Page 25 - Football

Dinamo Zagreb fires coach two days after 9-2 UCL loss to Bayern Munich

Two days after a 9-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb fired coach Sergej Jakirovic on Thursday. The Croatian champion said in a statement Jakirovic's assistant Sandro Perkovic will take over as the interim coach. Dinamo's next Champions League game is at home against Monaco in two weeks' time. Bayern became the first team to score nine goals in the Champions League in the 32 years since the old European Cup was rebranded. Harry Kane scored four times including three from penalties. Dinamo was three goals down at halftime, then rallied to score two goals in a minute to trail 3-2 in the 50th, before its defense collapsed in the second half in Munich. Several teams scored at least 10 goals in a game during the European Cup era, and Feyenoord won 12-2 in the 1969-70 season against KR of Iceland. Jakirovic, a Bosnia-Herzegovina international as a player, coached Dinamo for 13 months and won a domestic league and cup title double last season.

Bayern Munich's stadium address renamed to honour Franz Beckenbauer

Bayern Munich's home stadium will be on Franz Beckenbauer Square after the city government decided to honour the German soccer great, who died in January aged 78, by renaming the area around the Allianz Arena. The change of name will take effect from Jan. 7, 2025, the first anniversary of his death. The naming of a street is the highest honour that the city of Munich can award posthumously and a sign of the deep respect and esteem that we have for Franz Beckenbauer, Mayor Dieter Reiter said. He is one of the greatest athletes that our city has ever produced. With his sporting successes and his commitment to soccer, he shaped the sporting landscape of Germany in a lasting way." Beckenbauer captained what was then West Germany to the World Cup title in 1974 and was the coach when it won the tournament again in 1990. As a player for Bayern, he won three European Cup titles in a row from 1974 through 1976.

Pep Guardiola facing more questions about his Manchester City future

Into the final year of his contract at Manchester City, questions are being asked again about Pep Guardiola's future. The latest came after Wednesday's Champions League game against Inter Milan, with an Italian journalist asking if Guardiola could see himself working in Italy one day. I love English football, it is fantastic, really enjoyable. They leave you alone to get on with the job. That doesn't happen anywhere else," the City manager said. Guardiola has already stayed at City for longer than any of his other managerial jobs - and longer than many expected when he was appointed in 2016. It will be nine years by the end of the season, compared to four at Barcelona and three at Bayern Munich. It's a great club. I really feel good being here, he said. Guardiola likely knows he will never find another club like City in elite European soccer. Backed by the spectacular riches of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, he has been allowed to build a team in his image, with exorbitant amounts sp

ISL 2024: Punjab FC vs. Odisha FC Live Match Timings, Streaming

Having registered their first win in their away match against Kerala Blasters, Punjab will enter the tie seeking back-to-back victories in the league on Friday.

FIFA hires top executive from UEFA as their chief operating officer

FIFA made a high-profile signing from UEFA on Wednesday, hiring one of the most respected executives in European soccer. Kevin Lamour, currently UEFA's deputy general secretary, will join FIFA as chief operating officer on Nov. 1, soccer's world body told staff on Wednesday in an email seen by The Associated Press. The 44-year-old French official has worked at UEFA in two different spells since 2007 and gained a reputation as an advocate for good governance in soccer bodies. The move to FIFA reunites Lamour with its president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrm. They worked together for several years at UEFA and on Infantino's successful election campaign in 2016. Lamour declined the chance to work for FIFA then, and soon returned to UEFA which he had left in 2015 after his longtime boss Michel Platini was investigated in financial wrongdoing with then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Lamour was not implicated in that case and was back running the UEFA president's

Tottenham's late comeback gives late win against Coventry in League Cup

Tottenham avoided a shock defeat in the third round of the English League Cup after scoring two late goals to beat second-division Coventry 2-1 on Wednesday. Djed Spence evened the score in the 88th minute at Coventry Arena after Brandon Thomas-Asante had fired the home team ahead in the 63rd. Brennan Johnson completed Spurs' comeback with the winner in the second minute of stoppage time. Coventry had come agonizingly close to upsetting Manchester United in the semifinal of the FA Cup last season losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Wembley. And it was another heartbreak against Premier League opposition after Tottenham's late rescue act. Coventry were outstanding with the energy they brought, we had to dig deep today and we found what we needed to win the game, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said. Elsewhere, Wolverhampton's troubled start to the season continued with a 3-2 loss at Brighton that saw it eliminated from the competition. Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra gave Bri

Miranchuk's late goal rescues 2-2 draw for Atlanta against Messi's Miami

Another big Atlanta crowd finally got a chance to see Lionel Messi in an MLS match. They nearly watched United pull out a much-needed win over league-leading Inter Miami. Alexey Miranchuk scored with a booming shot in the 84th minute and the home team pressed hard for the winning goal in stoppage time, only to settle for a 2-2 tie with Messi's Miami club before an announced crowd of 67,795 on Wednesday night. After making a triumphant return to the Miami lineup with two goals and an assist last weekend, Messi started this game on the bench. Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of his 37-year-old Argentine star, who is coming back from national team duties and an ankle injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch. Messi trotted on the field in the 61st to a big roar, shortly after Leo Campana had scored off a deflected free kick to put the Herons in front. But the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner couldn't find the net in his limited time on the field, drawing plent

Arsenal's Martin Odegaard out with ''significant'' ankle ligament damage

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has sustained significant ankle ligament damage that will keep him out of action for a while manager Mikel Arteta said. The midfielder was injured playing for Norway this month and scans have confirmed the extent of the damage. It's something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months, Arteta said. Arsenal plays Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday and Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday. Odegaard is a key figure for Arsenal, which finished runner-up to City in each of the last two seasons. He's our captain. One of our biggest players, one of our most consistent players in the last two or three seasons," Arteta said. Our identity is related to his way of playing and his way of behaving. It's a great test for the team of how capable we are to show maybe a different face and that other players and other options can be very effective.

UCL: Man City, Inter play out 0-0 draw, PSG scores late to beat Girona

Where did all the goals go? The 0-0 draws between Manchester City and Inter Milan in their rematch of the 2023 final, after Bologna and Shakhtar Donetsk also could not find a goal, capped an untypically goal-shy evening for the Champions League on Wednesday. Just 13 were scored in six games one day after 28 were fired in Tuesday, including nine by Bayern Munich alone. How unusual was this? Two 0-0 draws after just 12 of 144 games to be played in the new league phase is already halfway to the total of four in 96 games one year ago in the group-stage format that is now abolished. The entire competition averaged three goals per game last season. Paris Saint-Germain and Girona also were heading for a blank until a horrible 90th-minute error by the Spanish debutant's goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga spilling a cross by Nuno Mendes through his own legs gifted a 1-0 win. We won't get to where we want to overnight," Girona coach Mchel said. "It requires hard work. Borussia Dortmund needed l

UEFA Champions League matches on Sept 18: City, Barca and Arsenal in action

Manchester City, FC Barcelona, and Arsenal will be in action tonight on matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League 2024

UEFA Champions League 2024: Man City vs Inter Milan live time, streaming

Inter Milan are coming into the match after a 1-1 draw against Monza. They will be looking to give the Cityzens a tough fight on the night.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr fires another coach

Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr is looking for a new coach after firing Luis Castro on Tuesday in the second mTanagerial change since the Portugal star's arrival. The 63-year-old Castro had overseen a slow start to the new Saudi Pro League season with just one win in three games. "Al-Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club," the club said on social media. "Everyone at Al-Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future." The Riyadh club drew 1-1 against Al-Shorta of Iraq on Monday in the opening game of the AFC Champions League Elite. In April 2023, coach Rudi Garcia left Al-Nassr after failing to secure first place despite Ronaldo's arrival four months prior. According to domestic media, Stefano Pioli, who managed AC Milan to the Italian championship in 2022 and is available after leaving the club in May, is on the list of Al-Nassr's preferred ...

Murray's stoppage time strike powers Jamshedpur FC to 2-1 win over FC Goa

Substitute Jordan Murray struck in stoppage time as Jamshedpur FC rallied to prevail over FC Goa 2-1 in their Indian Super League match here on Tuesday. Jamshedpur FC's first goal was scored by Javier Siverio in the 74th minute at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. The home team made a promising start and piled on the pressure on the Jamshedpur defence by penetrating their box. Their intent bore fruit when Armando Sadiku (45+3') scored FC Goa's first goal of this edition of the ISL. FC Goa went into half time with a goal lead. However, after the change of ends, Khalid Jamil, a fine tactician, brought in Murray, and that proved to be a masterstroke. Murray, returning to the club he left two years ago, produced an excellent curler (90+3) to silence the home crowd and give his team full three points from their ISL opener, despite the Gaurs dominating the game. Earlier, Siverio won and converted a penalty in the 75th minute to equalise for Jamshedpur after Sadiku had giv

UEFA Champions League 2024 Highlights: Bayern win 9-2; Liverpool beat Milan

Bayern Munich wrapped up a fantastic 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb, while Kylian Mbappe's UCL debut goal contributed to Real Madrid's 3-1 win over VFB Stuttgart.

UEFA Champions League 2024: AC Milan vs Liverpool live time, streaming

AC Milan vs Liverpool live match starts at 12:30 AM IST tonight. Sony LIV will live stream UEFA Champions League 2024 matches in India

UEFA Champions League matches on Sept 17: Bayern, Real, Liverpool in action

With a format change, clubs will have an increased fixture list this season and will face stronger opponents more frequently in the league stage. Check today's football match live timings (IST) here

UEFA Champions League 2024: Real Madrid vs Stuttgart live time, streaming

Having finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga last year, Stuttgart is not expected to be just another side in Real Madrid's way and could provide a strong challenge on the night.

Al-Nassr draws with Al-Shorta in first game in AFC Champions League Elite

Without an ill Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia drew with Al-Shorta of Iraq 1-1 in the first ever game in the revamped and rebranded AFC Champions League Elite on Monday. Ronaldo was left behind in Riyadh because Al-Nassr said the Portugal superstar, who has won five UEFA Champions Leagues but has yet to win a major trophy with his current club, had a viral infection and could not travel to Baghdad. Sultan Al-Ghannam put Al-Nassr ahead after 14 minutes though Mohammed Dawood leveled 10 minutes later. There was another blow for Al-Nassr as Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic left the field injured early in the second half. Al-Ahli, another of Saudi Arabia's three star-studded teams in the tournament, beat Persepolis of Iran 1-0 in Jeddah. Former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie scored in the first minute. Ivan Toney, signed from English Premier League club Brentford in August, made his Asian debut for Al-Ahli but the England striker was unable to get on

ISL 2024: Late strike helps NEUFC beat debutants Mohammedan Sporting 1-0

Mohammedan Sporting suffered a heartbreaking defeat in their Indian Super League debut, conceding a stoppage-time goal to recently-crowned Durand Cup champions NorthEast United FC here on Monday. Coming on as a substitute for Nestor Albiach in the 57th minute, NorthEast United's Moroccan midfielder Alaeddine Ajaraie delivered a moment of brilliance in the fourth minute of the injury time (90+4), calmly slotting home to hand Mohammedan Sporting a harsh reality check. Despite showing resilience and flashes of promise throughout the match, the Andrey Chernyshov-coached Kolkata side, who earned promotion to the ISL after winning last season's I-League, missed several chances. "They're a much more experienced side, and winning the Durand Cup gave them valuable match time ahead of the season," said Russian coach Chernyshov. "We deserved at least a point from this game, but I'm proud of the boys' performance. They showed great promise, and I'm confident we'll keep improving with each ...

Barcelona extend contract of women's Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati till 2028

Barcelona extended the contract of women's Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmat on Monday until 2028. The 26-year-old playmaker signed a new contract to June 30, 2028, the club said. Bonmat has played 275 games for Barcelona, scoring 96 competitive goals. She is the club's all-time top goalscorer and is tied with Alexia Putellas for the Champions League record of 22. One of her Champions League goals came in last season's final, where Barcelona defeated Lyon for its third European title. Bonmati, also a Spain international, has won 23 trophies with Barcelona, the eighth most in the club's history.