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Simeone brace powers Atletico Madrid past Getafe into Copa semifinals

Simeone brace powers Atletico Madrid past Getafe into Copa semifinals
Atletico Madrid’s Argentine forward Giuliano Simeone heads the ball and scores the opening goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) quarterfinal first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Getafe CF at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Feb. 4, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 05 February 2025

Simeone brace powers Atletico Madrid past Getafe into Copa semifinals

Simeone brace powers Atletico Madrid past Getafe into Copa semifinals
  • The 22-year-old Simeone netted twice in the first 17 minutes and Atletico reached the last-four of the Copa for the second straight season
  • In the other quarterfinals, Real Madrid visit Leganes on Wednesday, while on Thursday it will be Real Sociedad welcoming Osasuna and Barcelona playing at Valencia

MADRID: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone’s son, Giuliano, scored two early goals as the team eased into the Copa del Rey semifinals with a 5-0 home victory over Getafe on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Simeone netted twice in the first 17 minutes and Atletico reached the last-four of the Copa for the second straight season.

Samuel Lino also scored a first-half goal for the hosts at the Metropolitano stadium, and Angel Correa and Alexander Sorloth added second-half goals.

Atletico, whO last won the Copa in 2012-13, was eliminated by eventual champions Athletic Bilbao last season.

In the other quarterfinals, Real Madrid visit Leganes on Wednesday, while on Thursday it will be Real Sociedad welcoming Osasuna and Barcelona playing at Valencia.

Simeone opened the scoring with a header in the eighth minute and doubled the lead from inside the area in a breakaway in the 17th. Lino scored the third goal after a neat move to clear a defender and find the far corner with a low shot in the 42nd. Correa made it 4-0 with a low strike from outside the area in the 78th and Sorloth closed the rout in the 86th.

Coach Diego Simeone used a few reserve players ahead of the team’s crucial Spanish league match at first-place Real Madrid on Saturday. Atletico trail Madrid by one point.

Getafe, who had only one attempt on target in the first half, have only one win in their last four matches across all competitions. It have not made it to the Copa semifinals since 2009-10.


Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns

Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns
Updated 27 sec ago

Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns

Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns
  • Sri Lanka players had asked to return home after a suicide bombing in Islamabad killed 12, but their board said no
  • PCB has moved the remaining ODIs to Nov. 14 and 16, shifted the upcoming T20I tri-series entirely to Rawalpindi

KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday announced a revised schedule for its ongoing One-Day International series against Sri Lanka after confirming the tour would continue as planned, despite concerns raised by some Sri Lanka players following a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad.

According to Reuters, some Sri Lankan cricketers requested to return home from their Pakistan tour for safety reasons after the incident in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and injured 36, but their board issued a stern directive to stay put or face consequences.

Sri Lanka are touring Pakistan, playing a three-match ODI series followed by a Twenty20 tri-series along with Zimbabwe this month. Sri Lanka were scheduled to play Pakistan in the second ODI in Rawalpindi, hardly 20 kilometers from Islamabad, on Thursday, but the contest has been rescheduled for Friday.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would like to inform fans and stakeholders that the schedule for the ongoing One-Day International (ODI) series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi has been slightly revised,” the PCB said in a statement.

“The 2nd ODI, which was originally scheduled for 13 November 2025, will now be played on 14 November 2025 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” it added. “Tickets purchased for 13 November will remain valid and can be used for entry on 14 November.”

The PCB also said it had revised the schedule of the upcoming T20I Tri-Nation Tournament involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, saying the changes were made in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).

Under the revised schedule, the remaining ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will now be played on 14 and 16 November, 2025 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (RCS), while the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament shall now completely be played in Rawalpindi, commencing 18 November, with the final scheduled for 29 November 2025.

The PCB said the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament will serve as an important preparatory platform ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

It informed the updated fixtures for both the ODI series and the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament will be shared shortly on the PCB’s official platforms.

The Sri Lankan players were targeted by militants in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore in 2009 who attacked their bus, injuring at least six players.

The incident brought visits by international teams to Pakistan to a halt. Pakistan’s own team had to play their “home” matches in the United Arab Emirates.

However, security improved in subsequent years in major urban centers and test cricket returned when Sri Lanka toured in 2019.

In the ongoing series, Pakistan have won their first ODI, which was also held in Rawalpindi, by six runs on Tuesday.