Page 55 - Football

Messi scores as Inter Miami beat Charlotte 4-0, make Leagues Cup semifinals

Lionel Messi's goalscoring streak lives on, as does Inter Miami's winning streak. Messi scored in the 86th minute, his eighth goal in five matches with his new club, and Inter Miami rolled past Charlotte 4-0 in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal game on Friday night. Messi has scored in all five of his appearances with Miami. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner who led Argentina to the World Cup crown last year has yet to lose a match with Miami, walking off winners in all five matchups so far in the Leagues Cup, a 47-team event composed of clubs from MLS and Mexico's top league that now is whittled down to the final four. Next up for Messi and his new club: A semifinal game on Tuesday against either Mexican club Queretaro or Philadelphia Union. Charlotte almost found a way to keep him off the scoresheet. Almost. Josef Martinez and Robert Thomas also had goals for Inter Miami, an own goal set up by some serious Messi pressure late in the second half resulted in another score, and then Messi

Premier League 2023-24: Haaland's brace help Man City thrash Burnley 3-0

Erling Haaland has started his second season in English soccer just like his first with two goals in a win to open Manchester City's title defense in the Premier League. The Norway striker dispatched clinical finishes in the fourth and 36th minutes on Friday as City eased to a 3-0 victory at Burnley, a promoted team managed by City great Vincent Kompany, in the first match of England's top division. Defensive midfielder Rodri scored the other goal. Haaland enjoyed a spectacular first year at City, scoring 52 goals in all competitions including 36 in the league as Pep Guardiola's team won the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble. He opened last season with a double at West Ham in a signal of what was to come and he made another statement at Turf Moor, even if it didn't completely satisfy Guardiola. The City manager came onto the field at halftime and remonstrated with Haaland as they walked toward the tunnel, even flicking away a camera that was following the pair. We ar

La Liga 2023-24: Barcelona to miss Camp Nou advantage this season

Beyond courting and developing some of the world's top talent, Barcelona has also based its success on a strong home advantage thanks to Europe's largest soccer stadium. That will be different this season, when the team plays at a smaller, less accessible stadium while its 99,000-seat Camp Nou undergoes a complete facelift that won't be finished for at least three years. Barcelona will spend its time away from Camp Nou at the Llus Companys Olympic Stadium, which can hold 49,000 people. That will surely translate to a quieter, less intimidating atmosphere for rivals, as well as less revenue for a club still battling severe financial problems. Some 35,000 people turned out for Barcelona's first game at its temporary home on Tuesday, against Tottenham in a friendly that the club uses to present its team for the upcoming campaign. That's compared to the 83,000 who showed up at Camp Nou for the equivalent game on year ago. Coach Xavi Hernndez took the microphone to address the crowd tha

Harry Kane transfer news: Tottenham accepts Bayern's 100 million Euros bid

If he moves to Bayern, then, Kane will be remembered as one of the greats in the English Premier League, having scored 213 goals in 320 EPL games, just 48 goals behind Premier League's highest scorer

EPL: Will Manchester United's Maguire move to West Ham for $38 million?

British media has reported that England defender Harry Maguire, who started his career at Sheffield United will be leaving Manchester United for West Ham United

Bayern Munich: Neuer's return from injury still unclear after new operation

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has undergone an operation to remove metal implants from the leg he broke while skiing last season. Bayern said on Monday the operation the day before was planned as part of Neuer's treatment. The FC Bayern captain immediately resumed his rehabilitative training, Bayern said without specifying a timeline for Neuer's possible return to the squad. Bayern's first game of the season is on Saturday against Leipzig in the German Super Cup before its Bundesliga title defense begins on Aug. 18 at Werder Bremen. The 37-year-old Neuer hasn't played since the World Cup last year after he broke his leg in a ski accident in December. He wasn't on Bayern's preseason tour of Japan and Singapore as Swiss keeper Yann Sommer signed in January as a replacement during Neuer's injury and longtime backup Sven Ulreich split the goalkeeping duties. Sommer is reportedly close to signing for Champions League runner-up Inter Milan, and another Bayern goalkeeper, Alexa

Messi sparkles with free kick, Inter Miami beat FC Dallas 5-4 in shootout

Lionel Messi scored on another mesmerizing free kick in his third consecutive two-goal game for Inter Miami, a tying tally that led to a 5-4 victory over FC Dallas on penalty kicks in a Leagues Cup elimination game. Messi's goal in the 85th minute on Sunday night was reminiscent of the game-winner in his Inter Miami debut, both on free kicks from just outside the penalty box in the waning moments and sneaking past the goalkeeper into the upper corner of the net. This time, the left-footed superstar, was to the right of the net, and beat FC Dallas' Maarten Paes to the near post the same way he did from the left side in a 2-1 win over Mexican club Cruz Azul in his Inter Miami debut. The victory in the round of 16 sent Inter Miami into the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against the winner Monday night between Charlotte FC and Houston. Messi's first goal outside of Florida for his new U.S. club was another left-footed strike outside the penalty area in the sixth minute, on a pass from forme

EPL: Treble by his side, Man City's Guardiola eyes 4 league titles in a row

Ticker tape was still strewn across the field inside Istanbul's Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium and Manchester City fans weren't done partying in the stands when Pep Guardiola issued an ominous warning to his rivals. Far from feeling sated after finally transferring Man City's domestic dominance to Europe by winning the Champions League for the first time last season, the City manager was looking to build on his club's historic treble of trophies. "I don't want after one Champions League to disappear, so work harder next season and be in there." Guardiola had completed his ultimate mission by conquering Europe with City, having done so twice as coach of Barcelona, but he made it clear that his ambition was to achieve more. And there are new boundaries for him to break ahead of the new campaign. He can become the first manager to win four straight Premier League titles something even Alex Ferguson could not do during his dominance with Manchester United. Indeed, no team has ever won fou

ARS vs MNC Highlights: Arsenal win their 17th Community Shield Trophy

Arsenal won their 17th FA Community Sheild Trophy after beating treble winners Manchester City 4-1 in penalities on Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London

EPL: Chelsea signs Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton

Chelsea signed goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton and Hove Albion on a seven-year contract on Saturday. The transfer fee was reported to be 25 million pounds (USD 32 million) for the Spain international, who is expected to challenge Kepa Arrizabalaga for a starting spot. The 25-year-old Sanchez made 23 Premier League appearances last season. He joined Brighton as a teenager and progressed through the club's academy, becoming the Seagulls' first-choice goalkeeper during the 2020-21 season. Chelsea, which hosts Liverpool on August 13 in its season opener, has made seven summer signings under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

EPL: Manchester City signs Croatian center-back Joko Gvardiol from Leipzig

Manchester City signed Croatia center-back Joko Gvardiol from Leipzig for 90 million euros ($99.2 million) on Saturday, ranking him among the most expensive defenders in soccer history. The 21-year-old Gvardiol, known as Little Pep because of his name's likeness to City manager Pep Guardiola, is one of the most highly rated defenders in the world and enhanced his reputation with impressive performances for Croatia at the World Cup last year. He signed a five-year contract with City, which won a treble of trophies last season: the Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup. Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world," Gvardiol said. "To win the treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has. To be joining City is something very special for me and my family." At Leipzig, Gvardiol won the German Cup in back-to-back seasons and played in the Champions League. The transfer fee puts him among the likes of ...

Durand Cup: Mumbai City FC to face Mohammedan Sporting in Kolkata

The match kicks off at 4.45 pm local time. In Saturday's first match, Bodoland FC take on Rajasthan United FC in the first-ever Durand Cup game in Kokrajhar

Saudi goals in Europe

It's party time for world football as the Saudi Pro League signs headline-grabbing talent, but it also raises questions about money's impact on long-term success in the sport

Durand Cup 2023: Mumbai City FC eye winning start against Mohammedan SC

Last year's runners-up Mumbai City FC would be gunning for a positive start when they open their campaign against local side Mohammedan Sporting in a Group B match of the Durand Cup football tournament here on Saturday. The visitors have made their intentions clear by announcing a strong 29-member squad, featuring all their top stars, including Greg Stewart, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jorge Pereryra Diaz, Phurba Lachenpa as well as new signings like Akash Mishra, Tiri and Jayesh Rane. The Des Buckingham-guided side were runners-up last time and would love to go one better this time around. Local giants Mohammedan, on the other hand, are in the midst of a lively Calcutta Football League campaign where they are currently placed third. Forwards like Beneston Barretto, David Lalhlansanga and Bikas Singh are in good goal-scoring form and Mumbai will not have it easy in-front of home supporters. Mairajuddin Wadoo, coach of the Black and White brigade, said ahead of the game, "I think the bo

Durand Cup 2023: Details of teams, venues, live-streaming, and more

The Durand Cup 2023 began on August 3. The oldest football tournament in Asia was first organised by Indian Armed Forces and played in 1888 in Shimla

EPL: Manchester City reportedly close to signing Croatia's Josko Gvardiol

Manchester City is ready to make a big move in the transfer market, days before the start of the new season. The English and European champions are set to sign Croatia center back Josko Gvardiol for a reported 90 million euros ($98.3 million) from German club Leipzig, making him one of the world's most expensive defenders. Neither City nor Leipzig have commented publicly about the deal for Gvardiol, who will reportedly undergo a medical examination this week. Manchester United's Harry Maguire cost 80 million pounds (then $97 million) when he joined from Leicester in 2019, while Virgil van Dijk moved from Southampton to Liverpool for 75 million pounds (then $100 million) in 2018. The 21-year-old Gvardiol, known as Little Pep because of his name's likeness to City manager Pep Guardiola, is one of the most highly rated defenders in the world and enhanced his reputation with impressive performances for Croatia at the World Cup last year. He has played for Leipzig for two seasons, havi

Ronaldo breaks Gerd Muller's record, tops the chart of most headers

Ronaldo has broken the record of Gerd Muller and now has the most number of goals with his head. Ronaldo reached the spot on Tuesday, playing against US Monastir in the Arab Championships Club

Liverpool's Fabinho joins Benzema and Kante at Saud club Al Ittihad

The Saudi club announced the deal on Monday evening with a video captioned 'Tigers are allowed to pass'

FIFA Women's World Cup: Drawing of lots will decide which team goes ahead

What happens if teams finishing even on points cannot be separated by all of FIFA's tournament tiebreakers following the completion of the group stage at the Women's World Cup? Soccer's world governing body has confirmed it's the drawing of lots, So, luck of the draw really could determine which team advances to the Round of 16 and which team goes home. FIFA issued a statement explaining the drawing of lots will only occur should all steps, as outlined in Article 13 of the Competition Regulations, prove unable to determine the ranking. The tournament's tiebreaker criteria starts with which of the tied teams in the group has superior goal difference in its group matches and the greatest number of goals scored. If that's not enough to determine a final rankings, then the head-to-head results between the teams concerned is the tiebreaker. If that doesn't work, it goes down to a tabulation of how many yellow and red cards each team has accrued through the tournament. In the highly ...

Messi's Instagram post offers hope to his fans about World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi's Instagram post could hint at the Argentina star's unexpected return to the World Cup stage in 2026 after initially denying any such possibility