Juventus crowned Serie A champions

Juventus have won the Italian title for the 31st time, after Arturo Vidal's first half strike helped Massimiliano Allegri's side defeat Sampdoria 1-0.

It was Juventus' fourth league title in a row with as many games to spare this season and set them up perfectly for their upcoming Champions League semi-final duel with Real Madrid.

Chilean midfielder Vidal met Stephan Lichtsteiner's deep floated cross with a perfectly placed header in the 32nd minute to put Juventus 17 points ahead of second-placed Lazio.

The Rome side travel to relegation-threatened Atalanta on Sunday with only 15 points available to them from their remaining five games.

Juve needed just a point to finally end the one-horse race for the Serie A crown.

Vidal's first league goal since January was enough for them to both win the league and become the first side to win at Sampdoria this season despite resting Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chielini and Alvaro Morata ahead of their Champions League first leg clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday.

"You never get tired of winning. The older you get the more titles satisfy you, because they could be the last titles you win," said Juve captain Gianluigi Buffon.

"The thought of Real Madrid has pulsed around the place for some days now, so it's inevitable that while the joy is there for having closed the league, we need to be ready for this match so that we don't regret anything."

Beating Madrid would set this season out from the previous three title-winning campaigns, in which they failed to impress in Europe, and would be further vindication for Allegri, who was sacked by AC Milan midway through last season and panned by Juve fans when he was announced as the replacement for the beloved Antonio Conte in pre-season.

"My first few days here were good. I think I only had five or six players and we lost a friendly 3-2," he joked.

"On Tuesday we need to have the same attitude but be even better than today, because we'll have in front of us a team of amazing players to which you can't concede anything.

"The important thing will be going out onto the pitch knowing what we need to do against a team that can hurt you at any moment."

Sampdoria started the match in fifth place, eyeing a spot in the Europa League, and the game got off to frantic start.

However the best chance for the home side in the opening period was a long range shot from Pedro Obiang in the 10th minute that failed to trouble Buffon.

Juve's first clear sight of goal was Vidal's winner, which he expertly flashed back across Sampdoria keeper Emiliano Viviano and off the post after racing on to a Lichtsteiner cross that evaded striker Fernando Llorente before arriving at the midfielder.

Sampdoria were full of heart and kept pressing the away side, but they lacked invention and struggled to break down Juve's solid backline.

Kyrgios reaches first career

Greek - Australian NICK Kyrgios is virtually guaranteed French Open and Wimbledon seedings after storming into the Millennium Estoril Open final in Portugal.

Kyrgios earned the right to contest his first ATP World Tour final with a grinding 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 semi-final success over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

“I’m very excited to play in my first final,” Kyrgios said.

“I thought I served well the whole match and got some chances on his serve. I kept pushing after losing the first set and I thought I hung in well.”

Kyrgios produced 15 aces and conceded only nine points on his first serve in a masterful display.

Kyrgios, 20, faces fifth seed Richard Gasquet, the Frenchman who failed to convert a grand slam record nine match points against the young Australian in an epic Wimbledon battle last season.

Gasquet is searching for his 12th ATP World Tour title and third on clay.

The champion at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier three months ago, Gasquet owns an 11-12 record in tour-level finals.

“He’s the future of the game,” Gasquet said of Kyrgios.

“It’s a tough opponent. I think it’s better on clay against him, but he has a big serve and he’s very good. He’ll be very high in the (Emirates ATP Rankings) soon.”

Ranked 46th at the start of the tournament, Kyrgios has risen to a provisional mark of No 33 - one spot shy of a grand slam seeding.

But with natural attrition ahead of the French Open in two weeks, and the possibility of breaking into the top 30 with victory in Portugal, Kyrgios is well placed.

Bernard Tomic, ranked 27th, is assured a Roland Garros seeding.

South Melbourne Hellas salvages draw to remain undefeated at Port

Port Melbourne Nea Ellas and South Melbourne Hellas have played out a thrilling 2-2 draw JL Murphy Reserve on Friday night, with every goal coming from a set-piece.

 

Shaun Kelly and Alan Kearney’s efforts for Port were sandwiched in between Luke Adams’ opener and Brad Norton’s controversial late equaliser, with an alleged handball from Milos Lujic in the build-up going undetected by referee Shaun Evans.

 

Hellas looked dangerous right from kick-off, when Lujic took a few clever touches and teed up Barker-Daish for a blocked shot.

 

It took just 17 minutes for the visitors to capitalise on their early ascendency, with Dane Milovanovic driving in a set-piece from nearly half-way which Adams beat Stjepan Gal to, nodding home into an empty net.

 

The Sharks should have equalised just five minutes later when Shaun Kelly marauded forward from the centre of defence to play through Erhan Yalaz into a one-on-one situation against Roganovic, but the youngster seemingly panicked and missed wide of the post.

 

The hosts were momentarily galvanised, with Ryan Opperman also breaking through on goal before being shown wide by a defender, but the subsequent clearance landed to Kearney who shot straight at the ‘keeper.

 

Just before half time short corner-kick saw Kamal Ibrahim pick up the ball near the 18-yard-box and cross it into a dangerous area, with Kelly rising highest but missing agonisingly wide from point blank range.

 

Hellas burst out of the blocks after the break, creating a few decent sights at goal, with Brad Norton bombing forward and launching a shot over the bar, while Leigh Minopoulos lashed wide from a similar position.

 

Port, for all their huffing and puffing, finally equalised in the 54^th minute when Kelly made amends for his earlier miss by heading home Riccobene’s inswinging corner.

 

The home side had well and truly played themselves into the contest and somehow didn’t take the lead, again fluffing a clear-cut opportunity.

 

This time it was Trent Rixon – like Yalaz in the first half – who missed a one-on-one with Roganovic, following Kearney’s defence splitting ball.

 

The latter would be in the thick of the action again, playing Ibrahim through on goal who was taken down by Adams in the box – going from goal-scoring hero to penalty conceding villain.

 

Kearney stepped up confidently to the spot, smashing home the penalty with just over 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

 

In response, Hellas threw numbers forward and a passage of play led to howls of handball in the box, which the referee waved away.

 

It was ironic then that the eventual equaliser near the 90^th minute also involved allegations of handball the other way, with a corner kick coming off Milos Lujic before Brad Norton struck home the dramatic equaliser

 

With moments remaining, Andy Brennan - fresh from signing a contract with Newcastle Jets - had a shot deflect off a defender and almost fool Gal.

 

In one of the last actions of the game, Port had the chance to snatch victory when Nicholas Krousoratis dribbled into the box and found Brent Fisher, whose shot flashed wide of the goal.

 

Port Melbourne Nea Ellas 2 (Kelly 54’, Kearney 78’) drew with South Melbourne Hellas  2 (Adams, Norton) at JL Murphy Reserve

 

Port Melbourne Nea Ellas: 1. Stjepan Gal, 16. Alan Kearney, 14. Kamal Ibrahim, 22. Ryan Opperman (11. Nicholas Krousoratis 52’), 6. Chris Grossman, 9. Trent Rixon (8. Brent Fisher 71’), 2. Andrew Viola, 19. Shaun Kelly, 5. Nick Tzoulis (23. Connor Reddan 46’), 17. Erhan Yalaz, 3. James Riccobene

 

Unused Subs: 25. Michael Stark, 4. Tim Paton

 

Yellow Cards: Kearney 20’, Rixon 24’, Yalaz 52’, Grossman 86’

 

Red Cards: None

 

South Melbourne Hellas: 1. Nikola Roganovic, 2. Tim Mala, 4. Michael Eagar, 5. Luke Adams, 20. Nick Epifano, 9. Milos Lujic, 11. Brad Norton, 12. Iqi Jawadi, 13. Dane Milovanovic, 21. Jake Barker-Daish (23. Andy Kecojevic 80’), 27. Leigh Minopoulos (17. Andy Brennan 60’)

 

Subs: 22. Rory Brian, 6. Bonel Obradovic,

 

Yellow Cards: Adams 76’

 

Red Cards: None

Adelaide United leave it late for 2-1 win over Roar in elimination final

A ripping late goal to Awer Mabil helped Adelaide United book a semi-final berth and score an exciting 2-1 elimination final triumph over Brisbane Roar at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

Craig Goodwin's cracking seventh-minute free-kick goal was cancelled out by Roar spearhead Thomas Broich, who scored 20 minutes later after a Dylan McGowan blunder.

Both sides had their chances in a high-quality, open contest, the Reds creating more but Brisbane looking good swarming forward.

The match tightened into an arm wrestle after half-time and seemed destined for extra-time before Mabil, who substituted into the game for an underdone Marcelo Carrusca in the 70th minute sent United into the second week of the finals and ended the gallant Roar's title defence.

WHAT THEY SAID

“We’ve been talking about it since the start of this year, when we went out last year it wasn’t a great feeling and the win tonight is a reward for the boys for the hard work we’ve put in this year so we’re going to keep going.” – Adelaide United’s Awer Mabil.

“We’re disappointed obviously because it was a must-win game and when you lose it’s obviously massively disappointing. It’s unfortunate, these things happen, you can only keep your chin up and get on with it.” – Brisbane Roar’s Jamie Young.

GOALS

1-0 Goodwin (7')

James Donachie's clumsy, unnecessary foul on James Jeggo allowed the Reds to strike early.

Stepping up for the free kick from 20 yards, Goodwin's finish was of the highest order, curling a peach into the top corner past despairing Young, who seemed a tad late and unsighted by the Brisbane wall. Brilliant from Goodwin.

1-1 Broich (27')

A horror McGowan attempted back pass was intercepted by the ever-dangerous Broich.

The German marksman was never going to miss the one-on-one and, with plenty of space, he moved in for the kill and whipped it clinically past Eugene Galekovic.

2-1 Mabil (87')

Miguel Palanca shimmied past the Roar defence and cut a sweet cross to Mabil around the penalty spot.

The exciting young striker cracked it from close range where Young, falling to ground, got a desperate mitt on the pill but couldn't stop it finding the back of the net.

KEY MOMENT

With Brisbane gaining a firm grip in a pulsating second half, Corey Brown did well to find Solorzano in the penalty area in the 78th minute.

But the Roar substitute, from point-blank range, stumbled with his first touch and with only Galekovic to beat, tamely bunted the ball away innocuously from close range, denying Brisbane a golden chance to go up 2-1.

OPTA DATA KEY STATS

The Reds finally cracked that egg that has eluded them for so long.

Remarkably this was United's first win against Brisbane on South Australian soil since 2010, snapping and eight-match winless drought.

HIGHLIGHTS REEL

In the 80th minute, Sergio Cirio cut past Donachie with dazzle and drove the ball into the top corner.

His strike was on target and would have been the clincher but was denied by an absolutely world-class save from Young, who pulled off three stunning stops in the second half.

Mabil managed to find a way past Young later on.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

The hero Goodwin came agonisingly close to notching a brace and killing the contest in the 14th minute when his sliding tap-in spooned over the crossbar from five yards out after Cirio danced down the right and fed a sweet low cross.

Then in the 25th, Carrusca missed by a coat of varnish after dancing around Borello.

It didn't hurt the hosts in the long run - it just ensured they had to work extra hard for the win.

THE FINAL WORD

The Reds did it the hard way, fighting their way into the semis where they will take on Sydney FC away next weekend, with the winner advancing to the decider. Adelaide are an ever-dangerous finals foe irrespective of who lines up against them.

Brisbane's title defence never hit any real strides and they were given a lifeline by Perth Glory's expulsion for salary cap breaches. They were brave but not quite good enough.

TEAMS

Adelaide United: Galekovic, McGowan, Malik, Boogaard, Elrich, Isaias, Carrusca (Mabil 70'), Jeggo, Cirio, Sanchez (Palanca 74'), Goodwin (Watson 90').

Brisbane Roar: Young, Polenz, Donachie, Bowles, Brattan, McKay, Clut (Solorzano 74'), Borrello, Kaluderovic, Broich.

Scorers: Goodwin (7'), Broich (27'), Mabil (87')

Red cards: Nil
Yellow cards: Nil
Conditions: 19 degrees, dry
Attendance: 20,155 @ Adelaide Oval

Nick Kyrgios through to semi final Millennium Estoril Open

Greek-Australia Nick Kyrgios has powered into his first ATP semi-final and tried to claim underdog status, despite sweeping Dutchman Robin Haase aside 6-3 6-4 at the Estoril Open in Portugal.

The seventh-seeded Kyrgios, ranked 46th and playing only his second event after returning from six weeks on the sidelines to rest an ankle injury, will next play Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat eighth seed Gilles Muller 6-2 6-4, for a spot in the Sunday title match.

The only other remaining seed is be fifth seed Richard Gasquet, who came from 2-5 down in the second set for a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) defeat of Spaniard Nicolas Almagro and will face experienced Spanish campaigner Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in his semi-final.

Kyrgios, who turned 20 at the start of the week, has played quarter-finals at Wimbledon and at the Australian Open but has never been able to connect on his big game at smaller ATP World Tour events.

"I felt very confident, I moved well and served well, I'm very happy with my game right now," he said.

"I was solid and feel like I'm improving with each match."

But Kyrgios warned: "I'm certainly not the favourite against Pablo Carreno Busta. He grew up playing on clay and loves these conditions. It will be very tough for me."

Kyrgios' victory over Haase, 28 and ranked 101, took just 56 minutes, as he fired seven aces and won three breaks.

The Greek-Australian, who nearly got defaulted in his opening match for the offence of firing a ball in anger out of the small club stadium, kept his nerves in check in his latest victory.

Kyrgios quickly bounced back from an early break to level at 2-2 in the first set, then broke for 4-2 and closed out the set in less than half an hour.

In the second, he broke midway through and eventually finished up the winner on his first match point.

Meanwhile, Gasquet was pleased to get past Almagro, one of seven active players with 200 claycourt career wins.

"It's always a battle with him," he said.

"He's physically strong and doesn't miss much. He is one of the best on clay.

"I've said all week it's too early to speak of the final, I have another tough match to play. We will see what will happen.

"My back has been improving all week and I'm serving and playing with more confidence."

Earlier, Croatian young gun Borna Coric fell to a comeback from Garcia-Lopez, the 31-year-old winner of last weekend's Bucharest title.

Coric lost 6-3 7-6 (7-4) after Garcia-Lopez battled back from 5-1 down in the second set after winning the first.

The Spaniard has now won his last eight matches on clay.

Greek Soccer corruption: the list of the accused

Twenty-six club owners, staff and Hellenic Football Federation officials now stand accused by the courts in the corruption scandal sweeping through Greek football. 

By the second week of June, all 26 will have appeared before magistrates to enter a defence against the allegations levelled by investigating judges. Among them are:

· Evangelos Marinakis, the owner and president of Olympiacos, who must appear in early June [see related article below]

· Giannis Kompotis, the owner of PAE Levadiakos who has already appeared

· Giorgios Spanos, owner of Atromitos, due to go before magistrates by May 5

· Giorgos Arvanitides, the former owner of PAE Veria, due to appear before May 7

Alongside the club shareholders are the chief executives of Veria and Atromitos as well as Giorgios Sarris, a former president of the HFF, its former general secretary, its former legal adviser and two ex-members of its board. Two former referees' committee officials stand accused alongside members of the HFF's appeals committee and its highest arbitration court. Six Super League referees must also face magistrates.

The scale of the inquiry demonstrates how the scandal has shaken the core of Greek football's establishment.

Three of the accused - Kompotis, the former appeals-committee member Maria Anastasaki and Giorgios Vlassis, the arbitration-court member - had already appeared before the courts to submit their defences earlier this week. The referees Constantine Ioannides, Apostle Amparkiolis and Giannis Kampaxis did the same at court yesterday.

Although under the Greek justice system the matter may not come to trial until next year, if perhaps at all in some cases, all six have been ordered to take no further part in any football activity until a final verdict has been reached in each of their cases.

Belgian U/23 international Gregory Mertens dies after collapsing on the field

Twenty-four-year-old Belgian soccer player Gregory Mertens died Thursday, three days after collapsing during a game because of cardiac arrest. Mertens’s team, Sporting Lokeren, announced the news on Twitter on Thursday morning.

“With sadness we inform you of the loss of Gregory Mertens. We wish his family and friends all the strength,” said the tweet, translated from Dutch.

Mertens, who previously played for Beligum’s national under-21 team, collapsed during a reserve-team game on Monday. After being revived on the field and transported to a hospital in the city of Genk, he was put into a coma, according to a team statement. His condition, however, continued to deteriorate in the next three days and on Thursday, his family agreed with doctors to cease life support for the player. Mertens was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m. local time.

“Everyone in and around this club breathes soccer. But suddenly something happens that makes us realize that soccer is just soccer. Today is such a time,” the press statement continued.”Gregory was only at the club for one-and-a-half years, but made in that short time he became indispensable. … Now we will have to learn to live with the loss. Gregory, we will miss you!”

Mertens played 101 games in Belgium’s top-flight league on two teams, Cercle Brugge and Lokeren. 

His best season was 2011/12, when he played 3022 minutes for the Bruges club and netted two goals.

This season, he had started 11 games for Lokeren, who finished eighth in the regular-season table.