Ronaldo and Mahrez shine as Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli triumph in AFC Champions League

Ronaldo and Mahrez shine as Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli triumph in AFC Champions League
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Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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Updated 01 October 2024
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Ronaldo and Mahrez shine as Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli triumph in AFC Champions League

Ronaldo and Mahrez shine as Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli triumph in AFC Champions League
  • Despite missing several early chances, Al-Nassr emerge 2-1 victors over Al-Rayyan of Qatar, while Al-Ahli defeat Emirati side Al-Wasl 2-0

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the winner for Al-Nassr in their 2-1 victory over Al-Rayyan on Monday, while Riyad Mahrez was the hero as Al-Ahli defeated Al-Wasl 2-0 on matchday 2 of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.

After a 1-1 draw with Al-Shorta of Iraq in their opening game of the tournament, Al-Nassr went at their Qatari visitors from the kick-off in Riyadh and should have been ahead inside five minutes when Otavio slipped the ball through to Angelo. However, the Brazilian under-20 international, who scored a fine goal last week during a 2-0 win over Al-Wehda in the Saudi Pro League, put the ball wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

As the home side continued to pile on the pressure Ronaldo then had a great chance to open the scoring. The Portuguese star, who missed the trip to Baghdad two weeks ago because of a viral infection, got on the end of a deep cross at the far post after 13 minutes but his shot was saved by Paulo Victor, who left Saudi side Ettifaq to join Al-Rayyan in the summer.

It was not all one-way traffic, though, and Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento had to get down well to save a Roger Guedes shot at his near post.

Seven minutes before the break, Ronaldo had another chance but this time he headed over from a Sadio Mane cross. It was the type of opportunity he has taken with ease many times.

The deadlock was finally broken on the stroke of half-time when Sultan Al-Ghannam sent over a perfect cross from a central position and Mane headed home from close range.

Just after the restart Ronaldo volleyed an Otavio cross into the net but was judged to have been marginally offside. He was on a mission to score, however, and eventually did just that with 14 minutes remaining. Abdulrahman Ghareeb slipped the ball into the right side of the area and Ronaldo pounced to fire a perfect shot into the opposite top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

It was a goal worthy of winning any game but the result looked like it might yet be in doubt when Roger Guedes pulled one back three minutes from time, slotting home at the far post from Achraf Bencharki’s perfect low cross.

With nine minutes of added time, there were plenty of nerves on display but Al-Nassr managed to hold out for the win and three much-needed points to get their continental challenge up and running. They now sit in third place in the 12-team group with 4 points.

Al-Ahli were also in need of a win as they made the trip to Dubai to face Al-Wasl. Although they defeated Iranian side Persepolis 1-0 in the first game of their Champions League campaign, the Jeddah club had lost their previous two games in all competitions, including a shock home defeat in the King’s Cup to First Division strugglers Al-Jandal. Coach Mattias Jaissle was under pressure as a result but the gloom was lifted as early as the third minute when Mahrez opened the scoring.

The Algerian has come under fire this season for some uninspiring performances but he looked very much like his old self from the start on Monday, and he timed a run perfectly to latch onto a long pass out of defense from Roger Ibanez. Mahrez’s delicious first touch brought the ball down and with the second he stroked the ball past the goalkeeper.

Seven minutes before the break Mahrez returned the favor for former AS Roma defender Ibanez, as the former floated over a corner to the far post where the latter climbed high to send a powerful header into the back of the net.

It was not as comfortable a win for Al-Ahli as the scoreline might suggest but Al-Wasl were unable to take their chances. The three very welcome points moved the Greens into top spot in their group, temporarily at least.

Unlike in previous tournaments, each team will play eight games, with the top eight in the group qualifying for the round of 16 and only four missing out. Al-Ahli are therefore already looking good to progress.

Al-Hilal, who defeated Al-Rayyan in their opening game, will be in action on Tuesday when they host Al-Shorta.


Isak fires Newcastle into Premier League top four, Moyes misery

Isak fires Newcastle into Premier League top four, Moyes misery
Updated 16 January 2025
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Isak fires Newcastle into Premier League top four, Moyes misery

Isak fires Newcastle into Premier League top four, Moyes misery
  • The striker is just the fourth different player to score in eight successive Premier League appearances

LONDON: Alexander Isak fired Newcastle into the Premier League’s top four on Wednesday, scoring twice in a 3-0 cruise against Wolves as David Moyes endured a miserable return to the Everton dugout.
Red-hot Isak found the net for the eighth league match in a row as the Magpies leapfrogged faltering Chelsea into fourth spot in the table.
The Swedish international put the home side ahead in the 34th minute when his shot took a huge deflection off Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, leaving Jose Sa wrong-footed.
The striker is just the fourth different player to score in eight successive Premier League appearances, after Jamie Vardy (twice for Leicester), Ruud van Nistelrooy (twice for Manchester United), and Daniel Sturridge (for Liverpool).
Isak doubled Newcastle’s lead shortly before the hour mark, controlling Bruno Guimaraes’ pass before firing home for his 15th league goal of the season and Anthony Gordon added a third.
Eddie Howe’s men, who have now won six straight league games, have recovered strongly from a lengthy poor spell to make a powerful case for a Champions League spot next season.
Taking advantage of the faltering form of Manchester City and Chelsea, they are just three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.
Moyes, in the first game of his second spell in charge of Everton, watched his toothless side lose 1-0 to Aston Villa at Goodison Park.
Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, slotting past England teammate Jordan Pickford after he was sent clear by Morgan Rogers.
Everton huffed and puffed but showed a lack of creativity — unsurprising for a team who have scored just 15 league goals in their 20 matches this season.
The result lifts Unai Emery’s Villa to seventh in the table but Everton remain in deep trouble, just one point above the relegation zone in 16th spot.
The Liverpool club’s new owners, the American-based Friedkin Group, sacked Sean Dyche last week and brought back 61-year-old Moyes, who enjoyed success during an 11-year stint at Goodison Park from 2002 to 2013.
But the Toffees, ever-present in the top flight since 1954, have battled relegation for the past three seasons and are once again in deep trouble.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester suffered their sixth straight league defeat, losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace to leave the Foxes second from bottom of the table.
Jean-Philippe Mateta put the visitors ahead early in the second half and Marc Guehi made the points safe with a late second.
Arsenal, winless in three matches in all competitions, are hosting injury-hit Tottenham in the late kick-off on Wednesday.


Police probe abuse of Havertz’s wife after Arsenal star’s woes

Police probe abuse of Havertz’s wife after Arsenal star’s woes
Updated 15 January 2025
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Police probe abuse of Havertz’s wife after Arsenal star’s woes

Police probe abuse of Havertz’s wife after Arsenal star’s woes
  • Havertz missed a penalty in Arsenal’s shootout defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup
  • The Germany international’s wife, Sophia, reposted two abusive messages she had received on Instagramhavertz

LONDON: Police have launched an investigation into social media abuse aimed at Arsenal forward Kai Havertz’s wife after his latest poor performance.
Havertz missed a penalty in Arsenal’s shootout defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
Following Arsenal’s second successive loss, the Germany international’s wife, Sophia, reposted two abusive messages she had received on Instagram.
A police spokesman told Britain’s Press Association: “Officers have received a report of malicious communications toward a Hertfordshire resident on Sunday 12 January. Enquiries are under way.”
Speaking on Tuesday, on the eve of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Tottenham, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta flagged the “terrible consequences” of online abuse.
“It’s something that we really have to eradicate from the game, because it’s so cynical as well,” he said.
Havertz has scored 12 goals in 27 matches for Arsenal this season.
But his woeful finishing in the United game and the preceeding 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup semifinal first leg has reopened criticism of the German.
Havertz, who scored the Champions League final winner for Chelsea in 2021, has endured an erratic spell with Arsenal since moving across London in 2023.
But Arteta said there is no excuse for the abuse, saying: “We can accept it and say ‘that’s our job’, but there are certain limits and the line has to be drawn. It cannot happen. That’s it.”


Lyon dumped out of French cup by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu

Lyon dumped out of French cup by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu
Updated 15 January 2025
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Lyon dumped out of French cup by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu

Lyon dumped out of French cup by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu
  • The hometown hero was Mehdi Moujetzky

BOURGOIN-JALLIEU, France: Seven-time French champions Lyon were sent crashing out of the French Cup when they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu in their last-32 tie on Wednesday.
The hometown hero was Mehdi Moujetzky, who scored both goals for Bourgoin-Jallieu in normal time as the game ended 2-2.
He put his side ahead after 20 minutes and scored his second in the 69th to level the scores after Nemanja Matic and Georges Mikautadze appeared to have put Lyon, who are sixth in Ligue 1, en route for the last 16.
Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso both missed penalties in the shoot-out to send Bourgoin-Jallieu through.
There was another upset when Ligue 2 side Troyes beat Ligue 1’s Rennes 1-0.


South Africa’s injured Nortje ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy

South Africa’s injured Nortje ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
Updated 15 January 2025
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South Africa’s injured Nortje ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy

South Africa’s injured Nortje ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy
  • Nortje has played in 19 Tests, 22 one-day internationals and 42 T20 internationals for South Africa
  • Replacement for Nortje, named in South Africa’s 15-man squad on Tuesday, will be announced soon

JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Anrich Nortje was on Tuesday ruled out of the Champions Trophy because of a back injury.
The latest injury setback for the 31-year-old was announced by Cricket South Africa a day after he was named in his country’s 15-man squad for the tournament in Pakistan next month.
Nortje, at his peak the fastest bowler in international cricket, underwent a scan on Monday, according to a statement by CSA, “which revealed the extent of the injury.”
The statement did not specify the exact nature of the injury.
Nortje, who has played in 19 Tests, 22 one-day internationals and 42 T20 internationals, has not played any international cricket since the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados last June.
He had been in line to make a comeback against Pakistan last month but suffered a broken toe while batting in the nets.
Nortje was also ruled out of the ongoing SA20 franchise competition in which he was due to play for Pretoria Capitals.
CSA said a replacement would be named later.


Lebanese sensation Hady Habib’s historic journey comes to an end at Australian Open

Lebanese sensation Hady Habib’s historic journey comes to an end at Australian Open
Updated 15 January 2025
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Lebanese sensation Hady Habib’s historic journey comes to an end at Australian Open

Lebanese sensation Hady Habib’s historic journey comes to an end at Australian Open
  • The 26-year-old Houston-born player lost to Frenchman Ugo Humbert in three straight sets (3-6, 4-6, 4-6)
  • A large crowd from the Lebanese community in Australia were present to cheer on Habib

BEIRUT: The journey of Lebanon’s tennis sensation Hady Habib, who on Sunday became the first Lebanese to ever win a Grand Slam match, ended at the Australian Open after he lost to France’s Ugo Humbert on Wednesday.
In front of a large Lebanese audience in Melbourne that enthusiastically supported Habib, the 26-year-old Houston-born player ended what has been portrayed as a historic journey in the Australian Open tournament after losing three straight sets (3-6, 4-6, 4-6) in the second round.
On Sunday, Habib, who is 216th in the ATP singles ranking, made history after defeating in the first round 22-year-old Chinese player Bu Yunchaokete, ranked 65th in the world, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (6) to reach the second round, becoming the first Lebanese to win a Grand Slam main draw singles match in the Open Era.


A large crowd from the Lebanese community in Australia were present to cheer on Habib as he challenged an elite player, Humbert, ranked 14th in the world. The clear and obvious difference in experience eventually leaned in favor of the Frenchman.
Habib became the first Lebanese to qualify for one of the four major tennis tournaments, after achieving three consecutive victories in the preliminary rounds by defeating American Patrick Kipson (6-4, 7-6), Taiwan’s Chun-Hsin Tseng (6-4, 7-6) and Frenchman Clement Chedekh (6-4, 3-6, 7-6).
Habib represented Lebanon in the Olympic Games, and lost at Roland Garros to Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in the first round. He also lost the doubles match with Benjamin Hassan to the Australian duo Matthew Ebden and John Peers.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” he told Arab News earlier this week after his first-round triumph.
“I’m so grateful for their support. I think the Lebanese community, I sort of brought everyone together, and it was really special to win in front of them. Every time I’m playing, there’s a larger and larger crowd. So, yeah, it’s just been amazing,” the 26-year-old said.