MESSI FIRES BARCELONA TO 4-2 WIN AT SPUR

Lionel Messi lifted Barcelona out of their recent slump with a magical display as his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a thrilling Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday.
The Argentine maestro scored two goals to take his Champions League haul to 105, was the instigator in two others and was twice denied by the woodwork as he lit up Wembley Stadium.
Messi, 31, was applauded off by both sets of fans at the end of an absorbing contest that kept Barca at the top of the group and Tottenham in trouble after two defeats.
Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic scored in clinical fashion as Barcelona went in 2-0 ahead at halftime.
But Barcelona needed Messi at his best to repel a tenacious Spurs fightback as Harry Kane and Erik Lamela gave the hosts hope.
Only when Messi struck his second in stoppage-time could Barca coach Ernesto Valverde breathe a little easier.
Barcelona, without a win in their last three La Liga games, were supposed to be vulnerable but on a pitch baring the scars of British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's fight against Alexander Povetkin they took only two minutes to land a blow straight in the solar plexus.
Tottenham allowed Messi time and space to curl a pass to Jordi Alba on the left and with keeper Hugo Lloris, back from injury, charging out of his goal Alba cut the ball back to Coutinho who drilled home through a gaggle of defenders.
The hosts responded with Kane firing in a shot that did not have enough venom to worry Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Messi opened up Tottenham again in the 28th minute. His floated pass was chested down by Luis Suarez to Coutinho whose volley sliced up in the air before the quick-thinking Brazilian hooked the ball back to Rakitic who rifled a picture-perfect right-foot volley in off the post from 25 yards.
Messi ran riot at the start of the second half, twice teasing the Spurs defence before thudding shots against Lloris's right-hand post.
Tottenham capitalised on their good fortune and Kane halved the deficit in the 52nd minute with a clinical finish.
Messi shook his head in disbelief but he silenced the home crowd again – this time side-footing inside the post from Alba's cross to finish a flowing move he had started.
There was no let-up in the furious pace and after Kane worked hard to win the ball, Lamela gave Spurs another lifeline when his 66th-minute shot flicked off Clement Lenglet and spun past Ter Stegen.
A gallant Tottenham side, missing the likes of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen, swarmed forward looking for a point that had earlier seemed inconceivable.
They left yawning gaps at the back, though, and Messi finally ended their resistance when he struck again in stoppage time.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Container falls on Danfo bus at iyana iba

Image
Lagos State is really battling for its life in terms of trucks and containers in the state. Last week, it was reported that a 20ft container fell on some cars at Apapa where they cause serious damages to both the cars and the owners. Just this week, another container has fallen on a Danfo Bus at Iyana Iba. Though it was reported that no casualties as the bus was empty when the incident occurred. Men of the LASTMA were already on the ground to control traffic and to ensure a smooth flow for drivers. Even though there was a presidential order to get rid of these trucks off the road, the order has been effective save for some parts in Apapa and Tincan Port where they are yet to fully comply. These are images from the scene;
Read more

PDP and APC exchange word over saraki

Image
Senate President: no juicy offers We’ll leave APC, says Baraje The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got yesterday a reply to its threat to boycott next year’s elections. You are being hunted by your past, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole told the main opposition party. The PDP fired back, saying APC was jittery over coalition between PDP and 38 others. Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara and others are believed to be on their way to the PDP, but the APC is urging them to stay. Also yesterday, Reformed APC chief Kawu Baraje said the group had decided to leave APC. Oshiomhole said the PDP was being haunted by its past treatment of electoral contests as a do-or-die affair, adding that the APC will not be intimidated by any threat of the PDP or any other party as it was committed to the sustenance of democracy and the sanctity of one man, one vote. The APC Chairman, who spoke when he received the report of the O...
Read more

South Africa 1-0 Namibia: 1st Afcon goal gives South Africa victory at crucial moment

Image
The Bafana Bafana of South Africa secured a crucial victory over the Brave Warriors of Namibia in their group D clash in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt. SuperSport  ✔ @SuperSportTV ZUNGU #BafanaBafana have broken the deadlock against Namibia at last as Bongani Zungu heads home the opener! #TotalAFCON2019 258 10:28 PM - Jun 28, 2019 78 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Stuart Baxter’s men put themselves in a great position to make it to the knockout stages of the AFCON following a second-half strike from Bongani Zungi. The goal was South Africa’s first goal at the AFCON finals since Mandla Masongo’s goal against Ghana at the 2015 tournament. Bafana Bafana went into the game following a narrow defeat to Cote d’Iviore in their opening fixture. The game started out with a slow tempo with both sides employing a cautious approach to the game following their poor results from the first game. Sout...
Read more