Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF reacts after the team's defeat in the MLS match between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF at TQL Stadium on July 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images via AFP)
Short Url
Updated 20 July 2025
Follow

Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi had two goals and two assists to lead Inter Miami to a bounce- back 5-1 victory over the host New York Red Bulls on Saturday night in Harrison, N.J.

Messi and Inter Miami (12-4-5, 41 points) erased a 1-0 first-half deficit with a flurry of goals late in the first half — two of them coming off the foot of Telasco Segovia — that staked the Herons to a 3-1 halftime lead.

Miami won its sixth MLS match in its past seven after having a five-game winning streak snapped at FC Cincinnati on Wednesday. Messi saw the end of his MLS-record streak of five matches scoring multiple goals, only to record a brace on Saturday.

The Red Bulls (9-9-6, 33 points) failed to string together consecutive wins at home and lost to Inter Miami for the second time this season.

New York scored its lone goal in the 15th minute when Emil Forsberg lifted a corner kick in front of Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo’s line of sight. Alexander Hack then kicked it home for the score despite having defender Federico Redondo draped all over him.

Rios Novo made his second start this season for Oscar Ustari, who sat out with an injury.

Jordi Alba, who exited the game in the 84th minute with what appeared to be a leg cramp, scored his first goal of the season in MLS league play off a cross from Messi in the 24th minute to tie the game1-1.

Inter Miami took the lead for good in the 27th when Luis Suarez, who assisted on the first goal, sent a ball ahead to Messi, who then directed it quickly to Alba, who then crossed it back to Segovia for an easy shot into the back of the net.

In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Redondo advanced the ball into the Red Bulls’ box but could not fire off a shot. Segovia, though, surged in and fired a shot off a rebound past Carlos Miguel Coronel for a third goal.

Messi followed with goals in the 60th and 75th minutes to seal the outcome.

Messi increased his total goals in MLS games to 18 this season and has contributed on 27 scores.

The Red Bulls mustered nine shots in the match, but they were outshot 8-1 in shots on target.


Man United unveils state-of-the-art training base it hopes will return it to soccer’s elite

Man United unveils state-of-the-art training base it hopes will return it to soccer’s elite
Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Man United unveils state-of-the-art training base it hopes will return it to soccer’s elite

Man United unveils state-of-the-art training base it hopes will return it to soccer’s elite
A $67m revamp of the club’s Carrington training base has been completed in time for the start of the new Premier League season
“The big thing that I like the most is now there’s going to be no excuses,” Dalot said

MANCHESTER: Manchester United opened their new “world class” training complex Friday that they hope will help return the fallen giant to the top of European soccer.

A 50 million pound ($67 million) revamp of the club’s Carrington training base has been completed in time for the start of the new Premier League season as the storied club aim to bounce back from their worst campaign in the modern era.

“The big thing that I like the most is now there’s going to be no excuses,” defender Diogo Dalot said.

United have gone 12 years since last winning the Premier League title in 2013 and last season recorded their lowest finish when placing 15th.

They also suffered a club record 18 losses in the Premier League and amassed their lowest points total, 42, as they failed to qualify for any European competition.

“It’s what we’re going to do on the pitch that obviously will determine what we do and where we put the club back on top,” Dalot said.

But he added that the new training center meant players had “everything that you need to be on your best shape mentally and physically.”

State-of-the-art performance and rehabilitation equipment has been installed, including altitude training facilities. Sleeping pods, oxygen chambers and cryotherapy treatment facilities are to be added imminently.

The project was funded by minority owner Jim Ratcliffe as part of the British billionaire’s $1.3 billion investment in the storied club last year.

“I hope it helps take Manchester United where Manchester United need to go,” he said.

Ratcliffe, who has also outlined plans to rebuild the club’s iconic Old Trafford stadium, said he had quickly made a decision to “invest significantly in the creation of a world class performance environment for staff and players to reflect our ambition and vision for Manchester United.”

“The club have to compete at the highest level. That’s appropriate to the brand and the size and the history of the club,” he said. “So whilst a world class training facility won’t take us to that place alone, it is one of the key ingredients in the modern world.”

As well as performance equipment, the redesign of the campus, led by architect Foster + Partners, includes facilities like a barber shop, a Formula 1 simulator and pool table, with a padel court due to be installed at the request of players.

Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters

Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters

Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters
  • The Central Netherlands Court rejected the club’s appeal to overturn a decision by the Dutch Football Association to revoke their professional license
  • Dutch media showed images of scuffles in Arnhem city center as supporters gathered

AMSTERDAM: One of the Netherlands’ oldest clubs, Vitesse Arnhem, lost a final bid to save their professional license on Friday and were effectively kicked out of the league, sparking fan protests.

The Central Netherlands Court rejected the club’s appeal to overturn a decision by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to revoke their professional license.

Dutch media showed images of scuffles in Arnhem city center as supporters gathered. One journalist was slapped, the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper reported, as anger was directed against media.

The court upheld the KNVB decision after the football association said the club had circumvented and undermined the licensing system for years and had spurned repeated opportunities to regularise their affairs, including debt reported to be around 14 million euros ($16.3 million).

The club, established in 1892, had been sanctioned last year and relegated to the Dutch second division because of financial irregularities, which the KNVB said included the absence of a bank account, the absence of a controlling accountant, and the fact that no conclusive budget could be provided.

Vitesse were the first Dutch club to have foreign owners in 2010 when Georgian businessman Merab Jordania took over the club with Russian Valeriy Oyf becoming majority owner in 2018.

The club’s financial fortunes changed drastically after sanctions that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The decision means Saturday’s scheduled match against Almere City has been canceled and leaves the Dutch second division with 19 clubs.

In a statement, Vitesse said they were “devastated” by the verdict. “What the future holds is unclear,” the statement said.

“The club is exploring options and continues to talk to stakeholders to safeguard football in Arnhem.”

Vitesse, who were four-time runners-up in the Dutch league but never won the championship, will be forced to either continue as an amateur club or cease to exist.

The Dutch league has two divisions, but there is no mandatory promotion and relegation between the second tier of the professional competition and the amateur ranks.

“The worst-case scenario has come true,” said Arnhem’s Alderman for Sports Affairs Bob Roelofs.

“This is a tragedy for the city, for the supporters, for Vitesse. The city has lost a large part of its DNA.”


Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue

Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue

Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue
  • Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury and may miss the start of the La Liga season, the Catalan club announced on Friday

BARCELONA: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury and may miss the start of the La Liga season, the Catalan club announced on Friday.

“The first team player Robert Lewandowski has a hamstring problem in his left thigh,” Barcelona said in a statement, without specifying how long the Polish striker would be out of action.

The 36-year-old is “unavailable” for Sunday’s friendly match against Como, which casts doubt on his presence in the matchday squad for Barcelona’s La Liga opener against Mallorca on August 16.

Lewandowski netted 42 times in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan club last season as Hansi Flick’s side won the Spanish league, cup and super cup.


Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury
  • The Argentina international missed some of Liverpool’s preseason preparations when recovering from injury

LIVERPOOL: Alexis Mac Allister will be in Liverpool’s squad for Sunday’s Community Shield match against Crystal Palace.

The Argentina international missed some of Liverpool’s preseason preparations when recovering from injury. But he played in the last two friendlies against Yokohama F. Marinos and Atletico Madrid and will be in contention to play some part of the game against Palace at Wembley, coach Arne Slot said.

“He was out for two months I think, or longer because we didn’t play him in the last four games of the season. He trained with us since a week now, played 30 minutes, 45 minutes,” Slot said Friday. “So that’s not a situation where you would start a player... play him for 90 minutes. Starting is possible but definitely not for 90 minutes.”

The 26-year-old Mac Allister’s last competitive game was against Arsenal on May 11. He missed the Premier League champion’s last two games of the season.

Last month the midfielder said his absence was due to a series of issues, rather than one specific injury.

“It’s hard to explain because it’s not just one spot that you say, ‘OK, we have to focus on this,’” Mac Allister said. “It’s like two or three different things that I’ve been struggling (with) for a couple of months.

“At the end, we found the solution; we have been working a lot in the gym, on my structure.”

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has been ruled out of the match with a “minor” injury, Slot said.


PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source

PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source

PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source
  • European champions Paris Saint-Germain have reached agreement with Lille to sign highly-rated goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Friday

PARIS: European champions Paris Saint-Germain have reached agreement with Lille to sign highly-rated goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Friday.

The move is likely to pose questions over the future of Italian international ‘keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at PSG.

Donnarumma, who was outstanding in PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final in May, is in the final year of his contract and would likely interest Premier League clubs.

Chevalier, 23, will sign a five-year contract and command a fee of around 40 million euros ($46.5 million).

He was nominated on Thursday for this year’s men’s Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or gala after exceptional performances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League last season.

Lille finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season and qualified for the Europa League.