Latest news with #SSFootball
TimesLIVE
14-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Maresca hails Palmer brilliance in Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised Cole Palmer's ability to rise to the occasion after the English attacking midfielder was named Club World Cup player of the tournament after their commanding 3-0 victory over Paris St Germain in Sunday's final. 'These are the games we expect Cole Palmer to appear and once again he showed what he is made of,' Maresca said after Palmer scored twice and provided an assist to Joao Pedro in their title-winning performance against the Champions League winners. Maresca revealed his tactical master plan had worked to perfection, with Chelsea pressing PSG high and exploiting direct plays behind their rivals' defence to devastating effect at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ice-cold from Cole Palmer to get the Blues off the mark 🥶🧊 Watch the FIFA #CWC2025 live in various language options on SuperSport 🗣️🎙️ 📺 Stream #CWC2025 on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 13, 2025 'The idea was go man-to-man because if you leave spaces to PSG they will kill you,' Maresca explained. 'So we tried to be very aggressive and suffocate them early on and that intensity was crucial in the first 10 minutes due to the scorching heat that were really difficult conditions to play in as the game progressed.' The Italian coach highlighted how his team had successfully targeted PSG's vulnerable flank, adding: 'We had a lot of success exploring the left side of their defence, things worked perfectly for us due to the effort the players put.' The trophy cabinet at Stamford Bridge just got bigger 😏🏆 #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 | #SSFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 13, 2025 Maresca praised his players for deploying perfectly the gameplan he had in mind, with their high-intensity approach proving decisive in the sweltering New Jersey conditions, saying that he is delighted to win a Club World Cup he thinks will be seen much differently in the future. 'I feel this competition [the Club World Cup] will be as important as or even more important than the Champions League. 'I was lucky enough to be part of a coaching staff [at Manchester City] that won the Champions League three years ago, but this competition features the best clubs in the world. 'That's why we value it as much as the Champions League, or perhaps even more. For us, it was a great triumph. Allowing Chelsea fans to wear that world champion patch on their shirts is a source of pride for us.'
TimesLIVE
06-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Real Madrid survive Dortmund scare to reach Club World Cup semis
Image: Imagn Images via Reuters/Vincent Carchietta Real Madrid edged past Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a dramatic Club World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday to set up a last-four clash with Paris St Germain. The Spanish giants stamped their authority on the match early at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, dominating possession and opening a two-goal lead thanks to strikes by Gonzalo and Fran Garcia in the 10th and 20th minutes. Gonzalo, the 21-year-old forward continuing his breakout tournament, opened the scoring with a close-range volley from Arda Guler's cross. Ten minutes later, Garcia doubled Real's lead, arriving at the far post to turn in Trent Alexander-Arnold's low delivery after an incisive move down the right. Kylian Mbappé smashes it beyond Kobel 🚀 #SSFootball | #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 5, 2025 Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. squandered chances to extend Real's lead before halftime, while Aurelien Tchouameni came closest in the second half, rattling the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Despite the reduced intensity of play in New Jersey's scorching heat, Real comfortably saw out the match, leaving Dortmund unable to mount a comeback until the game exploded into life in 10 minutes of mayhem in added time. Substitute Maximilian Beier pounced on a rebound in the 93rd minute to pull one back for Dortmund, but a minute later Kylian Mbappé restored Real's two-goal cushion with a stunning volley. Dortmund refused to back down, however, and Serhou Guirassy's pace saw him break through Real's defence only to be pulled down in the box by Dean Huijsen. Real Madrid have a special talent on their hands ⚪🙌 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 5, 2025 The defender was shown a straight red card, ruling him out of the semifinal, and Guirassy coolly converted the resulting spot-kick to reduce the deficit to 3-2. Dortmund came within inches of forcing extra time when in the ninth minute of added time Thibaut Courtois produced a sensational save to deny Marcel Sabitzer's powerful strike. 'We were doing really well and the match looked under control but then in the last 10 minutes things got crazy,' Real manager Xabi Alonso told DAZN. 'We have lost a little bit our focus and intensity when we didn't have the ball and luckily nothing else happened. But overall we have had good 80 minutes and the last 10 minutes to improve.' Real Madrid now turn their attention to PSG, who defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 to book their place in the semifinals. The winners of that clash will face Fluminense or Chelsea, who meet on Tuesday, in the final.
TimesLIVE
05-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Exemplary Dembele steps up again to inspire depleted PSG
Paris St Germain snatched a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals, with Ousmane Dembele embodying the composure of Luis Enrique's side as he sealed the victory when his team were down to nine men. Dembele found the back of the net six minutes into added time after being superbly set up by Achraf Hakimi and the French forward also shone defensively by pressing relentlessly and initiating the move that led to his decisive goal. "I'd give the Ballon d'Or to Mr Ousmane Dembele," coach Luis Enrique said after PSG's Champions League final win over Inter Milan. "The way he that can be worth the Ballon d'Or. This is how you lead a team." Dembele proved his coach right once again against Bayern. Rested for the group stage after sustaining a thigh injury and only coming off the bench after halftime in the last 16 and in the quarter-final, Dembele brought an incredible energy to a team who had been dominated by Bayern. Off the bench to seal the deal ⚡ Ousmane Dembélé wins it for nine-man PSG 👏 #SSFootball | #FIFACWC | #CWC2025 — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 5, 2025 "It's an important period for us. We had a score to settle with Bayern after the 2020 (Champions League) final (won by Bayern 1-0) and after they beat us earlier this season," captain Marquinhos said. "We want to win this competition." PSG went ahead through Desire Doue, his first goal in the tournament. "I try to help the team by scoring, but also with my efforts, notably defensively," Doue said. PSG, seeking a quadruple of titles after winning the Champions League, French Cup and the Ligue 1 title, will face Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid for a place in the final. They will be without centre back Willian Pacho and defender Lucas Hernandez, who picked up straight red cards after Doue's opening goal.
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.
