#SSU #SPORTSUPDATE Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has many detractors in Spain and in his native France but scoring important goals like his winner in Wednesdays Champions League game at Ludogorets will help silence them. Benzemas critics say he should be a lot more prolific, while his supporters, including Real president Florentino Perez and coach Carlo Ancelotti, highlight his work for the team, which they say often goes unnoticed. The 26-year-old came off the bench in the second half in Sofia and his strike 13 minutes from time to make it 2-1 helped Real complete a comeback from a goal down and preserve the European champions perfect record in Group B with two wins in two matches. -------------- Samuel Etoo popped up with just eight minutes remaining to hand Everton a precious point from a 1-1 draw with FC Krasnodar in the Europa League on Thursday. Meanwhile, former Premier League star Demba Ba returned to England to grab a late leveller for Besiktas at Tottenham while Celtic edged Dinamo Zagreb 1-0. Cameroonian striker Etoo cancelled out Aris first-half opener for Krasnodar to earn Roberto Martinezs men some reward from their journey of almost two and a half thousand miles to southern Russia. The result leaves the Toffees with four points from two matches in Group H after their 4-1 thumping of Wolfsburg a fortnight ago. ----------- Demba Bas late penalty for Besiktas denied Tottenham their first win in Group C of the Europa League. The ex-Chelsea man converted after Vlad Chiriches handled in the area having let the ball slip through his legs. Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead in the 27th minute when he surged forward before firing a low shot past keeper Tolga Zengin from the edge of the area. Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris twice denied Olcay Sahan with brilliant saves, before tipping over an effort from Ba. Both Besiktas frontmen were a constant menace for Tottenham, who were lucky not to lose to Slaven Bilics Turkish side. The former Croatia manager would have been frustrated by the failure to secure a first group win and by the exceptional keeping of stand-in skipper Lloris. The France international saved Spurs on three memorable occasions. He used his foot to divert Sahans goalbound effort wide and then sprung off the turf to tip over the strikers loaded drive. His skills were then tested when he pushed Bas fierce close-range half-volley over the bar. ----------- England manager Roy Hodgson has rejected talk of a rift with Liverpool over injured striker Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge, 25, is not in Hodgsons latest squad after suffering a thigh strain on England duty last month. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers criticised Englands handling of the player, and did not want him to be called up for games against San Marino and Estonia. Its simply a fact, an unfortunate fact, that hes not recovered, Hodgson said of Sturridges absence. Theres no problems or conflict there at all.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 07:21:15 +0000
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