NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — Morgan Gibbs-White scored against his former club as Nottingham Forest earned only a 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday which did little to boost its hopes of staying in the English Premier League.
Gibbs-White goaded the away fans after he made it 1-1 just before halftime and was then involved in his side’s second goal, but Matheus Cunha’s double for Wolves left Forest just one point above the relegation zone.
Forest is still hoping to recoup some of the four points it was docked by the Premier League for breaking financial rules, with an appeal date still to be set.
Injury-plagued Wolves looks set for a mid-table finish as European qualification looks out of reach with no wins in the last four games.
While the host had the early pressure, Wolves went ahead in the 40th minute with a brilliant solo effort by Cunha. He ran his marker Andrew Omobamidele all the way down the left flank into the penalty area, then turned him superbly, cut inside Ryan Yates, and fired an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
The lead was short-lived, though. U.S. international Gio Reyna was handed his first start for Forest and set up the equalizer in first-half stoppage time when his corner was headed in by Gibbs-White at the near post.
The former Wolves midfielder pretended to celebrate in front of the Forest fans before turning to the away section, who had been booing him.
He was involved again as Forest took a 57th-minute lead when he burst into the area and was tackled by Matt Doherty, with the ball falling perfectly for Danilo to slot home.
But Cunha brought Wolves level five minutes later as he turned home from close range after Forest could not deal with a corner.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Nottingham Forest's Gibbs-White, centre, reacts after scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday April 13, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Gibbs-White scores his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday April 13, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha scores his side's second goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday April 13, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Nottingham Forest's Gibbs-White celebrates his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground, in Nottingham, England, Saturday April 13, 2024. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bradley Cooper rocked a Dr. J jacket from his courtside seat at Game 6. The A-list actor had a few more 76ers fans join him Thursday night for Philadelphia's playoff game against New York — about 2,000 more courtesy of ticket giveaways from Sixers ownership.
The Sixers' strategy heading into Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series was to keep Knicks fans out of Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night.
Team owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman and former minority owner Michael Rubin joined forces Wednesday to buy more than 2,000 tickets they handed out to people who serve the Philadelphia community.
Wells Fargo Center seemed more like Madison Square Garden South during the Knicks' 97-92 win in Game 4 on Sunday, prompting Sixers star Joel Embiid to express frustration about the home-court disadvantage.
On Tuesday, the Sixers won 112-106 in overtime in New York to cut their deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
After the 2,000-plus Game 6 tickets were bought in bulk, Rubin announced on social media they would be given to first responders, health care professionals and other Philadelphia-based organizations.
Ali Benner, a registered nurse at Penn Medicine, jumped on a mass email sent to hospital employees offering first-come, first-serve tickets. She got a free pair of seats in section 120 (behind one of the baskets) and attended the game with her boyfriend. Tickets in that section were being offered for about $1,000 for a pair on various secondary markets shortly before tipoff.
“I think I was just quick and lucky,” Benner said, wearing an Allen Iverson T-shirt.
Benner said she was probably going to watch Game 6 at a bar had she not received free tickets.
She said the New York takeover in Game 4 was “kind of sad” but credited Rubin and the Sixers for donating Game 6 tickets to Philadelphia-based organizations.
“I think it's pretty great,” she said. “Next week is Nurses' Appreciation week, so I think it's a really good way to kick it off and show some thanks to the healthcare workers.”
Dawn Staley, coach of the NCAA champion South Carolina women’s basketball team and a Philadelphia native, also asked fans to not sell their tickets to Knicks fans.
“We need everybody’s support, man,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said.
Game 4 last Sunday in Philadelphia had a decidedly Knicks sound down the stretch.
“The Philadelphia fanbase is, I said this before, they’re very relentless and very passionate. I mean, I’m an Eagles fan, I would know,” said Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who won two national championships playing collegiately for Villanova. “But seeing the Knicks here and hearing the Knicks here, it was pretty cool and it’s awesome.”
Not for Embiid, who had to hear Brunson get louder chants of “MVP! MVP!” than the guy who actually won the award last season.
“I love our fans but it was unfortunate. I’m not calling them out, but it is disappointing,” Embiid said, adding that he’s aware that Knicks fans often make the short train trip for the road games.
“But never seen it (like Sunday) and I’ve been here for 10 years. Yeah, kind of (ticks) me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town, so ... I don’t think that should happen. It’s not OK.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
New York Knicks fans cheer during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts during the first half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) reacts after a turnover during the second half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, looks to shoot against New York Knicks' Isaiah Hartenstein, right, during the first half of Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Actor Bradley Cooper watches warmsups ahead of Game 6 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
