The soccer news starts in the Concacaf Champions League with the New York Red Bulls seeing off Atletico Pantoja 3-0 at home, 5-0 on aggregate. Sean Davis opened the scoring in the 27th minute with Daniel Royer converting a penalty in the 32nd. Andreas Ivan finished off the goals in the 75th with Luis Robles making one save to keep the clean sheet. The Red Bulls advance to play Santos Laguna in the quarterfinals. That series opens at Red Bull Arena.
“We’ve been in this situation before, a lot of guys had last years’ experience, so I didn’t feel like we’re dealing with anxiety,” Robles told the club’s official site. “We brought the right approach.”
Missed the match? Here are your @newyorkredbulls vs @atleticopantoja highlights from tonight’s #SCCL2019 match! #NYRvPAN pic.twitter.com/gBzYaRtePb
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) February 28, 2019
Santos Laguna made the quarterfinals with a 5-0 home win over Marathon, taking that series 11-2 on aggregate. Santos had five different players score in the home leg. Monterrey advanced with a 1-0 home win over Alianza after a scoreless first-leg. The series hinged on an 86th minute penalty. Monterrey waits on the winner of the Herediano – Atlanta United series.
In the Premier League, Tim Ream’s Fulham lost 2-0 at Southampton. Fulham fell behind in the 23rd and gave up a second goal in the 40th. Fulham is 19th in the Premier League table, 10 points and a sizable goal difference from safety.
“The disappointment is very high because every time the opponent shoots at goal, they score a goal, it’s unbelievable,” Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri said. “This season it’s happened many times, and also tonight the first two shots on goal, they scored and I think when this happens the confidence goes down. We tried to do our best but that’s it, that’s the maximum my players can do.”
Tim Weah subbed on in the 81st minute for Celtic’s 2-1 win at Hearts days after manager Brendan Rodgers left the club for Leicester City. Under interim manager Neil Lennon, Celtic took the lead through James Forrest in the 36th minute. Hearts went a man down in the 44th, equalizing from the penalty spot in the 56th. Odsonne Edouard scored Celtic’s winner two minutes into stoppage time.
“When teams get behind the ball they can make it difficult for you,” Lennon said. “People will say you’re not moving the ball quick enough but it’s difficult to do sometimes when teams sit in so deep. We kept going and put a quality ball into the box, which is something we lacked as well tonight, but I can’t fault the players. Their mentality is absolutely brilliant. It’s a brilliant win and psychologically huge.”
William Yarbrough was in goal for Leon’s penalty loss at FC Juarez in the Copa MX round of 16. The game finished scoreless with Juarez advancing 4-2 on penalties. Juarez plays Veracruz in the quarterfinals.
Did Not Play: Emerson Hyndman (Bournemouth 1 – Arsenal 5)
ESPN’s Arch Bell on MLS and changing their approach to the transfer market. i.News’ Graham Ruthven looks at MLS expansion. The LA Times’ Kevin Baxter previews LAFC in its second season. Minnesota United announces the completion of Allianz Field. Yahoo’s Leander Schaerlaeckens with the work MLS has done in producing players.
Bleacher Report’s Tom Williams on what life is like for professional players who don’t play. Nottingham Forest announces their stadium redevelopment plan.
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