Page 19 - Football

Brentford and Southampton advance to English League Cup quarters

Premier League teams Brentford and Southampton both squeezed past second-tier opponents to reach the quarterfinals of the English League Cup. Brentford needed a penalty shootout to get past Sheffield Wednesday after a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken saved from Liam Palmer off the last spot kick of a high-quality shootout that Brentford won 5-4. James Bree scored an 88th-minute winner as Southampton beat Stoke 3-2. A cup run is proving some respite for Southampton, which is in last place in the Premier League. The rest of the last-16 matches are played on Wednesday, with all of the competition favorites in action. Defending champion Liverpool visits Brighton, Premier League leader Manchester City is away to Tottenham and there are three other all-Premier League matchups: Newcastle vs. Chelsea, Manchester United vs. Leicester and Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace. Arsenal visits second-tier Preston.

'Will be a tough game against Chennaiyin FC' - Punjab FC's Leon Augustine

The 26-year-old is in his debut season with the club and has delivered energetic displays off the bench for the Shers so far.

Why Erik ten Hag's exit is the best thing for Manchester United this season

While most pundits and fans believe it was best for Ten Hag to be let go, there could be consequences of this departure for the club, especially with no genuine replacement currently available.

EPL round-up: Liverpool fights back vs Arsenal; Man United loses again

As the weeks go by, Liverpool is showing the quality and resilience to be Manchester City's chief title rival in the Premier League this season. Liverpool twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Arsenal on Sunday, with Mohamed Salah scoring the second equalizer in the 81st minute at Emirates Stadium. It's just one loss in 13 games in all competitions for Liverpool under new manager Arne Slot this season. A testing past week has seen the Reds beat Chelsea 2-1 in the league, eke out a 1-0 win in Leipzig in the Champions League, and now battle back for a draw at Arsenal the other likely challenger for City's crown. If Liverpool's inner belief is growing, then doubts might be increasing about Arsenal's durability in the title race after finishing runner-up to City for the past two seasons. The biggest concern might be the list of injuries, to which defenders Gabriel and Jurrien Timber were added after they came off in the second half. With defensive linchpin William Saliba missing throu

Harry Kane scores his 15th goal of the season as Bayern Munich wins big

Harry Kane scored his 15th goal of the season as Bayern Munich eased to a 5-0 win over Bochum in the Bundesliga to lift some of the gloom from its heavy midweek loss at Barcelona. Jamal Musiala scored a header and set up Kane's goal in Musiala's first start since Oct. 2 following a hip injury in a win that looked like a return to business as usual for Bayern following one win from its previous five games in all competitions. We just want to take a step forward in every game and we enjoy scoring goals, Musiala told broadcaster DAZN. Of the 4-1 loss to Barcelona on Wednesday, he added: It was really bitter and it hurt us, but we're looking ahead." Michael Olise got Bayern started when he lofted a free kick over the wall and into the net in the 16th minute, before Musiala headed in for 2-0 soon after. Musiala dribbled past a defender and passed for Kane to score in the 57th. The England captain has nine Bundesliga goals this season, making him the league's joint-top scorer with Eintra

Manchester United winger Antony wearing protective boot after injury

Manchester United winger Antony is being assessed by doctors after injuring his left leg against Fenerbahce in the Europa League. The Brazil international left the Ulker Stadium in Istanbul on crutches and wearing a protective boot Thursday night. United manager Erik ten Hag said it would take 24 hours to fully assess the severity of the injury. It's really unlucky for him, Ten Hag said Friday. I feel real compassion for him when he worked so hard in training." Antony came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute of the 1-1 draw but left the field on a stretcher in the 89th after falling to the ground and holding his left leg. The forward, who signed from Ajax in 2022 after United paid a transfer fee of USD 95 million, has made only a start and four substitute appearances this season. United plays West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday when captain Bruno Fernandes will be available, having missed the Fenerbahce game through suspension.

SAFF 2024: India into semifinals despite 1-3 loss against Bangladesh

India struggled to cope with Bangladesh's midfield dominance and failed to convert their key chances to suffer a 1-3 defeat to Bangladesh in 44their final Group A fixture of the SAFF Women's Championship 2024 here on Wednesday. Despite already securing a semi-final spot, India finished second with three points, while Bangladesh topped Group A with four points. Afeida Khandaker (18') and Tohura Khatun (29', 42') struck for Bangladesh before skipper Bala Devi reduced the margin with a deft header two minutes later. India also further suffered by an injury blow to midfielder Anju Tamang as her exit in the 27th minute weakened their attack. All of India's troubles were generated by dipping crosses in the box. The first goal was off a corner and Afeida Khandaker lobbed it past Panthoi Chanu. India conceded the second goal when a hopeful lob from the left saw Khatun rushing in to take advantage of the situation. Her second strike, however, was a pile-driver from just outside the box.

Calafiori injury in Champions League adds to Arsenal's mounting concerns

Arsenal's problems are mounting ahead of a huge Premier League game against Liverpool at the weekend. With key attacking players Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka and defender Jurrien Timber already on the injury list, Arsenal saw left back Riccardo Calafiori go off in the second half of the 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday after twisting his right knee. He felt something, he could not continue playing, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said of the Italy defender. Bit of a worry. Center back William Saliba also is sure to miss the Liverpool game because he is suspended after a red card in the loss to Bournemouth on Saturday. While Odegaard, Arsenal's captain, is almost certain to be absent as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury sustained last month, less was known about the status of Saka after the winger appeared to hurt his hamstring on England duty last week. Saka didn't play at Bournemouth or against Shakhtar, and Arteta wasn't too positive

Premier League preview: Injury-hit Man United take on Brentford test

Brentford will be looking to take the game to United, who have not been in good form recently. The visitors will be keen to extend the 2-point advantage they hold over their opponents

Premier League preview: Arsenal look to continue winning run at Bournemouth

With Bournemouth and Arsenal 10 spots apart from each other in the league, the Cherries will be looking to end Arsenal's unbeaten run and secure those valuable 3 points on the night.

Indian footballers selected to go train at Old Trafford in Manchester

PC Lalchhuanawma (Mizoram), Shreejal Kisku (Bhubaneswar), Mohd Ayan (Lucknow), Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar (Nepal), and Chanason Chaiyatham (Bangkok) have been selected to go to Manchester.

Ancelotti says Mbappe 'not affected' by reports of investigation in Sweden

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says Kylian Mbapp is not affected by the Swedish media reports this week that said the France captain was the subject of a rape investigation. Mbapp's legal team dismissed those reports as false. I do not pay attention to speculations that come from outside the team. The player is not affected in the least, Ancelotti said Friday. The reports in Swedish media came out after the striker visited Stockholm during the international break when he was not called up by France due to a minor injury. Without citing sources, Swedish media reported Mbapp was the subject of an investigation of an alleged rape at a hotel in Stockholm. Mbapp's representatives have called the reports false and irresponsible. Swedish prosecutors issued a brief statement on Tuesday saying a rape had been reported to police but didn't name any suspect. Ancelotti defended his player's right to travel on his time off. The rest days are programmed for him and he can choose what he want

ISL 2024: Bengaluru FC and Punjab FC face off in top-of-the-table clash

Early high-flyers Bengaluru FC and Punjab FC will face off in a top-of-the-table clash of the Indian Super League here on Friday, both looking to outdo each other in the battle for supremacy. BFC will have the home crowd backing them at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Last season's 10th and 8th-place finishers, respectively, these two sides have defied expectations to emerge as frontrunners in the ongoing campaign. Notably, they are the only teams yet to suffer a defeat in this edition, making this clash even more significant. Under the tactical guidance of Gerard Zaragoza, Bengaluru FC started the season in impeccable fashion, achieving defensive solidity with four consecutive clean sheets -- a record-equalling feat in ISL history. Their last season's struggles seem like a distant memory as the team has found a perfect balance in both defence and attack. They have scored 3 plus goals in their last two home games. If they manage to repeat this against Punjab FC, it will mark their .

Tuchel's appointment as England football team's coach sparks controversy

The question was inevitable. At his first news conference as England's newly appointed head coach, Thomas Tuchel a German was asked on Wednesday what message he had for fans who would have preferred an Englishman in charge of their beloved national team. I'm sorry, I just have a German passport, he said, laughing, and went on to profess his love for English football and the country itself. I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country. The soccer rivalry between England and Germany runs deep and it's likely Tuchel's passport will be used against him if he doesn't deliver results for a nation that hasn't lifted a men's trophy since 1966. But his appointment as England's third foreign coach shows that, increasingly, even the top countries in the sport are abandoning the long-held belief that the national team must be led by one of their own. Four of the top nine teams in the FIFA world rankings now have foreign coaches. Even in Germany, a four-time World Cup

Thomas Tuchel hired as England football head coach ahead of 2026 World Cup

Thomas Tuchel was hired as England coach on Wednesday and will take on the challenge of ending the national team's decades-long wait for a trophy. The German, who previously managed Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, will begin his tenure in January ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States. The English Football Association said Tuchel had been identified as the "preferred candidate" after what it described as an extensive search to replace Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after the European Championship in July. Tuchel won major trophies in Germany, France and England and is England's third foreign coach, after the late Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. He succeeds one of England's most successful coaches in Southgate, who led the country to back-to-back European Championship finals and a World Cup semifinals. Southgate stepped down after eight years following defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024. The FA said it had interviewed several candidates .

FIFA president Gianni Infantino tours Seattle ahead of next year's Club WC

Seattle's Lumen Field will host six games during next year's Club World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. The Seattle Sounders, which earned a spot in the competition by winning the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, will host all three of their group matches at their home stadium. Three other matches will also be played at Lumen Field, one of 12 stadiums that will host a total of 63 games during the tournament. The event, which is now set to be played every four years, will include an expanded field of 32 teams from FIFA's six soccer confederations. "I arrived yesterday and visited Lumen Field. Great arena, very special arena which has a special soul, a special heart inside," Infantino said on Tuesday. "You can feel it when you are in some stadiums, they don't have to be the biggest or the most special. This one is very special." The tournament is set to start on June 15 and run through July 13, with the final set for New Jersey's MetLife Stadium also the site of the 2026

Lenovo to be FIFA's technology partner for 2026 WC and 2027 Women's WC

Lenovo has signed on to be the official technology partner for FIFA, which includes the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico as well as the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. The announcement was made during Lenovo's Tech World innovation event in Seattle on Tuesday. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement the deal will continue to upgrade fan experiences as well as continue to make data more accessible to fans and teams. "At FIFA, we are committed to growing the game globally and making football accessible for all and we are excited to welcome Lenovo to our journey, and to work with them to implement technologies, innovations and programmes that spread our sport. Data and technology combined helps us to know fans better," he said. The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 through July 19 in 16 cities throughout North America. It will also see the tournament expand from 32 to 48 teams. The 2027 Women's World Cup will feature 32 teams, but the da

UEFA Nations League: Ronaldo held scoreless as Portugal draw with Scotland

Cristiano Ronaldo was held scoreless and Portugal lost its perfect record in the Nations League after a 0-0 draw at Scotland. Portugal had won its first three matches in the competition but couldn't find a breakthrough against the Scots at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Tuesday. Ronaldo, sitting on 133 international goals, had a few good chances to break the deadlock. He seemed upset with the referee after the game ended, leaving the field with a sarcastic applause, waving his arms and with thumbs down. Portugal had beaten Croatia, Scotland and Poland in Group A1, which it still leads with 10 points, three more than Croatia and six more than Poland. Last-place Scotland stayed on one point. It came into the match on a nine-match winless streak and had lost four games in a row. "There was a lot missing for Portugal tonight," midfielder Bernardo Silva said. "We lacked intensity, didn't attack at the right moments. We leave here frustrated." The top two nations in each group will advanc

Messi equals Ronaldo's record, check full list of most int'l hattricks

An all-round performance from the talisman saw him registering 2 assists along with his hattrick to complete a five-star performance on the night.

Ashalata to become 1st Indian woman footballer to play 100 int'l matches

Captain Ashalata Devi will become the first Indian woman footballer to play 100 international matches when she takes the field in the SAFF Championship opening match against Pakistan here on Thursday. The 31-year-old Manipuri made her India debut in the pre-Olympics tournament in Dhaka against Bangladesh in March 2011, and the star defender has come a long way since then. "When she pulled on an Indian shirt for the first time ... in the pre-Olympics in Dhaka against Bangladesh in March 2011, few would have imagined that Ashalata Devi would take Indian women's football by storm in quite the way she has," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said while hailing Devi's feat. Devi was called up for the India U-17 team in 2008 when she was 15. Born in Imphal, she began playing football at the age of 13. She was initially with the Indian Railways football team and joined New Radiant Women's Football Club of Maldives in 2015. Later, she played for Rising Student Club (Cuttack), KRYPHS