Al-Ittihad down Al-Nassr at the death to stay top of SPL table

Al-Ittihad down Al-Nassr at the death to stay top of SPL table
Steven Bergwijn celebrates scoring Al-Ittihad's winner against Al-Nassr (X/@ittihad_en)
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Updated 07 December 2024
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Al-Ittihad down Al-Nassr at the death to stay top of SPL table

Al-Ittihad down Al-Nassr at the death to stay top of SPL table
  • The 2-1 win leaves the Jeddah club five points clear of champions Hilal

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad dramatically defeated Al-Nassr 2-1 to move five points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League table. In the final round of games until the start of 2025, an injury-time winner from Steven Bergwijn made the difference to perhaps knock the losers out of the title race for good.

When the big games such as the Classico come around, the big names make a difference, and that is exactly what happened here. Karim Benzema broke the deadlock early in the second half but Cristiano Ronaldo quickly restored parity — the two stars each have 10 league goals for the season so far — for the visitors, and it looked as though that was it.

Yet just as the game was heading for a draw, Bergwijn grabbed the victory to put Al-Ittihad on to 36 points from 13 games. Al-Hilal will move to within two points of the leaders if they win on Saturday. Al-Nassr stay on 25 points and drop down into fourth as Al-Qadsia earlier won 3-0 at Al-Kholood to take third. 

In the first half, Al-Nassr had more of the ball but Al-Ittihad looked more dangerous.

Both teams were feeling each other out in the early stages with the first real attempt coming as Nassr’s Aymeric Laporte headed a free-kick from deep just over the bar in the 19th minute. Only two minutes later, Karim Benzema cut in from the left and let fly from the top corner of the area, but his shot bounced just wide of the opposite post.

Midway through the first half, the hosts had the ball in the net. Benzema caused problems in the box and squared the ball to Bergwijn who slid home from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

In the 27th minute, the Dutchman shot from just outside the area but Bento got down well to make the save. Seconds later, the goalkeeper was flying through the air to push a powerful Benzema effort just around the post.

Al-Nassr were struggling to fashion clear opportunities, but six minutes before the break Marcelo Brozovic picked up possession deep inside his own half and then picked out Sadio Mane with a fantastic through-ball. The Senegalese star took the ball past Predrag Rajovic but went too far wide, slipped and was then dispossessed. 

The match burst into life 10 minutes into the second half. Muhannad Al-Shantiqi ran down the right and provided the perfect low cross to the opposite side of the area where Benzema was waiting in space to pick his spot.

The lead lasted not much more than a minute — indeed, the home fans were still celebrating as Ronaldo became the first player to score against the league leaders in seven games. Angelo found space on the right byline and picked out the incoming Portuguese megastar with a smart pullback and Ronaldo made no mistake to score his 80th goal in total since signing for Al-Nassr almost two years ago.

With 10 minutes remaining, Mane had another chance to get on the scoresheet, but while the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star timed his run in the area to perfection, he pulled his shot just wide from close range. It is the kind of chance that must be taken against a defense such as Al-Ittihad’s. 

And, sure enough, the punishment came. In the 92nd minute, Bergwijn was allowed to run at the Al-Nassr backline and the Dutchman cut inside from the left edge of the area and then curled a shot past the diving Bento to send the stadium wild. It could end up being a very important goal in the title race.


NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard ‘hadn’t written a speech’ after becoming youngest-ever Formula E podium finisher in Brazil

NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard ‘hadn’t written a speech’ after becoming youngest-ever Formula E podium finisher in Brazil
Updated 54 min 26 sec ago
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NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard ‘hadn’t written a speech’ after becoming youngest-ever Formula E podium finisher in Brazil

NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard ‘hadn’t written a speech’ after becoming youngest-ever Formula E podium finisher in Brazil
  • Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing also made history by winning from 22nd on the grid
  • Round 4 of the season will take place at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Feb. 14-15 after 6 successful seasons in Diriyah

SAO PAULO: NEOM McLaren driver Taylor Barnard, aged only 20 years and 189 days, has joked that he did not have a speech ready after becoming Formula E’s youngest-ever podium finisher, surpassing Daniel Abt’s record set in 2015.

The 2024-25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kicked off at the weekend, with Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing taking first place, Antonio Felix Da Costa of Tag Heuer Porsche in second and Barnard third.

Thanks to Barnard and his teammate Sam Bird, who finished fourth in the action-packed race in Brazil, NEOM McLaren are leading the Teams’ table, having stormed through the field after starting from 17th and 16th, respectively.

“I hadn’t written a podium speech,” Barnard said. “Especially after the start of that race, I took off my front wing and had to change it, come into the pits and I had a Drive-Through Penalty, unfortunately. I don’t know what to say.”

“The team did an absolutely amazing job with the second Attack Mode strategy, it made it easy for me and Sam to pass and get up to the front and we both did a great job. He protected me at the end so thanks to him for the great teamwork. I didn’t expect to be standing here.”

Evans also made history by becoming the first driver to win from the back of the grid, after starting from 22nd in the debut race for the GEN3 Evo car. The introduction of a powered-up “Attack Mode,” now with a four-wheel drive boost, added a new layer of strategy, enabling Evans to charge through the field late in the race. With this stunning performance, Evans now leads the Drivers’ standings.

Sao Paulo delivered 111 overtakes, five leaders and dramatic moments including a safety car and two Red Flags; one followed a crash involving reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein, whose Porsche ended upside down after hitting the wall. Thankfully, Wehrlein was unharmed.

His Porsche teammate Da Costa came second in the race, Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara secured fifth place, followed by both Nissan Formula E Team drivers Norman Nato and Nyck de Vries in sixth and seventh, respectively. Sebastien Buemi (Envision Racing), Dan Ticktum (CUPRA KIRO) and Jean-Eric Vergne (DS PENSKE) completed the top 10.

Formula E heads to Mexico City for round two of Season 11 on Jan. 11 next year.

Jeddah will be the new home of Formula E in Saudi Arabia, hosting the thrilling race at the iconic Jeddah Corniche Circuit — known as the fastest street circuit in the world — on Feb. 14-15.

It follows six successful seasons racing in Diriyah, and marks a new chapter in Formula E’s history since its inaugural race in Saudi Arabia in Season 5.


Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom

Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom
Updated 52 min 15 sec ago
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Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom

Dortmund celebrate red-hot Gittens’ ‘arrival’ as Barca loom
  • Still just 20, Gittens’ recent performances have established the Englishman as Dortmund’s most important attacking outlet
  • With his trademark dance in from the left flank, dribbling past defenders, Gittens unleashed a rocket which bounced in off the crossbar to score for the fourth straight game

BERLIN: Asked to sum up yet another star turn from winger Jamie Gittens on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin said simply “he has arrived.”
Still just 20, Gittens’ recent performances have established the Englishman as Dortmund’s most important attacking outlet.
With his trademark dance in from the left flank, dribbling past defenders, Gittens unleashed a rocket which bounced in off the crossbar to score for the fourth straight game.
In Wednesday’s home clash against a free-scoring Barcelona side who are top of the La Liga table, Gittens will be crucial as Dortmund hope to take a step closer to locking up a top-eight spot.
Gittens walked the same path as former Borussia teammate Jadon Sancho when he moved from the Manchester City academy to Dortmund.
Just four years younger than Sancho, who is now at Chelsea having returned to Dortmund for a six-month loan last season, Gittens’ progress was disrupted by a series of shoulder injuries.
This season, Gittens has played in all Dortmund’s 20 games in all competitions. He has nine goals — including four in the Champions League — and four assists.
Gittens has developed a habit of scoring incredible goals at crucial moments in what has been a challenging season for last year’s Champions League finalists.
German tabloid Bild on Sunday called him a “giant” and said “Dortmund finally have a star face again.”
According to Bild’s analysis, sixth-placed Dortmund would be in the bottom half of the table without Gittens’ contributions.
Germany’s Sport1 network on Monday had a discussion asking if “Dortmund are too dependent?” on the starlet this season.
On Saturday, Gittens was quick to deflect praise of his red-hot form.
“My teammates are always making me go harder in training,” Gittens told the Bundesliga website, adding his improvement was due to “being more confident on the pitch.”
Several current superstars, including Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembele and Sancho, have emerged from the Dortmund finishing school in recent years.
Plenty are tempted to ask if Gittens is on the same path — and whether a move away is inevitable.
German media speculated on Sunday Gittens will be Dortmund’s next big-money sale.
But while Haaland, Bellingham, Dembele and Sancho always had their eyes set on a short stay, Gittens — who gives interviews in German — has repeatedly said he is comfortable in Dortmund.
After a spectacular solo goal in a 1-1 draw with rivals Bayern Munich in November, Sancho texted Gittens.
“He wrote to me. He said ‘keep it up — it’s your time to show everyone what you can do’,” Gittens said of Sancho, calling the Chelsea winger “a top player and a top friend.”
Dortmund coach Sahin, under pressure after a patchy start to the season, refused to take credit for Gittens’ development.
“The credit doesn’t belong to me, but to Jamie and (former Dortmund assistant coach) Sven Bender.”
“He’s made a huge step. His heart is in the right place and I wish him only the best.”
Like last season, when they finished fifth in the Bundesliga but reached the Champions League final, Dortmund have struggled in Germany but impressed in Europe this year.
Dortmund are fourth on the Champions League table, level on points with third-placed Barcelona.
Despite flying high in the new format, either side could fall outside the top eight with a loss, such is the traffic jam of teams below them.
Barcelona are atop the Liga table in Hansi Flick’s first season. They have, however, begun to show defensive vulnerabilities similar to those which brought Flick’s time at Bayern to an end.
If Dortmund are to challenge the five-time Champions League winners, the lightning-quick Gittens will need to play a leading role.


Even reserves are ‘world-class players’ — Azam Khan on the intensity of the DP World ILT20

Even reserves are ‘world-class players’ — Azam Khan on the intensity of the DP World ILT20
Updated 10 December 2024
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Even reserves are ‘world-class players’ — Azam Khan on the intensity of the DP World ILT20

Even reserves are ‘world-class players’ — Azam Khan on the intensity of the DP World ILT20
  • The Desert Vipers batsman is focused on victory for his team and helping the next generation of UAE cricketers

DUBAI: Renowned hard-hitting Desert Vipers’ batter Azam Khan is upbeat about the DP World ILT20 Season 3 after playing a pivotal role in his team’s previous campaign, which saw them narrowly miss out on a playoff berth.

The right-handed Pakistan international said: “I’m really excited for the next season. I had a great season last year, which brings the same excitement to go out and play for the Desert Vipers again. There will be new challenges, but we’ll focus on executing on the ground and winning for the team.”

DP World ILT20 Season 2 saw the power-hitter register the fastest half-century in the competition’s history. Khan reached the milestone in just 18 balls, studded with five fours and four sixes, to power the Vipers to victory against the Gulf Giants.

Looking back on the achievement and shedding light on his approach to the game, Khan added: “I’ve always said that cricket is a game that won’t just give you success, but it’ll also bring failures in your career. For me, it’s about going out there and dominating the other side. That’s what I always try to do whenever I go out there.”

Khan’s reputation as one of the most aggressive batters in the game today has made him a fan favorite; in season two, the crowd chanted his name during his stints.

“It’s a great adrenaline rush for me whenever I go out to bat and hear the crowd roaring,” said the 25-year-old. “It’s an amazing feeling for any player, any batter. I’ll try to make sure I bring the same excitement for the fans this year as well.”

Khan also highlighted the growing competitiveness of the DP World ILT20.

“I’ve been talking to many players about the competition, and with nine international players in one team, I think it makes it very tough for the players to perform. Even the guys sitting on the bench are world-class players, so it gets difficult for the guys,” he said.

Khan believes the unique structure serves as a catalyst for the development of UAE cricketers and the grassroots program.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the UAE youngsters, especially as they can share the dressing room with the legends and greats of the game,” he said. “It’s very good for their future, and they can learn from them, try to execute the feedback they get, and use it in their daily life to work on it.

“I know some of them personally, and it feels very nice when all these young guys come to you and ask for opinions. It feels nice that they want suggestions from me, and I’m always there for them.”

With the Desert Vipers set to begin their campaign on Jan. 12 against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders — in an away game in the UAE capital — Khan is urging the fans to lend their support.

“Just come out and support us and we’ll try to win the tournament this year. I can’t promise that, but I’ll make sure that whenever I go in the ground, I’ll give my 100 percent,” he said.

The third season of the DP World ILT20 will run from Jan. 11 to Feb. 9 next year.


Tickets go on sale for inaugural Jeddah E-Prix

Tickets go on sale for inaugural Jeddah E-Prix
Updated 10 December 2024
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Tickets go on sale for inaugural Jeddah E-Prix

Tickets go on sale for inaugural Jeddah E-Prix
  • Saudi Arabia will welcome Formula E to Jeddah in 2025 for Season 11 after six years of racing in Diriyah
  • Rounds 3 and 4 of the all-electric series will take place on Feb. 14-15 at a revised Jeddah Corniche Short Circuit

JEDDAH: Formula E has today announced that tickets for the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix — the new host city for the all-electric championship’s race event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — are on sale.

The Early Bird sale has begun, with prices starting from SAR 50 ($13), giving fans the opportunity to receive 25 percent off full-price tickets ahead of the general sale on Sunday, Dec. 22, when tickets will start at SAR 70.

Following six successful previous events in Diriyah, Formula E will return to Saudi Arabia, which will play host to a race event for its seventh year. The 2025 Jeddah E-Prix will take place on Feb. 14-15 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, set against the backdrop of the Red Sea coastline.

“Bringing Formula E to Jeddah for the first time is an exciting milestone for the championship,” Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said. “Saudi Arabia has been a key part of our journey, and racing in Jeddah reflects our commitment to growing the sport in new and dynamic cities around the world. The combination of Jeddah’s rich motorsport culture and its forward-thinking vision for sustainability makes it an ideal host for Formula E. We can’t wait to see the cars light up the iconic Corniche Short Circuit and deliver a spectacular debut race for fans.”

This will be the first time fans in Saudi Arabia can catch a glimpse of the all-new GEN3 Evo race car as it is put through its paces on the revised Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The new GEN3 Evo car is capable of 0-60mph in just 1.82 seconds — 36 percent faster than the previous GEN3 and 30 percent faster than a current Formula One car.

“We are thrilled to bring Formula E to Jeddah for the first time in 2025,” said Alberto Longo, co-founder and chief championship officer, Formula E. “This city embodies a unique blend of tradition and innovation that defines our championship. This new addition to the calendar also highlights our ongoing commitment to expanding the reach of Formula E, and we look forward to making history in Saudi Arabia once again.”

Carlo Boutagy, founder of CBX, promoter of the Jeddah E-Prix, added: “It is incredibly exciting to be bringing Formula E to Jeddah for the first time, showcasing the power of electric motorsport to another part of Saudi Arabia.

“Not only will Jeddah provide thrilling racing as teams face new challenges on an unfamiliar circuit, but we are also creating experiences and activations away from the racing to engage our fans to offer the most entertaining weekend possible, whether that be their time in the Fan Village or the concerts after the race.”

  • Tickets for 2025 Jeddah E-Prix are available for sale from WeBook.

Footballco opens Middle East headquarters in Riyadh

Footballco opens Middle East headquarters in Riyadh
Updated 10 December 2024
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Footballco opens Middle East headquarters in Riyadh

Footballco opens Middle East headquarters in Riyadh
  • One of the world’s leading football media companies will provide a content-creating platform for fans, brands and rights holders across Mideast, North Africa

RIYADH: Global football content and media company, Footballco, has opened a new regional headquarters in Riyadh to help serve fans, brands and rights holders across the Middle East and North Africa.

Footballco will retain its previous MENA headquarters, located in Dubai, but will now build a full-service offering from Riyadh, including local creative- and client-services teams.

Footballco is majority-owned by Integrated Media Company, an affiliate of US private equity giant TPG. The IMC is the publisher behind several football media brands that serve the region, including GOAL, KOOORA, and an Arabic edition of its women’s football brand, INDIVISA.

Andy Jackson, recently appointed as Footballco’s senior vice president for the Middle East, is leading the company’s growth in the region. “The Middle East is seeing a surge of interest in its football, both domestically and globally,” said Jackson.

“By locating our new regional office in Riyadh, we’re positioning Footballco at the center of this growth and ensuring we can better understand the growing fandom in the region and serve the brands and rights holders helping to drive this growth.”

Footballco has several domestic brands and rights holders across the Middle East as clients, and is working with global brands to help them activate in the region.

While Jackson is relocating to run the Riyadh office, Footballco aims to focus its recruitment on local talent. This has included the hiring of creative director Amjad Murad, who has joined Footballco from the Jeddah-based agency Social Clinic.

Footballco reaches an audience of 192 million fans across the MENA region, including over half of the adult population of Saudi Arabia each month. This is through GOAL, KOOORA and brands focused on specific audience segments.

Jackson said: “While GOAL and KOOORA are our largest brands by scale, we recognize that the fan groups in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, engage with football in different ways to each other.

“For this, we operate a number of brands that resonate with these fan groups. These include the social video brands Yalla GOAL (and) the recently launched Yalla Girl, which appeal to Gen-Z fans looking for fun and personality in their football content.

“Fans in the Kingdom are younger than other markets we operate in, reflecting the younger skew of the country's population, and they’re the only group surveyed globally by Footballco where gaming is the most common route into the sport. They’re the most likely to get their football news from social media.

“Young fans in the Kingdom are also significantly more interested in players over clubs — which is why we believe our editorial ethos of bringing fans closer to the players they love makes them choose our brands over others.”

Footballco also serves fans of women’s football in the Kingdom, reaching 4 million Saudi Arabia females each month.

Jackson added: “As well as covering the growing women’s game in the region through GOAL and KOOORA, we operate two social-first brands geared towards how young women want to consume football content.

“These include Yalla GIRL, which takes the same personality-driven and fun-first approach to football content to football as YALLA GOAL, and INDIVISA.

“INDIVISA’s approach is to support the rise of women’s football through the championing of grassroots football and providing a home to the growing women’s football community.”

Footballco’s Riyadh office will be supported by its global teams, with the aim of raising the local employee number to 20 by the end of 2025.