Established 1961 Sport MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021 Messi ends trophy drought as Argentina beat Brazil to win Copa RIO DE JANEIRO: Players of Argentina celebrate on the podium with the trophy after winning the Conmebol 2021 Copa America football tournament final match against Brazil at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday. — AFP RIO DE JANEIRO: Superstar Lionel Messi won his first time finish. which was originally due to take place last year, to Fractious, niggly first trophy with his national team as Angel Di Maria’s “We fell short so many times, we dreamt so much allow in fans as 7,800 — a tenth of the Maracana Tite was quick to act, bringing on forward Roberto goal gave Argentina a 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in the about this, fought so hard,” said Di Maria, who was capacity — took their seats after authorities partially Firmino for defensive midfielder Fred at half-time. Copa America final on Saturday. The victory at Rio de named man of the match. “Many people said we lifted pandemic restrictions. Richarlison had the ball in the net soon after but he Janeiro’s Maracana stadium ended Argentina’s 28- wouldn’t manage it, we were criticized a lot. But we The first clear chance came on 13 minutes as was flagged offside. And moments later Neymar teed year wait for a major trophy, and also ended Brazil’s kept knocking at the door and kept going until today Richarlison headed down Marquinhos’s long ball up Richarlison but Martinez parried his near post unbeaten home record that stretched back more than we knocked it down and entered.” into the path of Neymar but the Brazilian star was effort. 2,500 days. Messi could have wrapped up the win two minutes crowded out by a pair of defenders. The brutal Increasingly it descended into a fractious, niggly Argentina had last tasted success at a major tour- from time but slipped when clean through with only nature of the early challenges could be seen on the affair with little fluid play between fouls and a pletho- nament in 1993 when the great Gabriel Batistuta’s Ederson to beat. “We have to be big enough to rec- players’ kits, with Neymar sporting ripped shorts ra of theatrics and petulant bickering. It was playing brace gave them a 2-1 win over Mexico in the Copa ognize (the defeat) regardless of how painful and dif- and Lucas Paqueta being left with a hole in his sock into Argentina’s hands as they looked to run down the final in Ecuador. “It’s a great title, especially for our ficult it is,” said Brazil coach Tite. following an intervention by Otamendi. clock and hold onto their slender lead. “Only one people. The fans support the team unconditionally. I Argentina played with aggression and commit- team wanted to play. It’s a trap we knew about. That’s think they can identify with this team that never gives Di Maria the tormentor not an excuse,” complained Brazil captain Thiago ment, but no lack of quality with Di Maria tormenting in,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. In a frantic start, Argentina’s burly enforcer Silva. “It’s difficult to play such a stop-start match.” It was the first time in six editions playing at home Nicolas Otamendi was quickly in with his first foul Brazil’s left back Renan Lodi, who probably should Brazil managed to up the pressure again at the that Brazil had failed to lift the trophy. And while 34- while Brazilian midfielder Fred picked up the first have cut out De Paul’s pass for the winger’s goal. Di end of the half but they lacked a killer touch year-old Messi’s odyssey has come to an end, Brazil’s booking after just three minutes for a studs up lunge Maria had a shot from 20 yards blocked while Messi against some full-blooded defending — Montiel Neymar, five years his junior, is still without a major at Gonzalo Montiel. fired just wide following a 40 yard run. even finished the game with his white sock soaked title at international level having missed the Selecao’s Brazil were unchanged from their semi-final win Brazil struggled to create anything of note and in blood. When Brazil substitute Gabriel Barbosa win on home soil two years ago through injury. over Peru while Scaloni made five alterations, notably even when they had a free-kick from shooting range, fired a volley on target, Martinez was equal to it. Argentina edged a brutal and fractious affair bringing in Di Maria — who made an energetic and Neymar couldn’t beat the wall. When the hosts did Messi slipped embarrassingly late on with a thanks to Di Maria’s goal on 22 minutes. The 33-year- decisive entry off the bench against Colombia last finally maintain some pressure late in the first half, chance to clinch victory but it mattered little as old winger ran onto Rodrigo De Paul’s sumptuous time out. Everton’s deflected strike bobbled though to goal- moments later his teammates were tossing him in through ball to lob Brazil goalkeeper Ederson with a The final was the first match of the tournament, keeper Emiliano Martinez. the air to celebrate their win. — AFP Djokovic wins record-equaling 20th Grand Slam, sixth Wimbledon title LONDON: Novak Djokovic won a record-equaling Grand Slam by a male player. 20th Grand Slam title and sixth Wimbledon yester- Djokovic overcame a nervy start to break for 3-1, day with a four-set victory over battling Matteo which he stretched to 5-2. He even had a set point in Berrettini of Italy. The world number one triumphed a marathon eighth game which the Italian saved 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to move level on 20 majors after eight deuces. Reinvigorated, he broke with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic when he served for the set and then domi- His win also put him three-quarters of the way nated the tiebreaker which he sealed with his fourth to the first calendar Grand Slam of all four majors ace of the contest. since 1969. A sixth victory at the All England The top seed stormed to a 5-1 lead in the second Club for Djokovic, who was playing in his 30th set on the back of a double break. Berrettini, bid- final at the Slams, added to his nine Australian ding to be Italy’s first men’s Grand Slam winner Opens, two Roland Garros titles as well as three since Adriano Panatta at the 1976 French Open, at the US Open. clawed his way back to 4-5, saving three set points, Should he win a fourth title in New York in but Djokovic this time served it out for a set apiece. September, he will become just the third man in his- Djokovic struck first again for a 2-1 lead in the tory after Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 third set and fought off three break points in the and 1969) to complete the calendar Grand Slam. sixth game, a show of defiance which brought “It was more than a battle. He is a true Italian watching Hollywood star Tom Cruise to his feet. LONDON: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, with Britain’s Catherine (right), Duchess of Cambridge, holds the winner’s tro- hammer I felt it on my skin,” said Djokovic of That was Berrettini’s last chance of the set as phy after beating Italy’s Matteo Berrettini during their men’s singles final match on the thirteenth day of the 2021 Berrettini. “It means none of us three will stop. Djokovic served it out in the 10th game. Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, yesterday. — AFP Roger and Rafa are legends they are the reason I A weary Berrettini then served up a double fault am where I am today.” on break point to hand Djokovic a 4-3 lead in the The Serb also now has 85 career titles while he fourth set. Djokovic kept coming, sprinting from the pion at Wimbledon, saved two championship points on this court,” said Berrettini. “It is not the end it is has become the first man to break the $150 million back of the court to pull off a wondrous pick-up in the eighth game. But he was powerless on the the beginning for me. Without my family, friends and prize money barrier. A gold medal at the Tokyo and he held on for 5-3. third as Djokovic swept to his place in history. team all this would not have been possible so I just Olympics could give him the first ever Golden Berrettini, hoping to be Italy’s first singles cham- “Novak is a great champion he is writing history say Grazie Grazie.” — AFP.