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Soccer

Champions League play-offs: Napoli beats Nice; Sevilla victorious in Istanbul

Ten clubs took the pitch on Wednesday looking to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, and, following five first legs across Europe, a picture is emerging of who will be involved in the draw.

Napoli 2-0 Nice

In one of the two play-offs boasting two clubs from European football’s top five leagues, SSC Napoli defeated OGC Nice, who ended with nine players, 2-0 at Stadio San Paolo. Away supporters weren’t allowed to attend the game, which may have been for the best as it spared them from witnessing red cards to Vincent Koziello and Alassane Plea, both of whom were sent off following a dangerous tackle by the former. Dries Mertens continued his phenomenal form in the Champions League by opening the scoring, while Jorginho converted a penalty kick.

Istanbul Basaksehir 1-2 Sevilla

Jesus Navas’ first competitive touch since returning to Sevilla was an assist. It was that type of night for the Andalusian club, which left Turkey’s capital with a 2-1 win at Istanbul Basaksehir, making its debut in the Champions League. A cold-blooded shot by Sergio Escudero produced the match’s first goal, and the lead was restored by Wissam Ben Yedder just one minute after Navas took the pitch.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-1 Maribor

Hapoel Be’er Sheva turned things around in Israel, scoring two goals after NK Maribor drew first blood in the 10th minute. Anthony Nwakaeme manufactured a world-class volley to equalise, and Shir Tzedek blasted a penalty into the top corner just before the interval.

Celtic 5-0 Astana

Celtic qualified for the Champions League’s group stage with a game to spare, thrashing Astana 5-0 in Scotland. Its result was a tad flattering, as two own goals were scored while the third came after a nasty clash of heads between Tom Rogic and Yuri Logvinenko. Nonetheless, the Bhoys will be happy about the second leg being merely a formality.

Olympiacos 2-1 Rijeka

Olympiacos BC came from behind and scored in second-half stoppage time to claim a 2-1 victory versus HNK Rijeka at Karaiskaki Stadium. After the Croatian club was put at a disadvantage when Leonard Zuta was shown a red card, the Thrylos sent its supporters into a frenzy in the 93rd minute, as Alaixys Romao headed home a scramble in the penalty area.

NFL

Bennett backed by brother Martellus, Baldwin
6:58 PM ET

  • Sheil KapadiaESPN Writer

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    • Covered the Philadelphia Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine and Philly.com from 2008 to 2015.
    • Covered the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL for BaltimoreSun.com from 2006 to 2008.

Two days after electing to sit during the national anthem, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett received support from his brother, Martellus, and his teammate Doug Baldwin on Tuesday.

“I support him, I support his movement, I support Colin Kaepernick, I support all the guys, Angela Davis, all the people that came before us to pave the way for what we’re trying to do in the black community,” Martellus Bennett, a Green Bay Packers tight end, said. “I support everybody and always will. I always will be very pro black, I guess would be the term to say.”

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Baldwin said that he is considering joining Bennett’s protest.

“I was really proud of it. And I think we as a society should be proud,” Baldwin said.

“The overwhelming and most profound message is that we claim to have equality and liberty for all people. And some people feel that’s not the case. So maybe we should listen to them. Maybe we should listen to what their thoughts are and see if we can’t be better. If we think we’re perfect, the Romans thought they were perfect. I’d just say maybe we shouldn’t think we’re perfect and there’s always room for improvement.”

Bennett said after Sunday’s game that he plans on sitting during the anthem for the entire season. He told reporters that he wanted to use his platform as an athlete to promote equality.

Pete Carroll said he supports Bennett’s message but thinks everyone should stand for the anthem.

“I support the heck out of his concerns and issues and all that,” Carroll said. “When it comes to it, I love our country, and I think we should all stand for the opportunities when the flag is represented. But the fact that his heart is in a great place and he’s going to do great work well after the time he’s with us, it’s easy for me to support him in his issues. But I think we should all be standing up when they play the national anthem.”

“If there’s anybody you can look up to, it’s Mike. I know sometimes he may come off a little abrasive, but man the dude is such a great guy. He’s always working in the community, he’s always trying to better the young and he’s a progressive thinker. I think it’s awesome.”

Martellus Bennett on brother Michael Bennett

Martellus Bennett wouldn’t say whether he’s decided to join his brother in protest.

“I support Michael in everything he does,” Martellus Bennett said. “He’s very well-educated on what it is he wants to happen in the world and what he’s trying to communicate, and I think he does an awesome job. I love him to death, and I think he’s very courageous in the position he’s in and the things that he says, and I’m very proud to be his brother and to see him make the impact that he does — not just with stances like that but the work that he does in the community, the type of father that he is. If there’s anybody you can look up to, it’s Mike. I know sometimes he may come off a little abrasive, but man the dude is such a great guy. He’s always working in the community, he’s always trying to better the young and he’s a progressive thinker. I think it’s awesome.”

Baldwin was asked if he’s worried about a segment of fans being turned off by players sitting for the national anthem.

“No. It’s football,” Baldwin said. “I appreciate the fans who come out here and support us. But it’s football. We’re not saving lives. We’re not police officers. We’re not doctors. We’re football players, first and foremost. So if you want to stop watching the game because a guy feels strongly about a very serious topic that’s going on in our society, well then that’s your choice. You have a right to freedom of speech. So yeah, if you want to do that, all for it.

“If your feelings are hurt about a particular situation, then maybe you should ask yourself, ‘Why are my feelings being hurt about this? Why is it so important for somebody, who seems to be an intelligent human being, why is it so important for them to get this message across? Why is it so important for them to do it in this fashion? In the particular moment in which they do it? Why is it so important?’ All of us can ask ourselves those questions, and maybe we’ll be smarter human beings, a smarter society if we do that.”

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.

Soccer

Watch: Alexander-Arnold curls home free-kick on Champions League debut

A star is born.

On Tuesday, in the first leg of Liverpool’s tie against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Champions League’s play-offs, Jurgen Klopp gave the youth a chance and was rewarded in the 35th minute.

Making his Champions League debut, Trent Alexander-Arnold – who is only 18 years old – stepped up to take a free-kick and curled a wonderful shot over the wall and past Oliver Baumann. The goal was the highlight of a first half in which the teenage right-back joined a number of attacks and threatened to open the scoring after charging down an attempted clearance by Andrej Kramaric.

The game marked Alexander-Arnold’s ninth start in all competitions.

NFL

Bucs GM on releasing Aguayo: I owned up to it

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht says his decision to release kicker Roberto Aguayo on Saturday was his way of owning up to the mistake he made in drafting Aguayo, but that won’t stop him from making bold moves in the future.

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“I’m owning up to it,” he told The MMQB.com. “I’m owning up to it by releasing him. It was a bold move, and it didn’t work out. I don’t know what else to say. I know I have the support of my coach and my ownership.

“At the time, I was bound and determined to get the best kicker we possibly could. I thought Roberto had the chance to be a special kicker in the league for a long time. That’s a position that had been a rough spot for us.

“What did I learn from this? I’ve said this before, but when we took him, we essentially anointed him. If I could do it again, I would have gone back and brought in competition to challenge him. I look back on that a lot. Roberto is a great kid, but the magnitude of that position, and the pressure on a 21-year-old — his performance is affecting the lives of men who have families to support. That got tough.”

Roberto Aguayo was under pressure to succeed with the Buccaneers from the start after the team traded up in the second round of the 2016 draft to select him. Mark LoMoglio/ Icon Sportswire

The Buccaneers’ move to trade into the second round of the 2016 draft to select Aguayo drew scrutiny from the start. Aguayo then scuffled in his rookie year, making just 71 percent (22-for-31) of his field goal attempts. He continued to struggle in training camp. The final straw came Friday night, when he missed an extra point and then missed wide right on a 47-yard field goal attempt against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Licht vowed in his interview with The MMQB.com that the experience with Aguayo would not make him “afraid of making bold moves” in the future.

“You can’t make decisions, or not make them, based on fear. I will say that you have to learn from things that didn’t work out. Whatever that is in this case, we’ll figure it out,” he told the website.

The Chicago Bears claimed Aguayo off waivers on Sunday, and he will compete with veteran Connor Barth for the team’s starting job. Barth was released by the Buccaneers after they selected Aguayo in 2016.

Aguayo on Monday called his struggles with the Buccaneers “unfortunate.”

“What we both wanted, it just never flourished. I’m excited to be here with the Bears, and I’m excited for this fresh opportunity and a new start,” he said.

ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson contributed to this report.

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