Wednesday Morning: Rep. Ireland Draw With Sweden; Real Madrid Progress To Semi-Finals Of Champions League

Following fight back from Chelsea

SOCCER

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw says keeping players fit will be her biggest challenge ahead of their June World Cup qualifier in Georgia.

Ireland's playoff destiny is in their own hands following last night's hard-earned 1-1 draw away to Sweden.

Ireland go to Tbilisi on the 27th of June, more than a month after the season ends for most of Pauw's squad.

"We had a lot of luck to stay in the game, but the way that they executed the game-plan is absolutely phenomenal..." - Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw speaks to RTE Sport following her side's impressive away draw with Sweden. pic.twitter.com/s4wdY8f2fz

— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) April 12, 2022

An extra-time header from Karim Benzema saw Real Madrid move into the Champions League semi-finals last night.

They had been 3-0 down at home to Chelsea and heading out of the tournament, before a superb Rodrygo goal forced extra-time.

Real won the tie 5-4 on aggregate.

🗣 "You go as a coach and see the referee smiling and laughing with the other coach, I think it's very very bad timing"

Tuchel disappointed by referee after Chelsea's defeat to Real Madrid 👇pic.twitter.com/ZzualuVqt2

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 13, 2022

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is proud of the performance, feeling they deserved to progress:

Real will play the winner of tonight's tie involving neighbours Atletico and Manchester City.

City take a 1-0 lead into the second leg in the Spanish capital.

Last night's game in Madrid should provide a cautionary tale for Liverpool.

They also take a 3-1 lead into the home leg of their quarter-final with Benfica.

Villarreal await the winners in the semi-finals.

A late Samuel Chukwueze goal saw them draw 1-1 away to Bayern Munich last night, and secure a 2-1 aggregate win.

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Tonight Newbridge FC play Lucan United in the Leinster Senior League.

The game kicks off at 7.30pm, Station Road, Newbridge.

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Longford Town returned to the top four in the SSE Airtricity First Division last night.

Their 2-0 win at home to Cobh Ramblers extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

BOXING

Bob Arum claims he was looking for an excuse to sever ties with Daniel Kinahan.

The Top Rank boss is co-promoter of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, to whom Kinahan is an advisor.

Arum says he will honour the sanctions that have been imposed upon Kinahan and his connections, which mean no American firms can do business with them.

TENNIS

Novak Djokovic's return to the ATP Tour began with a first round defeat at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The world tennis number was beaten by Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in three sets.

It was his first competitive match since the middle of February and Djokovic admits his lack of action showed.

RACING

There's an eight-race card at Gowran Park this evening, with the first going to post at 3.40pm.