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Orene Ai'i, Brad Fleming, Craig De Goldi and coach Gordon Tietjens. Photo credit: Getty

Today in sports history: May 28 - NZ win inaugural World Sevens Series in dramatic Paris finale

Some of the stories of the past that led sporting headlines around the world on May 27.

2000

New Zealand defeat South Africa 69-10 in the Paris Sevens final to win the inaugural world series title. 

Heading into the season finale, the Kiwis trailed Fiji in the standings, but when the latter were eliminated in the quarter-finals, New Zealand had a clear path to the title. 

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They ultimately finished eight points ahead of Fiji in the standings, despite both teams winning five tournaments each in the opening season. 

New Zealand's players competing in the tournament included Orene Ai'i, Eric Rush, Rodney So'oialo and Karl Te Nana.

2005

In his first season as captain, Richie McCaw leads the Crusaders to a 35-25 win over the Waratahs in the Super 12 final in Christchurch.

Wings Rico Gear and Scott Hamilton were among the Crusaders' tryscorers, with Dan Carter kicking three conversions and two penalties for the winners. 

As a reward, SANZAAR decreed the Crusaders could keep the Super 12 trophy, with new Super 14 silverware commissioned for the following season, with the inclusion of the South Africa-based Cheetahs and Australian-based Western Force

2011 

The Dan Vettori-captained  Royal Challengers Bangalore lose to Chennai Super Kings by 51-runs in the Indian Premier League final.

The Super Kings scored 205/5 in their 20 overs, thanks to a 159-run opening partnership between Mike Hussey and Murali Vijay. Vettori went 0/34 with the ball. 

In reply, Bangalore could only manage 147/8 with Vettori out first ball. 

2016 

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson sinks an NBA playoff-record 11 three-pointers to power his side to a 108-101 comeback win against Steven Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference finals. 

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Klay Thompson. Photo credit: Getty

Thompson and the Warriors would win Game Seven to reach their second straight NBA finals, where they'd blow a 3-1 series lead to lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

2016 

Real Madrid players celebrate winning the Champions League at San Siro stadium in Milan, beating crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid 5-3 in a shootout, after a 1–1 draw after extra time.

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Zinedine Zidane Photo credit: Getty

Real manager Zinedine Zidane, who scored the winner in their 2002 triumph, became the seventh man to win the European Cup as both player and manager, joining Miguel Munoz, Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff Carlo Ancelotti, Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola.

2017

World tennis No.1 Angelique Kerber becomes the first top seed in the 'Open Era' to lose in the French Open opening round. 

The German lost to Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-2 in 82 minutes. 

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2020/05/today-in-sports-history-may-28-nz-win-inaugural-world-sevens-series-in-dramatic-paris-finale/_jcr_content/par/image_471267178.dynimg.full.q75.jpg/v1590623110696/Angelique_Kerber_Reuters.jpg
Angelique Kerber. Photo credit: Reuters

Latvian Jeļena Ostapenko would win the title, beating Simona Halep 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Birthdays 

1896 - NZ hurdler & 1920 Olympics flagbearer Harry Wilson 

1938 - Former NBA basketball great Jerry West 

1959 - Former Olympic rower Eric Verdonk

1986 - WWE wrestler Seth Rollins 

1990 - Manchester City & England defender Kyle Walker 

1992 - Football Ferns striker Hannah Wilkinson 

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Live updates: FIFA U20 World Cup - NZ v Norway

New Zealand will play knockout football, after a stunning 2-0 win over Norway at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland.

A ferocious second-half strike from Gianni Stensness broke a goalless deadlock to propel the young All Whites to a second victory in four days.

Following a 5-0 hammering of Honduras, Des Buckingham's side was full of confidence early against the Europeans, creating half chances for Phoenix forward Sarpreet Singh and the impressive Elijah Just.

But the Norwegians held firm at the back and created the best chance of the half through their striker Erling Haland, but he fluffed his shot and New Zealand escaped to half time on level terms.

The decisive moment came with 20 minutes to play. Good build-up play from Singh and Bell had the Norwegians on their heels, Bell then laid off a pass to Stensness, who hit the ball first time from 25 metres. 

The ball thumped into the back of the net to give New Zealand a deserved lead they never gave up.