BEB Weekend Sports:Juicy News!

Ramos 'Panenka' gives Spain victory


Captain Sergio Ramos scored his 16th goal of the season - and his fifth chipped penalty - as Spain edged past Norway in their opening Euro 2020 qualifying game.

Defender Ramos converted a 'Panenka' style spot-kick for the winning goal.

Former Bolton loanee Rodrigo scored the opener on his home ground in Valencia, before Bournemouth's Joshua King equalised with a penalty for Norway.

Spain won the European Championship in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

They dominated the contest with 75% possession and 26 shots, with Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, who is on loan from Chelsea, missing a number of chances for the hosts.

But he did earn Spain's penalty when tripped in the box by Norway goalkeeper Rune Jarstein, allowing Real Madrid centre-back Ramos to step up and dink in his 10th penalty of the season to take his tally to 90 career goals.

Burundi seal historic Afcon qualification


Burundi qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in their history on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home to Gabon who have been eliminated.

Cedric Amissi scored in the 76th minute as Burundi, who only needed a draw to qualify, looked to have sealed their place at Egypt 2019.

An own-goal from Omar Ngando eight minutes from time made it a tense finish as Gabon searched for the victory they needed.

Despite welcoming back Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon failed to break down Burundi who sealed qualification in front of their home fans on a famous day in Bujumbura.

The result means Burundi - who included Stoke City's Saido Berahino and Hibernian's Gael Bigirimana in the side - finished second in Group C, behind group leaders Mali who have already qualified, with Gabon, the 2017 Nations Cup hosts, third.

Burundi - who are 138th in the Fifa rankings - will join fellow East Africans Uganda and Kenya at the 2019 finals in Egypt.

Injured Williams pulls out of Miami Open


Eight-time champion Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Miami Open because of a knee injury.

American Williams reached the third round on Friday by beating Sweden's Rebecca Peterson, only the seventh match she has completed in 2019.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner was set to face Wang Qiang in the last 32 but the Chinese 27-year-old now gets a bye.

World number one Naomi Osaka suffered a shock three-set loss to Hsieh Su-wei, ranked 27th, in their third-round tie.

Williams, who said she was "disappointed", has now withdrawn from two consecutive WTA events, following her retirement from last week's tournament in Indian Wells because of a viral illness.

The 37-year-old last claimed the Miami title in 2015, with her last Grand Slam win coming at the 2017 Australian Open, a triumph which moved her one behind Margaret Court's record of 24 major singles titles.
"I hope to be back next year to play at this one-of-a-kind tournament in front of the incredible fans here in Miami," she said.

MLB legend Suzuki retires after 28 years


Ichiro Suzuki received an emotional send-off as he retired after a 28-season career in which he broke several Major League Baseball records.

The Japanese player, 45, featured in his last game for the Seattle Mariners in a win over the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome in his homeland.

He retires as the record foreign-born MLB hitter with 3,089 hits.
"Someone will eventually come along and break my records," he said. "Secretly I'm proud of what I've achieved."
Suzuki moved from Japan to join the Mariners in 2001 and after spells with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, returned to Seattle in 2018.

With 3,089 MLB hits - credited when a batter reaches at least first base after hitting the ball - and 1,278 in the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, his total of 4,367 is the most hits recorded at the top professional level.

After grounding his final bat against Oakland, he left the Tokyo Dome field to prolonged applause and cheers, before returning from the tunnel to acknowledge the 54,000 fans.
"After 28 years in professional baseball, it was unbelievable to go out on a note like this," added Ichiro, a 10-time MLB All-Star. 
"I never imagined I would see a Japanese crowd so passionate. It was such a special moment."
In 2004, Suzuki broke an 84-year-old record for hits in a single season, finishing with 262 - five more than baseball legend George Sisler produced in 1920.

He retires with the most hits of all Japanese-born players in MLB history.

from Bola Esho's Blog

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