Category: Football

BARCELONA: Home side Barcelona on Saturday turned the tables tremendously in the last ten minutes to win 3-2 against Celta Vigo after being 2-0 down at the 80-minute mark in the ongoing La Liga season at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

The Catalan stepped into their temporary home at Montjuic with four consecutive victories in La Liga, however, the visitors started the game on high as American midfielder Luca de la Torre set up Jorgen Strand Larsen, who picked up the ball and placed a composed finish past Marc Andre ter Stegen to make it 1-0 in the 19^th minute.

Barcelona looked to score an equalizer in the 38th minute, courtesy of Marcos Alonso’s header from the centre of the box but was saved in the bottom left corner by the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong got injured, adding to Barcelona’s miseries in the first half.

Celta Vigo then extended their lead to 2-0 as Tasos Douvikas scored off a left-footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.

However, what followed was one of the greatest comebacks in football history as star striker Robert Lewandowski scored two goals in just four minutes to overturn the two-goal deficit at the 85-minute mark.

Watch LA LIGA 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

João Cancelo then scored the match-winner for Barcelona as he picked up on Gavi’s cross from a central position to lead his side to the fifth consecutive victory in the ongoing La Liga season and rocketed them to the top spot in the points table.

In another La Liga fixture, Almeria settled for a 2-2 stalemate against Valencia at Power Horse Stadium and sunk to the bottom of the points table without a single win in the ongoing La Liga season.

Diego López drew first blood as he scored off an assist by Javi Guerra to give Valencia the lead, which remained intact until the first half.

Sergio Arribas, however, scored an equalizer nine minutes into the second half, before Javi Guerra once again put the visitors ahead.

The lead lasted only six minutes as Arribas scored another equalizer for Almeria to draw the game.

READ: Babar Azam can set the World Cup on fire: Gautam Gambhir

KATHMANDU: Pakistan came from behind to hold Maldives for a 1-1 stalemate to qualify for the semi-finals of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U19 Championship 2023.

The Green Shirts started their second SAFF U19 Championship 2023 fixture on a high as they dominated the possession for a notable period but failed to convert into a goal.

Pakistan’s error in conversion allowed the Maldives to capitalize on the situation and they successfully netted the opener in the 39th minute, courtesy of a brilliant outside-of-the-box finish.

Maldives went into the break with a 1-0 lead over Pakistan.

Down at the break but all to play for in the second half!#WeArePakistanFootball #DilSayFootball #Shaheens pic.twitter.com/H2iC3Zenv0

— Pakistan Football Federation (@TheRealPFF) September 23, 2023

In the second half, Pakistan made numerous efforts but were denied the equalizer by the strong Maldives defence.

Pakistan, however, finally got luck in their favour when Shah Jahan netted the equalizer late into the game before pulling off an animated celebration.

Full time and the boys came back from behind in the second half to draw the match and secure their place in the semi final! Massive effort by the #YoungShaheens#WeArePakistanFootball #DilSayFootball#Shaheens pic.twitter.com/KbI02crMHz

— Pakistan Football Federation (@TheRealPFF) September 23, 2023

Earlier this week, Pakistan scripted a triumphant start to their SAFF U19 Championship 2023 campaign with a thrilling 1-0 victory over hosts Nepal.

Pakistan and Nepal went hard at each other in their SAFF U19 Championship fixture and showcased thrilling skills and tenacity before the former prevailed.

With a thrilling victory over Nepal, Pakistan ended a 12-year-long victory drought in an international match.

Pakistan’s U19 team last secured a victory on the international stage in 2011, when they defeated India’s U19 team.

Midfielder Ali Zafar netted the lone goal in the 74th minute, which turned out to be the difference maker between the two sides, who appeared inseparable in the first half.

Besides Ali Zafar, Pakistan’s goalkeeper Sahil Gul played a pivotal role in his team’s triumph over Nepal, denying several threatening efforts from the home side.

The ongoing SAFF U19 Championship 2023 is being held at the Dashrath Stadium here from September 21 to 30.

For the unversed, this is the fifth edition of the SAFF U19 Championship, a highly competitive international football tournament for men’s under-19 national sides, organised by the SAFF.

India are the defending champions, having won their second title in 2022 by defeating Bangladesh in the final.

Pakistan Squad for SAFF U19 Championship 2023

Goalkeepers: Sahil Gul, Mohsin Khan and Muhammad Abdullah

Defenders: Muhammad Sadam, Muhammad Adeel, Asad Nasir, Ans Amin, Khurshid Alam, Muhammad Raheel, Shayan Ali, Kamil Ahmad Khan, Abid Ali, Hannan Naveed and Najeeb Ullah

Midfielders: Ali Zafar, Muhammad Azan and Awais Khan

Forwards: Shahjahan, Muhammad Hassan, Faisal Ahmad, Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Haroon Zafar and Muhammad Adeel Younas

Team Officials: Shadab Ifthikhar (Head Coach), Mohsan Ul Hussnain (Assistant Coach), Khurram Shahzad (Goal Keeper Coach), Aamna (Media), Muhammad Abdullah and Muhammad Samama (Physio) and Zohair Gondal (Team Manager).

READ: “Babar Azam can set the World Cup on fire,” says Gautam Gambhir

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has said that he is unsure about his participation in the next FIFA World Cup in 2026, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“I don’t know if I will get there,” he told Argentine media personality Miguel Garrados in an interview broadcast on YouTube Thursday. “I don’t think about it yet because it is far away.”

By the time of FIFA World Cup 2026, Messi will be 39 years of age. For now, he said he is only focused on the 2024 US-hosted Copa America tournament.

“After the Copa America we’ll see, it will depend on how I feel,” he said. “There are still three years left.”

Messi led Argentina to victory against France in the World Cup final in Qatar last December.

In the interview, he reiterated his disappointment with not having received sufficient “recognition” at his former French club Paris Saint-Germain after holding aloft the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He claimed he was the only one of his Argentine team mates “who got no recognition” from his club.

“It was not what I expected but I’ve always said that things happen for a reason,” Messi said of his Paris years, adding he “wasn’t well there.”

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner had already stated on numerous occasions that he was unhappy at PSG before moving to Florida to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

READ: Mohammad Hafeez steps down from PCB Cricket Technical Committee

Defending champions South Korea became the first team into the Last 16 of the Asian Games 2023 men’s football event after a 4-0 cruise past Thailand on Thursday.

Hosts China and North Korea also registered second successive wins and both need only a point from their final Asian Games 2023 group games on Sunday to guarantee a place in the knockout phase.

South Korea raced into a 4-0 lead by half-time at the Jinhua Sports Centre stadium via a goal apiece for Hong Hyun-seok, An Jae-jun, Um Wong-san and Lee Jae-ik.

It sparked thoughts that the gold medal winners from Asian Games 2018 might repeat their 9-0 opening game rout of Kuwait on Tuesday, but the Thais were more resolute in the second half.

China had a sizeable crowd at the Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium rocking by half-time as they also went 4-0 up before the break against Myanmar.

Two goals from Long Tan and one apiece from Dai Wenjun and Wang Zhenao put them into cruise control and though they peppered the Myanmar goal in the second half they, like the South Koreans, could not add to their score.

Earlier on Thursday, India kept their Asian Games 2023 Last 16 hopes alive by edging Bangladesh 1-0 with a goal from 39-year-old striker Sunil Chhetri.

“I feel relief that we gave ourselves a chance to stay in the tournament,” said the veteran.

India lost their opening game 5-1 to China on Tuesday but can still go through from Group A if they beat Myanmar on Sunday.

“It wasn’t easy, playing back-to-back in two days, and in three days we have a game again. There are no excuses though as the other teams are doing the same,” Chhetri added.

“This gives us a chance of going at Myanmar and trying to qualify.”

North Korea, who are playing their first tournament since the Covid pandemic, were pushed hard by Kyrgyzstan but a 20th-minute goal from forward Kim Kuk Jin was enough to give them a 1-0 victory at the Zhejiang Normal University Stadium.

They beat Taiwan 2-0 in their opening match on Tuesday.

North Korea are competing at their first multisport event since the Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018.

The Asian Games 2023 officially open on Saturday but some events have begun their preliminary phase, including football.

Asian Games men’s football squads are made up of under-23 players, with three older players allowed, but the age limit has been extended to under-24 for this edition because the games were delayed by a year.

READ: Pakistan Women’s team qualify for the semi-final of Asian Games

KATHMANDU: Ali Zafar’s decisive 74th-minute goal powered Pakistan to edge host Nepal in their South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U19 Championship campaign opener on Thursday.

Pakistan and Nepal went hard at each other in their SAFF U19 Championship fixture and showcased thrilling skills and tenacity before the former prevailed.

With a thrilling victory over Nepal, Pakistan ended a 12-year-long victory drought in an international match.

Pakistan’s U19 team last secured a victory on the international stage in 2011, when they defeated India’s U19 team.

Midfielder Ali Zafar netted the lone goal in the 74th minute, which turned out to be the difference maker between the two sides, who appeared inseparable in the first half.

Besides Ali Zafar, Pakistan’s goalkeeper Sahil Gul played a pivotal role in his team’s triumph over Nepal, denying several threatening efforts from the home side.

The ongoing SAFF U19 Championship 2023 is being held at the Dashrath Stadium here from September 21 to 30.

For the unversed, this is the fifth edition of the SAFF U19 Championship, a highly competitive international football tournament for men’s under-19 national sides, organised by the SAFF.

India are the defending champions, having won their second title in 2022 by defeating Bangladesh in the final.

Pakistan, on the other hand, fuelled with momentum will now take on Maldives in their next SAFF U19 Championship fixture on September 23.

Pakistan Squad

Goalkeepers: Sahil Gul, Mohsin Khan and Muhammad Abdullah

Defenders: Muhammad Sadam, Muhammad Adeel, Asad Nasir, Ans Amin, Khurshid Alam, Muhammad Raheel, Shayan Ali, Kamil Ahmad Khan, Abid Ali, Hannan Naveed and Najeeb Ullah

Midfielders: Ali Zafar, Muhammad Azan and Awais Khan

Forwards: Shahjahan, Muhammad Hassan, Faisal Ahmad, Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Haroon Zafar and Muhammad Adeel Younas

Team Officials: Shadab Ifthikhar (Head Coach), Mohsan Ul Hussnain (Assistant Coach), Khurram Shahzad (Goal Keeper Coach), Aamna (Media), Muhammad Abdullah and Muhammad Samama (Physio) and Zohair Gondal (Team Manager).

READ: Pakistan’s ICC World Cup 2023 squad to be announced on Friday: PCB

MUNICH: Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot as Bayern Munich piled more misery on struggling Manchester United with a 4-3 home win in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Manchester United travelled to Germany after a poor run of form and amid a raft of off-field issues and were offered little respite by a Bayern side who have now won their past 20 Champions League opening matches.

It was a fourth defeat in just six matches for Erik ten Hag’s floundering United in all competitions this season as they failed to bounce back from last weekend’s embarrassing 3-1 home loss to Brighton in the Premier League.

Bayern Munich took control when visiting goalkeeper Andre Onana let Leroy Sane’s weak shot roll into the net in the 28th minute before Serge Gnabry swept home a second.

Rasmus Hojlund pulled one back before Kane drilled in a penalty early in the second half.

Casemiro’s late effort briefly gave Manchester United hope of an unlikely comeback against the run of play, but Bayern substitute Mathys Tel smashed home a fourth for the hosts in added time.

Brazilian Casemiro nodded in another consolation goal for Manchester United from the last attack of the match.

“We lost a bit of concentration there in the last five minutes,” Kane, who has now scored five goals in as many starts for Bayern Munich since joining from Tottenham, told TNT Sports.

“Thankfully we were able to hold onto the lead. It’s always great to score. Always room for improvement.

“Really good night tonight, we’ve started the season well and we can improve in certain areas but I feel like we are building towards that.”

Six-time European champions Bayern Munich moved top of the early Group A table after Wednesday’s earlier 2-2 draw between Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in Istanbul.

Manchester United next visit Burnley at the weekend, with their second Champions League game at home against Galatasaray next month.

“After my mistake we lost control of the game. It’s a difficult situation for us, for me,” admitted Onana.

“The team were one down because of that mistake. I have to learn from it and be strong.”

Coming into the match, Ten Hag said the challenges would teach his side to “focus on the process”.

Early on, they controlled possession and forced Bayern onto the back foot.

Bayern would strike first, however, thanks to some clever work from Kane and Sane — and a poor error from Onana.

Sane evaded his marker and threaded a ball to Kane, who guided the ball back into the path of the former Manchester City winger.

Sane slid the ball goalwards and Onana made a meal of the save and allowed it to trickle into the net.

Bayern celebrated as Onana lay forlorn on the Allianz Arena turf.

If Bayern’s first was a mix of team understanding and good fortune, the second came about mainly thanks to the individual brilliance of Jamal Musiala.

The England-raised midfielder, 20, collected the ball near the halfway line and dribbled goalwards, fending off the attention of several United defenders before squaring for Gnabry.

The former Arsenal forward slammed the ball into the net to leave Manchester United 2-0 down and reeling after a solid if unspectacular start.

The visitors did give their travelling fans hope just after half-time when United collected a poor back-pass from Musiala, Marcus Rashford finding summer signing Hojlund whose deflected shot evaded goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.

Manchester United’s hope was short-lived however, a VAR review finding a handball in the box from Christian Eriksen.

United complained about the call, with Eriksen clearly trying to withdraw his arm while having little time to react, but Kane stepped up and converted the spot-kick.

Manchester United rallied late on, Casemiro scoring either side of a Mathys Tel goal, but Bayern Munich were never in serious danger of relinquishing the three points.

READ: Inter Miami thrash Toronto 4-0 despite Messi’s early exit

Inter Miami shrugged off an injury concern to Lionel Messi to boost their Major League Soccer playoff hopes with a 4-0 thrashing of Toronto FC on Wednesday.

Messi returned to the starting line-up after skipping Saturday’s 5-2 defeat at Atlanta due to muscle fatigue but left the field in the 38th minute looking uncomfortable.

His former Barcelona team-mate, Spaniard Jordi Alba who had also sat out the trip to Atlanta, also limped off three minutes earlier in the game.

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino said the pair are now ruled out for Sunday’s Florida derby with Orlando City and was uncertain about their involvement in next week’s US Open Cup final.

“We have to go day by day, see the doctor’s report, what they tell us and we will decide. Obviously, there is no ‘chance’ that they will be there on Sunday,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s anything new or bigger than what they had been having. It’s just fatigue, I don’t think there is a muscular injury,” he said, defending the decision to play them.

“Everything was in place for the players to play … There is no possibility (that they were pressured to play). If we made them play it was because they were fit to play.”

“After talking to them, I don’t have the same pessimism I had when I had to take them out,” he said.

Despite the blow of losing their star and one of their most influential players, Inter Miami swept aside the Eastern Conference’s bottom club with ease, Messi’s replacement Robert Taylor scoring twice after coming on.

Facundo Farias opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with a blistering volley after Toronto keeper Tomas Romero had meekly palmed out a Noah Allen cross.

Taylor then made it 2-0 in the 54th minute with an outstanding individual strike, dribbling across the box from the left before unleashing a sharply angled drive back into the bottom corner.

Taylor then turned provider, releasing another substitute Benjamin Cremaschi who fired through the legs of Romero to make it 3-0.

Finland international Taylor completed his impactful performance with the fourth, bringing down a floated pass over the top from Farias and blasting home from close range.

Inter Miami moved up to 13th in the Eastern Conference and are now just five points off Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United who occupy ninth spot, the final playoff position. Inter Miami have two games in hand.

D.C United were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Atlanta while other results were also favourable for Inter Miami.

Charlotte, who Inter Miami have to play twice, are now just two points ahead of the Florida side after they let a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw at home to Philadelphia, conceding a stoppage-time penalty which was converted by Daniel Gazdag. The draw guaranteed Philadelphia a place in the playoffs.

The Columbus Crew also secured their place in the playoffs beating the Chicago Fire 3-0 with Colombian Cucho Hernandez scoring all three inside 23 minutes — the second fastest hattrick from the start in MLS history.

Tenth-placed New York City kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-0 win at home to second-placed Orlando City. Despite the defeat, Orlando are now sure of a place in the post-season.

Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati needed a goal deep in stoppage time from Argentina Luciano Acosta to earn a point at eighth-placed Montreal.

In the Western Conference, leaders St.Louis City were held to a 0-0 draw at home to champions Los Angeles FC but it was still enough to clinch their postseason berth.

The Seattle Sounders moved above LAFC by a point thanks to their 2-1 win at Colorado thanks to a fine strike from Leo Chu and a powerful header from Albert Rusnak.

English striker Billy Sharp scored a hat-trick for Los Angeles Galaxy as they came back from 3-1 down to beat Minnesota United 4-3.

The 37-year-old former Sheffield United forward now has six goals from his opening six games in MLS.

Sharp completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute and moments later Minnesota had English defender Ethan Bristow dismissed for a second yellow card. Diego Fagundez grabbed the winner for the Galaxy in the 82nd minute.

READ: New Zealand to decide Tim Southee’s World Cup fate after surgery

World Cup history makers Morocco will host minnows Eritrea — 181 places lower in the FIFA rankings — in the World Cup Qualifiers when they start their quest for a place at the 2026 tournament.

The first two of 10 matchdays of World Cup qualifiers in Africa are scheduled for November 13-21 and, after Eritrea, the first semi-finalists from Africa face a potentially tricky visit to improving Tanzania.

Last December in Qatar, Morocco became only the third country outside of Europe and South America to reach the World Cup semi-finals, emulating the United States and South Korea.

They shocked Belgium and held Croatia in the group stage, then eliminated Spain and Portugal in knockout matches before falling to France.

In 16 pre-Qatar World Cup matches spanning five tournaments, the North Africans had won only two and suffered nine defeats.

Morocco were given little chance of surviving the first round in Qatar, especially after a late change of coaches with local Walid Regragui succeeding Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic.

But Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech and Youssef en-Nesyri inspired their teammates to defy the odds.

Apart from Eritrea and Tanzania, Morocco will face Zambia, Congo Brazzaville and Niger in Group E of the World Cup qualifiers, with the team topping the final standings and qualifying for the finals.

Morocco should justify being the top seeds in the mini-league, which stretches from November to October 2025, with Patson Daka-inspired Zambia and Tanzania probably the biggest threats.

Egypt, reigning African champions Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Mali are the other countries seeded to top final tables and qualify automatically.

Like Morocco, they will kick off their campaigns at home to the lowest-ranked side in the group, then visit the team ranked fourth.

Seeding was based on the FIFA rankings, and Mali are the only top seeds not to have featured at a World Cup.

Cameroon lead the way with eight appearances and have been drawn with Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Eswatini and Mauritius in Group D.

Nigeria, six-time qualifiers but shock absentees from Qatar after losing a play-off against arch-rivals Ghana, could find South Africa and Zimbabwe troublesome Group C rivals.

Ghana are set to pose the biggest challenge to Mali in Group I, which also includes Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Comoros and Chad.

Democratic Republic of Congo, the first sub-Saharan qualifiers for the World Cup in 1974 when the country was called Zaire, are capable of testing Group B favourites Senegal.

Algeria, missing from Qatar after a playoff loss to Cameroon, will probably view unpredictable Guinea as the nation most likely to upset them in Group G.

Competition for places at the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States does not end with the nine group winners.

The best four runners-up go into play-offs and the winners enter a six-team inter-continental tournament with two World Cup places up for grabs.

READ: Lahore Blues beat FATA to register first victory in QeAT 2023/24

MADRID: Real Madrid continued their domination in the ongoing La Liga season as they extended their winning streak to five matches after a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Both teams entered the match undefeated as Real Madrid won all of their last four matches, while Real Sociedad defeated Granada 5-3, after two drawn games against Celta Vigo and Las Palmas.

Real Madrid also reclaimed the top spot in the La Liga 2023-24 points table with 15 points.

The visitors had a perfect start to the game with an early 5th-minute goal courtesy of Ander Barrenetxea’s right-footed shot from very close range.

However, Real Madrid came strongly and Rodrygo made an attempt in the very next minute but was saved in the bottom right corner by Alex Remiro.

Real Sociedad did not slow down either and made several attempts to extend their lead as well as defend the attempts to equalize by the home side. They ensure to close the first half with their lead intact at 1-0.

Real Madrid entered the ground in the second half with renewed aggression and equalized in the second minute with Federico Valverde’s right-footed shot from outside the box.

Joselu then scored off the match-winning header in the 60th minute to give Real Madrid the decisive lead which remained intact until the final whistle.

Watch LA LIGA 2023/24 Live on ARY ZAP

In another La Liga fixture, Sergio Ramos made his second debut for his boyhood club Sevilla against Las Palmas at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.

Both teams entered the game winless in the ongoing La Liga season however, Sevilla came out victorious and registered their first victory in the season, thanks to Dodi Lukebakio’s brilliant goal in the 71st minute.

Meanwhile, in another La Liga fixture, Villarreal edged Almeria 2-1 courtesy of Alexander Sørloth’s extra-time header assisted by Alberto Moreno after a thrilling contest.

Getafe on the other hand defeated Osasuna in a five-goal thriller at Coliseum Alfonso Pérez to earn their second victory in the La Liga season 2023-24.

Stefan Mitrovic scored off a header from the centre, which was assisted by Damián Suárez with a cross following a corner to give Getafe the lead in the 36th minute.

However, visitors equalized nine minutes later thanks to Iker Muñoz’s right-footed shot off a corner by Aimar Oroz.

The first half ended at a 1-1 stalemate, but the home side scored in the 6th minute of the second half to get the lead, which was equalized a few minutes later as Ante Budimir converted a penalty after David Soria was shown a yellow card.

Nemanja Maksimovic then scored the match-winning-header for Getafe after a cross by Carles Aleñá following a corner.

READ: Pakistan reclaim top rank in ODIs after South Africa crush Australia

Lionel Messi is suffering from “muscle fatigue” and will not be rushed back, Inter Miami coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino said on Saturday after his team’s playoff hopes suffered a blow with a 5-2 thrashing at Atlanta United.

Messi and his former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba both sat out the game with Martino saying it would have been “very reckless” for the Argentine to play in Atlanta.

Martino said that his focus was on having his team ready for the September 27th final of the US Open Cup when Miami host Houston as they look for their second trophy of the season.

“They will train tomorrow (Sunday) and we will see day by day. Nothing changes our outlook on how he (Messi) will train. We have no urgency,” said the former Barcelona and Argentina coach.

Miami faces Toronto, the only team below them in the Eastern Conference, at home in MLS action on Wednesday.

“If he is well and confident he can get to play and if this doesn’t happen he will wait a few more days,” Martino said.

Miami’s loss was their first in 12 games in all competitions since Messi and Spanish pair Alba and Sergio Busquets joined the team in July.

The defeat makes it tougher for Miami to climb into the top nine in the East which would ensure qualification for the playoffs.

“This defeat hurts us and reduces our chances but it is not decisive,” said Martino, who said the US Open Cup remains a priority.

“The final is one game. It’s very tempting to go for a title,” Martino said.

“We started the (playoff) race very far back, we are not going to abandon it but our sights are set on the (Cup final on the) 27th,” he said.

The 36-year-old Messi had also sat out Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz on Tuesday but he travelled and watched his team-mates from the bench.

READ: Tamim, Mahmudullah return to Bangladesh squad for New Zealand series