Gorka Guruzeta scored two goals and Alex Berenguer converted a stoppage-time penalty on Friday as Athletic Bilbao twice came from behind to defeat RC Celta de Vigo 4-3 in La Liga.
The win extended Bilbao’s unbeaten streak at home to six games and closed the gap to the top four to one point.
However, Celta’s Iago Aspas silenced the home crowd after 25 minutes when he opened the scoring with a low shot from close range.
Photo: AFP
It was the first goal of the season for the 36-year-old former Liverpool player.
Oihan Sancet equalized seven minutes before halftime for Athletic, but Celta regained the lead just three minutes later thanks to Jonathan Bamba.
Guruzeta equalized in first-half stoppage-time when he turned in a cross from the left and then put Bilbao ahead for the first time with another poacher’s goal seven minutes into the second half.
It was the second time this season that Guruzeta has scored twice and takes his league tally to six goals in 12 games.
With Aspas in commanding form, Celta battled back and Strand Larsen made it 3-3 midway through the second half.
After Aspas missed from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, it looked like the points would be shared, until deep into stoppage-time.
Oscar Mingueza was penalized for a handball inside the box and Berenguer converted with 98 minutes on the clock to complete the comeback.
“It was a great game for the fans,” Guruzeta said. “We didn’t give up. They started strongly, but you have to fight back.”
BUNDESLIGA
AP, MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany
Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday beat VfL Wolfsburg 4-0 to continue their resurgence after a poor start to the season.
’Gladbach did not win any of their first five games in what was their worst league start in more than a decade.
However, they have won three of their past six in a run that includes only one defeat.
The home side faced little threat from a Wolfsburg team that started the day three points ahead of it in the Bundesliga.
’Gladbach took the lead after 15 minutes when Tomas Cvancara side-footed in from close range after Franck Honorat crossed from the right.
Three minutes from halftime, Rocco Reitz seized on a poor clearance from goalkeeper Koen Casteels and doubled the home side’s lead.
Honorat made it three in the 63rd minute and then Alassane Plea added a fourth seven minutes later to seal a commanding win.
LIGUE 1
AP, PARIS
Leaders OGC Nice on Friday missed a chance to extend their lead at the top of the table when they drew 0-0 away against mid-table Montpellier Herault SC.
Nice are the surprise leaders of Ligue 1 and Friday’s draw extended their unbeaten run to 15 games.
However, missing influential midfielder Youssouf Ndayishmiye, Nice struggled to create chances on what was a frustrating night.
SERIE A
AP, ROME
US Salernitana 1919 on Friday missed a golden opportunity to pick up their first win of the season when they gave up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 away against US Sassuolo.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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