THE SOCCER REPORT
Ronaldo, Messi take the spotlight before international break
Mar 19, 2019, 9:31 am
THE SOCCER REPORT
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick performance against Atletico Madrid to help Juventus advane to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and Lionel Messi's hat-trick in league play against Real Betis where the performances that stood out this week. Leagues around the world will now take a break for the International fixtures that will feature matches like USA vs. Chile next Tuesday in Houston.
The Round of 16 concluded in Europe with no lead safe as Atletico Madrid became another side that fell apart in the second leg, much like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the previous week. In the two series where everything was left to play for, it was Liverpool and FC Barcelona who prevailed at FC Bayern Munich and vs. Lyon, respectively.
Round of 16 - second leg results (updated):
The quarter-final draw happened on Friday, setting up the next round of matchups with Manchester United vs. FC Barcelona leading the headlines.
đ The quarter-final draw đ đ€ Most exciting tie? #UCLdraw https://t.co/bpkwkVKvdHâ UEFA Champions League (@UEFA Champions League) 1552648731.0
Extra time was needed as Czech side Slavia Prague outlasted a potential Sevilla comeback to win their Round of 16 series at home. Besides that upset, Arsenal found it's way back from a 1-3 deficit against French side Rennes as the rest of the "favorites" march on to the next round.
đ€© The quarter-finals draw in full đ€© Most exciting game? đ€ #UEL | #UELdraw https://t.co/W3OBTlHM3Uâ UEFA Europa League (@UEFA Europa League) 1552652281.0
Every goal from Premier League Matchweek 31 | NBC Sports www.youtube.com
Liverpool are back to the top of the standings, at least momentarily, as they pick up three points against Fulham. Manchester City did not feature in league play this week, instead advancing in the FA Cup with a 3-2 quater-final win against Swansea City. Mexican National Team star Javier Hernandez also took headlines this week with a brace to help West Ham to a 4-3 win over Huddersfield.
Top six: 1. Liverpool (76), 2. Manchester City (74), 3. Tottenham (61), 4. Arsenal (60), 5. Manchester United (58), 6. Chelsea (57)
Scoring leader: 18 - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Assists leader: 11 - Eden Hazard (Chelsea FC)
Highlights Real Betis vs FC Barcelona (1-4) www.youtube.com
FC Barcelona continue plowing through their La Liga competition as Messi put up three in the 4-1 win at Real Betis. The Argentine superstar commanded an ovation from the home fans thanks to his must-see goal in the hat-trick performance. Second-place Atletico Madrid lost 0-2 at Athletic Bilbao while Zidane's Real Madrid picked up a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo in the French Manager's comeback.
Top six: 1. FC Barcelona (66), 2. Atlético Madrid (56), 3. Real Madrid (54), 4. Getafe (46), 5. Alaves (44), 6. Sevilla (43)
Scoring leader: 29 - Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Assists leader: 12 - Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Top six: 1. Bayern Munich (60), 2. Dortmund (60), 3. RB Leipzig (49), 4. Monchengladbach (47), 5. Eintracht Frankfurt (46), 6. Bayer Leverkusen (42)
Scoring leader: 18 - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Assists leader: 12 - Jadon Sancho (Dortumund)
Top six: 1. Juventus (75), 2. Napoli (60), 3. Inter Milan (53), 4. A.C. Milan (51), 5. Roma (47), 6. Lazio (45)
Scoring leader: 21- Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria)
Assists leader: 9 - Dries Mertens (Napoli)
Top six: 1. PSG (77), 2. Lille (57), 3. Lyon (53), 4. Marseille (47), 5. Saint-Ătienne (46), 6. Stade Reims (46)
Scoring leader: 24 - Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
Assists leader: 10 - Angel Di Maria (PSG)
Top three: 1. PSV Eindhoven (67), 2. Ajax (62), 3. Feyenoord (47)
Top three: 1. Genk (63), 2. Club Brugge (56), 3. Standard Liege (53)
Top three: 1. Benfica (63), 2. Porto (63), 3. Braga (58)
Top three: 1. Celtic (70), 2. Rangers (60), 3. Aberdeen (52)
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Only four teams remain in the Concacaf Champions League, three from Mexico and one lone USA team.
Quarterfinals - second leg results:
Still buzzing. #CINvPOR https://t.co/3XX8PRuBxbâ FC Cincinnati (@FC Cincinnati) 1552956498.0
The story of Week 3 in MLS will be the first-ever home opener for new club FC Cincinatti, which drew a capacity crowd of 32,250 to Nippert Stadium. The home team sent fans happy with a 3-0 win over the Portland Timbers. Wayne Rooney had a hat-trick performance of his own this week to propel D.C. United to a 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake and Alberth Elis took Team of the Week honors with Rooney after helping Houston Dynamo to a 3-2 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
East top seven: 1. D.C. United (7), 2. Columbus Crew (7), 3. Toronto (6), 4. Montreal (6), 5. NY Red Bulls (4), 6. Cincinatti (4), 7. NYCFC (3)
West top seven: 1. Seattle (9), 2. LAFC (7), 3. Houston (7), 4. Minnesota (6), 5. LA Galaxy (6), 6. Sporting KC (4), 7. FC Dallas (4)
The two biggest teams in Mexico faced off twice, in cup and league play, as Club America took both victories over rivals Chivas of Guadalajara. Leon continues top of the table, separated from Tigres UANL only on goal difference.
Top eight: 1. Leon (26), 2. Tigres UANL (26), 3. Monterrey (22), 4. Club America (19), 5. Club Tijuana (19), 6. Necaxa (18), 7. Cruz Azul (18), 8. Pachuca (17)
Scoring leader: 9 - Angel Mena (Leon) / Brian Fernandez (Necaxa)
Assists leader: 8 - Angel Mena (Leon)
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This week's #CONMEBOLLibertadores action is complete! https://t.co/ZAmu2SzbTjâ CONMEBOL Libertadores (@CONMEBOL Libertadores) 1552623118.0
Top four: 1. Racing Club (55), 2. Defensa y Justicia (51), 3. Boca Juniors (47), 4. River Plate (42)
Scoring leader: 17 - Lisandro Lopez (Racing)
Assists leader: 9 - Walter Montillo (Tigre)
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2:45 p.m. - [International Friendly] Germany vs. Serbia (ESPN3, Univision Deportes)
2:45 p.m. - [International Friendly] Wales vs. Trinidad & Tobago (ESPN3)
Thursday, Mar. 21
10:00 a.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Kazakhstan vs. Scotland (ESPN3)
1:00 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Kosovo vs. Denmark (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Belgium vs. Russia (ESPN2, Univision Deportes)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Netherlands vs. Belarus (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Croatia vs. Azerbaijan (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Austria vs. Poland (ESPN3)
7:00 p.m. - [International Friendly] U.S. Men's National Team vs. Ecuador (ESPN2/UniMas)
Friday, Mar. 22
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] England vs. Czech Republic (ESPNews)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Albania vs. Turkey (ESPN3)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Moldova vs. France (ESPN+)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Portugal vs. Ukraine (UniMas, Univision Deportes)
3:30 p.m. - [International Friendly] Argentina vs. Venezuela (beIN Sports)
9:00 p.m. - [International Friendly] Mexico Men's National Team vs. Chile (UniMas, Univision Deportes)
Saturday, Mar. 23
12:00 p.m. - [International Friendly] Brazil vs. Panama (beIN Sports en Espanol)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Spain vs. Norway (ESPNews)
2:45 p.m. - [UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier] Italy vs. Finland (ESPN+)
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run homer for his first major league hit, and the Chicago Cubs swept the Houston Astros with a 3-1 victory on Thursday.
Nico Hoerner had three hits and Mike Tauchman went 1 for 1 with three walks as Chicago won for the fourth time in five games. Hayden Wesneski (2-0) pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings for the win in relief of Javier Assad.
Houston has lost a season-high five straight and eight of nine overall. At 7-19, it is off to its worst 26-game start since it was 6-20 in 1969.
First-year manager Joe Espada was ejected by plate umpire Jansen Visconti in the top of ninth.
Crow-Armstrong was recalled from Triple-A Iowa when Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with two fractured ribs. The 22-year-old outfielder, who is considered one of the teamâs top prospects, made his big league debut last year and went 0 for 14 while appearing in 13 games.
He picked a perfect time for his first major league hit.
Houston had a 1-0 lead before Dansby Swanson scampered home on a fielderâs choice grounder for Miguel Amaya in the sixth.
Espada then replaced Rafael Montero with Bryan Abreu, who threw a wild pitch with Crow-Armstrong trying to sacrifice Amaya to second. Crow-Armstrong then drove his next pitch deep to right, delighting the crowd of 29,876 at Wrigley Field.