Streets in downtown Charlotte were packed with fans yesterday afternoon and evening, wearing the red colors and chanting the name of their favorite team … Liverpool. The British soccer team played the Italian league’s AC Milan at Bank of America Stadium, part of a 10-day International Champions Cup tournament at stadiums around the US.
The crowd of more than 69,300 cheered as the opening whistle sounded. Liverpool fans were rewarded as the Reds defeated Milan 2-0. The first goal came in the 17th minute, when Joe Allen put a deflected save past Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbaiti.
Liverpool supporters cheered again when the substitute Suso (Jesús Fernández Sáez) added another goal right at the game’s end, scoring from just outside the penalty box.
Liverpool plays Premier league rival Manchester United Monday night in Miami for the tournament championship.
MISSIONARIES RETURNING FOR EBOLA TREATMENTS
An American doctor infected with the Ebola virus arrived in Atlanta yesterday for treatment at Emory University Hospital. Dr. Kent Brantly was working in Liberia for Samaritan’s Purse, an aid organization based in Boone. He became the first person infected with Ebola to be brought to the United States from Africa. His wife said in a statement was able to walk out of an ambulance when he arrived at the hospital. Meanwhile, a second American aid worker, Nancy Writebol, is expected to arrive there in a few days. She was serving alongside Brantly, working for SIM USA, a Christian aid group based in Charlotte. Emory is known as one of the nation's best hospitals for treating an outbreak like Ebola, with a special isolation unit.
NEIGHBOR ARRESTED IN NEWTON TEACHER'S MURDER
State and local investigators have arrested a neighbor in last month’s murder of a 31-year-old teacher and guidance counselor in Newton. Authorities found 34-year-old Sharman Howard Odom yesterday in Winston-Salem. He lives in the same apartment complex in Newton where teacher Maggie Daniels was found dead in June. Investigators say they found physical evidence that led them to Odom. Daniels was the Newton-Conover Schools’ teacher of the year in 2011.
HAGAN HAS EYE SURGERY
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan has returned to North Carolina to have emergency surgery on her eye. Spokeswoman Amber Moon said Hagan left Washington on Thursday night and had the surgery Friday. She is recuperating, but expects to be back on her regular schedule in several days.
MOTORCYLIST DIES ON TYVOLA RD.
A 19-year-old Charlotte man died yesterday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle on West Tyvola Road. Reid Sampson’s motorcycle slid into a curb and threw him into a tree. Police said speed and alcohol weren’t factors in the crash.
SPORTS: PANTHERS'S BENJAMIN IS BACK
the Carolina Panthers are back on the practice field at Wofford College in Spartanburg. They got a bit of good news this weekend. Wide receiver and No. 1 draft pick Kelvin Benjamin returned to practice after missing five days with a bone bruise in his left knee. The 23-year-old Benjamin hurt the knee last Sunday in practice. He starred at Florida State, where he caught 54 passes for 1,011 yards and 15 touchdowns last year - including the winning touchdown against Auburn in the national championship.
