NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — There's unlikely to be a debate over the save of the season in the Premier League.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez surely has that wrapped up after producing an astonishing save against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The Argentina international was standing slightly off his line as a header by Forest's Nicolas Dominguez went past him. Martinez stuck out his left hand behind him and somehow managed to drop the ball down onto the ground and scoop it away from off the line in the same motion.
The Premier League described the save as “world class.” The BBC suggested it might be “one of the all-time great Premier League saves.”
Three minutes later, Martinez was celebrating a goal by teammate Jhon Duran that put Villa ahead at the City Ground.
Martinez was voted as the best goalkeeper in the world at the Ballon d’Or awards in each of the past two years.
He famously pulled off a stunning stop in the last seconds of extra time in the 2022 World Cup final to deny France striker Randal Kolo Muani. That kept teammate Lionel Messi’s dream alive of finally winning soccer’s biggest prize.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, right, makes a save against Nottingham Forest's Nicolas Dominguez (16) during a Premier League soccer match at the City Ground, Saturday Dec 14, 2024, in Nottingham, England. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA fined Brooklyn Nets swingman Trendon Watford and Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner $35,000 each on Friday for an altercation in a game this week.
Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard also was fined $20,000 for his role in initiating the altercation in the Pacers' 105-99 overtime victory over the Nets on Thursday.
The tensions started with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter when Watford ran toward Nembhard after a made basket and hit him with a forearm to the chest. Watford also shoved Turner after he ran toward the scuffle.
Players and team personnel joined the fracas, but it did not escalate further.
Watford was assessed two technical fouls and ejected, while Turner and Nembhard were each assessed technical fouls.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford (9) leave the court after being ejected during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford, left, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) scuffle during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford, left, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) scuffle during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
