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Down 3-0 after the first leg at the Camp Nou, Liverpool did the unthinkable at Anfield, turning around the tie with four answered goals in one of the greatest comebacks the Champions League has ever seen.

With a three-goal deficit and without two of their famed front three in Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino (both injured), Liverpool got two goals apiece from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum to shock Lionel Messi and Barcelona and reach the Champions League final.

Here's how social media reacted to the latest -- and maybe most improbable -- in a long line of magical European nights at Anfield...

Hard to argue with this quote after watching that performance from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and the fans at Anfield.

Mo Salah believed.

Count investor Lebron James in among those who were captivated by Liverpool's comeback.

BT Sport brings up a good point: Where does this comeback rank among Liverpool's greatest?

Seven percent chance of advancing... tell that to Liverpool!

Let's check in with some of the heroes from the night...

Liverpool stun Barca to reach Champions League final

Published in Soccer
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 14:58

Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history to beat Barcelona 4-0 on Tuesday, overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit and advancing to their second successive final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Two goals each from stand-in forward Divock Origi and halftime substitute Georginio Wijnaldum left Lionel Messi and Barcelona utterly shell-shocked by a Liverpool performance full of passion, belief and determination.

Juergen Klopp's side will play the winner of Wednesday's other semi-final between Ajax Amsterdam and Tottenham Hotspur, with the Dutch side leading 1-0 from the first-leg in London.

"Unbelievable. I don't think many people gave us a chance," said Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

"Before the game we knew that it would be difficult but it was still possible of course. It's amazing. We knew that at Anfield we could do something special."

Liverpool become only the third team in the history of the European Cup or Champions League to come from three goals down after the first leg of a semi-final and progress after Panathinaikos in 1970-71 and Barcelona themselves in 1985-86.

For Barca, who went out to on away goals to AS Roma in the quarter-finals last year after winning the first-leg 4-1, it was a bitter night that will raise many questions for coach Ernesto Valverde.

Messi, whose two goals in the first leg had given his team a seemingly comfortable advantage, was unable to make his influence on the game count with an away goal that would have been decisive.

Liverpool, without two thirds of their strike force with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino injured, took a seventh-minute lead when a poor headed clearance from Jordi Alba fell at the feet of Jordan Henderson, who burst goalwards.

His low shot was parried out by Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but straight to Origi who slotted home.

Barca had openings in the first half but when Messi twice got space around the box he fired wide of the target and when Jordi Alba burst goalwards just before halftime, Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker was out quickly to nullify the danger.

Yet the game took a remarkable turn following the introduction of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for the injured left back Andy Robertson, at the break.

The Dutchman drove home a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, which Barca keeper Ter Stegen should have saved, to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

Two minutes later Wijnaldum rose to meet a Xherdan Shaqiri cross with a powerful header to make it 3-3 on aggregate.

Liverpool then grabbed an extraordinary fourth goal with a quickly-taken corner from Alexander-Arnold, catching the Barca defence asleep with a low ball that was turned in at the near post by Origi.

That sent Anfield wild but then Klopp's side suddenly found themselves needing to switch mindset and defend a lead as Barca slipped, belatedly, into their trademark possession game.

Yet with Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip outstanding in the centre of defence and Brazilian Fabinho making some crucial interventions in midfield, Liverpool held on for one of their most famous wins.

Klopp's side, who lost to Real Madrid in last year's final in Kiev, remain in with a chance of a double triumph as they head into Sunday's final round of Premier League games trailing leaders Manchester City by just a point.

Sources: George out for camp start after surgery

Published in Basketball
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 15:25

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Paul George underwent rotator cuff surgery to repair a partially torn tendon in his right shoulder Tuesday and will miss at least the start of preseason training camp, league sources told ESPN.

Along with George -- who will also soon have a procedure done to correct a small tear in the labrum of his left shoulder -- All-Star guard Russell Westbrook had a procedure done to repair a torn ligament in a finger on his left hand, league sources said.

Before the injury in late February, George had been considered an MVP front-runner and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He is expected to make a full recovery, although it won't be until the preseason when the Thunder next address a time frame for his return.

Westbrook played the final six weeks of the season with the injury to the fourth metacarpal of his non-shooting hand, sources said. Westbrook had been taping and treating the finger throughout the final weeks of the regular season and playoffs but never disclosed the injury to the public.

He also had a minor procedure on his surgically repaired right knee Tuesday -- described as proactive maintenance -- that will allow him time to still have an aggressive summer of preparation for next season, sources said.

George and Westbrook played with the injuries in the final weeks of the Thunder's season, when a promising 3-seed in the Western Conference playoff race culminated with them finishing sixth and losing in the first round to the Portland Trail Blazers.

George injured his right shoulder against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 26, though he suggested at the team's exit interviews two weeks ago that he had been dealing earlier with a shoulder issue.

George missed three games, returning after a week only to then hurt his left shoulder, though he didn't miss any time because of it. Surgery on his right shoulder was an option at that time, but without a risk of further damage or injury, George elected to play through it and address it after the season. He received regular treatment, including the use of a massive heating wrap while he sat on the bench during games.

His shoulder issues certainly played a part in the way the Thunder's season derailed the way it did. On the morning of Feb. 26, the Thunder were 38-21, third in the Western Conference, and George was a leading candidate for MVP. Prior to the injury, he was averaging 28.7 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting, including 40.3 percent from 3 on 9.6 attempts, self-admittedly playing the best basketball of his career.

After the injury, the Thunder went 11-12 with George playing far more inconsistent, averaging 26.1 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting, including 33.8 percent from 3 on 10.4 attempts.

"I think it came at a terrible time, especially [because] the team was rolling," George said in his season-ending news conference. "We were playing good. I was holding up pretty, pretty, pretty good. I just thought it came at the wrong time, honestly. But again, I've never made no excuses on it. I was dealing with it for a long time throughout the season. It just got worse and worse as it went on.

"... Injuries are part of the game," he added. "I've missed a season being hurt, so I was able to -- the training staff assured me I was fine to play through it, and I will be fine going forward. I'd had no other thought in my mind but to be out there and play and ride it out with my guys."

George aggravated his right shoulder right before the postseason. In the second-to-last game of the regular season, George was skying for a baseline dunk against the Houston Rockets but had his right arm grabbed on the way up. He stayed in and eventually hit a game-winning 3 with a couple seconds left. Unable to lift his arm the next day, George sat out the regular-season finale against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Before Game 1 against the Blazers, George went four days without shooting a basketball and was said to not be able to lift his right arm until the day of the game. He played through the injury in the series, getting routine treatment and adding black KT tape on both shoulders during games. He averaged 28.6 points on 43.6 percent shooting, including 31.9 percent from 3, for the series but closed out strong with 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting.

Westbrook's knee issues originated in 2013 when Patrick Beverley ran into him during the first round of the playoffs. Westbrook suffered a torn meniscus and underwent surgery for a full repair. He went almost five years without any surgeries on his knee before having another scope in September, which caused him to miss all of training camp and the first two games of the regular season.

He averaged a triple-double for the third consecutive season (22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and a league-leading 10.7 assists). Westbrook averaged nearly two steals per game -- which was fourth in the NBA -- while pairing with George to lead the Thunder into becoming one of the league's best defensive teams during the regular season.

Nats activate Rendon, ship Kieboom to minors

Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 14:32

The Washington Nationals reinstated third baseman Anthony Rendon from the 10-day injured list and recalled right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday.

Rendon missed a total of 14 games with a left elbow contusion suffered when he was hit by a pitch on April 20. Prior to suffering the injury, Rendon was in the midst of a 17-game hitting streak.

The Nationals also optioned infielder Carter Kieboom to Triple-A Fresno and placed left-handed pitcher Tony Sipp on the 10-day injured list with a strained oblique.

Indians' Kluber hoping to return this season

Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 14:19

CLEVELAND -- Indians ace Corey Kluber is hopeful he will be able to come back from a broken right arm and pitch again this season.

The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner spoke Tuesday for the first time since he was struck by a 102 mph line drive off the bat of Brian Anderson during a start last week in Miami.

His arm wrapped in a soft cast, Kluber said it has been difficult to stay positive and patient with an injury that has dramatically impacted his season.

Kluber will undergo weekly X-rays so doctors can see if his bone is healing properly.

"I don't have a plan not to pitch again," Kluber said when asked if he thought he could return later this season. "Obviously, I don't have a definitive timeline because it's all depending on how things heal. But in my mind, I'm not looking at it as season ending."

The 33-year-old said it's been challenging to sit around and "be at your body's mercy."

Angels' Ohtani to make season debut vs. Tigers

Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 14:12

The Los Angeles Angels announced that Shohei Ohtani will make his season debut on Tuesday night in Detroit, batting third against the Tigers.

He will be returning just seven months after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Ohtani, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year after finishing 2018 with a .925 OPS and a 3.31 ERA, will boost a lineup that is desperate for production behind Mike Trout, who leads the majors with 31 walks.

The 24-year-old Ohtani, who will help only as a designated hitter this season, said last week that his timing was "getting better each day" and that he was "a little ahead of schedule" with his rehab.

The Angels also reinstated third baseman Zack Cozart (neck strain) and reliever Cody Allen (back) from the injured list on Tuesday.

Cozart was placed on the IL last month. He is hitting just .109 with four RBIs this season.

Allen is 0-2 with four saves and a 6.00 ERA this season, his first with the Angels.

He will not return immediately to the closer's role, manager Brad Ausmus said recently. Allen had been removed from the closer's role just days before he was placed on the injured list with a back injury last month.

In other moves Tuesday, the Angels designated outfielder Peter Bourjos and right-hander Chris Stratton for assignment and optioned infielder Luis Rengifo to Triple-A Salt Lake.

British number one Kyle Edmund lost 6-4 6-3 to Italy's Fabio Fognini in the first round at the Madrid Open.

World number 12 Fognini, 31, took one hour and 30 minutes to secure victory as he broke Edmund's serve four times.

Edmund could not recover after losing serve at 4-4 in the first set, or once he went 3-2 down in the second.

It is the Briton's fourth straight defeat, having lost to American world number 82 Denis Kudla in the first round of the Munich Open last week.

The 24-year-old has also lost to Diego Schwartzman in Monte Carlo and, after a first-round victory over Ugo Humbert, to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Marrakech on clay this season.

Number one seed Novak Djokovic, 31, progressed to the third round in Madrid, beating 21-year-old American Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-2.

The Serb is joined by potential quarter-final opponent Marin Cilic, after the Croat recovered from a set down against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff to win 4-6 6-3 6-4.

Competing in his final tournament before retirement, 37-year-old David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 4-6 6-4 to set up a second-round tie against third seed Alexander Zverev.

Stan Wawrinka beat France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2 6-3 and will face Guido Pella in the second round after the Argentine overcame 12th seed Daniil Medvedev 6-2 1-6 6-3.

Meanwhile, Britain's Jamie Murray and partner Bruno Soares reached the men's doubles second round, taking just 18 minutes to win the first set in a 6-0 6-4 victory against Nikoloz Basilashvili and Radu Albot.

Later on Tuesday, Roger Federer will contest his first clay-court match in three years against France's Richard Gasquet, and Barcelona Open champion Dominic Thiem faces Reilly Opeka.

Nadal 'hopes to be ready' despite illness

World number two Rafael Nadal is preparing to begin his tournament with a second-round match against Canada's Felix Auger Aliassime.

A five-time champion in Madrid - most recently in 2017 - Nadal has been struggling with a virus as he aims to improve on back-to-back semi-final defeats.

The Spaniard lost to to Dominic Thiem in Barcelona and Fabio Fognini in Monte Carlo as he failed to defend either of his titles in April.

"I've been going through a virus. The positive side is I've been able to train at least an hour-and-a-half [per session]," said 32-year-old Nadal.

He added: "I hope that tomorrow is going to be a bit better. It's true that when you have this virus and stomach viruses, the body's a bit weaker. I'm a bit better than yesterday and yesterday was better than the day before.

"There is a bit more risk of injuries. But of course, this is a very important tournament for me and I hope to be ready. Barcelona was a positive improvement for me. I'm building up my game with more confidence than I had in Monte Carlo. I'm enjoying training and I enjoy playing each day."

Invitation to Nantes

Published in Table Tennis
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 09:08

Today, Nantes is one of the most attractive and picturesque cities.

The Salle Sportive Métropolitaine de la Trocardière was built in 2015 to meet the expectations of the growth of city’s major sports clubs.

A modern arena, it was designed to welcome the city’s basketball clubs – l’Hermine de Nantes and Nantes Rezé Basket – as well as other major sporting organisations. The success of both male and female high-performance sports has enabled Nantes to become one of the most prominent places in France and Europe for indoor team sports.

Located in Rezé, south of Nantes, the arena is accessible by tramway and car (it has several parking lots adjacent). It can welcome up to 4,238 spectators including 42 places for persons with reduced mobility

Each year, millions of tourists come to discover the various cultural events and buildings of the Cité des Ducs (it posseses 121 protected edifices, including 23 classed as historic monuments). You will be able to enjoy artistical, cultural, historical, musical events and many more with or without the guides telling you the story of this beautiful city

Applications should be made no later than Friday 31st May.

Contact:
Gloria Wagener
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Claude Bergeret
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read: Swaythling Issue No.106 – March 2019

New region for World Veteran Championships

Published in Table Tennis
Tuesday, 07 May 2019 09:19

In 2022, the tournament will be staged in the Gulf Area of the world, the destination is Oman, a national association that is rapidly making its presence felt on the international stage.

One year ago, a highly successful Oman Junior and Cadet Open was staged in the capital city of Muscat; this year an equally well received Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus tournament was held. Furthermore, later in the year in July, Salalah will host the ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge.

The fact that Oman has will now host the 2022 World Veteran Championships means that they have completed the full complement from the very youngest in the hopes category, to the most senior in the veteran’s event.

Present in Budapest, the Oman Table Tennis Federation was represented by Abdullah Mohamed Bamakhalef, President; Mohammed Humaid Al Kelbani, Secretary-General and Sajad Al Lawati, Head of the Competition Committee. They secured the vote in favour of Malaysia who were present in the guise of Edward Chua Soon Ann, Vice-President of the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia and his wife Ann.

Oman the destination and there is one player who I am sure can thoroughly recommend Oman as a destination.

In Budapest at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships, matters closed with Mattias Falck receiving the Richard Bergmann Fair Play Award, from Claude Bergeret, a most fitting end to a very special tournament for the 27 year old Swede, who very much against the odds had reached the men’s singles final.

Notably it was the same outcome as earlier in the year; likewise at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus Oman, he had been the men’s singles runner up.

Read: Swaythling Issue No.106 – March 2019

Most notably Ebby Schöler returned to the role of President, a position he had held prior to the Annual General Meeting last year in Halmstad when he has stood down in favour of Öivind Eriksen and assumed the role of Deputy President.

Reto Bazzi continues in the role of Rules Expert, the remaining members of the Executive Committee being new to office.

After years of loyal and most appreciated service, alongside Öivind Eriksen, Gloria Wagener tendered her resignation as Secretary as did Werner Schnyder in the role of Treasurer. Harvey Webb assumes the role of Deputy President, Claude Bergeret fulfils the role of Secretary, Richard Scruton shoulders the task of Treasurer.

However, Gloria Wagener is not lost to the Swaythling Club structure, becomes the Special Advisor to the Membership Committee, being the contact for the database.

Notably, Membership is one of only two sub-committees retained in major overall; the other being the World Veteran Championships. Chair of the World Veteran Championships is Hans Westling, Reto Bazzi is the Director with members being Ina Jozepsone alongside a representative to be nominated by the International Table Tennis Federation.

Meanwhile, Milan Orlowski is the Chair of the Membership Committee, the position of Director is vacant, the members being Jaroslav Stanek, Jonny Ternlind, Aloar Azevedo and Yao Zhenxu.

A new email address has been opened for membership: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read: Swaythling Issue No.106 – March 2019

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