Top News
Juventus, Napoli win in Serie A
Rome, Aug 19 (IANS) Seven-time defending Serie A champions Juventus came from behind to defeat hosts Chievo Verona 3-2 in Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut with the Turin football giants, while Napoli overcame hosts Lazio in the opening matchday of the 2018-19 Italian football league campaign.
Winger Federico Bernardeschi scored an injury-time winner for Juventus, who after being put on the early lead by Sami Khedira, trailed 1-2, thanks to goals from Mariusz Stepinski and Emanuele Giaccherini in Verona on Saturday.
An own goal in the 75th minute made it 2-2 before substitute Bernardeschi sealed it for Juventus.
Massimiliano Allegri-coached Juventus appeared to be on their way to a routine win when German midfielder Khedira scored on a close-range shot just three minutes into the first half, reports Efe.
Chievo fended off subsequent scoring chances that could have produced a more lopsided result, including a shot by Ronaldo that went wide, and then drew level seven minutes before first-half stoppage time.
On the play, Polish striker Mariusz Stepinski received a cross from Italian midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini and put the ball home on a header.
Juventus were keen to retake the lead at the start of the second half, but Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino preserved the tie when he saved a long-range shot by Ronaldo.
The hosts then took the lead in the 56th minute when Giaccherini successfully converted a penalty he had won for a foul in the area by Joao Cancelo.
Juventus were unable to draw level until the 75th minute, finally doing so when Chievo’s Mattia Bani scored an own goal.
Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic appeared to score the winner for Juventus five minutes before injury time, but the referee ruled it out for a handball by Ronaldo.
Juventus, however, took the lead for good three minutes into second-half stoppage time when Italian winger Federico Bernardeschi scored off a pass from Brazilian left-back Alex Sandro.
In Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Napoli, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, who replaced Maurizio Sarri over the summer, defeated Lazio despite falling behind 0-1 after Ciro Immobile scored in the 25th minute.
However, they soon reacted and took the lead with goals by Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik and Italian forward Lorenzo Insigne.
After several attempts by both Napoli and Lazio in the first 24 minutes, Immobile connected a long pass from Francesco Acerbi, scoring with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box into the top-left corner.
Ancelotti’s team gradually reacted, scoring just before the half with a shot from close range by Milik, assisted by Jose Callejon from the right.
Napoli kept up the pressure in the second half, scoring their second goal at the hour mark with a brilliant right-footed shot by Insigne from the left of the box that curled into the top-right corner, after an assist by Albanian right-back Elseid Hysaj.
Lazio did not lose hope in the last 20 minutes, though all of their attempts were blocked or missed, including a header by Francesco Acerbi in the 90th minute, which bounced off the left post.
Before the kick-off of both the matches, the teams observed a moment of silence for victims of Tuesday’s bridge collapse in the northern Italian city of Genoa that left 43 dead.
–IANS
pur/sed
Top News
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.