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24

2019 Messi Accuses Referee Of Favoring

3rd,
July Brazil In Copa América Semi-Final

| ionel Messi accused the n’t award.
EXAMINER LArgentina crashed out of There were clear penalties, on
“The officiating was crazy.
referee of bias after
(Nicolas) Otamendi, on ‘Kun’
the Copa América with a 2-0
IRISH semi-final loss to Brazil on (Sergio Aguero).
“He (the referee) was on
Tuesday evening.
The Argentina captain felt a
their side. In every divided ball
number of decisions went or dispute, he inclined the
against his side in Belo pitch their way.
Horizonte as goals from “It’s not an excuse, but the
Gabriel Jesus and Roberto truth is that, in this Copa, they
Firmino in each half put Brazil kept on blowing for stupid
through to a final against Chile things, for handballs, penalties.
or Peru. “But today, they didn’t even
Messi was particularly go to VAR when there were
aggrieved Argentina were not clear plays that should have
awarded a penalty by referee been looked at.”
Roddy Zambrano immediate- Despite the result, Messi
ly prior to Brazil’s second goal was proud of his team-mates
but that was only one of a and believes there is a bright lines. to dig deep to secure the our goal. Everything we aimed
number of complaints. future ahead for the national “These guys made a huge result. for from the beginning we are
The 32-year-old told side. sacrifice. They deserve He said: “Argentina were a fulfilling but we knew it would
reporters: “They were not bet- The Barcelona star said: “It respect. Argentina has the very difficult opponent. We not be easy.
ter than us. They found the net was the best match we did in material to keep growing.” needed to make a barbaric “I think many people
early and the second goal the Copa, against a Brazil that Brazil captain Dani Alves effort. doubted us but we have a lot
came from a penalty they did- has spectacular players in all its admitted his side had needed “It’s one more step towards of trust in our work.” C
MLS WRAP

Wayne Rooney Scores From 70

Yards As DC United Beat Orlando

ayne Rooney’s 2 in a match that came to a
superb strike dramatic climax at BMO
Wfrom his own half Field.
proved to be the difference Tsubasa Endoh put the
as DC United returned to hosts ahead inside the first
winning ways against minute, but Atlanta hit back
Orlando City. through a Gonzalo Martinez
The former England cap- penalty and Julian Gressel’s
tain scored the only goal after strike.
10 minutes to earn his side Alejandro Pozuelo leveled
their first victory in six MLS for Toronto in the 27th
matches, doing so in stunning minute, before the Spaniard
fashion. looked to have sealed victory
United cleared the ball with a spot kick in the fourth
after an Orlando attack and, minute of added time.
after a mix-up between Robin Atlanta appealed for a
Jansson and Sacha Kljestan, it penalty as referee Alan Kelly
fell into Rooney’s path some blew for full-time. The Irish
70 yards from the visitors’ official reviewed the decision
goal. for handball and gave the vis-
The 33-year-old spotted itors an unlikely chance to
Brian Rowe outside of his snatch a point at the death,
penalty area and went for but Martinez blazed his sec-
goal, his effort sailing over ond penalty over the crossbar
the goalkeeper and into the with the last kick of the game.
net to spark wild celebrations Eastern Conference lead- New England took the the gap to Philadelphia to draw at FC Dallas, while
as DC remained third in the ers Philadelphia Union need- lead through Brandon Bye’s two points after a 2-1 win Valeri ‘Vako’ Qazaishvili
Eastern Conference. ed a late goal from Kacper 31st-minute strike, before against Portland Timbers. scored in each half in San
Toronto claimed their first Przybylko to earn a 1-1 draw Przybylko’s close-range finish Vancouver Whitecaps Jose Earthquakes’ 2-0 suc-
MLS win in nine games as against in-form New earned a point. scored two goals in the last cess against Houston
they edged Atlanta United 3- England Revolution. Montreal Impact reduced 10 minutes to rescure a 2-2 Dynamo. C