Liverpool players join family for Diogo Jota's funeral
Club captain Virgil Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot were among Liverpool teammates past and present who attended the service in Gondomar for the striker and his brother, Andre Silva.
The English Premier League stars carried two floral tributes in the club's red colour into the chapel, each in the shape of a shirt.
The one carried by Van Dijk had the number 20 written in white flowers, which Jota wore on his Liverpool shirt.
The other bore the number 30, which was worn by Jota's brother, who played for FC Peñafiel in Portugal's second division.
Dressed in black and with their heads bowed, the teammates entered the church in silence. The only sound was the applause from the crowd outside.
Rute Cardoso, who married her childhood sweetheart Jota only weeks before the fatal crash, arrived with relatives.
Hundreds of residents of Gondomar, a small town in northern Portugal where Jota grew up, gathered outside.
The private service for family and close friends was presided over by the Bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda.
In an emotional homily addressed to Jota's parents, his wife and their three young children, Linda said "solidarity in love is always stronger than death".
Teammates from the Portugal nation squad including Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, who both play in the English Premier League, also attended the service.
Jota's death at the age of 28 sent shock waves through the world of football and beyond, with messages of condolences pouring in from national leaders as well as across the sport.
The brothers were believed to have been driving to a ferry in Spain to travel to Britain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames after midnight on Thursday. Police said they suspected a tyre had burst.
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Football stars join family of Liverpool player Jota, brother for funeral
Liverpool players joined family and friends for the funeral of their teammate Diogo Jota and his brother on Saturday, two days after the siblings died in a car crash in Spain. Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk arrived carrying a red floral arrangement in the shape of a soccer shirt with Jota's No. 20 in white. Liverpool teammate Andrew Robertson carried a similar arrangement with the No. 30, the number worn by Jota's brother, André Silva, who played for Portuguese club Penafiel. The service was held at Igreja Matriz church in the Portuguese town of Gondomar, where Jota had a home. Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk and teammate Andrew Robertson arrive at the funeral ceremony. Reuters Church bells pealed at 11:00 am local time as the funeral started. Pallbearers carried the caskets of both brothers from a chapel next door and into the church. Relatives and hundreds of friends and acquaintances, including players of the local Gondomar FC where Jota started playing at age 9, then followed. Portugal's national team coach Roberto Martínez and several top Portuguese players also attended, including Manchester City duo Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias and Manchester United's Bruno Fernándes. Jota, 28, and the 25-year-old Silva were found dead near Zamora in northwestern Spain early on Thursday after the Lamborghini they were driving crashed on an isolated stretch of highway just after midnight on Thursday and burst into flames. AC Milan's Portuguese forward Joao Felix (left) arrives for the funeral. Agence France-Presse The brothers were reportedly heading to catch a boat from northern Spain to go to England where Jota was to rejoin with Liverpool after a summer break. Spanish police are investigating the cause of the crash, which did not involve another vehicle, they said. They said they believe it could have been caused by a blown tyre. Their bodies were repatriated to Portugal after being identified by the family. A wake was held for them on Friday. Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva (right) at the funeral on Saturday. AFP Jota's death occurred two weeks after he married long-time partner Rute Cardoso while on vacation from a long season where he helped Liverpool win the Premier League. The couple had three children, the youngest born last year. Their loss led to an outpouring of condolences from the soccer world and Portuguese officials. Associated Press
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The French treble winners had Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez sent off in the final stages but managed to oust the German giants in Atlanta. Bundesliga champions Bayern, who lost Jamal Musiala just before half-time with a horror ankle injury, shared an intense and even battle with the Parisians. Bayern had won their last four matches straight against PSG, including a 1-0 Champions League victory last November, before Luis Enrique's side hit their peak. Players and nearly 67,000 spectators observed a minute of silence in honour of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically died in a car crash on Thursday. It was an emotional moment, especially for a PSG side with five Portuguese players in the squad, including starters Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes. Luis Enrique began with leading Ballon d'Or candidate Dembele on the bench, as he continues his comeback from a quadriceps injury, but Bayern playmaker Musiala was fit to start after a calf issue. It was FIFA's expanded tournament's biggest heavyweight clash thus far and Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said on the eve of the game he would pay to watch a match he described as a "perfect storm", because of the teams' similar high-pressing, attacking styles. The air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium also produced the perfect conditions for a pulsating game, lit up by supremely talented dribblers on both sides, as well as two elite goalkeepers in Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer. Both sides exchanged early blows as Desire Doue fired narrowly wide and Donnarumma saved Michael Olise's low effort. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the side netting after a razor-sharp PSG counter before Donnarumma produced a fine save at full stretch to tip away another Olise effort. Georgia international Kvaratskhelia forced Neuer into an excellent stop from close range after the effervescent Bradley Barcola floated a ball out to him on the left and the winger surged inside at pace. Donnarumma was called into action as Aleksandar Pavlovic's low cross for Musiala eluded the German and nearly found the bottom corner, but for a swift reaction from the Italian. The goalkeeper could do nothing about Dayot Upamecano's header from Olise's free-kick in first-half stoppage time but the French defender had strayed offside and it was disallowed. England captain Harry Kane also came close for Bayern with a header that flew narrowly off target after fine work by Kingsley Coman. Musiala horror injury Unfortunately Musiala suffered a gruesome ankle injury before half-time as he fell following a collision with Donnarumma, with the goalkeeper appearing distraught in the aftermath. Bayern's 39-year-old stopper Neuer produced a sensational save to deny Barcola early in the second half, as the French winger ran through on goal and tried to bend the ball into the far corner. With 20 minutes remaining, Luis Enrique sent on Dembele to try and make the difference and avoid extra-time, which neither side needed at the end of a gruelling season. Dembele came inches from doing just that when Neuer gave the ball away outside his area and the Frenchman lunged to try and roll into the empty net, but it trickled just wide of the post. Eventually 20-year-old Doue found the breakthrough as Kane gave the ball away and PSG attacked in numbers. Doue, who burst into the limelight in PSG's run to Champions League glory, worked some space on the edge of the box and flashed a low strike home at the near post. Bayern were given hope as they hunted for an equaliser when PSG defender Pacho was sent off for a high tackle on Leon Goretzka after 83 minutes. Kane headed home from an offside position before PSG substitute Hernandez was dismissed for an elbow. Dembele hit the crossbar on the break as Luis Enrique's side clung on before sealing their victory through the French forward, who tucked home after Achraf Hakimi's run through and paid tribute to Jota by copying his video-gaming celebration. PSG will face Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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Liverpool players join family for Diogo Jota's funeral
Carrying a red floral wreath bearing his shirt number, Diogo Jota's Liverpool teammates joined relatives and residents in a small Portuguese town on Saturday for the funeral of the football star, who died with his brother in a car crash on Thursday. Club captain Virgil Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot were among Liverpool teammates past and present who attended the service in Gondomar for the striker and his brother, Andre Silva. The English Premier League stars carried two floral tributes in the club's red colour into the chapel, each in the shape of a shirt. The one carried by Van Dijk had the number 20 written in white flowers, which Jota wore on his Liverpool shirt. The other bore the number 30, which was worn by Jota's brother, who played for FC Peñafiel in Portugal's second division. Dressed in black and with their heads bowed, the teammates entered the church in silence. The only sound was the applause from the crowd outside. Rute Cardoso, who married her childhood sweetheart Jota only weeks before the fatal crash, arrived with relatives. Hundreds of residents of Gondomar, a small town in northern Portugal where Jota grew up, gathered outside. The private service for family and close friends was presided over by the Bishop of Porto, Manuel Linda. In an emotional homily addressed to Jota's parents, his wife and their three young children, Linda said "solidarity in love is always stronger than death". Teammates from the Portugal nation squad including Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, who both play in the English Premier League, also attended the service. Jota's death at the age of 28 sent shock waves through the world of football and beyond, with messages of condolences pouring in from national leaders as well as across the sport. The brothers were believed to have been driving to a ferry in Spain to travel to Britain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames after midnight on Thursday. Police said they suspected a tyre had burst.
