19 Sports Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Inter Milan rally to beat Parma as Atalanta win again Inter stay eight points adrift of leaders Juventus, four behind Lazio in second MILAN: Alessandro Bastoni completed Inter Milan’s three points away from the last Europa League place late turnaround as they scored twice in the final six held by Napoli, who beat bottom side SPAL 3-1 in minutes to beat Parma 2-1 on Sunday, while Atalanta Naples. made it three wins in a row since the Serie A restart. Gennaro Gattuso’s side, who have already won the Gervinho gave Parma a first-half lead at the Stadio Italian Cup this season, came out on top at the Stadio Ennio Tardini but Inter, who conceded a last-gasp San Paolo thanks to goals from Dries Mertens, Jose equaliser at home to Sassuolo in midweek, fought back Callejon and Amin Younes. with headers from Stefan de Vrij and Bastoni to snatch Roma stay fifth but are only three points ahead of a vital win. Napoli and nine behind Atalanta in fourth, who are now Inter stay eight points adrift clear favourites to qualify for of leaders Juventus and four be- Europe’s top club competition. hind Lazio in second with 10 Both teams started slowly rounds of matches remaining. “I but Milan dominated after the thought it was a more than de- Team is break with Rebic breaking served victory. Thoroughly de- through on 76 minutes, rifling served,” Inter assistant Cristian doing well the ball into the roof of the net Stellini told Sky Sport Italia, at the third attempt after a fran- with coach Antonio Conte tic scramble following a Davide forced to watch from the stands Zappacosta blunder. as he served a touchline ban. Calhanoglu converted a Atalanta consolidated their grip on fourth place penalty with a minute to go after Chris Smalling fouled thanks to two stunning goals from Luis Muriel, who Theo Hernandez in the area to earn a second win this came on as a second-half substitute in their 3-2 victory week, despite the absence of star striker Zlatan Ibrahi- at Udinese. movic with a calf problem. The Colombia international put his team back ahead “We were looking for a win against a strong oppo- with a magnificent 71st-minute free-kick, after Kevin nent and we deserved to get it,” said Pioli after their PARMA: Inter Milan’s Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella (R) and Parma’s Italian defender Matteo Darmian go for the Lasagna had levelled for Udinese in the 31st minute fol- first win over one of the top-six sides this season. “This ball during the Italian Serie A football match Parma vs Inter played on June 28, 2020 behind closed doors at the lowing Duvan Zapata’s early opener for away side. victory gives us confidence to try to hit the goal of Ennio-Tardini stadium in Parma.—AFP Muriel then put Atalanta two goals ahead with a su- bringing Milan back to Europe. perb volley that ensured Lasagna’s second three min- “(Ibra) helped us raise our level. Let’s not forget that “They (Milan) were fresher in the second half,” said mire after a 2-1 home defeat to Bologna which leaves utes from time made no difference to the result. we only lost one game with him. “But the team is doing Fonseca. “Let’s not forget that they had seven days to them just a point above the drop zone, while Rogerio Roma are facing another season without Champions well without him and his return gives us other solu- prepare and it’s their third game, it’s not an excuse, it’s struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time to earn a 3- League football after losing 2-0 at AC Milan. Ante tions.” Roma coach Paulo Fonseca conceded his side the truth. 3 draw for Sassuolo against Hellas Verona. Juventus Rebic and Hakan Calhanoglu scored late to give Milan were struggling for fitness after the three-month coro- “I’m worried about physical fitness, we will play in beat Lecce 4-0 on Friday and Lazio came from behind victory at a stifling San Siro to put Stefano Pioli’s side navirus shutdown. two days.” Sampdoria sank further into the relegation to see off Fiorentina 2-1 on Saturday. — AFP Watford relegation fears mount after Half of Tokyo Southampton defeat residents oppose LONDON: Watford were dealt a major blow in their Olympics in 2021 bid to avoid relegation as they suffered a 3-1 home defeat by Southampton after a Danny Ings double and James Ward-Prowse’s stunning late free kick for TOKYO: Just over half of Tokyo’s residents don’t the visitors in their Premier League game on Sunday. think the postponed 2020 Olympics should be held Saints started strongly and took a well-deserved next year, backing either a further delay or outright lead in the 16th minute when Ings glided past the cancellation because of fears over the coronavirus, challenge of two Watford defenders before curling a according to a poll published yesterday. low effort into the far corner. The survey carried out by two Japanese news or- Ralph Hasenhuettl’s side were unlucky not to grab ganisations is only a single data point, but comes a second in the 24th minute when Ward-Prowse skied after health experts warned that even a year’s delay his effort from close range after latching on to a may not be sufficient to hold the Games safely. cross-field pass from Oriol Romeu. The poll conducted over the weekend found 51.7 Watford, who had omitted Andre Gray, Nathaniel percent of respondents hope the Games in 2021 are Chalobah and Domingos Quina from their squad after postponed again or cancelled, while 46.3 percent want to see the rescheduled Olympics go ahead. British media reported a lockdown breach, started the Among those opposed to a 2021 Games, 27.7 second half strongly but failed to test Saints keeper percent said they want them cancelled alto- Alex McCarthy. WATFORD: Southampton’s English midfielder Nathan Redmond gestures as he takes a knee in support of the gether, while 24.0 percent would prefer a second However, the hosts found themselves two goals postponement. down in the 70th minute when Ings intercepted a Black Lives Matter movement during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Southampton at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London. — AFP The telephone poll, conducted by Kyodo News wayward throw out from goalkeeper Ben Foster be- and Tokyo MX television between June 26-28, re- fore driving towards the penalty area and firing home ceived 1,030 replies. Of those who said they want to his 18th league goal of the season. itive intent, showing more support for each other on points, while Watford remain in 16th with 28 points, see the Games held next year, 31.1 percent said the “It was a physical battle and the lads really fought the pitch,” he added. one point ahead of third-bottom Bournemouth, who event should be in a scaled-back form, including hard,” Ings said as Southampton bounced back from The result took Saints up to 13th place with 40 have a game in hand. — Reuters without spectators, while 15.2 percent said they a 2-0 home loss against Arsenal on Thursday. wanted to see a full-blown Olympics. “After the last game, we were very disappointed. Tokyo 2020 was postponed in March as the It was important we came here and did something coronavirus spread across the globe, causing the about that. I just want to play each game and score Liverpool great Fowler parts worst disruption to the Olympics since two editions as many goals as I can,” he added. were cancelled during World War II. Jan Bednarek’s own goal handed the Hornets a late The Games are now scheduled to begin on July lifeline but Ward-Prowse’s free kick in the 82nd ways with Brisbane Roar 23, 2021, although they will still be known as the minute sealed the victory for Saints, who set a club Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Officials from Japan and the record with eight away wins in a single top-flight BRISBANE: Former England and Liverpool avirus situation” as the reason for Fowler’s depar- International Olympic Committee have warned it will league campaign. striker Robbie Fowler’s time as coach of Australian ture. “We are disappointed that the global pan- not be possible to postpone again, and even the Southampton could have added a fourth goal late side Brisbane Roar ended yesterday, with the club demic has impacted our plans together but year-long delay has created significant financial and on but Che Adams’ effort was kept out by Foster be- blaming the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. completely understand that family comes first logistical headaches. fore Nathan Redmond’s curling strike ricocheted off Fowler was appointed in April last year and he during these difficult times,” said club deputy The poll, conducted ahead of the Tokyo guber- the post. Hasenhuettl said he was pleased with the set about overhauling the squad, lifting them to chairman Chris Fong. natorial election on July 5, also found incumbent way his side responded after their defeat by Arsenal. fourth in the table before the A-League was sus- Anyone entering Australia currently must un- Yuriko Koike leading her opponents “by a large margin”. Her precise lead was not specified, in keep- “Today, we were more concentrated, more clinical pended on March 24.