BARI -- Italy gave new coach Antonio Conte a flying start on Thursday, taking 10 minutes to equal their goal tally for the entire World Cup as they won a friendly in Bari against a depleted Netherlands, who were playing their first game under Guus Hiddink.
Mario Balotelli, dropped by Conte after the maverick striker's World Cup performance drew barely-veiled criticism from his own team mates, was scarcely missed as the lively forward line of Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza pestered the Dutch rearguard in a convincing 2-0 win.
Conte, however, will be wary of reading too much into the performance as the contest effectively ended in the 10th minute when the Dutch were reduced to 10 men and Italy scored their second goal.
Netherlands, semi-finalists at the World Cup, were missing Arjen Robben, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart in the first match of 67-year-old Hiddink's second stint in charge.
The impressive 48,000 crowd in Bari had barely settled into their seats when Immobile latched onto a long ball over the Dutch defence, swept past goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and scored into an empty net after only three minutes.
Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty seven minutes later after debutant forward Zaza was fouled by Bruno Martins Indi, who was harshly sent off, after the Dutch were caught out again.
"Apart from the result, I wanted to see a response from the boys and it was certainly positive in terms of effort, aggression and the football ideas we want to bring forward," Conte told Rai television.
"There are mature players here and also youngsters who can become great champions. There is a very long way to go, but as I always say, winning helps."
Italy were reeling from their first-round exit at the World Cup when they managed only two goals in the entire campaign, their worst tally since 1966.
Cesare Prandelli, whose contract ran until 2016, immediately quit and said that Italians had lost interest in their national team, who have won four World Cups.
Determined to prove otherwise, the famously competitive Conte immediately installed the 3-5-2 system he used at Juventus, where he won three Serie A titles in as many years in charge.
Italy, dominating the match against off-colour opponents, could have added to their tally before halftime.
Cillessen stopped Zaza's side-footed effort after Immobile had set him up, then Zaza returned the compliment by chesting the ball down for Immobile who fired over the bar.
Robin van Persie sent a low drive across the face of goal in a rare Dutch attack early in the second half, but Italy were closer to a third when substitute Mattia Destro headed wide from Manuel Pasqual's inviting cross.
Italy never let up and were pressing deep into the Dutch half even in the last 10 minutes of the game.
"More than a special team, I had special men tonight," said Conte, whose team visit Norway for their opening Euro 2016 qualifier on Tuesday. "I am convinced that with hard work we can achieve good things."
NEW YORK-- Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova made her best mark in grand slam singles by outslugging Victoria Azarenka, the U.S. Open runner-up the last two years, 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open.
The 17th-seeded Russian was steadier and more explosive with her big groundstrokes in dismissing the 16th seed from Belarus and advancing to the last four of a major for the first time after four losses in the quarter-finals stage.
Boldly going for winners at every opportunity against the former world number one, Makarova pressured Azarenka to a dozen break points and cashed in twice in each set for her victory.
"I'm feeling amazing. Finally I'm in a semi-finals, finally I'm here," the 26-year-old Makarova, who is better known for her doubles exploits, told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. "It's a great feeling."
Makarova has hoisted major trophies but always as part of a partnership, as winner of the French Open doubles in 2013 with Elena Vesnina and in mixed doubles at the 2012 U.S. Open with Brazilian Bruno Soares.
The Russian, however, has thrived on her own racket in Flushing Meadows in the year's last grand slam by advancing without the loss of a set, eliminating seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard in overbearing heat in the process.
Makarova, who won her second career singles title at this year's Pattay City event in Thailand, will meet either two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams or 11th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy for a berth in the final.
No Excuses
Azarenka, a two-times winner of the Australian Open, showed some rust from a season marred by foot and knee injures that forced her to withdraw from seven events and sent her ranking plunging from number two to 17th.
She also showed some frustration, earning a warning for racket abuse after being broken to fall behind 4-2 in the second set when her backhand tipped the net cord and landed just wide.
"Give credit to my opponent," the charismatic 24-year-old Belarussian told reporters in a hushed voice. "She played really well today. Am I disappointed? Yes, but I tried my best."
Azarenka's agent said on Twitter that she had suffered from a case of food poisoning on Tuesday but the 16th seed refused to comment.
"I'm not going to make any excuses," said Azarenka, who led their head-to-head series 3-2 but had won their previous two matches on hard court. "She deserves to win. She played much better than me today."
It was an entertaining match between two aggressive, power hitters but Makarova proved much steadier with her service game as she faced just three break points in the match, saving two, and took advantage of six double faults.
Azarenka drew first blood, breaking in the fifth game of the first set at 3-2 but Makarova broke right back, and broke again in the 10th game as she took advantage of loose groundstrokes from the Belarussian.
Makarova dominated the second set, keeping up the pressure after Azarenka saved four break points in the second game and two more in the fourth to remain level at 2-2.
The Russian finally broke through on Azarenka's next serve and clinched the quarter-final by breaking in the final game for an emphatic end to her 87-minute victory.
VALENCIA, Spain-- U.S. challengers BMW Oracle won the 33rd America's Cup on Sunday, beating Swiss holders Alinghi in the second race to claim the best-of-three series 2-0 in a triumph of superior design and technology.
Software mogul Larry Ellison's giant trimaran, featuring a towering wing-shaped sail, beat Alinghi by more than a kilometre in the second race off the Spanish port of Valencia.
Ellison, an accomplished ocean racer who had never made it to an America's Cup match before, proudly steered his space-age boat back to port as night fell, hugging and congratulating his crew members.
"It's an absolutely awesome feeling. I couldn't be more proud," Ellison told America's Cup television.
"Alinghi sailed really hard today," he said.
Ellison's BMW Oracle team was beaten by Alinghi, backed by banking and biotechnology billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, in the final of the 2003 challengers series for the America's Cup, which the Swiss went on to win from holders New Zealand.
The 2010 event came after more than two years of often bitter legal wrangles between Ellison and Bertarelli over the America's Cup rules, battles which sometimes spilled over into sniping between the teams.
Alinghi had been flying a protest flag during the race, meaning the result was provisional until the complaint was heard. An Alinghi spokesman said later it had been withdrawn.
An American team had not won sailing's oldest and most prestigious prize since Bill Koch's America3 beat Italians Il Moro de Venezia in 1992.
It was a convincing victory for Ellison's boat, a unique trimaran featuring a revolutionary wing-shaped mast and mainsail configuration the height of a 20-storey building.
The carbon fibre and kevlar American boat hit speeds of up to 33 knots, incredibly more than four times the speed of the wind, as it surged away on the second leg to lead by more than 2,100 metres.
Alinghi, with Bertarelli at the helm, finished 5 mins 26 seconds behind BMW Oracle after a miserable race.
Bertarelli's team made an error in pre-start manoeuvres, earning a penalty which had to be executed before they could finish.
The Swiss catamaran made up good ground to lead on the first leg of the 39-nautical mile race but were then blown off the water by BMW Oracle's superior speed.
"We were at the limit and couldn't push it any harder," Alinghi crew member Pierre-Yves Jorand told reporters.
"They did a great job and for sure the wing is a fantastic tool," he said.
BMW Oracle won Friday's first race equally easily.
Sunday's race finally got under way after delays of more than six hours as race officials waited for suitable wind.
NEW YORK-- Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova made her best mark in grand slam singles by outslugging Victoria Azarenka, the U.S. Open runner-up the last two years, 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open.
The 17th-seeded Russian was steadier and more explosive with her big groundstrokes in dismissing the 16th seed from Belarus and advancing to the last four of a major for the first time after four losses in the quarter-finals stage.
Boldly going for winners at every opportunity against the former world number one, Makarova pressured Azarenka to a dozen break points and cashed in twice in each set for her victory.
"I'm feeling amazing. Finally I'm in a semi-finals, finally I'm here," the 26-year-old Makarova, who is better known for her doubles exploits, told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. "It's a great feeling."
Makarova has hoisted major trophies but always as part of a partnership, as winner of the French Open doubles in 2013 with Elena Vesnina and in mixed doubles at the 2012 U.S. Open with Brazilian Bruno Soares.
The Russian, however, has thrived on her own racket in Flushing Meadows in the year's last grand slam by advancing without the loss of a set, eliminating seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard in overbearing heat in the process.
Makarova, who won her second career singles title at this year's Pattay City event in Thailand, will meet either two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams or 11th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy for a berth in the final.
No Excuses
Azarenka, a two-times winner of the Australian Open, showed some rust from a season marred by foot and knee injures that forced her to withdraw from seven events and sent her ranking plunging from number two to 17th.
She also showed some frustration, earning a warning for racket abuse after being broken to fall behind 4-2 in the second set when her backhand tipped the net cord and landed just wide.
"Give credit to my opponent," the charismatic 24-year-old Belarussian told reporters in a hushed voice. "She played really well today. Am I disappointed? Yes, but I tried my best."
Azarenka's agent said on Twitter that she had suffered from a case of food poisoning on Tuesday but the 16th seed refused to comment.
"I'm not going to make any excuses," said Azarenka, who led their head-to-head series 3-2 but had won their previous two matches on hard court. "She deserves to win. She played much better than me today."
It was an entertaining match between two aggressive, power hitters but Makarova proved much steadier with her service game as she faced just three break points in the match, saving two, and took advantage of six double faults.
Azarenka drew first blood, breaking in the fifth game of the first set at 3-2 but Makarova broke right back, and broke again in the 10th game as she took advantage of loose groundstrokes from the Belarussian.
Makarova dominated the second set, keeping up the pressure after Azarenka saved four break points in the second game and two more in the fourth to remain level at 2-2.
The Russian finally broke through on Azarenka's next serve and clinched the quarter-final by breaking in the final game for an emphatic end to her 87-minute victory.
Barcelona beaten at last
LONDON-- Leaders Barcelona slumped to their first La Liga defeat of the season on Sunday, losing 2-1 at Atletico Madrid, after second-placed Real Madrid beat Xerez 3-0 on Saturday with a double from Cristiano Ronaldo.
In Italy, AS Roma eased past Palermo 4-1 for their ninth consecutive win in all competitions while Bayern Munich made it 12 victories in a row with a 3-1 Bundesliga triumph over Borussia Dortmund.
SPAIN
Champions Barcelona, missing five first-team defenders, lost 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, their first league defeat of the season in their 22nd match.
Diego Forlan's clinical finish and a superb Simao Sabrosa free kick put Atletico 2-0 ahead before Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled one back.
Second-placed Real Madrid trimmed Barca's lead to two points with a 3-0 win at Xerez, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice on his return from a two-match ban after Alvaro Arbeloa had opened the scoring.
ITALY
Leaders Inter Milan drew 0-0 at Napoli in an entertaining game in which both sides hit the woodwork but the hosts probably deserved to win.
Midfielder Matteo Brighi scored twice as second-placed AS Roma kept up the pressure with a 4-1 win over Palermo, their ninth victory in a row in all competitions.
AC Milan, in third, warmed up for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Manchester United with a 3-2 home win over Udinese, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netting twice.
Juventus ended a dreadful run of form thanks to Alessandro Del Piero's controversial late penalty in a 3-2 victory over Genoa.
GERMANY
Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich won at home to stay level on points at the top of the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen beat fading champions VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 on a miserable afternoon for visiting goalkeeper Andre Lenz and Bayern came from behind for a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.
It was the 12th win in a row in all competitions for Louis van Gaal's Bayern.
ENGLAND
Aston Villa skipper Stilian Petrov headed an equaliser three minutes from time to force a 2-2 draw at second tier Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.
Holders Chelsea eased into the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Cardiff City, another second tier side, while Portsmouth won by the same score at local rivals Southampton.
Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Kalou scored for Chelsea while Michael Chopra replied for Cardiff.
FRANCE
Leaders Girondins Bordeaux beat St Etienne 3-1 to stay three points clear of Montpellier.
Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh headed champions Bordeaux in front before two goals from Brazilian Wendel secured the points. Bakary Sako replied.
Montpellier beat Grenoble 1-0.
PORTUGAL
Benfica stayed top with a 1-0 home win over bottom side Belenenses, Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo heading in a cross by Brazil midfielder Ramires in the 10th minute.
Braga kept up the pressure when they beat Maritimo 2-1 to stay one point behind.
NETHERLANDS
PSV Eindhoven went three points clear at the top after a 1-0 win at Heracles Almelo, Swede Ola Toivonen heading the winner in the 58th minute.
Second-placed Twente Enschede won 2-1 at Vitesse Arnhem.
GREECE
Champions Olympiakos Piraeus closed the gap on Super League leaders Panathinaikos to three points by beating Asteras Tripolis 3-1 helped by two goals from Democratic Republic of Congo forward Lomana Lua Lua.
Ieroklis Stoltidis was also on target for Olympiakos and Luiz Eder pulled one back for Asteras.
Panathinaikos went down to a shock 2-0 home defeat against Kavala, Polish midfielder Ebi Smolarek scoring both goals in the second half.
