LYON, France -- Cristiano Ronaldo was tetchy and grouchy, then majestic.
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.A bullet-header, a flex of his muscles for the cameras and an assist
for Portugals second.Just three minutes work from the Portugal captain
against Wales.Its why Ronaldo will lead Portugal into the European
Championship final on Sunday. Its why Gareth Bale is going home as Wales
astonishing Euro 2016 journey ended.Like so often at Real Madrid, Bale
was eclipsed by Ronaldo.Within weeks theyll be teammates again. And
after the whistle blew on Portugals 2-0 win, Ronaldo consoled Bale with
an affectionate hug and words of comfort.Heres a closer look at duel
that pitted the worlds two most expensive players against each other in
the Lyon semifinal:---BIG MOMENTPortugal toiled through five games in
France without winning inside 90 minutes. Ronaldo ensured there wouldnt
be a sixth.The three-time world player of the year scored twice in a 3-3
draw with Hungary in the group stage and it took a return to the
southern city to find the target again.It was a feat of Ronaldos
athleticism. A cross came in from Raphael Guerreiro, Ronaldo soared
above James Chester to meet it and then planted a header into the net in
the 50th minute. Bale could only watch helplessly at the far post.Like
so often, the celebration looked as important as the goal for
Ronaldo.Ronaldo darted to the corner flag, went on his back, awaiting
the acclaim of his teammates. They knew their duty. Then it was time for
the solo shot, with the spinning jump celebration thats his trademark
right in front of the cameras.All that was missing was a jersey being
removed to flaunt his toned torso. Hes probably saving that for the
final against Germany or France.---RECORD BREAKERTake your pick of the
records in Ronaldos possession.Already the all-time leading scorer in
the Champions League, Ronaldo is now level with Michel Platini with nine
goals in European Championship finals.Hell hope a 10th in his second
final sees Portugal crown a career in which he has won every major club
honor with a first international title.---PROVIDERA scuffed shot three
minutes after his goal looked typical of the Ronaldo who has labored at
times in this tournament. Fortunately for Ronaldo, Nani got on the end
of it, diverting the ball into the net.In this moment, it seemed there
was no way back for Bale, who protested in vain to an assistant referee
for offside.---ONE-MAN TEAM?Compensating for Aaron Ramseys absence, Bale
was forced to play deeper at times and lacked the creativity of his
suspended teammate to create openings for him.Wales couldnt rely on Bale
alone.But Bale at speed was still a sight of wonder that unsettled the
Portuguese. He just couldnt produce a goal.After charging with the ball
from inside his own half, surging past a trio of Portuguese men in mint
green, Bale could only strike the dipping ball into the arms of
goalkeeper Rui Patricio.---FREE-KICK FRUSTRATIONLess than six weeks
after they won the Champions League together for the second time, Bale
and Ronaldo couldnt both prevail in Lyon.Aside from the post-match hug,
Bale and Ronaldo only came close to each other on the field once in the
first half.Ronaldo tracked back to try to stop Bale, but pulled out and
allow Bale to continue running down the right flank to whip in ball that
a Welshman couldnt get on end of.Where Bale and Ronaldo were similar in
Lyon was their wastefulness with free kicks.Thats nothing new for
Ronaldo, who has now failed to score from 43 tournament free kicks for
Portugal. And yet he still wont relinquish set-piece duties.Bale has
scored from two free kicks during the tournament but there was only
frustration for the 100 million-euro forward.The 26-year-old Bale, four
years Ronaldos junior, has age on his side. But playing for such a
modest nation -- despite its undeniable dedication -- Bale might not
have a better chance to contest a final.---TUSSLESThe thorn in Ronaldos
side from the Welsh wasnt Bale but Ashley Williams and more often, James
Collins.Ronaldo was punching the turf in frustration, gesticulating
toward the referee after no foul was awarded in the third minute when he
was scythed down by Williams.Further refereeing frustration came when
Collins held Ronaldo in a headlock but no penalty was awarded. Ronaldo
also tried to go for an overhead kick, but instead fell and thrashed the
ground.The Welsh defense -- particularly Collins -- was denying Ronaldo
space to flourish in the first half.So when Ronaldo cracked his first
shot on goal, Collins intervened to deflect it wide. Ronaldo found no
such barrier when it mattered in the second half.
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. -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during
the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the
1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the
dead-ball era.
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. -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte
Bobcats.Exeter secured only their third Premiership win of the season
with a 32-19 win over Newcastle on Friday night.
England internationals Ollie Devoto and Thomas Waldrom, James
Short and Will Chudleyall went over for the Chiefs, while fly-half
Gareth Steenson weighed in with 12 points - three conversions and two
penalties - as last seasons beaten Premiership finalists regained some
form at the expense of a much-improved Newcastle side.Newcastle were
roared on by their biggest home crowd of the season - 8,061 - but,
despite tries from hooker Scott Lawson and full-back Alex Tait - failed
to claim the consolation of a losing bonus point. It was Exeters
first Premiership fixture since Semesa Rokodugunis 88th-minute try
consigned them to an agonising 13-10 defeat against Bath three weeks
ago, but they got off to a flying start on a freezing night on
Tyneside.Newcastle were attacking on the Chiefs 22-metre line when their
England Saxons scrum-half Mickey Young flung out a telegraphed pass
which England centre Devoto snaffled before racing clear for the opening
try.
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Steenson landed the conversion and, with just two minutes on the clock,
Exeter held a 7-0 advantage. They were pegged back to 7-3 when
Newcastles Kiwi fly-half Mike Delany nailed a 40-metre penalty after 13
minutes.Exeter enjoyed the lions share of possession as the opening half
progressed but they spurned a couple of line-out drives in the left
corneer and were made to pay when Newcastle cut loose on the
counter-attack after 26 minutes.
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Wing Marcus Watson, an Olympic silver medallist in Rio with Englands
Rugby Sevens squad in August, sliced through the Exeter defence with a
diagonal run and, after lock Will Witty was stopped just short, Lawson
followed up to score from close range and put Newcastle 8-7 up.Delany
hooked the conversion wide, which gave Exeter the chance to build a
handy cushion before the interval. Waldrom, Exeters New Zealand-born No
8, powered over from a line-out drive in the right corner after 33
minutes and Steensons conversion gave the Chiefs a 14-8 lead.Two minutes
into the second half Steenson stepped up to nail his first penalty,
stretching Exeters lead to 17-8. They only held their nine-point
advantage for three minutes, though, Delany stroking a penalty to cut
the visitors lead to 17-11.After Newcastle lock Callum Green was yellow
carded for deliberately playing the ball on the floor, Steensons right
boot made it 20-11 to Exeter.As in the first half, the Falcons hit back.
Flanker Mark Wilson did the damage with a crash ball break, paving the
way for Tait to score after 56 minutes. Delany could have cut the gap to
a single point but again hooked wide his conversion attempt.Then, on
the hour, Exeter opened up a 27-16 lead as Short exploited some
lacklustre defending to score the Chiefs third try which Steenson
converted.Delany kicked a penalty after 66 minutes and after full-back
Phil Dollman spilt possession when diving over on the right, the
livewire Chudley darted over from the blindside of a short-range scrum
to clinch the bonus point after 77 minutes.Upgrade to Sky Sports now to
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