Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/449474
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2015 20 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Giovinco signing hailed as a major moment for MLS Italian international completes move to Toronto FC WHETHER it was justified remains up for debate, but the feeling at Gate 5 of the Air Canada Centre carried a different vibe this past week. Major announcement glitz was traded for three microphones and well crafted videos. The news was just as big as last time around, if not bigger. Simply put, the signing of Juven- tus playmaker Sebastian Giovinco is a major moment for Toronto FC and Major League Soccer. A diminutive attacking midfielder, Giovinco has made 130 appearances for Juve in all competitions, scoring 20 goals and providing 23 assists. He won back-to-back Serie A titles in 2013 and 2014. The former Parma player said: "I am excited to sign with Toronto FC today and look forward to joining the club this summer. "I have heard so many great things about Toronto over the years and I know that it will be a city that I feel right at home in. "Until then, I have many things I still want to accomplish for Juven- tus and our fans. I will always give my heart and soul for Juve until I change shirts this summer." "We are beyond excited to add a player of Sebastian Giovinco's calib- er," said TFC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko in front of a throng of reporters and assorted MLSE em- ployees, including Chairman Larry Tanenbaum. Bezbatchenko has stressed com- peting on the world stage since tak- ing the job on September 20, 2013. Winning the Giovinco derby is a big step in that direction. "[Sebastian] chose TFC and MLS above many other international clubs." Those clubs reportedly in- cluded Arsenal, Tottenham and Monaco. Today wasn't about them, howev- er. It's about strengthening Toronto FC in 2015. It's about fielding the best team possible. Bezbatchenko thanked the execu- tives at MLSE for their willingness to go all-in when it came to acquir- ing talent. They did it last year with Michael Bradley, Gilberto and Jer- main Defoe. They're doing it again this year, this time with Jozy Alti- dore and Giovinco. Head coach Greg Vanney is now tasked with the prospect of employ- ing Altidore and Giovinco in his side's reworked attack. Things could be worse for the second-year boss. "We looked at our roster as we moved into the offseason and real- ized that we needed a player that can help create in the attacking third of the field," said Vanney. "We had a very short list of players that fit this mold, and [Sebastian] was at the top of it. We were incred- ibly fortunate at the way this came about and that we're here today to announce that he's now a part of our roster." As for the team going forward, Vanney sees Giovinco playing be- hind Altidore as a second forward or as an attacking midfielder. Bra- dley would sit deeper, which is the American international's prefer- ence. Giovinco is slated to arrive in To- ronto in July, with the Italian want- ing to end his tenure with Juventus on a good note. The Bianconeri end their domestic campaign on May 31, 2015. The 27-year-old, Giovinco turns 28 later this month, arrives on a free transfer. The man known as the "atomic ant" is still in his prime, and that was a huge factor for Bezbatch- enko and his staff. "There's a certain age where play- ers go into their prime and if you can get a core nucleus of your best players entering their critical years, that can speak volumes for what the team can do," continued Toronto's GM. For our team it's important be- cause they can grow together. Jozy, Michael, Sebastian, Jonathan Oso- rio and Nick Hagglund are players that are in their 20s. That's some- thing this league has never seen." Toronto's core will have the op- portunity to grow together. This club will go as far as the entire team can take them. The designated play- ers can't do it alone, this league has shown us that. With that said, in Giovinco, Bra- dley and Altidore, TFC have a solid foundation in place. Ten-man Ivory Coast fight back to earn point against Guinea IVORY Coast's bid to claim a first African Cup of Nations title in 23 years got off to a stuttering start as they could only manage a 1-1 draw after being reduced to ten men at the Estadio de Malabo. Mohamed Yattara's first-half opener in an entertaining match had threatened a shock until Doum- bia's 73rd minute leveller. The Guineans might rue a missed chance to stun their more heralded rivals, but the result will have fur- ther boosted their confidence after they defied the odds to qualify for tournament. Having overcome the ravages of the Ebola virus in their country which forced them to play all their home qualifiers at a neutral venue, Guinea stunned the Ivorians when Yattara fired them ahead with a su- perb strike. Ivory Coast had forward Gervinho sent off for striking an opponent shortly before the hour mark. Mali and Cameroon, the other two teams in the group, play later on Tuesday. Ivory Coast's three-pronged attack featuring Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Wilfried Bony struggled in the first half against a well-organised Guniea defence marshalled by cen- tre back Florentin Pogba, brother of France midfielder Paul. The tireless Gervinho nearly opened the scoring after one raid in the 17th minute but Guinea keeper Naby Yattara tipped his close-range effort against the crossbar. Taking every opportunity to break forward, the Guineans delighted their fans in the Estadio de Malabo when Mohamed Yattara blasted an unstoppable shot on the turn into the roof of the net after an Ivorian defender miscued a deep cross from the right into his stride. Bony, who signed for English champions Manchester City ear- lier this month, came close with a rasping half-volley from 20 metres shortly after the break. When Gervinho was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident it fired up the Guinea side and they almost doubled their lead when Ib- rahima Traore weaved his way past three markers and hit the crossbar with a delightful curling shot. They paid a heavy price for that ill fortune when midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure found his soon-to-be team mate Bony with a defence- splitting pass and the burly striker laid it on perfectly for Doumbia to sidefoot home the equaliser. Both sides threw men forward in search of a winner with Ivory Coast looking the more likely team to score but Guinea, clearly running out of steam, held on. Ivory Coast's Toure Yaya (C) controls the ball past Nigeria's Akas Chima Uche Malta - FA Trophy Melita - Valletta ................................... 0-2 Gzira United - Mosta ............................ 1-4 England - Capital One Cup Liverpool - Chelsea .............................. 1-1 Africa Cup of Nations Ivory Coast - Guinea ............................. 1-1 Mali - Cameroon .................................. 1-1 Results Sebastian Giovinco