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Soccer Extras: Late Ronaldo goal foils Torino

May 04, 2019 10:08 IST

Cristiano Ronaldo headed a late equaliser to deny Torino their first win away to neighbours Juventus for 24 years as the two sides drew 1-1 in Serie A on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo

IMAGE: Cristiano Ronaldo scores with a header to enable Juventus hold Torino in Friday's Serie A match in Turin. Photograph: Massimo Pinca/Reuters

Sasa Lukic stunned the recently-crowned Serie A champions by capitalising on a mistake by Miralem Pjanic to give Torino the lead but the visitors were foiled by one of Ronaldo's trademark headers with six minutes left.

 

Torino, needing a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League for the first time, are sixth with 57 points, two behind fourth-placed Atalanta. Juve clinched an eighth successive title two weeks ago.

"Unfortunately, we made too many mistakes and lacked quality with the final pass, otherwise we would probably have won," said Torino coach Walter Mazzarri.

"If you don't score a second goal against these teams, you are unlikely to win - and we were punished by the phenomenon that is Ronaldo."

The match was being played one day before the 70th anniversary of the Superga air disaster which killed 18 Torino players and officials, wiping out the most successful team in the club's history.

Torino last won away to Juventus in 1995 but for over an hour looked as if they could finally end that run against their more glamorous neighbours.

Lukic put them ahead when he dispossessed Pjanic and curled his shot into the net in the 18th minute.

Juventus spent most of the second half lobbing crosses into the penalty area while Torino nearly had a second when Ola Aina broke through the defence only to fire over the bar.

Juve's tactic finally paid off with six minutes left with Leonardo Spinazzola got to the byline and Ronaldo headed in from the cross for his 21st Serie A goal of the season to maintain his side's unbeaten home record in the league.

Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive

Everton bolstered their chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League with a 2-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League on Friday.

Marco Silva's side moved into eighth place, one point behind seventh-place Wolverhampton Wanderers, who host Fulham on Saturday.

Everton continued their impressive recent form, starting brightly and taking the lead after 18 minutes through Ben Mee's own goal, with the defender deflecting in Richarlison's powerful effort.

Seamus Coleman doubled Everton's lead two minutes later, heading home the loose ball after Tom Heaton could only parry Lucas Digne's drive.

Burnley striker Ashley Barnes had a goal correctly disallowed for offside as Sean Dyche's men, safe from relegation, threatened briefly.

Matej Vydra was denied a penalty when former Burnley defender Michael Keane appeared to push him over in the box and Everton held on to record their eighth clean sheet in 10 Premier League matches.

Goodison Park warmly applauded Everton's players on a lap of appreciation, reward for their impressive form in 2019.

If league leaders Manchester City win the FA Cup, the team that finishes seventh in the standings will qualify for the Europa League.

Leganes dent Sevilla's Champions League hopes

Leganes dented Sevilla's bid to qualify for next season's Champions League with an emphatic 3-0 away win on Friday in La Liga.

Victory at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan ensured the visitors are safe from relegation while helping Getafe, fourth, and Valencia, sixth, in their bid to finish in the top four ahead of fifth-place Sevilla.

Leganes broke the deadlock after eight minutes when Youssef En-Nesyri scooped an effort into the top corner from just inside the box.

Denmark international Martin Braithwaite doubled the visitors' lead after Sevilla failed to clear a long throw in the box.

Leganes nearly scored again straight after halftime, with goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik making a good save to deny Juanfran.

With Sevilla struggling badly, Leganes wrapped up their impressive triumph when Braithwaite teed up Oscar Rodriguez for the third.

Getafe can move three points clear of Sevilla, who have 55 points from 36 games, if they beat Girona on Sunday, while Valencia can pull level with Joaquin Caparros's side with a win at Huesca.

Source: REUTERS
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