BEB Weekend Sports: Latest News!

Messi equals Pele’s club goal record

Lionel Messi equalled Brazil legend Pele's record of 643 goals for a single club by scoring for Barcelona in Saturday's draw against Valencia. Pele scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Brazilian side Santos between 1956 and 1974.

The Argentine, 33, achieved the feat with a diving header just before half-time, immediately after his penalty was saved by keeper Jaume Domenech.

Sadly for Messi, his celebrations will likely be muted after Barcelona failed to beat their mid-table opponents.

The result leaves the 26-time champions fifth in La Liga, eight points behind Atletico Madrid, who earlier defeated Elche 3-1 to move to 29 points.

Fierce rivals and champions Real Madrid, five points ahead of Barca, play Eibar on Sunday.

This should have been Barcelona's third league win on the bounce, having led 2-1 in the second half and grown stronger as the match progressed.

They were given an almighty jolt in the 29th minute when defender Mouctar Diakhaby gave the visitors the lead when he headed in from a corner after being left unmarked.

Valencia had defended well up to that point and felt aggrieved that Barcelona were awarded a penalty just before half-time when Jose Gaya was judged to have pushed Antoine Griezmann over in the area.

After the referee Alejandro Hernandez confirmed the foul following a check of the pitchside monitor, Messi stepped up for what should been his historic moment. However, Domenech made a brilliant save only for the Argentine to then nod home at the far post seconds later.

Barcelona were on top for much of the second half and penetrated the last line of defence once more when Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo produced an outlandish scissor-kick which beat the reach of Domenech.

Ronald Koeman's men were desperate to kill the game off with another goal, but as they pressed they 

were caught by a Valencia counter-attack, which resulted in the deadly Maxi Gomez poking in at the far post.

The 24-year-old Uruguay striker has now been involved in at least one goal in six of his seven La Liga games against Barcelona.

West Brom appoint Allardyce to replace sacked Billic

West Brom have appointed Sam Allardyce as manager on an 18-month contract.
Allardyce, who has not managed since leaving Everton in 2018, takes over after the club sacked Slaven Bilic.

The former England boss, 66, has previously taken charge of seven clubs in the Premier League and is yet to be relegated from the top flight.

Allardyce joins the Baggies along with long-time assistant Sammy Lee with the club 19th in the table with seven points from 13 matches.

The Dudley-born manager started his coaching career with West Brom under Brian Talbot in 1989 and his first game as boss will be when the Baggies host Aston Villa in a West Midlands derby on Sunday.

The Baggies earned a surprise 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Tuesday but have won only one Premier League match this season, beating bottom club Sheffield United 1-0 on 28 November.

Sporting and technical director Luke Dowling, said: "In Sam we have a man who has a proven Premier League pedigree with a track record of improving every club he has managed.

"We believe and, more importantly Sam believes, we have a group of players that have the quality needed to give the club its best chance of Premier League survival."

Golovkin beats Szeremeta for record 21st middleweight defence

Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan knocked down Poland's Kamil Szeremeta four times en route to a record 21st defence of his IBF world middleweight title.

The 38-year-old dominated the fight to seal a seventh-round technical knockout and surpass Bernard Hopkins for the most successful middleweight defences.

Golovkin is now open to a trilogy fight with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

The fight was held behind closed doors in Hollywood, Florida, and Szeremeta, 31, came into it unbeaten after 21 fights.

But the Pole was floored in the first, second, fourth and seventh rounds, before the referee stopped the fight at the end of the seventh as Golovkin improved his record to 41-1-1.

This was Golovkin's first fight in 14 months and his third since suffering his only loss to Alvarez in September 2018.

The Mexican, 30, was awarded a controversial majority decision after the pair's first encounter ended in a draw 12 months earlier.

"It was a lot of fun," said Golovkin. "I told you I would come back after the Canelo fight.
"My performance was so good. I could have given more, I just needed more time to feel back. I've had a long break. But I am very proud of my team. 

Russia Banned for Two Years in Landmark CAS Ruling

Sport's highest court on Thursday banned Russia from the international stage for two years including the rearranged Tokyo Olympics and Beijing Winter Games but the halving of the initial punishment was described by a leading U.S. official as "a catastrophic blow to clean athletes and the integrity of sport."

The Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) ruling cut a four-year ban for systematic doping imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

"This Panel has imposed consequences to reflect the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance...and to ensure that the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping is maintained," said CAS in its judgment.

The statement added: 

"The consequences which the Panel has decided to impose are not as extensive as those sought by WADA." 

"This should not, however, be read as any validation of the conduct of RUSADA [Russia's anti-doping watchdog] or the Russian authorities."

The ban runs until Dec. 16, 2022, so includes the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar which ends two days later.

Under the decision, Russians will still be allowed to compete but only as neutrals if they can prove no connection to doping.

from Bola Esho's Blog