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Legends Maldini, Villa say ‘passion’ key to Saudi football’s ‘rapid development’ ahead of FIFA Club World Cup

Legends Maldini, Villa say ‘passion’ key to Saudi football’s ‘rapid development’ ahead of FIFA Club World Cup
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Updated 04 December 2023
Arab News
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Legends Maldini, Villa say ‘passion’ key to Saudi football’s ‘rapid development’ ahead of FIFA Club World Cup

Legends Maldini, Villa say ‘passion’ key to Saudi football’s ‘rapid development’ ahead of FIFA Club World Cup
  • Former CWC champions Paolo Maldini and David Villa are in Jeddah this week as the Red Sea coastal city counts down to hosting the competition
Updated 04 December 2023
Arab News
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LONDON: The “passion” of Saudi Arabia’s football-obsessed fans during this month’s FIFA Club World Cup in the Kingdom will set it up to host even bigger events in the future, two legends of the game said on Monday.

Former CWC champions Paolo Maldini and David Villa are in Jeddah this week as the Red Sea coastal city counts down to hosting the competition.

Both men have enjoyed glittering careers, including winning the tournament in 2007 (Maldini with AC Milan) and 2011 (Villa with Barcelona) respectively.

Now regular visitors to Saudi Arabia, the two shared their thoughts on the Kingdom’s growing stature and influence within global football.

 

“Hosting a tournament like the FIFA Club World Cup is a big challenge,” Maldini said. “FIFA is very strict when it comes to the terms of organizing a tournament, but with the passion here (in Saudi Arabia), I think they will find what they are looking for,” he said.

“I’ve been to Saudi Arabia several times. The first time was 30 years ago, and there are lots of changes since then. Saudis love football — this has been known for years, and I’ve experienced it personally. We have a goal to make this tournament one of the most important tournaments in the world, and this is achievable due to the passionate fans here.”

Villa echoed the sentiment: “I’ve visited Saudi Arabia four times in the last year — the passion for football is real here. Saudis have such a strong passion for football, not only locally but globally, too.

“To host a tournament like the FIFA Club World Cup is very important to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi League is developing rapidly, and Saudi football is progressing very well. There is also a huge affection for football here.

“Football should always be for the fans, those who are passionate and want to watch the games. That’s why it’s crucial and important for Saudi Arabia to host a tournament like the FIFA Club World Cup,” he said.

The tournament, which kicks off in Jeddah on Dec. 12, will see the champions of the six continental federations clash for the right to be called club champion of the world.

Manchester City, Fluminense of Brazil, Egyptian giants Al-Ahly, Asian champions Urawa Red Diamonds, Mexican side Club Leon and Auckland City will be joined by Jeddah’s own Al-Ittihad, who qualify as domestic champions of the host nation.

Topics: football soccer Saudi Arabia FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Club World Cup 2023 David Villa Paolo Maldini

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Scheduling of major cricket events is a battle that will not go away

Scheduling of major cricket events is a battle that will not go away
Updated 21 November 2024
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Scheduling of major cricket events is a battle that will not go away

Scheduling of major cricket events is a battle that will not go away
  • Questions remain over who plays where in 2025 Champions Trophy, plus the qualifying tournaments for 2026 T20 and 2027 One Day World Cups
Updated 21 November 2024
Jon Pike

If ever the spectrum of stakes faced by men’s international cricket teams needed to be viewed at its extremes, current events provide a vivid illustration. At one end is the imbroglio around who is prepared to play whom and where in the Champions Trophy in 2025. At the other end are the qualifying tournaments to decide who will play in the 2026 T20 and 2027 One Day World Cups.

Ever since the International Cricket Council announced in November 2021 that Pakistan would host the 2025 Champions Trophy, trouble has been brewing. The country has not hosted a global tournament since the 1996 World Cup, which it shared with India and Sri Lanka. Terrorist attacks on the Taj Hotel in Mumbai in November 2008, and directly on the Sri Lankan team’s bus in Lahore in March 2009, ensured it would be a long time before international cricket returned to Pakistan.

In preparation, the Pakistan Cricket Board and government have embarked upon a major rebuilding program of its main stadiums. Whether these will be used for the Champions Trophy remains in the balance. It never seemed likely that the Indian government would authorize its cricket team to play in Pakistan, even though Lahore was identified as the most suitable venue given its proximity to the border. The possibility was quashed in unceremonious fashion last week.

After requests from the PCB for clarification about India’s intentions, a letter was sent by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to the ICC, which formally forwarded it to the PCB. The letter confirmed what most people had long anticipated: India will not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. In turn, the PCB sought advice from its government. Immediately, it dug its heels in, rejecting a compromise situation that has been used before — a hybrid model. This would see India playing its matches in a neutral location, possibly the UAE.

Previous compromise situations differ from this one. Pakistan is the nominated host. Since 2021, there have been at least 10 ICC board meetings. There is no report which indicates that concerns were raised about security issues and Pakistan is investing heavily in the event. Although it is understood the tournament budget has a provision for partial relocation of matches, Pakistan stands to lose significant, much-needed income from hosting, rumored to be $65 million.

India’s reasoning for not authorizing travel to Pakistan is on security grounds, which has riled the PCB. Security visits undertaken by ICC representatives have been positive. It is understood the PCB has a “master security plan,” shared with the BCCI on Oct. 10 and which does not appear to have faced any objections at the ICC’s October board meeting. The PCB is keen to show that Pakistan’s insecure reputation is in the past. It points to the fact that England, Australia and New Zealand have all toured there recently without incident.

Relations with India are of course different, based on deep-seated acrimony and tensions. These factors have been encapsulated in confusion over exactly where in Pakistan the actual trophy will be displayed on its tour of participating countries. The PCB had announced visits to cities in what India refers to as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The ICC was very quick to reject this itinerary and announced an amended one.

Currently, the ICC is in a state of management change. On Dec. 1 it will have a new chair, Jay Shah, who has been secretary of the BCCI since 2019. It is understood he raised strong objections with the ICC on the PCB’s plans to take the trophy tour to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. There do not seem to have been any comments from the outgoing ICC chair and, in this hiatus, the ICC is receiving blame for not being sufficiently pro-active.

It is between a rock and a hard place. India now has so much power in global cricket that, without its participation in major ICC events, commercial success would be significantly diminished. India can refuse to play in Pakistan, but if Pakistan refused to play in an ICC tournament it could be hit with ICC sanctions. No wonder Pakistan feels hard done by. Furthermore, the original release date of the tournament schedule has been delayed, hindering PCB’s organizational planning.

Shah’s position is an anomalous one. It feels as if he is writing letters to himself — as BCCI secretary to his future self as ICC chair, and another as incoming ICC chair to the PCB warning it not to upset his previous employers. So much for the ICC role being designated as independent.

No doubt he would have wanted the Champions Trophy issues to have been resolved before Dec. 1. The options seem to be that: a) Pakistan relents and agrees to the hybrid model; b) the event is moved out of Pakistan, with compensation for them, but huge loss of face; c) the tournament is postponed. In the latter case, there is the significant issue of media contracts not being fulfilled.

The Champions Trophy seems to be a tournament which generates more problems than positives. It is not so much the case with world cups.

These are tournaments in which ICC members aspire to play. Qualifying pathways, though complex, are delineated. Last week, six teams battled in Group B of the Challenger Cup in Uganda as part of the route to the 2027 ODI World Cup. They have two more round robin events to complete before the top two teams emerge. Currently, Uganda and Italy top the pile.

This week, seven teams compete in Qatar for the right to progress towards the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. One is Saudi Arabia, which is pitted against Qatar, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, Thailand and the UAE. The top two will progress to a regional final in August 2025. The gulf between the dreams of these teams and the geopolitics of the India-Pakistan stand-off is stark. India’s brinkmanship and Pakistan’s intransigence have combined to stretch the stakes to breaking point.

Topics: Jon Pike Cricket Column Cricket

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‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown
Updated 21 November 2024
Arab News
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‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown
  • The two fighters first met in 2023 when Alaqraa won via unanimous decision
Updated 21 November 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: Two of the Middle East’s best 170-pounders will go head to head in the first-ever PFL MENA Championships on Nov. 29, as Kuwait’s Mohammad Alaqraa faces Omar El Dafrawy of Egypt in a highly anticipated rematch.

Alaqraa and El Dafrawy first crossed paths back in 2023, competing under the UAE Warriors promotion. Alaqraa won that meeting via unanimous decision and plans to raise his hands once again, this time for the inaugural PFL MENA Welterweight Championship.

“Omar has improved a lot since our last fight, but I have improved as well,” Alaqraa said. “There’s a difference between us in terms of skill level and fight tactics.

“I will beat him in a more dominant way than before.”

Since their first meeting, the undefeated Alaqraa has only added to his winning streak, pushing his professional record to 7-0. This includes two impressive victories in the inaugural PFL MENA season.

These performances have only boosted his belief in his own abilities.

“I’m confident that no fighter in the Arab world can beat me. Not Omar, not anyone else,” he said boldly.

While Alaqraa has a massive opportunity to score the biggest win of his young career, the 24-year old does not deny he is looking at the PFL MENA championship as a stepping stone to even bigger things.

“Winning the PFL MENA title is just the beginning of my journey towards global success, which is my ultimate goal,” Alaqraa explained. “To compete on the world stage, I need to be the best fighter in the Arab world, and that’s why I must defeat El Dafrawy and claim the title.”

And he had some strong words for El Dafrawy ahead of their upcoming match.

“You’ve never beaten strong fighters, and I’ll finish you with a knockout since that’s what you want,” Alaqraa declared. “You will never become a champion, so stop dreaming.”

The complete PFL MENA Championships fight card is as follows:

PFL MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat (5-0) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-2)

PFL MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (7-0) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (12-6)

Amateur Women’s Atomweight Bout: Hattan Alsaif vs. Lilia Osmani

PFL MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (11-1) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (15-3)

PFL MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (6-1) vs. Georges Eid (10-4)

Showcase Fights:

Lightweight MENA Showcase: Mansour Barnaoui (21-6) vs. Alfie Davis (17-4-1)

Heavyweight MENA Showcase: Slim Trabelsi (7-0) vs. Abraham Bably (5-0)

Featherweight Global Showcase: Jesus Pinedo (23-6-1) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (19-4)

Featherweight Global Showcase: Asael Adjoudj (8-1) vs. Jose Perez (9-1)

Middleweight Global Showcase: Costello van Steenis (15-3) vs. Joao Dantas (7-1)

The PFL MENA Championships can be seen live on MBC on Friday, Nov. 29 at 5.30 p.m. AGT. Tickets are now on sale via webook.com

Topics: Mixed martial arts PFL

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Paolini’s Italy beat Slovakia to win Billie Jean King Cup

Paolini’s Italy beat Slovakia to win Billie Jean King Cup
Updated 21 November 2024
AFP
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Paolini’s Italy beat Slovakia to win Billie Jean King Cup

Paolini’s Italy beat Slovakia to win Billie Jean King Cup
  • The victory capped a stunning year for Paolini who finished as runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon
  • Italy, captained by Tathiana Garbin, defeated Iga Swiatek’s Poland as well as Japan at the finals on the way to winning the tournament dubbed the ‘World Cup of Tennis’
Updated 21 November 2024
AFP

MALAGA, Spain: Italy won the Billie Jean King Cup for the fifth time as Jasmine Paolini beat Rebecca Sramkova to secure a dominant 2-0 win over Slovakia on Wednesday.

World No. 4 Paolini triumphed 6-2, 6-1 in the second singles rubber to follow up Lucia Bronzetti’s 6-2, 6-4 victory against Viktoria Hruncakova.

Italy were runners-up to Canada in last year’s final but went one better in Malaga to become world champions for the first time since 2013.

The victory capped a stunning year for Paolini who finished as runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

“Unbelievable year, unbelievable, to finish like this with the Billie Jean King cup, it’s amazing, I don’t have words to describe it,” said Paolini.

“I’m trying just to enjoy it, it’s important to understand where you are, I feel lucky to be in this position, I feel lucky to be part of this team...

“I’m really happy that this year we could bring the trophy home again.”

Slovakia, who won the competition in 2002, had never lost a BJK Cup tie in Spain.

The underdogs defeated USA, Australia and Great Britain on a stunning run to this year’s final, but Bronzetti breezed past Hruncakova in under 90 minutes.

The in-form Sramkova, ranked 43rd, survived two break points to hold for 2-2 in the first set but the superior Paolini broke for a 4-2 lead, which she consolidated.

The Slovakian double faulted to hand Paolini two set points and the Italian took the first of them when Sramkova slapped a shot into the net.

Paolini broke in the second game of the second set and it looked like she might power to victory without a fight, but Sramkova immediately hit back to get back on serve.

Sramkova defeated Danielle Collins, Ajla Tomljanovic and Katie Boulter on Slovakia’s charge to the final but Paolini was a bridge too far.

The 28-year-old Italian restored her advantage with a fizzing forehand to move 3-1 ahead and then consolidated.

Having spent most of her career outside the top 50, 2024 has been a huge leap forward for Paolini.

She broke again when Sramkova went long and served it out to seal an emphatic victory in one hour and five minutes.

“I feel so sad now, disappointed, but all respect to (Italy), for what they did,” a deflated Sramkova told reporters.

“Maybe in a few days we will enjoy that we are second and take something for the future from those matches.”

In the first match world No. 78 Bronzetti denied the experienced Hruncakova the chance to use her power and forced her opponent to move around the court.

“I am very proud to be here, to represent Italy and I am so happy for this win,” said Bronzetti.

“(The plan was) to hit the ball, stay solid and try to move her when I had the chance.”

Bronzetti secured three breaks in the first set, conceding just one in her first service game as she hit her stride.

Hruncakova, ranked 159th, battled gamely in the second set, breaking for a 4-2 lead, but the Italian immediately hit back, winning the last four games to triumph.

Bronzetti sealed her victory serving to love when the Slovakian sent a return long, before Paolini finished the job for Italy.

“For now the emotions are a little bit sad but we need to look at the whole picture and what we did here was actually amazing,” said Hruncakova.

“Before the tournament if someone told this to us we would be thrilled.”

Italy, captained by Tathiana Garbin, defeated Iga Swiatek’s Poland as well as Japan at the finals on the way to winning the tournament dubbed the ‘World Cup of Tennis’.

“It’s a dream come true... I’m so proud of the (players), they fight every day and this journey was incredible,” said Garbin.

“(They) never give up and stayed focused on the goal and they still keep trying to work to be better people and players.”

Topics: tennis Jasmine Paolini Billie Jean King Cup

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LPGA Tour sets another record with $127.5m in prize money for 2025

LPGA Tour sets another record with $127.5m in prize money for 2025
Updated 21 November 2024
AP
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LPGA Tour sets another record with $127.5m in prize money for 2025

LPGA Tour sets another record with $127.5m in prize money for 2025
  • The official prize money does not include the $2 million International Crown, held every two years as the only team event in golf where countries compete against each other
  • The tour also announced that Chicago-based CME Group has extended its sponsorship of the Race to CME Globe for two years through 2027
Updated 21 November 2024
AP

NEW YORK: The LPGA Tour will play for $127.5 million in official prize money in 2025, another record for the circuit that has worked independently of the PGA Tour for 75 years.

The schedule announced Wednesday at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, has a few moving parts that include new tournaments in Utah and Mexico, the end of a 40-year run in Ohio and its Founders Cup merging into a previous tournament.

The official prize money does not include the $2 million International Crown, held every two years as the only team event in golf where countries compete against each other; and the $2 million Grant Thornton Invitational, a mixed team event with the PGA Tour.

The LPGA Tour is playing for $123.75 million in official prize money in 2024.

The tour also announced that Chicago-based CME Group has extended its sponsorship of the Race to CME Globe for two years through 2027.

The CME Group Tour Championship has more than doubled its purse to $11 million, with $4 million going to the winner this week. The only bigger payoff in women’s sport is the WTA Finals. Coco Gauff won $4.8 million earlier this month.

The Players Championship ($4.5 million) and US Open ($4.3 million) are the only golf tournaments that paid more than what the CME Group Tour Championship winner will get.

“The metrics and the numbers are eye-popping in terms of the growth that we’ve had over the last several years,” LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said Wednesday.

“We’re really proud that other women’s sports are starting to get the financial investment that women’s golf has enjoyed, and we’re proud of the role that we’ve played in elevating women’s sports in general,” she said. “The best women in the world need to make a living that matches their level of excellence, and we’re fighting every day to achieve that goal.”

The prize money has increased nearly 90 percent in four years, led by the majors and CME Group boosting purses at the biggest events.

Marcoux Samaan said the LPGA tried to improve the geographic flow of the schedule and it avoided playing the same week as five of the six biggest events in men’s golf next year. It plays only the same week as the US Open (Meijer LPGA Classic).

The LPGA will be off during The Players Championship, Masters, PGA Championship, British Open and Ryder Cup.

The Chevron Championship, the first major, was moved back one week so it doesn’t start just four days after the Masters.

Marcoux Samaan also said the LPGA will have fully subsidized health insurance for its players next year. Previously, they had a $1,800 stipend in 2021 that grew to $4,000 this year. Full coverage is “something we’ve been working on in this organization for a really long time, and we’re really proud of that,” she said.

Among the tweaks to the 2025 schedule was starting two weeks later for a slightly longer offseason. The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Florida starts Jan. 30.

Cognizant no longer sponsors the $3 million Founders Cup in New Jersey. Instead, the Founders Cup replaces the LPGA Drive On Championship in Bradenton, Florida, with a $2 million purse.

New to the schedule is a return to Mexico for the Riviera Maya Open in Cancun, and the Black Desert Championship in Utah, which hosted a PGA Tour event on the same course this fall.

The LPGA also put the Hawaii stop on the front end of the fall Asia swing, instead of behind it as players made their way back to the mainland.

Ten of the tournaments had slight increases in prize money. All but two tournaments, the Honda LPGA Thailand and the ShopRite LPGA Classic, have at least $2 million purses. Ten tournaments have prize money of $3 million or more, with the new FM Championship at the TPC Boston raising its purse to $4.1 million.

That doesn’t include the majors or the CME Group Tour Championship. The US Women’s Open, run by the USGA, again has the highest purse at $12 million. It will be played next year at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, where Brooks Koepka won his first major in the 2017 US Open.

Topics: LPGA Tour CME Group Tour Championship Mollie Marcoux Samaan

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Lyon late surge routs Roma in Women’s Champions League. Chelsea, Real Madrid also into quarterfinals

Lyon late surge routs Roma in Women’s Champions League. Chelsea, Real Madrid also into quarterfinals
Updated 21 November 2024
AP
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Lyon late surge routs Roma in Women’s Champions League. Chelsea, Real Madrid also into quarterfinals

Lyon late surge routs Roma in Women’s Champions League. Chelsea, Real Madrid also into quarterfinals
  • Germany great Alexandra Popp scored a hat trick and had two assists in Wolfsburg’s 5-0 win against overmatched Galatasaray
  • That set up a key game on Dec. 11 when Wolfsburg host Roma, both on six points, with second place behind Lyon at stake
Updated 21 November 2024
AP

LONDON: Two goals in two minutes by substitute Kadidiatou Diani roused Lyon to a late-surging 4-1 win over Roma on Wednesday and a place in the Women’s Champions League quarterfinals.

Roma stung the record eight-time European champions by taking a 74th-minute lead that provoked a fierce fightback, started by veteran France forward Diani scoring from close range on corners in the 77th and 79th.

Chelsea and Real Madrid also won in Group B to join Lyon in the knockout stage with two rounds to spare.

Lucy Bronze’s spectacular volley after just 64 seconds set Chelsea on their way to a fourth straight win, 3-0 over last-place Celtic.

Teenager Linda Caicedo, the 2023 World Cup star for Colombia, was Madrid’s standout in a 3-2 win at Twente after trailing in the first half.

Germany great Alexandra Popp scored a hat trick and had two assists in Wolfsburg’s 5-0 win against overmatched Galatasaray.

That set up a key game on Dec. 11 when Wolfsburg host Roma, both on six points, with second place behind Lyon at stake.

Lyon late show

Heavily favored Lyon had not conceded a goal in three straight wins in the Champions League before being stunned by Roma’s 18-year-old Giulia Dragoni. The on-loan forward from Barcelona scored with a left-footed shot that was Roma’s only on-target effort all game.

Lyon awoke and from near identical spots from the right flank, Kadidiatou Diani pounced on loose balls to score from three yards each time. Another substitute, Eugenie Le Sommer, had an immediate impact by scoring in the 89th and captain Wendie Renard rose in stoppage time with a header from another corner.

Chelsea turn it up to 11

Chelsea’s winning run is now all 11 games under new coach Sonia Bompastor, who led Lyon to their last Champions League title in 2022.

The English league leader had too much quality for Celtic. After Bronze’s opener, Chelsea added a header in the 25th by Wieke Kaptein and a stoppage-time penalty by Eve Périsset.

Caicedo lift Madrid

Teenage star Linda Caicedo’s twisting dribbles tormented the Twente defense and helped seal Real Madrid’s place in the quarterfinals.

The Colombian scored in first-half stoppage time and set up Signe Bruun for a simple finish in the 71st minute to rally Madrid for a 3-2 win, one week after beating Twente 7-0 at home.

Madrid were tested in the first half and Twente led in the 29th when Jaimy Ravensbergen connected on a free kick curled into the goalmouth.

Caicedo turned the game just before halftime finishing off an attack she started with a direct run into the penalty area. Her first shot was saved, and when a followup effort was deflected to her feet, Caicedo calmly scored from close range.

When Caicedo ran at the Twente defense in the 71st, she created space to cross the ball low for Denmark forward Bruun to score.

Madrid’s win was assured in stoppage time when Alba Redondo ran clear to score, though Twente closed the gap with almost the last kick, a 20-yard (meter) shot by Sophie Te Brake.

Madrid has nine points, six clear of Twente, and advances as it also holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Popp is tops for Wolfsburg

While the 19-year-old Caicedo was starring in the Netherlands, the 33-year-old Popp was as good as ever in Germany.

Wolfsburg had won 5-0 in Istanbul last week, and Popp set the two-time European champion on course for a repeat result in the third minute. Her first goal was a low shot from near the penalty spot, and she added headers in the 15th and 88th.

Popp also created chances for Janina Minge to shoot in the 31st from the edge of the penalty area, and crossed for Lena Lattwein to score with a header in stoppage time.

Topics: UEFA Women’s Champions League Lyon Roma

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