far East, after the ex-international bagged a fivegoal haul in a cup game. Podolski, who joined Galatasaray in 2015, has in the last weeks been linked with a big money move to China's Beijing Guoan
and latterly to Japanese J1 side Vissel Kobe. Despite the uncertainty, he fired five goals for Galatasaray in Tuesday night's 6-2 Turkish Cup victory against third division minnows Erzincan. It was the first time in 17 years that a player had scored five goals for Galatasaray in a game while Podolski is just the fifth player in the club's history to have achieved the feat. l
Galatasaray’s Lukas Podolski