Category: Football

Sophia Smith scored the winning goal in extra time as the United States of America (USA) beat Germany 1-0 on Tuesday to advance to the Paris Olympics women’s football final.

Smith settled a close-fought but poor semi-final in Lyon by firing past Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to finally break the deadlock five minutes into extra time.

The USA, record four-time gold medallists, will go to Paris for the final on Saturday against either World Cup holders Spain or Brazil, who play their last-four tie later.

Germany, who won gold in 2016, can still claim the consolation of bronze as they stay in Lyon for the third-place play-off on Friday against the loser of the second semi-final.

The Germans had been the more accomplished side in normal time although quality was desperately lacking in the final third from both teams on a stiflingly hot day.

Emma Hayes’s USA, meanwhile, played at a level far removed from their clinical display in beating Germany 4-1 in the group stage in Marseille.

However, once again the quality of their attack made the difference.

In Saturday’s quarter-final win over Japan, it was right-winger Trinity Rodman who scored the only goal of the game in extra time.

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This time it was Sophia Smith who was the match-winner, firing past Berger after being picked out by a Mallory Swanson through ball.

It was a third goal at the tournament for the Colorado-born forward who will turn 24 on the day of the final — her other two strikes came against Germany in the group stage.

Contrast that cutting edge with Germany, who were dealt a serious double blow ahead of the game when ill captain Alexandra Popp and the injured Lea Schueller, the two most prolific and experienced goal-scorers in their squad, were ruled out.

The Americans had chances in the 90 minutes, including from a late Lindsey Horan header that was kept out by Berger.

Swanson even had the ball in the net, although she was well offside and the flag was raised early.

But they found a way through in extra time, and Smith was then only denied a second goal by a good Berger save.

There was drama right at the death, with USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saving at close range to deny Laura Freigang an equaliser before Smith almost got a second on the break.

The USA won the last of their four women’s football gold medals at London 2012. They claimed bronze three years ago in Tokyo and were also silver medallists in 2000.

Germany, whose coach Horst Hrubesch was in charge of the men’s team that won silver in Rio in 2016, will now hope to leave with Olympic bronze for the fourth time.

READ: Arshad Nadeem eyes to “make Pakistan proud” at Paris Olympics

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice and Michael Olise added a third as France came from behind to beat Egypt 3-1 after extra time on Monday and set up Paris Olympics men’s football final showdown with Spain.

Thierry Henry’s France looked to be heading for defeat in the semi-final in Lyon after Mahmoud Saber put Egypt ahead just after the hour mark.

But Mateta, the Crystal Palace striker, levelled from Olise’s assist with seven minutes of the 90 remaining.

Egypt were reduced to 10 men at the start of extra time when centre-back Omar Fayed was sent off, and the hosts made their numerical superiority count as Mateta headed in.

Olise then sealed the win on 108 minutes and France, looking for their second Olympic men’s football gold medal and first since 1984, now face Spain in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday.

Spain, gold medallists in 1992 and silver medallists three years ago in Tokyo, qualified for the Paris Olympics men’s football final earlier on Monday after coming from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 in Marseille.

Egypt and Morocco will meet in Nantes on Thursday in an all-North African play-off for bronze.

France often looked disjointed without suspended midfield duo Manu Kone and Enzo Millot, with the latter banned after his red card at the end of the fiery quarter-final win over Argentina.

However, they had the majority of the chances and defender Loic Bade hit the post late in the first half with a header from a corner.

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Egypt soaked up pressure at the start of the second half before scoring in the 62nd minute.

Saber’s first effort was blocked but when the ball came back to him he engineered space before slamming a shot past France goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.

The hosts almost equalised immediately as a Mateta header was tipped over by goalkeeper Hamza Alaa.

They then struck the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds, captain Alexandre Lacazette heading off a post and Bade nodding the follow-up against the bar.

The equaliser arrived in the 83rd minute, with Olise the creator as he cut through the middle on a driving run before playing in Mateta to finish.

France hoped to find a winner before extra time, but a penalty appeal after Fayed blocked a Bade header with his hand was dismissed following a long VAR review.

They went into the extra half-hour on a sultry evening and Egypt were quickly reduced to 10 men when Fayed, already booked for arguing against the penalty call, saw yellow again for chopping down Desire Doue.

France went ahead when a corner was played short to Olise, and his ball to the far post was headed back across goal by Kiliann Sildillia for Mateta to head in his fourth goal of the tournament.

Olise fired in the third early in the second half of extra time after a clearance struck Doue and fell into his path.

READ: Spain beat Morocco to reach Olympic men’s football final

Substitute Juanlu Sanchez struck a late winner as Spain came from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 on Monday and reach the final of the Paris Olympics men’s football.

Morocco had led in the semi-final through a Soufiane Rahimi penalty towards the end of the first half at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

However, Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez equalised midway through the second period and then set up Sevilla right-back Sanchez to fire in the winner.

It is Spain’s second consecutive appearance in the final of the Olympic men’s football. They had to settle for silver three years ago in Tokyo after losing in extra time to Brazil.

Spain, who are chasing a second gold after triumphing in Barcelona in 1992, go to the Paris Olympics final on Friday against either hosts France or Egypt, who play their last-four tie later.

Morocco can still claim a first medal by winning the bronze medal match, which will take place on Thursday in Nantes.

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Last year’s Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations winners had impressed on their run to the semi-finals and looked on course to shock Spain when they went ahead in the 37th minute thanks to the prolific Rahimi.

Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR check for a foul by Pablo Barrios on Amir Richardson in the box, and Rahimi stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

It was a sixth goal of the Paris Olympics for the tournament’s leading scorer, with four of his strikes coming from the penalty spot.

That sent the large Morocco’s support wild but Spain kept their cool to equalise through their own star man in the 66th minute.

Lopez, a member of Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024 squad who scored twice in the Olympic quarter-final against Japan, pounced to snatch possession when the ball broke loose in the box and fired low into the net to make it 1-1.

With the prospect of extra time looming, Spain won it in the 85th minute as Lopez found Sanchez bounding into the area, and he sent a shot low into the far corner.

READ: Pakistan’s last hope Arshad Nadeem to compete in Paris Olympics

Erling Haaland scored a powering hat trick, including two goals in the first five minutes, and led Manchester City over Chelsea 4-2 on Saturday in an English club football friendly at Columbus, Ohio.

Reigning Premier League champion City scored goals 54 seconds apart in the first half and 71 seconds apart in the second half to dominate the fixture, part of a US pre-season tour for both clubs.

Haaland wore the captain’s armband and showed a crowd of 71,280 why he is considered among the world’s best players.

The 24-year-old Norwegian striker scored on a penalty kick in the fourth minute and, after a Moises Caicedo giveaway in the Chelsea half, smashed a right-footed shot into the right corner for a 2-0 City lead in the fifth minute — only 17 seconds after the restart.

Oscar Bobb boosted the lead to three in the 55th minute, taking the ball down the right wing and cutting inside to fire a left-footed shot past a defender and just inside the near post.

Haaland then completed his hat trick in the 56th minute after City forced a turnover in Chelsea territory.

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Erling Haaland took a pass at the top of the box between two defenders and flicked in a left-footed shot for a 4-0 City edge only 25 seconds after the restart.

Raheem Sterling answered for Chelsea in the 59th minute and Noni Madueke added a final goal in the 89th but it was too little and too late.

The game was a preview of the start of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign for both clubs. Manchester City will open the season against Chelsea on August 18.

In another pre-season US showdown of English giants, Liverpool blanked Manchester United 3-0 before 77,559 spectators at Columbia, South Carolina.

Fabio Carvalho, a 21-year-old Portuguese striker, opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 10th minute.

In the 36th minute, Egyptian striker Mo Saleh got to the backline and fired a perfect centring pass to onrushing Curtis Jones, who tapped in with his left foot for a 2-0 Liverpool lead.

Greek standout Kostas Tsimikas gave the Merseysiders a 3-0 edge in the 61st minute, knocking in a rebound off the left post.

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World Cup holders Spain survived a major scare before beating Colombia on penalties to reach the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics women’s football on Saturday, after the United States edged out Japan.

Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati converted the decisive kick in the shoot-out as Spain beat Colombia 4-2 on penalties after their Paris Olympics quarter-final tie in Lyon had finished 2-2 at the end of extra time.

Spain now advance to a semi-final on Tuesday in Marseille against either hosts France or Brazil, who meet later.

Spain are going for gold in their first appearance in the Olympic women’s football, but they were moments away from being eliminated after falling 2-0 behind to the South Americans.

Mayra Ramirez fired Colombia ahead early on and Leicy Santos doubled their lead early in the second half after a Linda Caicedo shot was saved.

Jennifer Hermoso pulled a goal back in the 79th minute for the world champions, who were then rescued when captain Irene Paredes turned in a Salma Paralluelo cross in the seventh minute of injury time.

That meant extra time, and no further goals led to penalties. Captain Catalina Usme’s first kick for Colombia was saved, while Liana Salazar missed her attempt as Spain scored all four of their efforts from the spot to go through.

Earlier, Trinity Rodman scored a stunning goal in extra time as the United States edged Japan 1-0.

The daughter of former NBA superstar Dennis Rodman struck in stoppage time at the end of the first half of extra time to finally break the deadlock, and Japan’s resistance, at a packed Parc des Princes in Paris.

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That took the USA through to a semi-final on Tuesday in Lyon, where they will face either reigning Olympic champions Canada or 2016 gold medallists Germany.

The USA remain on track under new English coach Emma Hayes to win a record-extending fifth women’s football gold, and a first since defeating Japan in the London Olympic final in 2012.

That silver remains Japan’s only medal in the competition and they go home after thwarting the USA for most of a tense quarter-final, where they failed to take what few chances came their way on the break.

“I honestly think that was the only way we were going to find a goal in that game,” Rodman said of her moment of magic after she was set up by Crystal Dunn.

“Obviously we had tried all game long to get in between them and it wasn’t working, but she played it in behind.

“It just bobbled a little, and then I banged it in the upper 90. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I am very happy about it.”

The presence of Snoop Dogg — who is working at the Olympics for US television — in the crowd in Paris provided more excitement for many spectators than the game itself.

Japan sat back and allowed the USA to have most of the possession, which they did without showing a cutting edge.

Their front three of Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith were impressive during the group stage but found the going tougher against Japan’s back five.

That was until Rodman struck midway through extra time, as she controlled a long diagonal ball by Dunn on the right, turned Hikaru Kitagawa inside out and fired a shot high into the far corner of the net.

It was her third goal in four games at the Paris Olympics, making her the USA’s joint-top scorer alongside Swanson.

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The Pakistan Street Child Football team drew an agonizing outcome in the ongoing Norway Cup 2024 as they succumbed to a defeat against Norway’s Forde IL in the semi-final.

The team, playing under the name of Muslim Hands FC, had an unwanted start to the semi-final as they conceded an early goal in the first half.

Pakistan team, however, made a stunning comeback in the second half as skipper Mohammad Adeel struck a brilliant equalizer.

The scoreline remained intact at 1-1 until the regulation time of 60 minutes and headed towards the penalty shootout.

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Pakistan Street Child Football team made a costly error in the shootout as they failed to convert one of the chances from the spot.

Forde IL, on the contrary, converted all the penalties and stormed into the Norway Cup 2024.

Pakistan’s defeat in the semi-final concluded their outstanding run in the tournament as the side, who remained unbeaten till the last four, scored a mammoth 26 goals and conceded only five.

Pakistan’s squad for Norway Cup 2024

Goalkeepers: Aryan, Adeel Ali Khan
Defenders: Asad Nasir, Ubaidullah, Mohammad Adeel, Hamza Gul
Midfielders: Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Khan, Daniyal, Owais, Mohammad Osama
Forwards: Mohammad Kashif, Isa Khan, Shahid Anjum, Abdul Ghani

For the unversed, the Pakistan street child football team finished as the runners-up of the previous edition of the Norway Cup after falling to a 9-10 defeat on penalties against Sola FK.

Pakistan street child football team entered the final after remaining unbeaten in seven games.

The national team scored the most goals by any team in the tournament and also recorded the largest victory in the tournament’s history when they blew Frigg Oslo FK 11-1.

For an exceptional tournament, Pakistan’s Asad Nasir was adjudged the player of the Norway Cup 2023.

READ: Pakistan Shaheens make two changes for white-ball leg of Darwin tour

OSLO: Pakistan Street Child Football Team registered a thrilling 3-2 victory over Team Germany JSG Leinetal to qualify for the semi-final of the ongoing Norway Cup 2024.

The Pakistan U17 team, playing under the name of Muslim Hands FC, came from behind to snatch a sensational victory over Germany, courtesy of a last-minute winner.

The national team scored one goal in the first half and two in the second.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Kashif scored a brace while Mohammad Junaid chipped in with a strike.

Pakistan street child football team will compete in the semi-final later today.

The team faced a notable challenge for the first time in the ongoing tournament on Thursday when they squared off against Strindheim Toppfotball in the pre-quarterfinal.

However, the Pakistan team dealt brilliantly with the pressure as they secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Strindheim Toppfotball with a late strike in the dying minutes.

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For Pakistan, Ubaidullah, Mohammad Kashif and Isa Khan scored one goal apiece.

Earlier that day in the playoff stage, the national team registered a thumping 5-0 victory over CharlottenLund SK 1 to book their spot in the pre-quarterfinals.

For the unversed, the Pakistan street child football team finished as the runners-up of the previous edition of the Norway Cup after falling to a 9-10 defeat on penalties against Sola FK.

Pakistan street child football team entered the final after remaining unbeaten in seven games.

The national team scored the most goals by any team in the tournament and also recorded the largest victory in the tournament’s history when they blew Frigg Oslo FK 11-1.

For an exceptional tournament, Pakistan’s Asad Nasir was adjudged the player of the Norway Cup 2023.

READ: Pakistan out of another medal race as sprinter Faiqa falters in Paris

OSLO: The Pakistan street child football team extended their dominance in the ongoing Norway Cup 2024 as they qualified for the quarter-finals of the ongoing tournament.

The national street child football team, playing under the name of Muslim Hands FC, faced a notable challenge for the first time in the ongoing tournament.

However, the Pakistan team dealt brilliantly with the pressure as they secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Strindheim Toppfotball with a late strike in the dying minutes.

For Pakistan, Ubaidullah, Mohammad Kashif and Isa Khan scored one goal apiece.

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Earlier today in the playoff stage, the national team registered a thumping 5-0 victory over CharlottenLund SK 1 to book their spot in the pre-quarterfinals.

Pakistan had a decent start to their playoff fixture as they scored one goal in the first half.

The national side was even more ruthless as they pinned four more in the second half to seal yet another dominating triumph.

Leading the way for Pakistan was Mohammad Kashif, who scored a brace while Ubaidallah, Owais and Isa Khan chipped in with a goal apiece.

Pakistan street child football team will play their pre-quarterfinal match today.

Pakistan’s squad for Norway Cup 2024

Goalkeepers: Aryan, Adeel Ali Khan
Defenders: Asad Nasir, Ubaidullah, Mohammad Adeel, Hamza Gul
Midfielders: Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Khan, Daniyal, Owais, Mohammad Osama
Forwards: Mohammad Kashif, Isa Khan, Shahid Anjum, Abdul Ghani

For the unversed, the Pakistan street child football team finished as the runners-up of the previous edition of the Norway Cup after falling to a 9-10 defeat on penalties against Sola FK.

Pakistan street child football team entered the final after remaining unbeaten in seven games.

The national team scored the most goals by any team in the tournament and also recorded the largest victory in the tournament’s history when they blew Frigg Oslo FK 11-1.

For an exceptional tournament, Pakistan’s Asad Nasir was adjudged the player of the Norway Cup 2023.

READ: Pakistan to get 70 million USD for hosting Champions Trophy 2025

OSLO: The Pakistan street child football team continued to make inroads in the ongoing Norway Cup 2024 as they qualified for the pre-quarterfinals of the ongoing tournament.

The national street child football team, playing under the name of Muslim Hands FC, extended their dream run in the tournament with a commanding display.

In the playoff stage, the national team registered a thumping 5-0 victory over CharlottenLund SK 1 to book their spot in the pre-quarterfinals.

Pakistan had a decent start to their playoff fixture as they scored one goal in the first half.

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The national side was even more ruthless as they pinned four more in the second half to seal yet another dominating triumph.

Leading the way for Pakistan was Mohammad Kashif, who scored a brace while Ubaidallah, Owais and Isa Khan chipped in with a goal apiece.

Pakistan street child football team will play their pre-quarterfinal match today.

Pakistan’s squad for Norway Cup 2024

Goalkeepers: Aryan, Adeel Ali Khan
Defenders: Asad Nasir, Ubaidullah, Mohammad Adeel, Hamza Gul
Midfielders: Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Khan, Daniyal, Owais, Mohammad Osama
Forwards: Mohammad Kashif, Isa Khan, Shahid Anjum, Abdul Ghani

For the unversed, the Pakistan street child football team finished as the runners-up of the previous edition of the Norway Cup after falling to a 9-10 defeat on penalties against Sola FK.

Pakistan street child football team entered the final after remaining unbeaten in seven games.

The national team scored the most goals by any team in the tournament and also recorded the largest victory in the tournament’s history when they blew Frigg Oslo FK 11-1.

For an exceptional tournament, Pakistan’s Asad Nasir was adjudged the player of the Norway Cup 2023.

READ: Bangladesh A captains revealed for Pakistan tour

Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho scored first-half goals to give Liverpool a 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Wednesday while Chelsea cruised and Manchester United edged Real Betis 3-2 in pre-season matches.

Kai Havertz scored Arsenal’s goal in front of a crowd of 69,879 at the home stadium of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

In other friendly action in the United States, Chelsea swept past Mexico’s Club America 3-0, AC Milan beat Real Madrid 1-0 and Manchester United edged Real Betis 3-2.

Egyptian Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 13th minute, outpacing the defenders to latch onto Harvey Elliott’s defence-splitting pass.

The striker shrugged off the attentions of Arsenal centre-back Gabriel and fired a low left-footed shot past Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein.

Carvalho doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 34th minute, with Elliott again the provider.

The 21-year-old Portuguese winger ran onto a perfectly-lofted Elliott pass into the box and fired home a crisp right-foot volley through Hein’s legs.

Arsenal reduced the deficit in the 40th minute when Havertz scored past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from point-blank range after Martin Odegaard found him in the six-yard box.

A goalless second half secured the triumph for Liverpool’s new Dutch manager Arne Slot, who has replaced Jurgen Klopp.

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Arsenal’s newly signed 22-year-old Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori was not in the Gunners’ lineup.

At San Diego, Real Betis grabbed an early advantage thanks to Iker Losada’s strike in the 15th minute.

The lead lasted only three minutes as Romain Perraud fouled Manchester United’s Amad Diallo in the box and Marcus Rashford blasted home from the spot.

Diallo gave the Old Trafford club the lead in the 24th minute and Casemiro added a left-footed blast off a pass from Rashford in the 31st for a 3-1 half-time lead.

Diego Llorente’s 61st-minute header pulled one back for Betis.

In Atlanta, Chelsea’s French striker Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty in the third minute to set them on their way against their Mexican club opponents.

Spanish 18-year-old Marc Guiu scored the second with a 21st-minute header.

Winger Noni Madueke scored Arsenal’s second penalty of the game in the 79th minute to seal the 3-0 win.

In Chicago, Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze’s 55th-minute goal gave AC Milan a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.

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