Barca hit nine in Women’s Champions League, Bayern overcome Juve

Barca hit nine in Women’s Champions League, Bayern overcome Juve
Barcelona's Alexia Putellas celebrates after scoring her side's third goal during the women's Champions League group D soccer match between Barcelona and Hammarby at the Estadi Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 17 October 2024
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Barca hit nine in Women’s Champions League, Bayern overcome Juve

Barca hit nine in Women’s Champions League, Bayern overcome Juve

PARIS: Barcelona bounced back from an opening-day defeat to thrash Hammarby 9-0 in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, while Bayern Munich fought to a 2-0 win at Juventus.
Holders Barca routed their Swedish opponents in Catalonia, putting down a marker after slumping to a shock loss to Manchester City last week.
Goals by Caroline Graham Hansen, Claudia Pina and Alexia Putellas put the hosts in charge by half-time.
Mapi Leon added a fourth and Pina and Graham then doubled their tallies either side of an Ewa Pajor strike, before Esmee Brugts and Fridolina Rolfo completed the rout.
Graham opened the scoring after 10 minutes and Pina struck on 24 minutes, before Putellas was left free in the box to glance in Barca’s third just before the interval.
Leon headed in on 53 minutes as the second-half floodgates opened with four goals coming in the space of 22 minutes.
A 90th-minute penalty by Sweden’s Rolfo meant Barcelona equalled their 9-0 Champions League thumping of Benfica in 2022.
Man City came from behind to beat St. Poelten 3-2 in a topsy-turvy encounter in Vienna thanks to goals from Alanna Kennedy, Aoba Fujino and Mary Fowler.
Kennedy sent City 1-0 up on five minutes with a fierce drive from 35 yards that veered away from the goalkeeper’s lunge on its way into the net via the post.
The hosts struck back as City failed to deal with a corner and Melanie Brunnthaler pounced in the 40th minute.
The Austrians then took a surprise lead eight minutes after half-time when Kamila Dubcova volleyed into the top corner.
But Japanese forward Fujino opened her account for the visitors just four minutes later and then with 10 minutes remaining, Fowler rose highest to head the winner and send City top of Group D on six points.
Goals either side of the break from Linda Dallmann and Pernille Harder earned Bayern Munich a narrow win in north-eastern Italy.
With two wins from two, German champions Bayern sit top of Group C, three points clear of Arsenal in second spot.
“We have started very well, but the work is not done. We’ve played Arsenal and Juventus, two strong teams, but there’s still a long way to go,” said Bayern coach Alexander Straus.
Bayern broke Juventus resistance in the 18th minute when Dallmann managed to hack the ball over the goal-line from close range after it had ricocheted around the box following a corner.
In the second half, Juventus went forward in search of an equalizer with Bayern seeking to stifle the opposition and see out the match.
However, Juve’s defensive set-piece woes allowed the away team to seal victory in the 73rd minute as Harder fired in her fourth goal of the campaign from a corner.
Arsenal got their campaign back on track after losing to Bayern first time out as they beat Valerenga 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium, in their first match since the departure of coach Jonas Eidevall.
Emily Fox gave Arsenal the perfect start after barely 61 seconds when she swept home from inside the six-yard box.
The hosts doubled their lead on 29 minutes through Caitlin Foord, before Olaug Tvedten halved the deficit 10 minutes before half-time but Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo struck late to make safe Arsenal’s first win of the campaign.
On Thursday, Wolfsburg host Lyon in a clash of two multiple past winners of the tournament and English champions Chelsea travel to Twente.


Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20

Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20
Updated 16 min 22 sec ago
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Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20

Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20
  • Captain Salman Agha scores half-century in fifth T20 in Wellington
  • New Zealand team has 3-1 lead in the series against Pakistan so far

Wellington: A half-century by captain Salman Agha lifted Pakistan to 128-9 in the fifth and final Twenty20 against New Zealand in Wellington on Wednesday.
Salman was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over for 51 after he and Shadab Khan rescued Pakistan from 52-5 in the 10th over.
Jimmy Neesham, who removed both Salman and Shadab, was the most successful New Zealand bowler with 5-22.
New Zealand, with an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series, need 129 to win.
After another poor start by Pakistan, Salman and Shadab shared a 54-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Shadab was caught behind off Neesham for 28.B
Pakistan again had problems with the top order.
Jacob Duffy claimed the first wicket in the second over when he removed Hasan Nawaz for his third duck in the series.
He added Omair Yousuf in his following over as Pakistan struggled to cope with Duffy’s swing and seam movement, as well as the bounce generated by Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears.
New Zealand, who won the toss, made one change for the match with Sears coming in for Zak Foulkes.
Pakistan made five changes with Omair, Usman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Sufyan Moqim and Mohammad Ali all coming in.


Paulo Bento fired as head coach of the UAE national football team

Paulo Bento fired as head coach of the UAE national football team
Updated 34 min 28 sec ago
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Paulo Bento fired as head coach of the UAE national football team

Paulo Bento fired as head coach of the UAE national football team
  • Sacking announced just hours after a UAE win on Tuesday over North Korea
  • UAE’s next qualifier is against Uzbekistan at home on June 5

Paulo Bento has been fired as head coach of the United Arab Emirates football team just hours after a 2-1 win Tuesday over North Korea kept alive its slim automatic hopes of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
That victory, which came with a goal in the 98th minute, puts the UAE four points behind second-place Uzbekistan in Group A with two games remaining. The top two teams from each of the three Asian groups are guaranteed a place in the tournament to be hosted next year by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“The UAE Football Association has decided to dismiss the head coach of the national team, Paulo Bento, along with his coaching staff,” the UAE football association posted on social media.
The 55-year-old Portuguese coach led South Korea to the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup, 10 years after he took Portugal to the last four of the European Championships. He was appointed in July 2023 to succeed Rodolfo Arruabarrena.
If the UAE misses out on second place, then there is another round of qualification as the teams that finish third and fourth in their respective groups play off for two remaining World Cup places.
UAE’s next qualifier is against Uzbekistan at home on June 5.


Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying hopes dealt major late blow; Egypt, Morocco move closer

Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying hopes dealt major late blow; Egypt, Morocco move closer
Updated 26 March 2025
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Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying hopes dealt major late blow; Egypt, Morocco move closer

Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying hopes dealt major late blow; Egypt, Morocco move closer
  • Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa scored in the final minute to silence the home fans in Uyo, Nigeria as the visitors claimed a 1-1 draw
  • South Africa defeated Benin 2-0 to consolidate the top spot

Nigeria conceded a last-minute goal in a major blow to its World Cup qualifying hopes on Tuesday, when Egypt and Morocco all but booked their places at next year’s tournament.

Zizo’s goal was enough for unbeaten Egypt’s 1-0 win over Sierra Leone in Cairo, while Morocco looks assured of qualifying with a nine-point lead over its rivals after a 2-0 win over Tanzania.

Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz scored a penalty after Nayef Aguerd broke the deadlock on a rebound for Morocco’s fifth win from five games in Group E.

Zizo struck just before the break for Egypt to maintain a five-point lead over Burkina Faso, which had defeated Guinea-Bissau 2-1 on Monday in Group A.

Nigeria’s nightmare

Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa scored in the final minute to silence the home fans in Uyo, Nigeria as the visitors claimed a 1-1 draw.

Nigeria star Victor Osimhen put the Super Eagles on course to claim just their second win in Group C after Friday’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda had rekindled Nigeria’s qualification hopes.

But the 21-year-old Chirewa, a late substitute, equalized in the 90th to earn Zimbabwe’s draw.

Meanwhile, South Africa defeated Benin 2-0 to consolidate the top spot. Bafana Bafana leads with 13 points from six rounds, five clear of Rwanda (which drew with Lesotho 1-1) and Benin. Nigeria stayed fourth in the group with just seven points.

Only the nine group winners secure automatic qualification. The four best-placed runners-up will compete to be the African contender in FIFA’s six-country playoff for the last two qualification spots at the World Cup next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Algeria makes a statement

Wolfsburg forward Mohammed Amoura scored a hat trick as Algeria defeated Mozambique 5-1 to open a three-point lead over the visitors in Group G. Guinea’s qualification hopes are all but over after a 1-0 loss to Uganda, the team’s third defeat leaving it eight points behind Algeria in fifth.

Cape Verde remained top of Group D with a 2-1 win in Angola, though Cameroon responded with Vincent Aboubakar scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Libya. Cape Verde stayed a point ahead of Cameroon.

Sudan’s missed chance

Sudan lost control of Group B with David Sebit scoring in stoppage time to earn South Sudan a 1-1 draw.

It allowed both Congo and Senegal to take advantage, which they did with 2-0 wins over Mauritania and Togo, respectively.

Congo moved top of Group B on 13 points, one ahead of unbeaten Senegal and Sudan. Sudan dropped to third on goal difference.

Black Stars twinkling

Ghana moved atop Group I by scoring a total of eight goals in back-to-back wins over Chad and Madagascar, helping ease the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in November.

Otto Addo’s team eased to a 5-0 rout of Chad in Accra on Friday, then enjoyed a 3-0 win over Madagascar on Monday to seize control of the group.

Comoros, the surprise early leader, stayed three points behind Ghana on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Chad.

Elephants hold on

Ivory Coast needed goalkeeper Yahia Fofana at his best as they held on for a 1-0 win over Gambia on Monday to stay a point above Gabon atop Group F.

Sébastien Haller’s early goal was enough for the Elephants to win in Abidjan, keeping the team top after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had scored twice for Gabon to beat Kenya 2-1.

Ivory Coast, the reigning Africa Cup champion, had previously beaten Burundi 1-0 in Morocco on Friday, while Gabon had a 3-0 win over the Seychelles on Thursday.

Tunisia consolidated top spot in Group H on Monday with two late goals to beat Malawi 2-0.

Four rounds of qualifiers remain.


Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 after securing their place at the 2026 World Cup

Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 after securing their place at the 2026 World Cup
Updated 26 March 2025
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Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 after securing their place at the 2026 World Cup

Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 after securing their place at the 2026 World Cup
  • After Bolivia’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay at El Alto, Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 in front of 85,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium despite the absence of Lionel Messi
  • Brazil are in fourth place in South American qualifying with 21 points, 10 behind Argentina but only two behind second-place Ecuador, which were held to a 0-0 draw by Chile

BUENOS AIRES: Defending champion Argentina had to put the celebrations on hold for a while after securing a place at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday before kickoff against archrival Brazil.

Bolivia’s failure to beat Uruguay meant Argentina had enough cushion in South American qualifying to secure one of the continent’s six direct spots for the 48-team World Cup set to be co-hosted next year by the US, Canada and Mexico.

After Bolivia’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay at El Alto, Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 in front of 85,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium despite the absence of Lionel Messi.

Brazil’s worst deficit in South American World Cup qualifying history compounded pressure on coach Dorival Junior, who took over in January of last year.

Brazil are in fourth place in South American qualifying with 21 points, 10 behind Argentina but only two behind second-place Ecuador, which were held to a 0-0 draw by Chile. Third-place Uruguay and fifth-place Paraguay also have 21 points, and Colombia is one point behind them in sixth. Seventh-place Venezuela has 15 points after a 1-0 win over 9th-place Peru.

Brazil were missing three regular starters — goalkeeper Alisson, defender Gabriel Magalhaes and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes — and wasn’t really competitive from start to finish.

It’s the first time Argentina have won both matches against Brazil in a World Cup qualifying tournament. The home victory was also Argentina’s first against the Brazilians since qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

Argentina have led South American qualifying from the start, with few hiccups and major away wins at Brazil and Uruguay. But coach Lionel Scaloni has not fielded 37-year-old Messi in several games, which still raises doubts on whether the star will play at the World Cup next year.

Messi has an injury to his adductor and was not included in Argentina’s squad for the two latest matches.

ARGENTINE FLAIR, BRAZILIAN DESPAIR

Argentina scored thir two first goals in only 12 minutes of play, both thanks to accurate passing and some clumsy Brazilian defending.

Julian Alvarez netted the first in the 4th minute after Marquinhos, Murillo and Guilherme Arana failed to reach the ball. The Argentina striker shot between the legs of goalkeeper Bento from close range.

Argentina scored again eight minutes later with Enzo Fernandez, once again from close range after a low cross by Gonzalo Molina.

Brazil got one back via Matheus Cunha in the 26th after a mistake by Cristian Romero, who lost the ball to the Brazilian by the edge of the box. Enzo Fernandez found Alexis Mac Allister bursting into the penalty box unmarked 11 minutes later to make it 3-1 to Argentina.

During the break, Brazil sought to get some grip by boosting their presence in the midfield with Joao Gomes and the substitution of Murillo and striker Rodrygo. But it was to no avail, with Giuliano Simeone scoring for Argentina in the 71st minute.

“All of us can do better than this. It isn’t only about Dorival,” Brazil’s captain Marquinhos said. “This is not only the coach’s fault, it is the players too. We need to have our heads in the right place. They (Argentina) also had tough times before and they overcame it. We can do it too.”


Swiatek gets extra security after harassment

Swiatek gets extra security after harassment
Updated 25 March 2025
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Swiatek gets extra security after harassment

Swiatek gets extra security after harassment
  • The issue comes after British player Emma Raducanu was targeted by a stalker during last month’s Dubai Open
  • “Security is a top priority,” a spokesperson for Swiatek told AFP

MIAMI: World number two Iga Swiatek is receiving additional security at the Miami Open after she was harassed by a spectator during her practice.
The issue comes after British player Emma Raducanu was targeted by a stalker during last month’s Dubai Open.
Media reports said that Swiatek was verbally harassed by a spectator, who has a history of online attacks against the player, during practice on Sunday.
“Security is a top priority. We monitor the network to catch these types of issues. Constructive criticism is one thing, and threats, hate speech or even disturbance during training is another — this cannot be condoned,” a spokesperson for Swiatek told AFP.
“We reported the matter to the tournament organizer, as well as to the WTA, which reacted immediately and took additional precautions, such as additional security, for which we are very grateful.
“Ensuring the safety of the players is crucial, they are the ones at the center of the event, and it is our job to protect them,” the spokesperson added.
The WTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Raducanu was left distraught after a man later said to be displaying “fixated behavior” appeared at a courtside seat during her defeat to Karolina Muchova.
The man was escorted away by security, subsequently given a restraining order and banned from attending WTA Tour events.