Latest news with #CWC2025
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Shock win over City like conquering Everest, says Al-Hilal boss Inzaghi
Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi likened his side's shock 4-3 extra-time win over Manchester City in the last 16 of the Club World Cup (CWC) to 'climbing Mount Everest without oxygen' after the Saudi side booked an unexpected berth in the quarterfinals. Inzaghi's side will face Brazil's Fluminense in the last eight on Friday after Marcos Leonardo scored a 112th-minute winner for the Riyadh-based club to eliminate Pep Guardiola's City at the end of a seven-goal thriller in Orlando. Al-Hilal have been majority-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund since 2023 and over the last two years have invested heavily in big-name foreign signings including Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly. Inzaghi said the key to the result 'was the players, and the heart they put on the pitch tonight'. 'We had to do something extraordinary because we all know Manchester City, that team. Marcos Leonardo has just booked Al-Hilal's place in the quarter-finals at the expense of Manchester City! #FIFACWC #CWC2025 #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 1, 2025 'We had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen and we made it. All the players were exceptional in everything, in the possession phase, the non-possession phase. 'We were very well organised in possession and we played well from a technical point of view against a team which is really aggressive and strong in possession. 'Guardiola, I believe, is the best coach in the world, but tonight we did our best and I believe we deserve this result.' Hilal pulled off one of the shocks of the CWC. Marcos Leonardo scored his second of the night in the 113th minute as Inzaghi's side saw off the Premier League club, who had taken a ninth minute lead through Bernardo Silva. Quick-fire goals from Leonardo and Malcom in six minutes immediately after the restart put Hilal in front before Erling Haaland equalised for City in the 55th. This is what dreams are made of for Fluminense 😤🇧🇷 #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 | #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 30, 2025 Four minutes into extra-time, Koulibaly headed in Neves' corner to put the big-spending Riyadh-based club back in front and while Phil Foden levelled again for City, Leonardo netted with seven minutes left to take Hilal through. Fluminense reached the quarterfinals with a stunning 2—0 win over Inter Milan as German Cano's early goal and Hercules' stoppage-time strike toppled the Champions League runners-up in sweltering heat on Monday. Inter are Inzaghi's previous club. He steered them to the 2024-25 Uefa Champions League final but left after they were humbled 5-0 there by Paris St-Germain. Fluminense struck after three minutes when Cano pounced on a deflected cross and headed in from close range, putting the ball through goalkeeper Yann Sommer's legs for a dream start. The Italians pushed for an equaliser after the break but were frustrated by a well-organised defence. Stefan de Vrij missed a close-range chance, keeper Fabio denied Sebastiano Esposito with his feet and Lautaro Martinez struck the post. Substitute Hercules sealed the win for Fluminense three minutes into added time, calmly slotting home from the edge of the box to send the Brazilians through.
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
City thrash Juve, Vinicius sparkles for Real, Mailula scores for losing Wydad
Manchester City produced an impressive display to thrash Juventus 5-2 and underline their title credentials at the Club World Cup on Thursday, advancing to the last 16 with three victories with their 5-2 Group G thrashing of Juventus. The game also saw Rodri make his first start for City since September, playing 67 minutes. City coach Pep Guardiola was pleased with a display more fitting of his team after their battles of the 2024-25 season. 'I liked the way we did it. It has been a long time since we had a performance like this on and off the ball. The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top side. 'This is just one game, but I think the players felt again what it was like to be a good team. The belief always comes from your performances, not your past.' On Rodri's return, Guardiola said: 'We have missed him a lot. He knows exactly what he has to do with the ball, and his personality. I didn't expect him to play as many minutes. He will be ready for the next one.' The South Africans have been pulling strings for Wydad 😤🇿🇦 Cassius Mailula gets his first goal of the #FIFACWC 🔥 📺 Stream #CWC2025 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 26, 2025 With both teams already through to the knockout stage, City underlined their status as title favourites by becoming the only team to finish the group phase with three wins, showing flashes of their brilliant selves. Guardiola's side, will meet Al-Hilal - coached now by Simone Inzaghi, who steered Inter Milan into the last Uefa Champions League final - in the last 16. City finished three points clear of Juventus, who will face Real Madrid. Vinicius Jr scored one and set up another as Madrid secured a 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg on Thursday to seal top spot in Group H. The Spaniards finished with seven points, two clear of Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, who defeated Pachuca 2-0 in the day's other group fixture. Austria's Salzburg, with four points, and Mexican side Pachuca, who failed to register a point, were eliminated. Real face Juve at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Tuesday, while Hilal met City in Orlando on Monday. Pep Guardiola's super sub pays dividends 💪 That ball control from Haaland though 🤫 📺 Stream #CWC2025 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 26, 2025 Under steady rain in Philadelphia, Xabi Alonso's Real dominated proceedings against a lacklustre Salzburg, who created few clear-cut chances. Salzburg's 18-year-old goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky was sharp from the outset and denied Vinicius an early opener with a point-blank save. The Brazilian forward squandered further opportunities while Gonzalo Garcia also missed a golden chance from a Vinicius cross near the half-hour mark. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 40th minute with Jude Bellingham threading a perfectly timed pass through to Vinicius, who danced past two defenders and unleashed from the edge of the box to leave Zawieschitzky with no chance. Vinicius played a pivotal role in Real's second during first-half added time, picking up a loose ball in the box and delivering an audacious back-heeled pass to Federico Valverde, who fired home from close range. Real Madrid were deadly on the counter here 🔥 #FIFACWC #CWC2025 #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 27, 2025 Real Madrid maintained control in the second half but continued to waste chances in front of goal and it was not until the 84th minute that Gonzalo Garcia wrapped up the win, chipping the Salzburg goalkeeper in a quick counter. 'I'm very happy with the goal and the assist. But now comes the most important part, the knockouts, and we're looking forward to it,' Vinicius told DAZN. 'The vibes were good. We played very well in the first half, but we were a bit slower in the second. That's normal given the matches coming up, where we can't afford to slip up.' Real should also be able to call on Kylian Mbappe for the knockout rounds after the French forward missed the entire group stage due to illness. Mbappe returned to training on Wednesday after being struck down by acute gastroenteritis last week but Alonso said they decided to leave him out of the Salzburg match to allow him to make a full recovery for the knockout stage. Al-Hilal beat Mexico's Pachuca 2-0 to reach the knockout stage, the big-spending Saudi club's first win of the tournament enough to send them through as Group H runners-up behind Real. Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and Marcos Leonardo added the second in stoppage time to send the four-times Asian champions through to a last-16 clash with Manchester City in Orlando on Monday. Kodjo Laba scored just before half time, Kaku broke through just after and Al Ain rallied to a 2-1 victory over Wydad AC. Kaku's goal in a match when VAR played a pivotal role stood as the winner for Al Ain, who notched the win escaped unscathed despite Laba's stunning 76th-minute miss from close range. The UAE side finished third in Group G despite being routed 5-0 by Juventus and 6-0 by Manchester City. Wydad were last without a win.
TimesLIVE
25-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Chelsea cruise past Esperance, to face Benfica, who beat Bayern
Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap and Tyrique George saw Chelsea's second-string side secure a place in the round of 16 at the Club World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Esperance de Tunis in their final Group D match on Tuesday. Group winners Flamengo were held 1-1 by Los Angeles FC to finish on seven points, one ahead of Chelsea. Esperance finished third with three points while LA FC were bottom with one. Chelsea face Group C winners Benfica in the last 16 on Saturday at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, while Flamengo take on Bayern Munich, Group C runners-up, in Miami on Sunday. Despite the stakes, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca opted to rotate his squad once more, resting key players such as Cole Palmer and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. He was missing striker Nicolas Jackson, who will also be unavailable against Benfica as he serves a two-match suspension after his red card in Friday's 3-1 loss to Flamengo. Liam Delap gets off the mark with Chelsea 🫡 #FIFACWC #CWC2025 #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 25, 2025 Delap, a £30m signing from Ipswich Town, came close to opening the scoring in the 20th minute but his header was cleared off the line. The breakthrough finally came in first-half stoppage time when Adarabioyo rose highest to head the ball into the bottom left corner. Moments later Delap doubled Chelsea's lead, capitalising on a loose ball inside the box, cutting inside a defender and finishing neatly into the far corner. The second half saw Chelsea control proceedings without pressing for a third goal. The London side made it 3-0 when substitute George fired home from the edge of the box deep in added time. Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup struck in the first half to seal a 1-0 win over Bayern in sweltering, sending the Portuguese side to the top of Group C. Schjelderup broke the deadlock after 13 minutes with a first-time finish off Fredrik Aursnes' low cross from the right, capitalising on a lapse in Bayern's backline. Benfica stun the German giants in 12 minutes 😤🎯 Watch the FIFA #CWC2025 live in various language options on SuperSport 🗣️🎙️ 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 24, 2025 With Bayern already assured of a place in the next round, their rotated line-up lacked urgency. The Germans improved after the break and Joshua Kimmich thought he had equalised, but his effort was ruled out for Harry Kane being offside. Misfiring Flamengo were held to a 1-1 draw by Los Angeles FC in their final group match in Orlando but the Brazilian side still go into the knockout stage with some momentum. Denis Bouanga put the MLS club ahead in the 84th minute but substitute Wallace Yan responded two minutes later to ensure Flamengo would progress unbeaten to their last-16 tie against Bayern. With top spot in Group D already assured, Flamengo coach Filipe Luis made seven changes to his starting side but there was no change to the energetic style that already earned the Rio de Janeiro club wins over Chelsea and Esperance. Joshua Kimmich's celebrations are cut short 🫠❌ 📺 Stream #CWC2025 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 24, 2025 With a little more accuracy in front of goal, they would have comfortably beaten an LA FC who were already condemned to a group stage exit after losing their first two games without scoring a goal. Boca Juniors were held to a 1-1 draw by Auckland City and failed to reach the knockout stage in steamy Nashville, Tennessee, where the match was suspended for nearly 50 minutes due to stormy weather. Boca came into the game needing both a convincing win against already-eliminated Auckland to overturn a seven-goal difference with Benfica and for the Portuguese club to lose to German champions Bayern. Auckland had just drawn level shortly after the break when lightning in the area forced players off the field. By the time play resumed, Benfica had secured a 1-0 win to qualify top. Boca went ahead in the first half courtesy of an own goal by Auckland goalkeeper Nathan Garrow while Christian Gray drew his side level in the 52nd with a header that sailed inside the right post.
TimesLIVE
24-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Riveiro's Ahly and Porto in thriller but exit CWC, Messi to meet PSG in last 16
Al Ahly and FC Porto shared a 4-4 thriller in their final game at the Club World Cup on Monday but both will head home after Inter Miami and Palmeiras drew to progress to the round of 16 from Group A. Palestine striker Wessam Abou Ali scored a hat-trick and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane also found the net for the Egyptian champions but Porto pegged them back every time they went ahead. Teenagers Rodrigo Mora and William Gomes, substitute Samu Aghehowa and Pepe all scored for the Portuguese club as both teams all but abandoned defending in search of goals that might keep them alive in the tournament. In the end, though, a draw was not enough for either side and the 2-2 stalemate between Inter and Palmeiras in Miami was enough to render all of the many other permutations null and void. Pepe completes an eight-goal thriller! 🔥 #FIFACWC #CWC2025 #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 24, 2025 'I think the game in the second half was not a normal football game any more,' said Al Ahly coach Jose Riveiro, the former Orlando Pirates boss. 'A good show for the fans, I guess, a lot of goals. Not the result, obviously, that we were looking for, because we wanted to go through.' Al Ahly took the early initiative and got their reward when Abou Ali gave them the lead in the 15th minute with a cool finish into the far corner of the net. Lively 18-year-old Mora equalised eight minutes later after skipping through the Al Ahly defence and past goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy before clipping the ball into the net. Egypt midfielder Zizo was brought down in the box by Fabio Vieira running onto an Abou Ali cutback in stoppage time at the end of the first, and the Palestinian sent Claudio Ramos the wrong way from the spot to put Al Ahly 2-1 up at the break. Al Ahly had not scored a single goal in the #FIFACWC until Wessam Abou Ali bagged a hattrick 🤩 #CWC2025 #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 24, 2025 Three goals in three minutes soon after the break had the scores back level at 3-3 in the 53rd minute, Gomes starting it all off by curling a beautiful shot into the top right-hand corner of the net. Abou Ali then completed his hat-trick with a powerful header from a corner but Aghehowa responded in kind almost immediately down the other end. Ben Romdhane put Al Ahly back in front with a lovely strike from the edge of the box in the 64th and the Egyptian side poured forward looking to boost their goal difference in case the result in Miami went their way. Ahly missed a host of gilt-edged chances, however, and Pepe ensured the honours would be shared when he drilled a shot from the edge of the box past Al Ahly captain El-Shenawy a minute from time. Palmeiras rallied from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw against Miami and qualify top of Group A in a result that sent both teams through to last 16. Simply sensational by Suarez 😮💨🤌 #FIFACWC #CWC2025 #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 24, 2025 Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez gave Miami a two-goal lead before Paulinho and Mauricio scored in the last 10 minutes to get Palmeiras back on level terms. Both teams finished on five points with Inter second on goal difference. Lionel Messi's Miami will take on Paris St Germain, where the Argentinian spent two seasons from 2021-23, while Palmeiras face fierce Brazilian rivals Botafogo. 'It was a great game from us, it's difficult to play against one of the best teams in South America,' said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, who described it as a 'historic night' for Major League Soccer. European champions PSG moved into the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over hosts Seattle Sounders. The Ligue 1 winners, who suffered a shock defeat by Botafogo on Friday and were guaranteed a spot in the last 16 with a win over Seattle, scored in each half through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi. With the result, PSG finished with six points from three games in the group stage. Seattle, who needed to beat PSG by a margin of three goals or more to stand a chance of progressing, exit the CWC winless after three games played in their home stadium, Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. It took nearly the entire second half, but relentless attacks on goal paid off for Antoine Griezmann in the 87th minute as the France international striker earned Atletico Madrid to a 1-0 victory over Botafogo in Group B. After teammate Angel Correa's shot was blocked by a defender, Griezmann sent a left-footed shot into the net. That was not enough to send the Spaniards into the last 16 as Atletico needed a victory of at least three goals to advance.
TimesLIVE
21-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Sundowns' Club World Cup dream not over yet despite loss to Dortmund
Mamelodi Sundowns will have to beat Brazilian team Fluminense in their last Group F match at the Fifa Club World Cup in the US to make it to last 16 of the competition after giving away an early lead to end up losing 4-3 to German giants Borussia Dortmund at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday. Sundowns' moment of ecstasy turned into agony when they couldn't hold onto an early lead they took through their Brazilian striker Lucas Ribeiro. A victory would have assured Sundowns of their place in the second round after winning their opening match 1-0 against Korean team Ulsan HD on Wednesday while Dortmund had started the competition with a 0-0 draw against Fluminense. Naivety in defence brought Dortmund back into the game after Sundowns had looked in firm control of the match after taking a deserved lead through Riberio in the 11th minute. Ribeiro got possession from his own half and defied the heat to beat two defenders who were challenging him as he went on to beat Gregor Kobel with a low strike to silence the German team. It was through two mistakes made by the two of the most reliable Sundowns players, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena that Dortmund found themselves in the lead after 34 minutes. First Williams, ever reliable in building Sundowns attacks from the back, gifted a pass to Felix Nmecha and the German attacker slotted the equaliser with ease just five after Ribeiro had given Sundowns the lead. Mokoena was a bit unlucky to be dispossessed near the centre line resulting in a cross from the right which was headed in by striker Serhou Guirassy to give Niko Kovac's team a chance to lead for the first time the 34th minute. After that goal Sundowns came under pressure from Dortmund as they pressed them in their own half and forced them to make more mistakes before Jobe Bellingham, brother of Real Madrid super star Jude, slotted the third goal on the stroke of half-time after Williams failed to handle a fierce shot taken outside the area. Sundowns had the upper hand in the game, with former Dortmund player Tashreq Matthews giving the SA champions a lot of attacking options with his speed on the left flank. But lack of awareness and sharpness let down Sundowns as they gave away possession in dangerous areas in all the goals that they conceded before the break. Lucas Ribeiro doing what he does best 😏🤌 Watch the FIFA #CWC2025 live in various language options on SuperSport 🗣️🎙️ 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: #SSFootball | @DAZNFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 21, 2025 Sundowns started brightly in the second half pinning Dortmund in their own half as they looked to reduce the deficit. Mokoena was unlucky to see his free kick deflected over the bar by Dortmund's wall less than ten minutes after the restart. But just as Sundowns thought they were back in control Dortmund got one break that ended with Sundowns right back Khuliso Mudau deflecting Daniel Svensson's cross into his own net to stretch the German team's lead to 4-1. But Sundowns revived their hopes of catching Dortmund when they immediately reduced the score to 4-2 after Iqraam Rayners scored his second goal in the tournament by heading in Mokoena's well taken free kick just outside the area. Sundowns pushed Dortmund all the way and were further rewarded for their efforts when substitute Lebo Mothiba made it 4-3 on the stroke of full time as they forced Dortmund to make mistakes at the back. Sundowns cannot afford to hang their heads in shame after this defeat as they showed the world what they are capable of. Dortmund are in control 🔝 Jobe Bellingham gets his first goal for Dortmund 👏👏 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 21, 2025 The match against Fluminense will however stretch them at a time when they cannot afford to make the kind of mistakes they made against Dortmund. Of the four African sides at the tournament, only Sundowns won their opening match after beating Ulsan with Rayners' sole goal on Wednesday. Africa's club of the century Al Ahly, now coached by former Orlando Pirates mentor Jose Riveiro, are unlikely to progress to the next round after their 2-0 loss to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Friday. Ahly must beat Portuguese club Porto on Tuesday and hope other results favour them to progress to the last 16. Esperance of Tunisia revived their hopes of making the second round after beating LA FC 1-0 on Friday. After going 2-0 down against Flamengo of Brazil in their opening match, Esperance now have to beat Premier League side Chelsea on Wednesday to boost their slim chances of progressing to the last 16. There's little hope of Morocco's Wydad Athletic of making it to the second round after their 2-0 loss to Manchester City in their opener on Thursday. Wydad who boasts two South African attackers Thembinkosi Lorch and Cassius Mailula must beat Juventus at 6pm today and Al Ain on Thursday to qualify for the last 16.
