AFC Wimbledon knock Ipswich out of League Cup as Newcastle edge Forest in shootout

AFC Wimbledon knock Ipswich out of League Cup as Newcastle edge Forest in shootout
Newcastle United players celebrate at the end of the English League Cup second round football match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on Aug. 28, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 29 August 2024
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AFC Wimbledon knock Ipswich out of League Cup as Newcastle edge Forest in shootout

AFC Wimbledon knock Ipswich out of League Cup as Newcastle edge Forest in shootout
  • Wimbledon goalkeeper Owen Goodman was the hero as the League Two side defeated Ipswich on spot kicks following a 2-2 draw
  • With League Cup ties that end level after 90 minutes now going straight to penalties it was visitors Newcastle who prevailed 4-3 from the spot

LONDON: Fourth-tier AFC Wimbledon knocked top-flight Ipswich out of the English League Cup in a shock second round shootout result on Wednesday as Newcastle defeated Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest on penalties.

AFC Wimbledon were then drawn against Newcastle in the third round, giving the club the chance of pulling off another giant-killing success.

Wimbledon goalkeeper Owen Goodman was the hero as the League Two side defeated Ipswich on spot kicks following a 2-2 draw.

Ali Al-Hamadi, who joined Ipswich from Wimbledon in January, scored the opener in just the third minute but Omar Bugiel equalized for the hosts just before halftime.

Mathew Stevens gave Wimbledon a 2-1 lead in the 56th minute but Conor Chaplin capitalized on a Goodman mistake in the closing stages to send the match to penalties.

Ipswich were on course to go through to the third round when Jake Reeves fired over the crossbar.

Goodman, however, made two superb saves from Jack Taylor and Omari Hutchinson before Isaac Ogundere scored the decisive penalty.

“The underdog story in football,” Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson told the BBC. “It’s another amazing night in another chapter in that story.

“We always have to do it the hard way as a football club, but we find a way.”

Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali made his return from a 10-month betting ban against Forest, the midfielder having served a worldwide suspension for breaching gambling rules in Italy.

Tonali was involved in the buildup to Joe Willock’s opener after just 18 seconds before home debutant Jota Silva equalized early in the second half.

But there were no more goals in normal time and with League Cup ties that end level after 90 minutes now going straight to penalties it was visitors Newcastle who prevailed 4-3 from the spot.

The first three penalties all resulted in goals before Forest goalkeeper Miguel got down low to his right to deny Brazilian compatriot Joelinton.

But Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare hit the crossbar and teammate Taiwo Awoniyi struck an awful penalty way over the bar before Sean Longstaff coolly settled the tie in favor of Newcastle.

“Massive result for us and hopefully one that kickstarts our season,” Longstaff told Sky Sports.

Two goals in added time from James Bree and Cameron Archer saw Premier League returnees Southampton to their first win of the season as they secured a 5-3 triumph at second-tier Cardiff.

Southampton led three times only to be pulled back to 3-3 by a determined Cardiff before Bree’s 30-yard drive edged the Premier League side 4-3 in front, with Archer’s second goal putting the result beyond doubt.

“I’m really happy with the win and I’m pleased for my young players,” said Southampton manager Russell Martin, who gave five of his players their first start for the club. “But there is also a lot to be annoyed about.”

Jarrod Bowen’s late strike proved the difference as West Ham advanced into the third round with a 1-0 win over fellow Premier League side Bournemouth.

Two minutes from full time a shot from substitute Mohammed Kudus appeared to hit the chest of Bowen and flew past Cherries keeper Neto.

Replays suggested the final touch may have come off Bowen’s elbow but, with no VAR in use in the early rounds of the League Cup, the goal stood.

West Ham will now play holders Liverpool in the third round — a repeat of the 1981 final that the Reds won in a replay.

Hakon Valdimarsson saved an 82nd-minute penalty as Premier League Brentford won 1-0 away to League Two Colchester, with the Bees going through courtesy of Keane Lewis-Potter’s goal.

Third-tier Wycombe defeated Championship club Swansea 1-0 thanks to Richard Kone’s first-half strike, while Goncalo Guedes struck twice as Wolves knocked out Burnley with a 2-0 win at Molineux.

League Two Barrow’s reward for beating Championship club Derby on Tuesday was a fourth-round tie away to Chelsea, with Premier League champions Manchester City at home to Watford.


Phillips powers New Zealand’s 78-run win over Pakistan ahead of Champions Trophy

Phillips powers New Zealand’s 78-run win over Pakistan ahead of Champions Trophy
Updated 22 sec ago
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Phillips powers New Zealand’s 78-run win over Pakistan ahead of Champions Trophy

Phillips powers New Zealand’s 78-run win over Pakistan ahead of Champions Trophy
  • Glenn Phillips smashes unbeaten 106 off 74 balls in maiden ODI century 
  • Fakhar Zaman scores 84 off 69 balls as Kiwis dismiss Pakistan for 252 runs 

LAHORE, Pakistan: Glenn Phillips warmed up for the Champions Trophy with his first one-day international century as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening game of the tri-nation cricket series on Saturday.

Phillips smashed an unbeaten 106 off 74 balls, including six boundaries and seven sixes, at a newly renovated Qaddafi Stadium. The No. 6 batter propelled New Zealand to 330-6 in its 50 overs on a flat wicket with Daryl Mitchell (81) and Kane Williamson (58) also getting the feel of the wickets for the upcoming Champions Trophy with half centuries.

In reply, Fakhar Zaman, playing his first international in more than seven months because of illness, made a belligerent 84 off 69 but the rest of the top-order batters struggled against spin.
Pakistan was bowled out for 252 in 47.5 overs.

Phillips capped a perfect day by trapping Zaman leg before wicket with his off-spin and also took a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Babar Azam early in Pakistan’s run chase.

Babar struggled in his new role as opener in ODIs for the first time since 2015 and scored a painstaking 10 runs off 23 balls.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner (3-41) clipped the top-order with his left-arm spin while Bracewell took 2-41.

New Zealand, which is already sweating on the fitness of fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, had another injury scare when the ball hit Rachin Ravindra in the face as he misjudged a catch of Khushdil Shah in the outfield and had to leave the field.

Fast bowler Matt Henry chipped in with 3-55.

No. 10 batter Abrar Ahmed hit an unbeaten 25 that included three successive boundaries off Henry.

Phillips unleashed his power-hitting against Pakistan’s two premier fast bowlers – Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah — in the last five overs that cost the home team 84 runs.

Pakistan, which lost the toss, had kept New Zealand in check at 246-5 before Phillips cut loose against the two pacers.

Williamson, playing his first ODI since November 2023, took his time to settle down. He reached the slowest ODI half century of his career in 82 balls before he edged Afridi after sharing a 95-run stand with Mitchell.

Mitchell survived a close run-out at the non-striker’s end before he had scored when Babar couldn’t hit the stumps from close range, but settled in well to score nearly a run-a-ball before chipping a catch to mid-wicket against a low full toss from Ahmed (2-41).

Pakistan suffered a major blow in the latter half of the innings when Haris Rauf (1-23) had to leave the field due to side strain after he fell in his follow-through during his seventh over. He took no further part in the match.

Phillips switched gears when he smashed three sixes against Agha, who filled in for Rauf, and then hit an audacious reverse scoop against Afridi which went for a flat six over third man.

Phillips reached his hundred in an expensive 25-run last over of Afridi, who ended up with 3-88 in 10 overs. Michael Bracewell hit 31 in 23 balls.

Qaddafi Stadium is one of the three venues to be upgraded for the Champions Trophy.

Karachi and Rawalpindi will also host Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan.

Lahore hosts the second game of the tri-nation series between South Africa and New Zealand on Monday. Karachi then hosts the remaining two games, including the final on Feb. 14.


Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla

Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla
Updated 52 min 8 sec ago
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Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla

Saudi equestrian wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla
  • Muhannad Alsalmi completed the race in 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds
  • Emirati riders Abdullah Al-Amri and Saif Al Mazrouei won 2nd and 3rd places, respectively

ALULA: Saudi equestrian Muhannad Alsalmi topped the 120-kilometer Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla on Saturday, beating 200 riders from 64 countries around the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Alsalmi completed the race in 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds, for an average speed of 23.6 kilometers per hour, according to the report.

Taking the second spot was Emirati rider Abdullah Al-Amri, who clocked 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 43 seconds. Another Emirati rider, Saif Al Mazrouei, was third with a time of 13 hours, 9 minutes, and 29 seconds.

Organized by the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and the Royal Commission for AlUla, the endurance race is the largest of its kind. (SPA)

The winners received their prizes from Prince Abdullah bin Fahd bin Abdullah, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation and head of the Sports Sector at the Royal Commission for AlUla, during the award ceremonies.

Held at AlFursan Equestrian Village in AlUla, the event took place amid a fiercely competitive atmosphere. Recognized as one of the premier endurance races globally, the competition boasted a total prize pool of SAR15 million, the largest of its kind in this category.

The championship continues on Sunday, with 100 riders competing in the 160-kilometer Al-Mutadil Endurance race for a SAR5 million prize pool.

Last month, the picturesque ancient city located in Saudi Arabia's western region of Madinah hosted the AlUla Trail Race, with some 1,450 athletes from around the world competing.

 

 


Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton

Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton
Updated 09 February 2025
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Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton

Chelsea crash out of FA Cup at Brighton
  • Chelsea haven’t won a domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2018 and their wait will go on for another season after they blew the lead at the Amex Stadium
  • Newcastle came from behind to win 3-2 against Birmingham at St. Andrew’s

LONDON: Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma sent Chelsea crashing out of the FA Cup as the Japan star sealed a 2-1 win in the fourth round, while Kevin De Bruyne spared Manchester City’s blushes in their 2-1 victory at third-tier Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Chelsea haven’t won a domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2018 and their wait will go on for another season after they blew the lead at the Amex Stadium.

Enzo Maresca’s side were gifted the lead in the fifth minute when Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen fumbled Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net.

It was a horrendous mistake but Chelsea failed to press home their advantage.

Thrashed 7-0 at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League last weekend, Brighton bounced back impressively from the second worst defeat in the club’s 123-year history.

They equalized in the 12th minute as Joel Veltman’s cross reached Georginio Rutter, who found space between Chelsea defenders Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo to flick a header into the far corner.

And Brighton completed their fightback in the 57th minute when Mitoma clipped a deft finish past Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez despite the visitors’ claim for handball.

“I think the handball is quite clear. Without VAR it’s complicated,” Maresca said.

“The second half the only shots they had we conceded a goal from. We had a few chances at 2-1. But you have to take the consequence of the result.”

At Brisbane Road, Manchester City were rocked when Jamie Donley’s long-range effort came back off the bar and rebounded in off City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to give Orient an early lead.

The English champions finally drew level after 56 minutes when Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov deflected in Rico Lewis’s shot for his first goal since signing for City from Lens in the January transfer window.

City boss Pep Guardiola had to turn to his bench more than he would have liked just four days before a mammoth Champions League play-off round first leg against Real Madrid.

But the introduction of De Bruyne made the difference as the Belgian midfielder scored 11 minutes from time.

“It was a typical FA Cup game, that is why this competition is unbelievable. For the fans, how the crowd support and we knew they are strong,” said Guardiola, who saw deadline day signing Nico Gonzalez hobble off injured in the first half of his debut.

Newcastle came from behind to win 3-2 against Birmingham at St. Andrew’s.

Birmingham led after 42 seconds through Ethan Laird’s deflected strike.

A quickfire double from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson turned the tie in Newcastle’s favor, but Tomoki Iwata’s blistering strike levelled before half-time for the League One leaders.

Newcastle, though, rounded off a fine week after reaching the League Cup final on Wednesday as Willock restored their lead on 82 minutes.

Bottom of the Premier League and seemingly destined for relegation, Southampton got no respite in the FA Cup as Burnley won 1-0 at St. Mary’s.

Scott Parker’s team went in front after 77 minutes when Marcus Edwards scored from close range on his debut after signing on loan from Sporting Lisbon.

It is almost 600 minutes since Championship promotion chasers Burnley last conceded a goal, with 10 clean sheets in their last 11 games.

“We were unlucky to lose to a scrappy goal. We did lots of good things and created lots of opportunities,” Southampton boss Ivan Juric said.

In the last FA Cup tie at Goodison Park, Everton, who are moving to a new stadium next season, were beaten 2-0 by Bournemouth thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo and Dan Jebbison.

Rodrigo Muniz scored twice as Fulham won 2-1 at League One Wigan.

Ipswich, second bottom of the Premier League, swept to a 4-1 win against Frank Lampard’s Coventry.

Millwall reached the fifth round for the first time since 2018-19 thanks to Femi Azeez’s double in a 2-0 win at Championship leaders Leeds.


Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur

Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur
Updated 09 February 2025
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Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur

Alcaraz battles into Rotterdam final date with De Minaur
  • Superior court coverage and retrieving from the Spanish world No. 3 overcame stubborn resistance from the Pole for a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win
  • De Minaur brought to an end the extraordinary giant-killing run of Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci with a straight-sets win

ROTTERDAM: Carlos Alcaraz scraped his way into the final of the Rotterdam Open on Saturday with a hard-fought and entertaining three-set win over Hubert Hurkacz.

Superior court coverage and retrieving from the Spanish world No. 3 overcame stubborn resistance from the Pole for a 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win to set up a clash with Australia’s Alex de Minaur in Sunday’s final.

“It was a very tight first set. I think he had chances to make it 6-0 so I just tried to fight every ball, every point,” said Alcaraz.

“I just tried to stay in there, keep fighting all the time and it paid off,” he added.

Alcaraz got off to a slow start, broken to love in his very first service game and allowing Hurkacz to race into a 3-0 lead in the first set.

He faced another break point in his next service game but saved it with a glorious crosscourt forehand and managed to hold onto serve.

Alcaraz survived another three break points and then fought his way back into the match with a break of his own, seizing the game with a forehand smash after a lengthy rally.

The momentum shifted in the Spaniard’s favor and a double-fault from Hurkacz gave the top seed the opportunity to serve out the set.

Again Hurkacz had the opportunity to break, but Alcaraz held firm and sealed the set with a forehand drive volley winner.

After the topsy-turvy first set, the second proceeded more conventionally, on serve until the tie-break.

The tie-break was also nip and tuck, both players squandering chances to seize the advantage.

But a double-fault from Alcaraz at 5-4 up gave Hurkacz an opportunity, and the Pole needed no second invitation, taking the set as the Spaniard netted a simple backhand groundstroke.

The decisive set started the same way as the first, with an early break of serve — this time to Alcaraz who brought the crowd to its feet.

That eventually proved enough to break the Polish resistance, as Hurkacz failed to make inroads into the Alcaraz serve.

Serving for the set at 5-3, Alcaraz booked his place in his 22nd ATP tour final with a trademark forehand winner up the line.

“I want to be the first Spanish player to be able to win this tournament. I’m going to go for it. I’m really happy to be able to play a final in Rotterdam,” said the 21-year-old.

In Saturday’s first semifinal, De Minaur brought to an end the extraordinary giant-killing run of Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci with a straight-sets win.

De Minaur was too consistent for the error-prone Bellucci, who was unable to repeat his earlier heroics against Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, going down 6-1, 6-2.

“I’m very happy with the level today,” said De Minaur.

“He’s been playing with a lot of confidence this whole week, so I knew it was going to be a very tough battle,” added the third-seeded Australian.

Runner-up last year to world number one Jannik Sinner, De Minaur has enjoyed comfortable passage to the final, winning all his matches in straight sets.

“The Dutch crowd always treats me very well, and I love coming back here. So hopefully I can get a title this time,” he said.


Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings

Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings
Updated 09 February 2025
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Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings

Chiefs ‘three-peat’ would close gap on Patriots in ‘dynasty’ rankings
  • For Rob Gronkowski, the former Patriots tight end who won four Super Bowls, there is no question that the Chiefs still have some way to go to better New England’s legacy
  • What is beyond discussion is that a Chiefs victory will make them the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row

NEW ORLEANS: If Patrick Mahomes can lead the Kansas City Chiefs to an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory when they face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, expect the debate over the NFL’s greatest-ever dynasty to heat up.

On the face of it, the Chiefs still have some way to go to catch what is widely recognized as the greatest dynasty — the New England Patriots in the era of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.

That pairing delivered six Super Bowl titles while the partnership of head coach Andy Reid and Mahomes will claim their fourth if they can overcome the Eagles and their powerful running game.

But a case can be made that the Patriots dynasty was in fact two separate periods, given there was a decade gap between their 2004 triumph over the Eagles in Jacksonville and their 2014 victory against Seattle in Arizona.

However, even in the 10 years without a Super Bowl win, the Patriots were a near-constant challenger — reaching the Super Bowl twice and never missing out on the playoffs.

For Rob Gronkowski, the former Patriots tight end who won four Super Bowls with Brady and Belichick, there is no question that the Chiefs still have some way to go to better New England’s legacy.

“I don’t think they’re closing in on everything we’ve accomplished in our dynasty because it was over two decades. You had that first dynasty decade, from like 2002-2010... then it trickled into the second decade,” he told the Rich Eisen Show.

Gronkowski, though, generously acknowledged that the Chiefs have done something unique.

“What they’ve done over the last 10 years, I believe, (is) the best decade of dominance from a dynasty, especially if they get the three-peat,” he said.

There is, however, a tendency for recency bias in such evaluations and it’s worth remembering that while the NFL may be set up to avoid long-lasting dynasties, via the NFL Draft and roster rules, there were several dynasties before Belichick and Reid came along.

The Dallas Cowboys with quarterback Troy Aikman won three Super Bowls in four years in the early 1990s and the 1980s belonged to the San Francisco 49ers, who won four titles over nine years.

Before that, from the mid-1970s, the Pittsburgh Steelers led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw twice won back-to-back Super Bowls.

The Green Bay Packers under legendary coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s won the NFL crown five times, but because only the last two of those wins are counted as Super Bowls, the achievements of the Wisconsin club appear to be forgotten or undervalued by some.

The Packers actually achieved a ‘three-peat’ winning three straight, pre-Super Bowl NFL championships from 1965 to 1967.

What is beyond discussion is that a Chiefs victory will make them the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row.

But all the talk of dynasties and ‘three-peats’ will simply be fuel to fire up an Eagles team who are in no mood to just become a statistic.

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has sensed a determination among the Philadelphia players.

“The Chiefs are going for the three-peat but I will say this: There’s definitely a chip on the shoulder of the Eagles. They lost this game two years ago. I don’t think that sits very well with them right now.

“And I think they’re a better team this year than they were two years ago.”