Herausforderungen » inish a 61-yard, five-play drive, Hamiltons

Giuseppe Rossi is getting his injury-hit career back on track at La Liga strugglers Levante. And with Euro 2016 around the corner, the former Manchester United prodigy is chasing his first call-up for a major tournament with Italy. Nick Wright reflects on his extraordinary journey...In the late 1950s, a young man named José Besalduch moved to Valencia and took a job in construction on a tower block overlooking Levantes old Vallejo stadium. The building was not yet fitted with elevators, but every other weekend he and his co-workers would climb the steps to the fifth floor and watch the action unfold on the pitch beneath them.Besalduch is 85 now, but those Sunday afternoons suspended above Vallejo were the beginning of an unlikely love affair with Valencias other club. My father was a Valencia fan, he told local newspaper Levante-EMV in 2014. He had already made it clear to me: Do not support Levante. You will suffer all your life and they will never win anything. But Besalduch ignored the advice, and has followed Levante religiously ever since - despite his father being proven right. Reaching the Copa del Rey semi-finals in 1935 remains the closest brush with silverware in their 106-year history, and Les Granotes spent four of the last six decades marooned in Spains second and third divisons. Giuseppe Rossi in action for Levante against his former side Villarreal It was enough to test anyones faith, but Besalduch was always there. Over half a century of dedication has earned him the nickname El Gasolina among fellow fans, and after years in the doldrums, Levante are now battling to make it seven straight seasons in La Liga. Now when I watch a match with 17,000 spectators, sometimes I cry with the emotion, said Besalduch. After all Ive seen before, I cry easily.In January, Besalduchs emotion was caught on television cameras at the unveiling of former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi. The Italy international, now 29, had agreed to swap Champions League-chasing Fiorentina for La Ligas bottom club in a bid to revive his career, and Besalduch was overcome with joy as he embraced their prestigious loan signing in a crowd of Levante fans.I am so happy to see you, he said, his voice cracking with emotion. Well see each other every day. Thank you so much for coming. Thank you so much for coming and for choosing our Levante. Thank you so much, because you had other clubs, we know that, and you chose our Levante. For Rossi, too, the journey has been emotional. The 29-year-old is well-known to Spanish football fans having scored 82 goals in 192 appearances for Villarreal from 2007 to 2012, but between bursts of brilliance his career has been punctuated by devastating injuries, repeated knee operations and endless months of rehabilitation.Rossi hails from New Jersey on the east coast of the United States, but at the age of 12 he crossed the Atlantic to join Parmas renowned youth academy in the homeland of his Italian-immigrant parents. Rossi was a rising star, and it wasnt long before Manchester United took advantage of financial turmoil at the Serie A club to steal the speedy little striker away to Old Trafford. Giuseppe Rossi poses with Sir Alex Ferguson after signing for Manchester United as a 16-year-old A 16-year-old Rossi made his first senior appearance in an FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace in November 2004, and 11 months later, he scored on his Premier League debut after replacing Ruud van Nistelrooy in a 3-1 win over Sunderland. Sir Alex Ferguson described him as the future of this club when he was handed a new contract in 2006, but it wasnt to be. Man Utds debut scorers From Rossi to Van Nistelrooy, what has become of Man Utds Premier League debut scorers? After an unsuccessful loan spell at Newcastle and a more prosperous one at his old club Parma in 2006/07, the 5ft 8ins striker was deemed too lightweight to make it in the Premier League. And with a long line of forwards ahead of him in the Old Trafford pecking order, he was granted a £6.7m move to Manuel Pellegrinis Villarreal, where he replaced his former team-mate Diego Forlan.In Spain, Rossi set about showing Ferguson what he was missing. His explosive speed, excellent close-control and instinctive finishing came to the fore in his new surroundings, and Villarreal secured an historic second-placed La Liga finish in his first season. From 13, to 15, to 17, his goal tallies just kept rising, and in a stunning 2010/11 campaign he netted a club-record 32 times in 56 games. Giuseppe Rossi vies with Real Madrids Xabi Alonso during his time at Villarreal Rossi had been a full Italy international since his debut in 2008 but he was surprisingly omitted from their 2010 World Cup squad, and in October 2011 his right knee agonisingly buckled in a challenge with Real Madrids Xabi Alonso at the Bernabeu. Six months on the sidelines followed, but far worse was still to come.Rossi was just days away from returning to action the following April when his knee gave away again in training. As soon as I saw him, I knew it was the same thing, said Villarreal physio Manuel Telló at the time. Hes completely depressed. Rossi had hoped to play his way into Euro 2012 contention and Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was even planning a personal visit, but with that his hopes were dashed.It was a career-threatening setback, and it wasnt just Rossi who suffered. Without their talisman, Villarreal were relegated from La Liga for the first time since 1998/99. The striker had played his last game for the Yellow Submarine, and in January 2013, despite Rossi undergoing three knee ligament operations in the previous 18 months, Fiorentina paid 10 million euros to take him back to Italy. Giuseppe Rossi celebrates a goal for his former side Fiorentina Rossi was hoping to reward the Violas faith by returning for the final months of the 2012/13 Serie A season, but it wasnt until the last day of the campaign that he was able to make his long-awaited debut - 571 days on from that fateful day at the Bernabeu. Rossi had shown remarkable perseverance through the dark months on the sidelines, and in the first half of the 2013/14 campaign, he reminded everyone exactly what he was capable of. By Christmas, he was top of the Serie A scoring charts with 16 goals in 17 appearances - including a stunning 14-minute hat-trick in a 4-2 win over champions Juventus. Ronaldo hasnt been good enough Spanish football expert Guillem Balague on Cristiano Ronaldo, Atletico Madrid and more. His manager Vicenzo Montella described him as a genius of football and there was a return to the international fold too - but in January 2014, disaster struck again. Fiorentina were 1-0 up against Livorno when a cynical foul from defender Leandro Rinaudo damaged the same knee ligaments for a third time. As the realisation dawned on him, Rossi pulled his shirt over his face and left the field in tears.There would be no World Cup 2014 call-up, and complications eventually kept him out for the entirety of last season. When he finally returned as a late substitute in a 3-1 defeat to Torino last August, he had gone another 456 days without kicking a ball. This time, however, there was no explosive comeback. Giuseppe Rossi has scored seven goals in 30 appearances for Italy Rossi struggled to recapture his best form, and when the January transfer window came around, he had scored just twice in 16 games. After so many months on the sidelines and with Euro 2016 just around the corner, Rossi - still dreaming of a first major tournament appearance for his country - needed a change.He couldnt say no to Levantes offer of regular playing time in a league he knows well, and his arrival was a coup for one of Spains most unfashionable clubs. You can see from the first minute he got here that hes revolutionised not only the club, but his team-mates, said Levante manager Rubi. Theyre delighted to have a team-mate of his ilk, and that ultimately benefits us all. You can see from the first minute he got here that hes revolutionised not only the club but his team-mates. Levante manager Rubi on Giuseppe Rossi Rossis return to Villarreal on Sunday ended in a 3-0 defeat that kept Levante four points away from safety, but there have been encouraging signs too. Rossi scored on his first start for the club against Sevilla at the end of January, and there was another goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Getafe.On Wednesday night, things will come full circle when Rossis new side host Real Madrid, the opponent against whom his injury hell started back in 2011. Around Levantes new stadium, there are no fifth-floor viewpoints for opportunist supporters, but Besalduch will be there. Hoping, waiting. Just like Rossi.Watch Levante v Real Madrid live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.45pm on Wednesday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.Also See:Van Gaals youngstersJuves new jewelChris Devenski Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Rogelio Armenteros Astros Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. https://www.cheapastros.com/1243o-martin-maldonado-jersey-astros.html . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Aaron Sanchez Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Carlos Beltran Astros Jersey . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. GUELPH, Ont. -- It was the wettest game that Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly has ever played in, and thats saying something for a guy who played his college football in the rainy state of Washington. "Ive never seen it come down like that, especially for the entire game," said the 28-year-old who led the Eskimos to a 30-20 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night with two touchdown throws and a 12-yard TD rush in a torrential downpour. "Its tough. The ball gets heavy. Its getting slippery," he said, likening it to trying to catch a watermelon. Edmonton had already jumped out to a 16-0 lead before the rains came and the Ticats were forced to play catch up in awful conditions. That early lead was a "huge" advantage, according to Reilly. "When the weather hit, then it was just a chess match of back and forth and field position," he said. "And at that point in time, if you got a ball in the end zone, then you feel pretty lucky." Reilly completed 14-of-22 pass attempts for 130 yards. It was the Ticats home opener at Alumni Stadium, home to the University of Guelph Gryphons, which was temporarily expanded this season to seat a capacity 13,000 while a new stadium is built in Hamilton. Game attendance for the home opener was announced as 12,612, but most of those made a run for it when the rains came heavy in the second quarter. Hugh Charles had two touchdowns and Fred Stamps added one for Edmonton while CJ Gable and Ed Gant scored for Hamilton. Hamilton kicker Luca Congi made two of three field-goal attempts, from 39 and 26 yards and missed from 42. Edmonton improved to 1-1 after a 39-18 loss to Saskatchewan last week. After putting up 34 points in last weeks 39-34 loss to Toronto, the Ticats (0-2) could only muster 20 points in the weather. "They played with more energy than us," said Hamilton QB Henry Burris, who completed 18-of-35 pass attempts for 229 yards, one TD and two interceptions. "Weve got to do a better job of seizing momentum when we get some momentum. We killed ourselves with penalties. I had the turnover when we were backed up. "Regardless of what conditions we plaay in, this is football and youre going to have days like this when theres going to be rain.dddddddddddd But weve got to be able to respond better than that." Twice, early in the first quarter, Hamilton first downs were called back by offside penalties to receiver Simon Charbonneau-Campeau. Coach Kent Austin was quick to point out, however, that those two penalties werent specifically what cost the Ticats. But they were an example. "Thats the perfect example of two mistakes where we (could) stay on the football field (but) where they get us off the football field," he said. Hamilton had five fumbles on the night -- four of them by Lindsey Lamar on returns, of which he lost one -- and two interceptions. Edmonton fumbled three times and lost it once. Congi hit field goals from 39 and 26 yards as the Ticats picked away at the lead during a second quarter where the field was barely playable. Edmonton led 16-13 at the half. Charles looked to be in the dog house when he fumbled the opening kickoff and the Ticats recovered at the Edmonton 40-yard line. But they couldnt convert as Congi missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt and Edmonton ran it out. The Esks scored on the ensuing possession as Charles redeemed himself with a 70-yard TD run. After scoring a safety followed by an 11-yard TD grab by Stamps to finish a 61-yard, five-play drive, Hamiltons Gable drove the ball in from the two-yard line to cap a 38-yard drive. He was aided by two penalties against Edmonton including pass interference in the end zone to make it 16-7 before the downpour came to end the quarter. Neither team got much going to start the second half as the rain continued to pour. But Edmontons TJ Hill intercepted Burris midway through the third quarter on the Hamilton 27 and the Esks needed three plays before Reilly found Charles for the 13-yard score. Edmonton led 23-13 heading into the fourth. Five minutes into the fourth, Reilly capped an 83-yard drive with a 12-yard TD run giving Edmonton a 30-13 lead. The Ticats answered with Gant, who showed up in Hamilton from Edmonton just this week, catching a 40-yard TD pass from Burris to pull to 30-20 with 6:22 left. ' ' '