Van Nistelrooy off to winning start at Leicester, Palace beat Ipswich

Van Nistelrooy off to winning start at Leicester, Palace beat Ipswich
Leicester City's English midfielder #35 Kasey McAteer controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and West Ham United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on December 3, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 04 December 2024
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Van Nistelrooy off to winning start at Leicester, Palace beat Ipswich

Van Nistelrooy off to winning start at Leicester, Palace beat Ipswich
  • Defeat ramps up the scrutiny of Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui after a seventh defeat in 14 Premier League games

LEICESTER, United Kingdom: Ruud van Nistelrooy savoured his first match in charge of Leicester with a 3-1 Premier League win over West Ham, while Crystal Palace edged Ipswich 1-0 on Tuesday.
Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka got the goals as Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream start to his new role shortly after his departure from Manchester United.
The Dutchman said he had been “astonished” by the number of offers he received after a four-game spell as interim United boss, which included two wins over Leicester.
A lethal finisher in his playing days, Van Nistelrooy watched on approvingly as Vardy opened the scoring after just 99 seconds at the King Power.
The 37-year-old had initially been flagged offside, but a VAR review showed he was clearly on for his fifth goal of the season.
Defeat ramps up the scrutiny of Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui after a seventh defeat in 14 Premier League games.
The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and had 31 shots to Leicester’s eight but failed to make it count.
West Ham did have a goal controversially ruled out when Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen punched the ball into his own net and was relieved to be awarded a foul due to minimal contact from Tomas Soucek.
Conor Coady also cleared off the line from Crysencio Summerville in the second half.
But Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and doubled their lead when El Khannouss coolly stroked home Kasey McAteer’s pass.
Daka then blasted in to make it 3-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug netted a late consolation with his first West Ham goal.
Victory lifts Leicester up to 15th, four points above the relegation zone, and within two points of 14th-placed West Ham.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the only goal at Portman Road as Palace won the battle of two more sides at the bottom end of the table.
The Frenchman produced a classy finish from Eberechi Eze’s pass on the hour mark to secure the Eagles’ first away win of the season.
Palace pull three points clear of the bottom three, while Ipswich remain second from bottom and winless at home on their return to the top flight.
However, Palace captain Marc Guehi is now at risk of a suspension after defying a Football Association warning over displaying religious messages.
As part of the “Rainbow Laces” campaign to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, Premier League captains are wearing rainbow-colored armbands.
Guehi’s armband bore the message “I love Jesus” during their 1-1 draw against Newcastle, prompting the FA to contact Guehi and Palace and remind them of rules forbidding the display of religious messages.
The England defender doubled down on his message with “Jesus loves you” displayed on his rainbow-colored armband.
Ipswich captain Sam Mursi, who also caused controversy by opting not to wear the rainbow armband against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, once again wore a regular armband.
His club issued a statement on Monday saying he chose not to wear the rainbow armband due to his religious beliefs.


Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity

Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity
Updated 3 min 40 sec ago
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Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity

Tiger Woods in favor of Americans getting paid at the Ryder Cup as long as it goes to charity
  • Woods: We didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid
  • The $5 million figure came about when Woods was asked if it should be made clear the money would go to charity, which it has for the last 25 years

NASSAU, Bahamas:Tiger Woods dropped a big financial number related to the Ryder Cup that is sure to make headlines, particularly in Europe.

“I hope they would get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities,” Woods said Tuesday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “I think it’s great. What’s wrong with that?”

The source of the topic was a report last month on the PGA of America considering a proposal to pay American players $400,000 at the Ryder Cup, an amount that was a mystery to the executive level at the PGA of America, which still doesn’t have a CEO.

Woods is well-versed on the topic, which dates to 1999 when Woods, David Duval and Mark O’Meara were among those questioning how much money the PGA of America was making off the Ryder Cup. That resulted in $200,000 for each player, half to a charity of their choice and the other half to a golf management program at their university.

“We didn’t want to get paid, we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid,” Woods said. “No. The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money, why can’t we allocate it to various charities? And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting $1 million and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they’re involved in that they can help out?”

The $5 million figure came about when Woods was asked if it should be made clear the money would go to charity, which it has for the last 25 years.

The issue is money coming in and where it goes, and it’s different for each team. The European tour is the lead partner in Ryder Cup Europe, and money from the matches in Europe is crucial in funding the tour. The PGA of America — not the PGA Tour — runs the matches in the US. The PGA of America gives the tour 20 percent of the television deal.

Rory McIlroy was among European players who, when asked about the report, said they would pay to play in the Ryder Cup.

“If the Europeans want to pay to be in the Ryder Cup, that’s their decision to do that, that’s their team,” Woods said. “I know when it’s on European soil that it subsidizes most of their tour, so it is a big event for the European tour and if they want to pay to play in it, so be it.”

Masters stretch run

Nicolai Hojgaard at No. 58 in the world ranking, Mackenzie Hughes (No. 57) and Thomas Detry (No. 61) are among those playing in South Africa at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

At stake is finishing the year in the top 50 to qualify for the Masters, and time is running out. The Nedbank Challenge is followed by the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, and golf concludes with the Mauritius Open.

On the bubble are Min Woo Lee (No. 49), Lucas Glover (No. 51) and Stephan Jaeger (No.53), neither of whom are playing this week or are entered next week.

Corey Conners also is playing in South Africa, although at No. 42 he should be safe for the top 50. For those who don’t make it, there is another top 50 cutoff from the world ranking a full week before the Masters.

The field for Augusta National, currently at 75 players expected to play, could add as many as eight players through the world ranking by the end of the year. Still to be determined is whether the Masters offers special invitations. Joaquin Niemann, Thorbjorn Olesen and Ryo Hizatsune received them for the last Masters.

Crypto payoff for LIV against PGA Tour match

The made-for-TV match between PGA Tour and LIV Golf League starts has a title sponsor and a new form of payment.

Crypto.com is the title sponsor of the Dec. 17 match at Shadow Creek just north of Las Vegas that pits Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

The Crypto.com Showdown will be televised across TNT, TBS, truTV and Max, with a commentary crew that includes David Feherty and Charles Barkley. It will be the first broadcast appearance by Feherty outside of LIV since he signed on with the Saudi-funded league.

The 18-hole match will be split among six holes of foursomes, six holes of fourballs and six holes of singles.

As for the payoff? Front Office Sports reports it will be at least $10 million paid for the first time in Cryptocurrency.

Quick study

Nick Dunlap started the year as a sophomore at Alabama. Eleven months later, he is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour and in the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods.

There have been rough patches along the way, especially getting used to the travel, the cuts and courses he had never seen. But he proved to be a quick study, and he gave credit to Will Zalatoris for a practice round at The Players Championship.

“It wasn’t anything he said — it wasn’t really anything — it was just watching the way he prepared for that golf tournament and strategically where he chipped from, where he putted from, where he hit iron shots to,” Dunlap said. “It was eye opening to me because I never really paid that much attention in practice rounds.”

The rest of the year, Dunlap said he spent pre-tournament week trying to learn the course.

“It may only save you a half a shot or a shot and that could mean the difference at the end of the year,” he said.

On the rebound

Anthony Kim posted rounds of 71-72-73-71 and tied for 37th in the International Series Qatar on the Asian Tour. It was the first time Kim made the cut in any tournament since the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Kim walked away from golf two months after Bay Hill that year and didn’t return until he joined Saudi-backed LIV Golf as a wild card this year. LIV is 54 holes with no cut. In the only other 72-hole tournament Kim played this year, he missed the cut in Macau.

Kim made $14,510 in Qatar. He also moved up 2,281 spots in the world ranking to No. 2,314. The 39-year-old American is playing in Saudi International this week on the Asian Tour.

Divots

Hero MotoCorp. in India has extended its title sponsorship of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas through 2030, along with extending its relationship with Tiger Woods as an ambassador. Woods is the tournament host in the Bahamas. ... Jon Rahm makes his debut in the Dubai Desert Classic next January. Rahm typically spent January in California for The American Express and Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines before going to LIV Golf. ... Claire Welsh of Canada, who previously worked senior roles in player relations for The R&A, is the new tournament director for the CPKC Women’s Open in Canada.

Stat of the week

Japanese amateur Rintaro Nakano had a 25-shot differential between his first and final round at the Australian Open. He started with a 65. He closed with a 90.

Final word

“The players have benefited from it whether you’re on LIV or you’re not on LIV. Love him or hate him, as a golfer, he’s certainly helped our lifestyle.” — Marc Leishman on fellow Aussie Greg Norman, the CEO of Saudi-funded LIV Golf.


US women’s national team beat Netherlands 2-1 in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s final match

US women’s national team beat Netherlands 2-1 in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s final match
Updated 04 December 2024
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US women’s national team beat Netherlands 2-1 in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s final match

US women’s national team beat Netherlands 2-1 in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s final match
  • Naeher: I definitely wasn’t thinking about it during the game, just wanted to win the game and do what I could to come away with the ‘W’ for us to close out the year
  • Naeher is the only US keeper with shutouts in both a World Cup and an Olympic final

THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Alyssa Naeher ended her national team career with one last win.

The stalwart goalkeeper made two critical saves in her final match for the US, and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday.

“I definitely wasn’t thinking about it during the game, just wanted to win the game and do what I could to come away with the ‘W’ for us to close out the year,” Naeher said.

Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute for the US, who won their fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer and wrapped up the year on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Americans were coming off a scoreless draw with England on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.

Naeher announced two weeks ago that the European exhibitions would be her final matches. The 36-year-old goalkeeper played in 115 games for the US, with 111 starts, 89 wins and 69 shutouts.

Naeher is the only US keeper with shutouts in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. She was in goal when the US defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final.

“I feel like in my heart I would love to keep going. In my head, in my body and mind, I feel like it’s the right time. And I think it’s the right time with this team as well as it builds toward the future and toward 2027,” Naeher said. “This environment, this team, is an incredible team to be a part of, but it’s also really hard and really challenging in a lot of ways as well.

“I feel like I’ve given everything I have to give for this team and that’s why I feel at peace with that.”

The Netherlands took the lead on center back Veerle Buurman’s header off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Naeher prevented a second goal when she punched away Dominique Janssen’s shot in the 38th.

The US drew even at the end of the first half on an own goal that deflected off Buurman and past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

Naeher slid to stop Danielle van de Donk’s shot in the 69th minute before Williams, a second-half substitute, scored her fourth goal of the year and 21st of her career.

“I wouldn’t say that this was our prettiest game of soccer ever. And sometimes that’s how games go. You can talk about tactics, you can talk about formations, you talk about everything, but the biggest thing was matching their intensity. Getting to the second ball, getting to the first ball. That was the shift that needed to happen,” Williams said about the team’s second-half mindset.

Naeher finished with six saves.

She is not quite finished with soccer yet: She will continue playing next season for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League.

“She’s been consistent again and again. Even when she’s been questioned at times in her career, she’s always found the answer,” US coach Emma Hayes said. “Not only has she been a great player in this program, but let me tell you, she’s so loved by everyone, players and staff alike. She is the best teammate you could ask for and that just speaks volumes to the person that she is.”

Lily Yohannes came in as a substitute in the second half. Yohannes, who has dual citizenship, opted to play for the US over the Netherlands last month. She plays professionally for the Dutch club Ajax.

The US finished the year without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, who were left off the roster for the final two matches to rest and heal nagging injuries.

The US are unbeaten in 15 matches under Hayes, who took over in May.


Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion

Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion
Updated 04 December 2024
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Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion

Dania Akeel makes history as FIA Middle East Baja Cup 2024 champion
  • Commanding performance in final round at Dubai International Baja

JEDDAH: Saudi motorsport sensation Dania Akeel etched her name into history on Tuesday, becoming the first female driver in the Middle East to win the FIA Middle East Baja Cup.

Akeel secured her title after a commanding performance in the final round at the Dubai International Baja, where she clinched the Ultimate category title and sealed her championship triumph.

Competing across all four rounds of the regional Baja rally championship in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Dubai, Akeel demonstrated remarkable consistency.

Partnering with different co-drivers and teams, she delivered podium finishes at every rally, amassing the points required to claim the prestigious championship title.

Akeel’s journey to victory began with third and first-place finishes in the opening two rounds with the Overdrive Toyota Hilux team, even leading the overall standings in Qatar after the first day.

In Baja Jordan, she achieved a strong second-place finish with the South Racing Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR team before making history with a triumphant performance in Dubai alongside the South Racing Can-Am team.

Akeel said: “The FIA Middle East Baja Cup was both exciting and challenging.

“Initially, I didn’t plan to compete in the entire championship but after a strong result in Baja Hail, we realized the potential and made the decision to pursue the full championship. Each rally brought unique challenges, but through careful strategy and teamwork we secured the Ultimate category and overall title.”

Akeel credited her success to her dedicated co-drivers Stephane Duple and Sebastien Delaunay and the support of teams such as Overdrive, South Racing, and SRT Racing.

She also acknowledged the backing of her sponsors, including Jameel Motorsport, Tamer Group, Hertz Saudi Arabia, Toyota Motor Oil, BFGoodrich Tires, Accelerom, and Red Bull Saudi Arabia.

The triumph not only marks a personal milestone for Akeel but also sets a new benchmark for female participation in motorsport across the region.

Looking ahead, Akeel will compete in the Toyota Jeddah Rally, the final round of the Saudi Rally Championship, scheduled to take place from Dec. 19-21.

Her historic season promises to inspire a new generation of motorsport enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia and beyond.


Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca
Updated 04 December 2024
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Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca

Barca hit five as they return to winning ways at Mallorca
  • The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table
  • Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot

PALMA: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal inspired Barcelona to a first win in four La Liga outings as they beat Mallorca 5-1 on Tuesday.
The comprehensive victory brings the Catalans to 37 points at the top of the league table, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, but with two extra matches played.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish and European champions will have the chance to cut that lead back to one point on Wednesday when they travel to Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca stay sixth in La Liga, still two points behind Bilbao in the final Champions League spot.
Ferran Torres gave Barcelona the lead, before Vedat Muriqi equalized to ensure the sides were level at the end of an even first half.
Raphinha and Yamal then lit up the second half as the away side ran riot with the Brazilian scoring a double, followed by strikes from Frenkie de Jong and Pau Victor.
“We knew how important it was to win again. In the last three games something has been missing. Today we were good, it wasn’t our best game but winning was the most important thing,” Barcelona captain Raphinha told Movistar.
Barcelona were boosted by the return of teenage starlet Yamal, who started the match after recovering from an ankle problem.
Hansi Flick’s side dropped points in the two league outings Yamal missed, and were also defeated last time out at home to Las Palmas when he was only fit enough to start on the bench.
The hosts gifted Barca the lead in the 12th minute when panicked defending resulted in Torres being presented with a golden opportunity when there seemed to be no danger.
As a trio of Majorcan defenders shepherded the ball back to their goalkeeper, full-back Johan Mojica suddenly decided to try to lash it away, only to smash the ball straight into Antonio Raillo and it fell perfectly to the feet of the Barcelona forward, who duly stroked home the opener.
The Catalans’ high defensive line caught Mallorca out on several occasions as they tried to spring their attackers with passes over the top.
Mallorca were, however, starting to build pressure on Barcelona, though the visitors remained dangerous on the counter with their fleet-footed attacking quartet of Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha and Torres.
A second goal in the match did not seem far away, for either side, and it came for the hosts in the 43rd minute.
Inigo Martinez was deeper than the rest of the Barcelona line and Pablo Maffeo timed his run onto Sergi Darder’s pass to perfection, before rolling the ball across to Muriqi to tap into an open net.


Another defensive lapse nearly restored the visitors’ lead on the stroke of half-time, but goalkeeper Leo Roman bailed out Raillo for his poor back-header by denying Raphinha one-on-one.
The Mallorca ‘keeper thwarted the Brazilian again early in the second period, punching away a fizzing free-kick from close range.
But it was eventually third time lucky for Raphinha in his duel with Roman as he flashed a 56th-minute penalty just beyond the Spaniard’s reach.
The sheer pace of the returning Yamal had earned the spot-kick as he raced onto Olmo’s through-ball, before being brought down by Mojica inside the box.
Barcelona struggled creatively in Yamal’s absence, and the 17-year-old displayed his brilliance again moments later when an inspired backheel created a chance out of nothing, until Pedri’s snapshot was blocked.
Raphinha made the game safe for Barcelona with 14 minutes remaining when he knocked home a magnificent outside-of-the-foot cross courtesy of Yamal.
“I’m living my best moment but I don’t want to stop there. I want to do much more for this crest. It’s a club that I love enormously. Everything I can give on the pitch, I’ll give it,” said Raphinha.
Euro 2024 winner Yamal repeated the trick five minutes later, this time finding the forward run of Victor, whose pass across goal was cut out, but only as far as the onrushing De Jong who finished unerringly.
De Jong then turned provider in the final 10 minutes as he squared for 23-year-old substitute Victor to score.
Yamal could have capped off a superb second-half showing, but his dinked finish near the end was well saved by the defiant Roman.


Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group
Updated 04 December 2024
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Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group

Al-Hilal ease back into top spot in group
  • Al-Hilal register comfortable 3-0 victory over Al-Gharafa of Qatar 
  • Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes

Al-Hilal defeated Al-Gharafa of Qatar 3-0 on Tuesday to return to the top of their AFC Champions League Elite group with two games of the group stage remaining.

The four-time champions, who are already guaranteed a place in the round of 16 as the top eight from each of the two groups of 12 progress, found it easy as they strolled past the visitors.

The win moves them onto 16 points from six games, above Al-Ahli on goal difference and three points above Al-Nassr in third, although both their Saudi Pro League rivals have also booked their spots in the next round ahead of schedule.

Marcos Leonardo put the hosts ahead after just 18 minutes. Yasser Al-Shahrani had possession of the ball on the right side of the area and pulled it back to the Brazilian who shot first time into the roof of the net for his third goal of the tournament.

The Saudi Arabians were in control for much of the match but it took the Blues until the 82nd minute to add to the scoreline and seal the win, the goal coming courtesy of in-form Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Salem Al-Dawsari drove at the defence and fed the Serbian striker just outside the area. Mitrovic had time to turn and drive a low shot toward the target but Sergio Rico in the Al-Gharafa goal should have done better.

However, few in Riyadh cared, and just three minutes later it was 3-0. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who had scored twice on Saturday to give Al-Hilal a vital 2-1 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League, netted again, this time with a simple but well-taken goal. Malcom swung over a corner from the right and the former Lazio midfielder climbed well just outside the six-yard box to head home powerfully.

That concluded the last of the Asian action until 2025 and the Saudi Arabian clubs are looking very healthy indeed at the end of the year.