38 Friday Sports Friday, January 8, 2020 Juventus end AC Milan’s 27-game unbeaten run Inter miss out on top spot after Samp slip MILAN: Federico Chiesa scored a brace as to lead and win,” said Juventus coach Andrea Juventus inflicted a first league defeat this season Pirlo. “This match was crucial for us.” Chiesa on Serie A leaders AC Milan, ending their 27- has come into his own for Pirlo’s side who had match unbeaten run with a 3-1 win on been dependent on Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals Wednesday. Stefano Pioli’s side maintained their this campaign. one-point advantage over city rivals Inter Milan Paulo Dybala provided the assists for both who missed a chance to go top with a 2-1 loss at Chiesa’s goals. Chiesa rattled the woodwork min- Sampdoria. AC Milan had been unbeaten since utes before picking up a clever Dybala back-heel before the coronavirus lockdown last March, with flick to finish off after 18 minutes. Rafael Leao a run of 12 matches without defeat to complete send through for Davide Calabria to grab the last season where they finished sixth, and 15 equalizer four minutes before the break to keep games this campaign. Milan’s hopes alive. But Dybala again teeded up But Chiesa, who joined from Fiorentina last Chiesa to rifle in the second before the pair were October, bagged his first brace for the champi- replaced by McKennie and Dejan Kulusevski. ons, scoring on 18 and 62 minutes in the San Siro Kulusevski provided the pull back for McKennie with Weston McKennie getting a third with quar- to seal the victory after 76 minutes. ter of an hour to go. “This defeat hurts,” said Pioli. “If there is an opponent against whom we have Inter miss out in Genoa MILAN: Juventus’ Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny deflects a shot during the Italian Serie A foot- suffered it is Juventus, who have won the Inter’s eight-match winning streak came to an ball match AC Milan vs Juventus on January 6, 2021. — AFP Scudetto for nine years in a row. “But under- halt earlier under the rain in Genoa. Alexis standing how bad you feel after a defeat will also Sanchez missed an early penalty for Antonio Handanovic the wrong way after Samp were Sassuolo beat Genoa 2-1 to move fifth ahead help us grow.” The hosts, chasing their first Conte’s side who were tripped up by goals from awarded a penalty for a Nicolo Barella handball. of Napoli who fell to a shock defeat by the same ‘Scudetto’ since 2011, had been hit hours before former Inter players Antonio Candreva and Keita Keita Balde added a second after 38 minutes scoreline to 10-man Spezia, for their first loss in kick-off with the news that forward Ante Rebic Balde. “I’m sorry because I think we deserved following good work from Mikkel Damsgaard, their newly-named Diego Armando Maradona and midfielder Rade Krunic had tested positive something more. Lady luck was not on our side the Danish winger sending the Senegalese for- Stadium. “I don’t know how it’s possible to lose a for COVID-19. today,” said Conte after their second league ward through to coolly finish. Lukaku came off game like this, we had many shots on goal, I had a The absence of the pair was a blow for the defeat this season after Milan last October. the bench with just over an hour gone, two min- dozen myself,” said Napoli captain Lorenzo side already without key players including their Inter’s leading scorer Romelu Lukaku started utes before Stefan de Vrij’s header from a Insigne. “I’m seeing a schizophrenic Napoli,” injured top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic for an on the bench as the forward recovers from a Marcelo Brozovic corner reduced the deficit for blasted coach Gennaro Gattuso. “It’s not just bad eighth league game. Juventus pair Alex Sandro muscular problem. Sanchez started in the the visitors. Third-placed Roma closed the gap luck, this season we’re throwing away incredible and Juan Cuadrado were also out with coron- Belgian’s place but missed the chance to give the on Inter to three points, with a 3-1 win at bottom matches. And that makes me furious.” Seventh- avirus as the champions moved up to fourth, visitors an early advantage with Emil Audero sav- side Crotone with Borja Mayoral scoring twice placed Atalanta beat Parma 3-0 to stay ahead of seven points behind Milan, but having played a ing a penalty. But Candreva made no mistake and Henrikh Mkhitaryan adding a third from the Lazio who got back winning 2-1 against game less. “I saw the spirit of a team that wants from the spot after 22 minutes, sending Samir penalty spot. Fiorentina. — AFP PSG held in ‘disappointed’ Boca and Santos play out tense stalemate BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s Boca Juniors and keeper John Victor. Just after the hour mark, Pochettino’s first match Santos of Brazil played out a tense 0-0 draw at Santos enjoyed a spell of pressure but an empty Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on Marinho’s low shot was saved by goalkeeper PARIS: Mauricio Pochettino’s first match as “This is just the beginning,” added the 48-year- Wednesday in their Copa Libertadores semi-final Esteban Andrada before Kaio Jorge blazed over Paris Saint-Germain coach ended in a 1-1 draw old Pochettino. “We have to get to know each first leg tie. Boca’s Colombian forward Sebastian the bar. at Saint-Etienne on Wednesday as his new other. It was difficult because the preparation Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock in the With 15 minutes left Marinho appeared to be team slipped three points behind Ligue 1 lead- was too short. “It’s positive but there are things first half but struck the woodwork. clearly fouled in the box by Carlos Izquierdoz ers Lyon. The defending league champions fell to improve.” Lyon survived a late Lens come- The winners following next week’s second but incredibly, despite the video assistant refer- behind early on to Romain Hamouma’s strike back to extend their lead with a 3-2 win, with leg in Brazil will face either Brazilians Palmeiras ee checking the incident, the referee waved before Moise Kean levelled soon after, but Memphis Depay’s double proving crucial. or Boca’s arch city rivals River Plate in the away Santos’ penalty appeals. laboured in the second half and failed to find a PSG did move into second, above Lille on January 30 final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Tevez curled an effort wide after cutting in winner. “Of course I’m disappointed because goal difference, after Christophe Galtier’s team stadium. Palmeiras stunned 2018 winners River from the left while deep into injury time we’re PSG, we want to win,” Pochettino told slipped to a surprise 2-1 home loss to Angers. 3-0 in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Chances were Leonardo Jara was teed up on the edge of the Telefoot. “I’m happy with the effort made by Pochettino made just two changes to the final at a premium in the Bombonera that was devoid area but lashed his effort well over as Boca fin- the players, by their attitude.” The former starting XI selected by Tuchel for the 4-0 win of spectators due to coronavirus restrictions. ished strongly. Boca last won the Libertadores Tottenham boss was only confirmed as Thomas over Strasbourg before the winter break, with Villa crashed an early chance off the woodwork in 2007 but lost to River in the epic 2019 final Tuchel’s successor on Saturday, four days after Moise Kean and Idrissa Gueye returning in after he was teed up by veteran former that had to be played in Madrid after the origi- the German’s sacking was officially announced. place of Rafinha and Timothee Pembele. PSG Manchester United, Manchester City and nal second leg was postponed when Boca’s But the scale of the task facing the former started well going forwards but looked vulner- Juventus star Carlos Tevez. team bus was attacked by River fans on the way PSG defender was laid out in front of him at the able at the back and were made to pay in the Six-time winners Boca threatened early in to the stadium. Three time champions Santos, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as the capital-city 19th minute as Gueye carelessly lost possession the second period when Eduardo Salvio’s near the team Brazil great Pele played for, last lifted giants’ title defence suffered another blow. on the edge of his own area. — AFP post shot was pushed behind by Santos goal- the trophy in 2011. — AFP .