Man United loses 3-0 at home to Tottenham as Bruno Fernandes is red-carded

Man United loses 3-0 at home to Tottenham as Bruno Fernandes is red-carded
Tottenham Hotspur's Italian goalkeeper #01 Guglielmo Vicario jumps to makes a save during the UEFA Europa League League stage football match between Tottenham Hotspur and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on September 26, 2024. (AFP)
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Man United loses 3-0 at home to Tottenham as Bruno Fernandes is red-carded

Man United loses 3-0 at home to Tottenham as Bruno Fernandes is red-carded
  • Tottenham is up to eighth and has won four games in a row in all competitions

MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United was humbled by Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, losing 3-0 at Old Trafford and seeing captain Bruno Fernandes sent off in an increasingly troubled start to the season.
Goals by Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke consigned United to a third loss in the league already this season and left Eric ten Hag’s team 12th in the standings.
“First we have to deal with this and show resilience. This is not good enough,” Ten Hag said. “We have to accept this and get better. Focus on the next game and do things better than we did today.”
Tottenham is up to eighth and has won four games in a row in all competitions.
In contrast, United has failed to win any of its last three games in all competitions — and has won just one of its last five games in the league — and there were boos inside the stadium at the final whistle. Many fans had already left after Solanke’s strike, prompting chants of “Is there a fire drill?” from Spurs fans.
As bad as this latest setback for Ten Hag was, it could have been worse, with goalkeeper Andre Onana twice denying Timo Werner in one-on-one situations with the forward. He also stopped Solanke from scoring his second when through on goal late on.
United got off to a terrible start. It went behind in the third minute when Johnson was left with an open net to aim at after defender Micky van de Ven was allowed to run from his own half and cross from inside the box.
Johnson made no mistake from close range and might have added another when firing against the post.
United was lucky not to go further behind before halftime as Tottenham dominated and even came close to an equalizer when Alejandro Garnacho volleyed against the post with a rare chance for the home team.
But any chance of a comeback was dealt a major blow after Fernandes was shown a straight red for a studs-up challenge on James Maddison shortly before the break.
Spurs didn’t have to wait long to double the lead, with Kulusevski adding a second two minutes into the second half by flicking a shot past Onana from Johnson’s cross.
Solanke slid in for Spurs’ third in the 77th.
“We were real good. Obviously it is a great victory,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said. “That is everything we want to be.”
Delap double
Aston Villa missed the chance to move level on points with Premier League leader Liverpool after a 2-2 draw at Ipswich earlier Sunday.
Liam Delap scored twice for newly promoted Ipswich to earn a point at Portman Road.
Villa had led 2-1 at halftime, but Delap’s goal in the 72nd ensured the points were shared.
Villa remained in fifth place and Ipswich is 15th after a fourth-straight draw in the league.
Delap fired Ipswich into a surprise lead in the eighth with a low effort at the near post. Morgan Rogers leveled the score seven minutes later as Villa capitalized on the Ipswich defense’s failure to clear the danger from its own box and drilled past goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Ollie Watkins headed the visitors in front in the 32nd when rising to meet Leon Bailey’s cross from the right for his fourth goal in as many games.
But Villa’s hopes of leapfrogging Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea were ended by Delap’s second from inside the box.


Zhang Shuai ‘feels like Nadal’ after making more Beijing history

Zhang Shuai ‘feels like Nadal’ after making more Beijing history
Updated 29 September 2024
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Zhang Shuai ‘feels like Nadal’ after making more Beijing history

Zhang Shuai ‘feels like Nadal’ after making more Beijing history
  • Zhang Shuai had not won a singles match in more than 600 days when she arrived at the prestigious WTA 1000 event in Beijing last week

BEIJING: Zhang Shuai said she “felt like Rafa Nadal” after the home player ranked 595th powered into the last 16 to extend her historic China Open run on Sunday.

The 35-year-old wildcard had not won a singles match in more than 600 days when she arrived at the prestigious WTA 1000 event in Beijing last week.

Her run of 24 straight defeats was the longest such barren spell on tour since Madeleine Pegel lost her first 29 matches in 1968-1972.

Shuai, a two-time Grand Slam singles quarter-finalist who has been plagued by injuries, has now won three matches in a row after a 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Belgium’s Greet Minnen.

Shuai, who faced Minnen as the lowest-ranked player to reach the China Open third round in the tournament’s history, faces Poland’s 23rd seed Magdalena Frech next.

“I had a long, long, long time not getting this feeling,” said the former top-25 player Shuai, who has won two Grand Slam doubles titles.

“When I play my best I can win a lot of matches, I know that ... I just want to keep it simple, keep going and keep winning.”

Shuai snapped her losing run on Wednesday when she beat 65th-ranked American McCartney Kessler 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1).

She then stunned US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro 6-4, 6-2 to reach round three and a meeting with 94th-ranked Minnen.

Shuai was on course for a third win in a row when she took the first set and went up a break in the second, only to relinquish the advantage immediately when the 27-year-old Minnen broke back.

As the match ticked past the hour mark, Shuai emerged from a gripping seventh game to break once more for 4-3, then held for 5-3 to put the next round within reach.

Shuai hails from Tianjin, near to Beijing, and said she felt very much at home on the hard courts of the Chinese capital.

So at home in fact that she compared herself jokingly to the Spanish great Nadal on his favorite surface of the French Open.

“When I am on the court I feel so like Rafa Nadal on Court Philippe-Chatrier,” she laughed

“When you’re losing, maybe everybody wants to play against you ... Now nobody wants to play against you.”

Meanwhile, four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz said Sunday that the steroid case involving Jannik Sinner was “not good” for tennis but sympathized with the world No. 1.

The World Anti-Doping Agency on Saturday said it had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after Sinner was cleared of wrongdoing last month.

WADA is seeking a ban of up to two years after the Italian twice tested positive for traces of the banned substance clostebol in March.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency subsequently accepted Sinner’s explanation that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.

Alcaraz, the Spanish world No. 3, said at the China Open: “I think for tennis it’s not really good, not really a good sign for tennis in general.”

There has been skepticism among some players about Sinner’s explanation for why he failed the two tests, but Alcaraz took a more sympathetic stance.

“It is difficult for him. I know everyone is talking about it, the news is talking about it,” he said, having reached the last eight in Beijing.


Volleyball at Saudi Games tips off with three dominant wins in women’s competition

Volleyball at Saudi Games tips off with three dominant wins in women’s competition
Updated 29 September 2024
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Volleyball at Saudi Games tips off with three dominant wins in women’s competition

Volleyball at Saudi Games tips off with three dominant wins in women’s competition
  • Men’s volleyball competition starts on Monday

RIYADH: The women’s volleyball competition at the third edition of the Saudi Games began at the Ministry of Sports hall in the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh on Sunday with three decisive victories.

In Group A, Al-Fayhaa’s women’s team opened their campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Dar Al-Hikma University. AlUla followed suit in Group B, also securing a 3-0 victory against Jeddah United. Meanwhile, in Group C, Al-Anqaa cruised to a 3-0 win against Erm Najd.

The women’s volleyball tournament continues on Monday with Al-Nassr set to face Dar Al-Hikma University, followed by a clash between Al-Qadisiyah and AlUla. The day’s matches will conclude with Al-Faed club taking on Erm Najd.

In the men’s volleyball competition, which also starts on Monday, three matches are scheduled. Abha will take on Neom, followed by a match between Al-Nassr and Al-Khouildia, before the day’s action ends with Al-Khaleej facing AlUla.


Sharjah Self-Defense take the lead on Day 2 of jiu-jitsu tournament in Sharjah

Sharjah Self-Defense take the lead on Day 2 of jiu-jitsu tournament in Sharjah
Updated 29 September 2024
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Sharjah Self-Defense take the lead on Day 2 of jiu-jitsu tournament in Sharjah

Sharjah Self-Defense take the lead on Day 2 of jiu-jitsu tournament in Sharjah
  • Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship concludes on Sunday night

SHARJAH: Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club surged into the lead on the second day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Round 3 No-Gi, taking place from Sept. 27-29 at Al Bait Metwahid in Sharjah.

Saturday’s competitions featured the U-12 and U-14 divisions, with Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club delivering a dominant performance, as MOD UAE dropped to second place, while Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club was third.

On Sunday the U-16 and Youth categories take to the mat.

Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, secretary-general of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a great platform for young athletes and future jiu-jitsu stars. With each round, we see how children learn important values like challenge, perseverance, and discipline.

“This championship gives them a unique chance to gain life skills, teaching them patience, competition, handling pressure, strategic thinking, and teamwork. At the federation, we believe in the power of sports to shape a strong and aware generation, and this championship plays a key role in building a bright sporting future for the UAE.”

Saeed Ali Al-Ajel, vice president of the UAE Sports for All Federation, said: “We are seeing a great turnout of young athletes in this championship, both citizens and residents, which shows the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s efforts to spread the sport across the country.

“The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Championship holds a special place in everyone’s hearts. Sports are a powerful way to encourage cultural exchange, and this championship helps teach important values like respect and tolerance to these young athletes, which are just as important as winning.”


Al-Hilal top Saudi Pro League after win over Al-Kholood

Al-Hilal top Saudi Pro League after win over Al-Kholood
Updated 29 September 2024
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Al-Hilal top Saudi Pro League after win over Al-Kholood

Al-Hilal top Saudi Pro League after win over Al-Kholood
  • Reigning champions are the only club with a perfect record after five wins from five matches

RIYADH: Champions Al-Hilal returned to the top of the Saudi Pro League table after beating Al-Kholood 4-2 in Rass on Saturday night.

The visitors surged into a four-goal lead in a devastating 10 -minute period either side of half-time thanks to goals from Khalidou Koulibaly (38), Malcom (43), Ali Al-Bulaihi (45+3) and Renan Lodi (48),

Al-Kholood belatedly rallied to half the deficit with goals from Hammam Al-Hammami (71) and William Troost-Ekong (penalty, 87) which ultimately proved nothing more than consolation efforts.

Al-Hilal now lead the table with 15 points from five matches and are the last team in the Saudi Pro League with a perfect start to the 2024-2025 season.

In the day’s other matches visitors Al-Okhdood beat Al-Fateh 4-2 in Al-Mubarraz, while Al-Orobah managed a narrow 1-0 win over Damac at home.


More than 9,000 athletes entered for this year’s Saudi Games

More than 9,000 athletes entered for this year’s Saudi Games
Updated 29 September 2024
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More than 9,000 athletes entered for this year’s Saudi Games

More than 9,000 athletes entered for this year’s Saudi Games
  • Elite athletes from various regions will compete in more than 50 sports
  • Women’s volleyball competition on Sunday gets the Games started

RIYADH: The Saudi Games competition, which starts on Sunday, aims to enhance the national sports movement and discover sporting talent, with more than 9,000 male and female athletes participating from across the Kingdom.

Considered Saudi Arabia’s largest sports event, the Games will include elite athletes from various regions of the Kingdom in more than 50 sports.

The women’s volleyball competition will open the third edition of the Games with three matches. Al-Fayhaa will play against Dar Al-Hikma University at 9 a.m. at the Ministry of Sports Hall in the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh.

Then Al-Ola play against Jeddah United at 11 a.m. and finally Al-Anqa take on Arm Najd at 1 p.m.

Nine teams are participating in the females’ volleyball competitions, divided into three groups, with the competitions running until Oct. 4.

The competitions are part of efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 in supporting and developing the sports sector.